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Hunter Fan Company Expanding Lineup of HomeKit-Enabled Ceiling Fans

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Hunter Fan Company today announced it is expanding its SIMPLEconnect collection of Wi-Fi-enabled ceiling fans, all of which feature HomeKit support for controlling the fans with Apple's Home app or Siri voice commands.

hunter-fan-feature-purple.jpg

The company's new Aerodyne fan pictured above is said to offer 20 percent higher airflow velocity than leading competitors. The 52-inch fan is equipped with an LED light and is available in Matte Black or Matte Silver for $179.99 at HunterFan.com.

In addition, the Hunter Fan Company plans to release a new Stylus fan later this year, but no details were provided. This will expand Hunter Fan Company's lineup of Wi-Fi-enabled fans to 15 models, including the Aerodyne, Signal, Symphony, Romulus, Radeon, Advocate, Apache, and more, many of which can be found at home improvement stores.

The new ceiling fans are also compatible with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Hunter Fan Company's SIMPLEconnect app.

Article Link: Hunter Fan Company Expanding Lineup of HomeKit-Enabled Ceiling Fans
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/05/04/hunter-fan-company-new-homekit-ceiling-fans/
I like what I'm reading. A great start. Jump on board other fan companies as well.
 
Anyone have experience with these? Are they worthwhile? I have 5 ceiling fans in my house Id like to slowly replace with homekit enabled ones.
 
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I think it's great that more devices are working across Apple, Google, and Amazon but, can we stop trying to make everything smart? You still need to have the switch on for it to work. I get that if it's a voice command to change the direction, turn off the light or fan, etc but I strongly believe the solution is having smart light switches not smart products.

Like sure, make products semi-smart but let me turn them on and off from a switch. It's why I refuse to buy into Hue bulbs. Hue lamps, sure but the bulbs are stupid.
 
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bigcat318 said:
Anyone have experience with these? Are they worthwhile? I have 5 ceiling fans in my house Id like to slowly replace with homekit enabled ones.
Click to expand...
The SimpleConnect app is absolute garbage. It constantly pops up and says it can’t sync with iCloud.

the HomeKit feature work despite but you can only do basic stuff because the app is so bad.
 
qCzar said:
I think it's great that more devices are working across Apple, Google, and Amazon but, can we stop trying to make everything smart? You still need to have the switch on for it to work. I get that if it's a voice command to change the direction, turn off the light or fan, etc but I strongly believe the solution is having smart light switches not smart products.

Like sure, make products semi-smart but let me turn them on and off from a switch. It's why I refuse to buy into Hue bulbs. Hue lamps, sure but the bulbs are stupid.
Click to expand...

I think you would be pleased with some of Lutron's Caseta offerings. The switch is the "smart" part, and it can work with standard dimmable light bulbs and variable speed fans. No batteries to replace, no Wi-Fi passwords to put in for each device, etc. Average users can still operate the wall controls (they don't need a smart device).

Costly, but I think it achieves the experience you are looking for.

 
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qCzar said:
I think it's great that more devices are working across Apple, Google, and Amazon but, can we stop trying to make everything smart? You still need to have the switch on for it to work. I get that if it's a voice command to change the direction, turn off the light or fan, etc but I strongly believe the solution is having smart light switches not smart products.

Like sure, make products semi-smart but let me turn them on and off from a switch. It's why I refuse to buy into Hue bulbs. Hue lamps, sure but the bulbs are stupid.
Click to expand...
And there is the point of failure...the actual switch. It has to be on for it to work. Until this is solved for, there's no point.
 
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bigcat318 said:
Anyone have experience with these? Are they worthwhile? I have 5 ceiling fans in my house Id like to slowly replace with homekit enabled ones.
Click to expand...
How do you like ceiling fans in general?

I just moved to the Midwest where we use ac in the summer and central heat in the winter.

a few of the rooms, including bedrooms have fans. I’ve never been in a place with them.

I’m just not sure how to best use them? I feel like using the fans at night can dry out my nose?
 
qCzar said:
I think it's great that more devices are working across Apple, Google, and Amazon but, can we stop trying to make everything smart? You still need to have the switch on for it to work. I get that if it's a voice command to change the direction, turn off the light or fan, etc but I strongly believe the solution is having smart light switches not smart products.
Click to expand...

The problem is finding a switch that will work with the fan; the light is is easy, smart fan switches not so easy to find.

BlendedFrog said:
And there is the point of failure...the actual switch. It has to be on for it to work. Until this is solved for, there's no point.
Click to expand...

Just wire the fan directly to the power source and bypass the switch. Of course, in that case if the connection goes down you have no way to turn it of short of poping a breaker...
 
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This can already be achieved with the Lutron Caseta switch, and works with almost all regular fans:

www.amazon.com

Lutron Caseta Smart Fan Speed Control Switch, Single-Pole, PD-FSQN-WH, White

Experience the ultimate comfort and convenience with the Caseta Smart Fan Speed Control. This fan control gives you the ability to turn your fan on/off or choose between four speeds for increased comfort. Eliminate your pull chains - use with the wireless Fan Pico remote (PJ2-3BRL-GXX-F01, sold s...
www.amazon.com

If you’re waiting for something like this and like your existing fan(s), do yourself a favor and just get a Caseta switch.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
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qCzar said:
I think it's great that more devices are working across Apple, Google, and Amazon but, can we stop trying to make everything smart? You still need to have the switch on for it to work. I get that if it's a voice command to change the direction, turn off the light or fan, etc but I strongly believe the solution is having smart light switches not smart products.

Like sure, make products semi-smart but let me turn them on and off from a switch. It's why I refuse to buy into Hue bulbs. Hue lamps, sure but the bulbs are stupid.
Click to expand...
Our living room fan is only remote operated. Basically it’s always on, wired through the ceiling. So the “switch” isn’t an issue.

We went this way out of necessity; the old house has very little wiring in the living room and we didn’t feel like running from the ceiling to install a wall switch.

This week, after about two and half years, the radio receiver in the fan stopped working so we have to replace that.
 
nutmac said:
I personally prefer using traditional ceiling fans with Lutron Caseta Smart Fan Speed Control Switch. Coincidentally, most of Hunter's non-smart fans are compatible with Lutron.
Click to expand...
Does that switch work with HomeKit out of the box? I see it says "Google, Alexa, and more," but "and more" could just mean Bixby.

If I found a switch that worked natively with HomeKit, I would be all over it.

I still love my hue bulbs though.
 
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v3rlon said:
Does that switch work with HomeKit out of the box? I see it says "Google, Alexa, and more," but "and more" could just mean Bixby.

If I found a switch that worked natively with HomeKit, I would be all over it.

I still love my hue bulbs though.
Click to expand...
Also, check out this video that uses the Lutron Dimmer with Phillips Hue:
 
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jashworth03 said:
The SimpleConnect app is absolute garbage. It constantly pops up and says it can’t sync with iCloud.

the HomeKit feature work despite but you can only do basic stuff because the app is so bad.
Click to expand...
Yep, I have a Casablanca Aya and it is hands down the worst HomeKit device I've interacted with.

It took 8 months for hunter/casablanca to realize that they printed the wrong HomeKit codes with the product. It also perpetually reports that the light is on when it isn't, at least it follows the sunrise/sunset automation.
 
I just installed a Hunter SimpleConnect (Cavera) in my owners bedroom. So far it is working great! Pretty good fan for under $200. It is quiet and very stylish for the space.
 
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