Potential exceeds the hiccups – News Block

We are connected to everything, but not everything is fully connected to each other. That’s the difficulty with smart homes. There is rarely a fully connected system that manages everything. SwitchBot’s Hub 2 tightens control of connectivity a bit with an updated IR sensor and compatibility with Matter.

As an update to the Mini Hub, the SwitchBot Hub 2 is pretty much something else entirely. While technically just an update, the Hub 2 brings more to the table, starting with a sleek and functional redesign that features a digital display that’s simple and efficient. Two buttons can pretty much control your entire house if you can program them accordingly.

Unfortunately, that will be your biggest hurdle. But for all the difficulties I may have had setting up the Hub 2, once it’s up and running, it’s quite the marvel of a machine. Despite the diverse ecosystem of smart home devices I have in my home, SwitchBot did its best to make them all work together.

At the forefront of this capability is Matter, though thanks to enhanced IR sensors, smart home protocol is not critical to using Hub 2. Interconnectivity between automation leaders (Apple, Samsung, Amazon, and Google) and SwitchBot is possible. . thanks to the integration of Matter. It’s a slow rollout to connect all the devices, but once Hub 2 is fully functional, it’s possible to have virtually every device in your home managed by one controller.

Connectivity everywhere

Testing the Hub 2 was really just a matter of diving into its interface, which is mostly found in the SwitchBot app (available on iPhone/iPad and Android). My first integration probably wasn’t the prettiest, but I was intrigued by the idea of ​​simply controlling every aspect of my TV with my phone. It’s far from innovative, but not having to download another dedicated app and being able to set it up through this little hub was pretty convenient.

Then I did something completely impractical, just because Hub 2 let me. I’ve created a scene that turns my TV on when Hub 2 detects a temperature below 73°F (23°C). It was stupid and has no real reason to exist, but it shows the sheer versatility you can expect with SwitchBot’s Hub 2.

The Hub 2’s compatibility with the entire SwitchBot ecosystem means you can program your automatic curtain rod opener to open when the current light level is low enough or your automatic door lock to lock at a specific time. on certain days. But it goes even further than SwitchBot’s device selection.

If you can connect your garage door opener to Hub 2, you can set it to open when your phone is detected from as little as 300 feet (0.1 km) away. The app says that it is in beta mode, but it worked perfectly fine.

somewhat limited support

The Hub 2 is so versatile because it connects via Bluetooth or IR sensing to brands like Samsung, Panasonic, Sanyo, Bose and many more. However, as extensive as the current list of supported brands is, there are still some compatibility limitations.

As a tech reviewer, dozens of brands cross my desk in a year, and it really stands out how, despite looking at a library of names in the SwitchBot app, I’m still going to have trouble connecting everything. For example, Sengled is not that unknown, and yet my color-changing light bulb has no support. I also have an ECOVAC DEEBOT T9+ vacuum that I couldn’t get fully working even though ECOVAC is a compatible brand.

While SwitchBot does improve the compatibility of the Hub 2, expect support to be a bit spread out unless you’re working with big-name brands.

matter is what matters

One of the biggest draws of the Hub 2 is support for Matter, an extension to the Internet Protocol that uses existing smart home technology and cloud services to create a fully interconnected network of devices. Having Matter support allows SwitchBot devices to work with Apple HomeKit.

Before Matter, when you bought a smart home device, you had to check its compatibility with your chosen platform. The Hub 2 gets around this by leveraging the Apple HomeKit framework to make SwitchBot devices controllable via the app. While support is relatively limited and there’s plenty of room to grow, there’s hope for overly simplified home automation. As long as you have the appropriate hub, like Apple TV.

The biggest hurdle is simply support. SwitchBot has a long way to go to make all of its Hub 2-enabled devices available on Matter. Currently, there is no timetable as to when that may happen.

RELATED: What is matter and how will it transform smart homes?

Energy Saving Possibilities

One thing I absolutely enjoyed was the energy saving potential. The Hub 2 has a thermometer, humidity indicator, and light sensor that can be used to trigger scenes. For example, I have my SwitchBot shade opener programmed to open when Hub 2 detects a light level below 2. So when I turn off the light, the shade opens automatically. But even better, I have it scheduled to run the macro only during office hours.

Hub 2 can run macros that modify its environment, which can significantly reduce energy bills. While most modern air conditioners can run on a schedule and trigger to turn on at a set temperature, the Hub 2 can adjust its operations more efficiently. You may want it to turn on when the indoor temperature is above 75°F, but only during the day. Setting the scene is much faster than navigating your thermostat’s “Schedule” function, and you can have multiple macros running to make sure your home is always at the right temperature.

There are so many things you can do with the Hub 2 to maximize the efficiency of your home; it only takes a little poking around in the app to learn how to set up scenes.

A problematic application

My least favorite part of working with the Hub 2 was the SwitchBot app. Initially I had issues with the app crashing every time I tried to access the Hub 2 interface after accessing and closing it once. However, I think a new firmware update for Hub 2 fixed the problem, so make sure your device is updated to V0.8-0.6.

Like most automation apps, successfully connecting devices can be a frustrating process, and you should wait a few tries before you get the hang of it. Using each device once paired is intuitive, even if they aren’t native to SwitchBot, like my TV remote.

Should you buy the SwitchBot Hub 2?

SwitchBot’s Hub 2 has a little way to go before it reaches its full potential, but even in its current state, it’s a wonderful device to have around the house. I have simplified my house quite a bit, including my air conditioner, some of my lighting, and after several tries, some functions of my robot vacuum. Although the Hub 2 doesn’t look like much, coupled with the SwitchBot app, it’s a pretty versatile device.

I wish there were more Matter-enabled devices during the Hub 2 launch, but at least it’s nice to see the direction SwitchBot is taking in its ecosystem. I appreciate the simplicity, and the Hub 2 really brings together a lot of my smart home devices so I can minimize the time I spend in apps to get everything working.

Barring some confusion and crashes when trying to access the Hub 2 via the SwitchBot app (which seems to have been fixed with the V0.8-0.6 update for the Hub), using the device has been a breeze. Navigating the app and figuring out how to set up scenes and link infrared devices took a bit of getting used to, but once you do one or two, the rest comes quickly. Unless, of course, you’re trying to pair a device that isn’t supported externally. For those, like my ECOVAC DEEBOT T9+ vacuum, it may take a few tries.

The Hub 2 has a very bright future in home automation, even with only partial Matter support of its line of devices.