cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/7783032
When I started at Ars in the summer of 2022, the next generation of smart home standards was on the way. Matter, an interoperable device setup and management system, and Thread, a radio network that would provide secure, far-reaching connectivity optimized for tiny batteries. Together, they would offer a home that, while well-connected, could also work entirely inside a home network and switch between controlling ecosystems with ease. I knew this tech wouldn’t show up immediately, but I thought it was a good time to start looking to the future, to leave behind the old standards and coalesce into something new.
Instead, Matter and Thread are a big mess, and I am now writing to tell you that I was wrong, or at least ignorant, to have ignored the good things that already existed: Zigbee and Z-Wave. I’ve put in my time with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and various brittle combinations of the two. They’re useful for data-rich devices and for things that can stay plugged in. Zigbee and Z-Wave have been around, but they always seemed fidgety, obscure, and vaguely European at a glance. But here, in the year 2024, I am now an admirer of both, and I think they still have a place in our homes.
Idk what this author is on about with Hue. I own mostly Hue lights and the amount of times and they regularly don’t respond to commands from Siri, Google, or the Hue App. My favorite is when all but one bulb responds, so you’re sitting there with a bright light on when you wanted to turn them off for bed. Meaning you flip the switch, defeating the purpose of smart lights.
Pairing can be a nightmare on its own if something goes wrong with the hub or you move. Should be as easy as pressing the button on the hub, right? Well, sometimes you have to take the bulbs out and enter their serial numbers individually. Made a note on my phone with all the serials so I don’t have to do that again.
Don’t even get me started on the shitshow that’s the Hue Sync box. Fuuuuuuuuuccccckkkkk I hate that box with a passion.
I found hue bulbs to be a lot more responsive once I ditched the hub, and paired my bulbs directly with a zigbee coordinator.
This is the way. I’ve had absolutely zero issues with my Hue bulbs directly connected to a USB Zigbee controller and running zigbee2mqtt. With Zigbee bindings to smart switches, they respond practically instantly as well whenever we decide to control them that way.
I used to use a USB Zigbee coordinator, but an Ethernet one with PoE is way more flexible since I can place it anywhere in the house. https://smartlight.me/smart-home-devices/zigbee-devices/smlight-slzb-06en. This one has a nice web UI for updating the firmware, too. I switched from a Sonoff Zigbee dongle recently and really should have done it earlier.
As someone who runs HomeAssistant in a VM that could migrate between three different servers at anytime depending on what is going on, a networked Zigbee coordinator was essential.
Eh, just stick the USB into a pi and host the usb port over the network into the vm.
That’s just a networked Zigbee coordinator with more steps. The coordinator I linked to uses PoE so all I need is a network cable.
sure, but I don’t have to buy more things that I already have… and can do it with zwave too.
I’ve had next to zero issues with my Hue setup. It’s performed near flawlessly.
I’m very glad your setup works! Totally get that my experience isn’t the same as everyone’s. Outside of the Hue Sync box, my Hue lights work more consistently than my Govee and Nanoleaf lights.
The Sync box does not like Dolby Vision despite a recent firmware update adding support. It will randomly cut out the feed to my TV so I’ve had to continuously disable Dolby Vision on inputs when I catch them reverting back. It’s especially frustrating when playing games or watching sports. Not what I expect out of a $250 HDMI passthrough box.
Try changing your Zigbee channel. I had awful performance until I tried that. Not always perfect now but WAY better.