This is Issue #58 of the Smart Homes School weekly newsletter — free smart home news for professionals and enthusiasts, every Wednesday. Subscribe here to get it in your inbox first.
Good morning, smart home enthusiasts. A lot is happening this week, and most of it has direct implications for how you spec and price jobs. The FCC router ban is the big one, but the D-Tools industry data and the outdoor tech survey both have something useful to say if you are thinking about where to focus your energy in 2026.
The FCC Just Banned Most Consumer Routers. Here Is What You Need to Know.
Announced on March 23rd and updated again this week, the FCC has banned all new foreign-made consumer Wi-Fi routers from the US market, citing national security concerns tied to Chinese state-sponsored attacks on American infrastructure. The ban catches virtually every major mesh brand: Amazon Eero, TP-Link, Netgear, Google Nest, Asus, Ubiquiti, and more. All are manufactured overseas, so all are in scope.
The key distinction is that devices already authorised and on shelves continue to be sold. The ban applies to new model authorisations, not existing inventory. But no affected manufacturer can introduce a new router model without first shifting production to the US or receiving a conditional exemption from the FCC. Netgear was the first to get one, announced on April 15th, valid until October 2027. Other manufacturers are expected to follow.
Reactions in the professional channel have been measured. TP-Link called it a positive step toward industry-wide security standards, noting that all manufacturers now face the same scrutiny. Netgear said much the same. The CI channel view, covered in detail by CE Pro, is broadly optimistic: a higher security bar for consumer routers may actually strengthen the argument for specifying business-grade networking gear on professional installs.
- Current approved stock is unaffected. Check FCC status before quoting new models from any affected brand.
- Track exemption approvals: Netgear has one; others are pending. The landscape will be uneven for the next 12 to 18 months.
- Use this as a conversation opener with clients about the value of professional networking over consumer mesh.
Read the full market share analysis of the router ban
Apple HomePad Confirmed for Fall 2026
After two years of delays, Apple’s long-rumoured HomePad smart home hub is now tracking for a fall 2026 launch alongside the iPhone 18, likely in September. The device has been pushed back repeatedly due to delays in the overhaul of Siri, which the HomePad relies on heavily for its core experience. The most recent update confirms it will not arrive before autumn.
The HomePad is expected to feature a 7-inch square touchscreen, Face ID for multi-user recognition, a front camera, and options for both wall-mount and table-base configurations. A companion HomeKit security camera with smoke and CO audio detection is expected to launch alongside it. Apple is pricing the hub at around $350 based on current leaks.
For Apple Home installers and consultants, this is a meaningful product if it delivers on its promise of a dedicated, intelligent interface for the Apple Home ecosystem. The delays have been frustrating, but the wait may produce something significantly more capable than a rushed first version would have been.
- Apple Home clients waiting on a hub should be told: September at the earliest, more likely October alongside other fall hardware.
- The HomeKit security camera is worth watching as a potential alternative to third-party options with ongoing Apple Home compatibility issues.
Read the MacRumors report on the HomePad timeline
Outdoor Tech Has Moved from Add-On to Core Category
CE Pro’s 2026 Outdoor Technology Deep Dive survey found that 42% of integrators completed 21 or more outdoor projects in 2025, with the median integrator completing between 16 and 20. These are no longer occasional add-ons. Most projects now span audio, video, networking, lighting and security across a single outdoor property, and the higher end of the market is running at average system values around $30,000.
The data on demand is positive: 47% of integrators reported year-on-year growth in outdoor project volume, with another 47% reporting stable activity. Only around 5% reported declines. The challenge is on the cost side. More than half of respondents expect end-user pricing to rise in 2026, driven by labour cost pressure and tariff-driven product inflation.
Audio remains the foundation, appearing in the overwhelming majority of projects, but video adoption is growing as prices come down on outdoor displays. Networking and security are increasingly appearing alongside audio and video rather than as separate conversations. Integrators who position outdoor as a system category from the first client meeting are winning more of the full project value.
- If outdoor is not already a line item in your service offering, the data suggests you are leaving revenue behind.
- With pricing set to rise, review your outdoor cost structure before Q2 projects arrive.
Read the CE Pro outdoor technology survey
That 18% Industry Growth Figure Is Hiding a Split
D-Tools’ Year in Review Report for 2025 has uncovered a striking divide running through the custom integration industry. The headline average of 18.8% sales growth reads well, but the distribution underneath it tells a more complicated story. A third of firms on the platform grew by 51% or more. But 1 in 5 firms saw sales fall by over 21%. The average is being pulled upward by a small group having exceptional years, masking significant losses elsewhere.
The tariff effect is showing up in contract composition. Contracts are now drawing almost three-quarters of their value from equipment rather than labour. As product costs rise, the proportional value of labour in a project is getting compressed, which is a margin problem that will only worsen if product costs keep climbing and clients push back on total project values.
If 2025 felt harder than the industry narrative suggested, this data explains why. The overall picture was not as healthy as the headline growth figure implied, and the split between high performers and struggling firms appears to be widening rather than narrowing.
- Review your contract structure and how you communicate labour value before the next round of Q2 proposals.
- The K-shaped split suggests that what is working for the top performers is worth understanding. Referrals, recurring service revenue and early engagement on projects tend to be the differentiators.
Read the D-Tools Year in Review analysis
Worth Reading This Week
- FCC Router Ban: Full Technical Breakdown — The most detailed technical read on which models are affected and how the exemption process works. Essential before quoting any networking gear.
- Dynamic Electricity Tariffs Coming to Ireland in June 2026 — From June 1st, real-time grid pricing arrives for Irish households. For clients with EVs, heat pumps or solar, this is the automation conversation to start having now.
- Aqara’s First Matter 1.5 Camera and a New Thermostat Hub — The Camera Hub G350 is the first Matter 1.5 certified camera. The Thermostat Hub W200 integrates with Apple’s Clean Energy Guidance. Both are worth watching for Apple Home environments.
- Shelly Presence Gen4 Now Shipping in Europe at €70 — Multi-zone mmWave presence detection with Zigbee, Wi-Fi and Matter. A practical mid-budget option for occupancy-based automations.
- Smart Homes School 2026 Trend Dashboard — Maps ten major smart home shifts to consulting and project revenue. AI configuration as a recurring service is the most important point for planning the second half of 2026.
- Outdoor AV: The Tech Stack Has Grown Well Beyond Speakers — How outdoor system composition has shifted. Audio still leads, but video, networking and security are all growing. Good data for scoping projects where clients think they just want speakers.
About Smart Homes School Weekly
Smart Homes School Weekly is published every Wednesday by Gerard O’Driscoll from Ireland. It covers smart home technology, AI and automation news for professionals, consultants, installers and serious enthusiasts. Browse the full archive here.