HomeKit HomeKit hub changed by itself? Why?

[malcky77]

Hi folks,

I have a 4K Apple TV connected via Ethernet and I choose to use this as my HomeKit hub when I started to a install smart home products around the house (at the start of 2019)

Now last week I got my first HomePod and I love it, it was also marked as the backup home hub when looking at the settings in the home app (The 4K Apple TV was the main hub marked as connected).

I was just now looking at the home app settings again and noticed that the main HomeKit hub is now marked as the HomePod being connected, and the 4K Apple TV as the backup.....why would this change by itself? And does it really matter which device is the main hub if multiple items are available?

Thanks

 

[bennetbecker]

Shouldn’t really matter - I have seen it switch over as one goes through the software update process to maintain access to HomeKit while the updating device is offline. The only reason I think it would matter would be if you have any Bluetooth connected HomeKit accessories, since one device might be too far to connect to the accessory (such as an August Lock or similar).

 

[JBaby]

It seems HomePod takes precedence over tv in the Home hub hierarchy.

 

[Itinj24]

There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to this. I have four ATV 4Ks and two HomePods all being used as Hubs. Two of my ATV’s are connected via ethernet, one to an Eero satellite node and the other direct to the main Eero router and for some reason, HomeKit keeps defaulting to an ATV in the corner of the house running on WiFi. Like you though, HomeKit is running as it should, except for terrible lag and accessories updating when I have too many apps running in the background and Safari is open (I’m attributing this to the Ram management issue of iOS13). iPhone runs hot while this is occurring but it clears out when I close the background apps.
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[malcky77]

There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to this. I have four ATV 4Ks and two HomePods all being used as Hubs. Two of my ATV’s are connected via ethernet, one to an Eero satellite node and the other direct to the main Eero router and for some reason, HomeKit keeps defaulting to an ATV in the corner of the house running on WiFi. Like you though, HomeKit is running as it should, except for terrible lag and accessories updating when I have too many apps running in the background and Safari is open (I’m attributing this to the Ram management issue of iOS13). iPhone runs hot while this is occurring but it clears out when I close the background apps.
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Can I assume you are talking about your phone having a lag on the home app when you have lots of apps open on the phone?

Other devices that use the home app will perform as expected (fast) when your phone has lots of things open?

 

[Itinj24]

Can I assume you are talking about your phone having a lag on the home app when you have lots of apps open on the phone?

Other devices that use the home app will perform as expected (fast) when your phone has lots of things open?

Your assumption is correct about the iPhone. Haven’t really tried it with my iPad (Pro 11”) but I’ll see what happens. I have a wall mounted iPad Air 2 that seems fine while this is going on. This behavior started after one of the iOS 13 updates but I can’t remember or pinpoint exactly which one. It also clears up when I hard reboot the iPhone. Oddly though, I never have an issue with this while on LTE. Only when connected to my home WiFi.

 

[robnbill]

Shouldn’t really matter - I have seen it switch over as one goes through the software update process to maintain access to HomeKit while the updating device is offline. The only reason I think it would matter would be if you have any Bluetooth connected HomeKit accessories, since one device might be too far to connect to the accessory (such as an August Lock or similar).

I think the other hubs - even though they are on standby - repeat the BT signals. We have about 8 Apple devices that act as hubs - 3-ATV's and 4-HP's - control moves around from time-to-time - software updates -yes, and other unknown reasons too. Had BT issues (locks) a couple years ago - but no longer.

 

[malcky77]

@robnbill have you noticed any difference in performance or behaviour at any point with different devices acting as the main home hub?
or is it that you can’t tell unless you happen to look in the home app as to which device is the home hub.

 

[robnbill]

@robnbill have you noticed any difference in performance or behaviour at any point with different devices acting as the main home hub?
or is it that you can’t tell unless you happen to look in the home app as to which device is the home hub.

I don't think so - I'll check next time there is a glitch. I just checked and the connected hub moved from an ATV in the lower level to a HP in the lower level - no idea why. If it 'seems' that a HP is not responding consistently I will restart it (not reset) - I like that option over unplugging it.

 

[cynics]

The HomeHub that is "connected" is the hub that is acting like your iPhone when you aren't home. The HomeHubs in "standby" are business as usual being used to tunnel and extend HomeKit range.

HomeKit is using an algorithm to determine which hub to be "connected" although I'm not sure what its looking for. In my personal experience it seems to favor a hub that is central of HomeKit accessories. For me, the connected hubs are the AppleTV and HomePod in my living room the vast majority of the time, swapping between them randomly. If I force the AppleTV in my office to be the connected hub by power cycling the other hubs it will only stay that way for a short period of time before its back to the hubs in the living room.

This is likely for increased speed. Just like when your home using your iPhone the direct connection between hub and accessory can be near instant while hopping across hubs incurs a noticeable delay in accessory response time.

 

[DeanL]

The only reason I think it would matter would be if you have any Bluetooth connected HomeKit accessories, since one device might be too far to connect to the accessory (such as an August Lock or similar).

It doesn't even matter then. The main hub is not the sole hub to talk to devices. Think of houses with multiple floors.
There will be one main hub, but if that main hub is too far, the closest hub can still relay the command.
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I think the other hubs - even though they are on standby - repeat the BT signals. We have about 8 Apple devices that act as hubs - 3-ATV's and 4-HP's - control moves around from time-to-time - software updates -yes, and other unknown reasons too. Had BT issues (locks) a couple years ago - but no longer.

That is correct as per my comment above.