HomeKit HKSV device limits ...

[Paco II]

So based on my own experience with a 200GB plan, I can have more than one camera go through HKSV, but only one can be enabled to record. So at least you can still get the security of HKSV beyond your current device limit.

But as I start to think about expanding my use of HKSV, that five camera limit for recording, on a 2TB plan, sure seems limiting.

Is anyone hitting up against that 5 device limit? Having to create an additional iCloud account to add more does not seem like an ideal approach.

Do you think Apple will up that limit at some point?

 

[d.steve]

Yeah, it really sucks. It's incredibly limiting for a lot of people, but I'm guessing it's like the last 10-20% and not the majority.

I suspect Apple's primary concern is the ability of the home hub to simultaneously process the max number of HKSV cameras, and any increase is likely tied to newer, more capable homekit home hub hardware. They could also implement load sharing across multiple home hubs, but that seems like a very un-Apple like solution.

There could be a few other considerations, like simultaneous upload bandwidth for some customers and cloud storage costs (has to be mentioned but I don't think is really an issue). Perhaps even local network bandwidth to some extent, as the HKSV model is basically for the cameras to stream to the home hub reactively and let the home hub filter out the noise.

Not remotely a concern for a lot of us with super fast wifi and gigabit uplinks, but I'm sure it's designed with the minimum supported configuration in mind.

It's very Apple-like IMO for them to stay conservative on the capabilities and take their time opening it up. It could be a while, and actually, I wouldn't be completely surprised if we get 2k or 4k support before an increase in max cameras. I'd rather see more cameras, personally.

 

[Paco II]

It feels like Apple is going to have to do something to deal with this. If they want people all in with HomeKit, five cameras (recording) is too low of a limit. Perhaps a dedicated hub device with the capacity to handle more streams? Beefier Apple TV or HomePod hardware with this in mind?

 

[Itinj24]

As someone with a lot of Logitech Circle 2 cameras, I was really looking forward to the new version before it was released. Enter the Logitech Circle View. HKSV support only and thusly, capping their customers out at 5 cameras. Same with Eve cameras. That’s a pass for me. Besides, I prefer being able to use the logi app in conjunction with HomeKit. Sometimes, the cameras will go “No Response” in HomeKit but work in the Logi app so there’s a bit of redundancy which is nice. Five is just way to limiting of an amount for me. My house is multi layered and multi faceted. My rear deck alone requires four cameras for full coverage. Going by your other thread about HomeKit firmware updates, Paco, I can assume that you’re not too interested in third party security apps and I can appreciate that but who knows when, if ever, this five camera limit will be increased. It’s a trade off that can’t be entirely avoided... with an increase in technology comes a decrease in privacy. Even Apple employees were caught mishandling customers’ HomePod Siri commands and had to correct it.

 

[Paco II]

It’s a difficult choice. I think about the future of IoT and no way will I trust random companies to have solid security. So I’d like to go all in with HomeKit. But we’ll see if Apple can evolve it quickly.

As someone with a lot of Logitech Circle 2 cameras, I was really looking forward to the new version before it was released. Enter the Logitech Circle View. HKSV support only and thusly, capping their customers out at 5 cameras. Same with Eve cameras. That’s a pass for me. Besides, I prefer being able to use the logi app in conjunction with HomeKit. Sometimes, the cameras will go “No Response” in HomeKit but work in the Logi app so there’s a bit of redundancy which is nice. Five is just way to limiting of an amount for me. My house is multi layered and multi faceted. My rear deck alone requires four cameras for full coverage. Going by your other thread about HomeKit firmware updates, Paco, I can assume that you’re not too interested in third party security apps and I can appreciate that but who knows when, if ever, this five camera limit will be increased. It’s a trade off that can’t be entirely avoided... with an increase in technology comes a decrease in privacy. Even Apple employees were caught mishandling customers’ HomePod Siri commands and had to correct it.