Best hub to work with homekit?

[x-evil-x]

I currently have the wink hub and they don't seem like they would support homekit. Ive emailed and said their hardware doesnt support it. Theres the samsung smartThings but they don't support nest looks like and i have some quirky switches they don't support but they are supporting home kit. Is there another hub that does the job well? I have plenty of z-wave switches and lamp modules. Caseta lamp module ill probably return since i picked up a hue system. I have In wall lutrons also. Also, controlling the hue bulbs through wink has big time delays.

 

[Recognition]

Gonna say Homebridge,
Its not an 'off-the-shelf' hub as you have to set it up and write snippets of code yourself but its free and works with the majority of smart devices out there.

Depends if you're ok with tinkering around with the terminal or just want a plug-and-play device.

 

[brianbunge]

The new Amazon Echo Dot works with Nest. It was just announced today. Preorder is $49 with October 20 delivery date. I'm giving this a shot because Homekit has not worked very well for me so far and I still cannot get the Home app to recognize my Apple TV 4.

 

[ericgtr12]

The new Amazon Echo Dot works with Nest. It was just announced today. Preorder is $49 with October 20 delivery date. I'm giving this a shot because Homekit has not worked very well for me so far and I still cannot get the Home app to recognize my Apple TV 4.

I have two Echos in my home, it works with everything I have such as Nest, Hue and WEMO, two of which do not work with Homekit unfortunately. Apple has put such a stringent hardware requirement on all these 3rd party manufacturers that it's unreasonable for them to completely redesign their hardware to suit. I originally had high hopes for Homekit but the bottom line is they're way behind most other home automation solutions when it comes to compatibility.

 

[x-evil-x]

Anybody have a samsung smarthings hub? I really have no issues with the wink besides no being able to support siri or home kit which i eventually want.

 

[brianbunge]

I have two Echos in my home, it works with everything I have such as Nest, Hue and WEMO, two of which do not work with Homekit unfortunately. Apple has put such a stringent hardware requirement on all these 3rd party manufacturers that it's unreasonable for them to completely redesign their hardware to suit. I originally had high hopes for Homekit but the bottom line is they're way behind most other home automation solutions when it comes to compatibility.

I'm basically in the same boat as you. WeMo light switches, Hue white bulbs and two Blooms, and a Nest thermostat. It's cheaper (especially with the new Dots only $49 each) to go this route than to get a new thermostat and switches that work perfectly fine otherwise.
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Anybody have a samsung smarthings hub? I really have no issues with the wink besides no being able to support siri or home kit which i eventually want.

That's the next on my list along with several door/window and motion sensors.

 

[x-evil-x]

does the WeMo switch turn off completely? I have two lights that operate flicker type bulbs and most things i tried before (lutron switches) had a small current still running through them even off so the flicker bulbs would still be on (never turn off). I ended up getting this instead and its worked great. https://www.amazon.com/Quirky-PPVP2...4&sr=8-2&keywords=quirky+flexible+power+strip
If i do get a smarthings hub i don't think i can use this anymore.

 

[brianbunge]

I'm using two WeMo switches. One controls the fluorescent light in the kitchen. The other controls the 6 bulbs that are over the double vanity in the bathroom. Neither have caused any flickering.

I've really been trying to hold out for HomeKit devices but I just can't wait any longer. I was hoping the Apple TV 4 would have Echo-like functionality as well, but of course it doesn't.

 

[ericgtr12]

I'm using two WeMo switches. One controls the fluorescent light in the kitchen. The other controls the 6 bulbs that are over the double vanity in the bathroom. Neither have caused any flickering.

I've really been trying to hold out for HomeKit devices but I just can't wait any longer. I was hoping the Apple TV 4 would have Echo-like functionality as well, but of course it doesn't.

Yeah it's unfortunate but once you get the echo and can control everything with a simple voice command you'll never look back, there's just no comparison. Congrats on your new Dots!

 

[brianbunge]

Thanks! Waiting until 10/20 for them to be delivered might just kill me!

 

[x-evil-x]

I'm using two WeMo switches. One controls the fluorescent light in the kitchen. The other controls the 6 bulbs that are over the double vanity in the bathroom. Neither have caused any flickering.

I've really been trying to hold out for HomeKit devices but I just can't wait any longer. I was hoping the Apple TV 4 would have Echo-like functionality as well, but of course it doesn't.

I found a review that has the same pow

I'm using two WeMo switches. One controls the fluorescent light in the kitchen. The other controls the 6 bulbs that are over the double vanity in the bathroom. Neither have caused any flickering.

I've really been trying to hold out for HomeKit devices but I just can't wait any longer. I was hoping the Apple TV 4 would have Echo-like functionality as well, but of course it doesn't.

I found a review on amazing using the power pivot and the Samsung smartthings Hub using iftt app so I can use it looks like. Anybody have similar setup controlling the nest with that app and using a hub to trigger it?

 

[brianbunge]

Power pivot?

 

[x-evil-x]

Yea the link I posted to Amazon. Only thing I found that worked with the flicker bulbs. Being their 1watt or something the other switched still had some current running to them when they where off so they workday ever completely turn off.

 

[steve knight]

Anybody have a samsung smarthings hub? I really have no issues with the wink besides no being able to support siri or home kit which i eventually want.

I do it is now pretty reliable though with ios10 it could not work with the hue hub I had to delete the hub and connect it again. Geofencing works but the distances are off. The widgets work on the phone well and the watch I also have remotes to run routines so no real reason to use Siri.

 

[x-evil-x]

I do it is now pretty reliable though with ios10 it could not work with the hue hub I had to delete the hub and connect it again. Geofencing works but the distances are off. The widgets work on the phone well and the watch I also have remotes to run routines so no real reason to use Siri.

i just picked up a smarthings hub and realized it doesnt have anything on their list of supported things that i use. i have a few lutron in wall dimmers that aren't supported. Doesnt seem like the hue lights are supported. some z wave things but for the most part nothing i use. Also no nest support

 

[steve knight]

hue works fine on smarthings been using that for two years. but it does not work with everything nest is pretty much isolated from everything but the echo from amazon. I used wink bulbs then hue and shlauge locks remotes opening close sensors temp sensors motion sensors and cameras on it there is a huge amount of thigns that are supported.

 

[ericgtr12]

hue works fine on smarthings been using that for two years. but it does not work with everything nest is pretty much isolated from everything but the echo from amazon. I used wink bulbs then hue and shlauge locks remotes opening close sensors temp sensors motion sensors and cameras on it there is a huge amount of thigns that are supported.

Yeah it's too bad that Nest has made themselves unavailable to many competitors, if I ever upgrade it'll likely be a different brand because of it.

 

[xraydoc]

HomeBridge can be configured to access the devices on Wink. Fortunately I use Lutron and Hue for lights, so they're controllable directly with HomeKit. I do use HomeBridge to access my Nest thermostat, however.

The Hue hub can be accessed by Wink, Alexa and HomeKit simultaneously, so that may help you there.

Lutron can be accessed by both Alexa and HomeKit if the Lutron dimmers are paired with the Lutron hub. If the dimmers are paired with Wink, then HomeKit cannot access them (but can be made to work with Wink and Alexa). So with Lutron... choose two of three - Alexa, Siri, Wink - unless you bridge the Wink to HomeKit with HomeBridge. Requires some configuration and an always-on Mac or a Raspberry Pi... but doable.