HomePod Intercom feature over cellular

[fwmireault]

Hi,

I use frequently the intercom feature with my HomePods (both OG and mini), and it works pretty well. I’m wondering if there is a way to send a message to all HomePods when I’m away? I know that Apple said it works over CarPlay, and I thought that means it work over cellular on a standalone iPhone, like when I’m doing groceries or something similar. Is there a way to make it work when I’m not in a car? When I am on LTE and send a message on intercom, nothing happens, but I can use it on the same iPhone when connected to Wi-Fi. My intercom notifications are set to « Everywhere » and my localisation for thé Home App is activited.

I know that a similar thread what posted a few months ago, but I didn’t find a solution with it.

Can somebody help me?

 

[Itinj24]

Hi,

I use frequently the intercom feature with my HomePods (both OG and mini), and it works pretty well. I’m wondering if there is a way to send a message to all HomePods when I’m away? I know that Apple said it works over CarPlay, and I thought that means it work over cellular on a standalone iPhone, like when I’m doing groceries or something similar. Is there a way to make it work when I’m not in a car? When I am on LTE and send a message on intercom, nothing happens, but I can use it on the same iPhone when connected to Wi-Fi. My intercom notifications are set to « Everywhere » and my localisation for thé Home App is activited.

I know that a similar thread what posted a few months ago, but I didn’t find a solution with it.

Can somebody help me?

I just tested this by turning off WiFi on my phone. It worked but pretty slow. About a 10 second delay. I’m assuming you need a good LTE/5G connection which I do not have in my area but it still worked.

On a side note, it didn’t work the first time I tried. Got an error that intercom could not be sent but didn’t say why.

 

[fwmireault]

I just tested this by turning off WiFi on my phone. It worked but pretty slow. About a 10 second delay. I’m assuming you need a good LTE/5G connection which I do not have in my area but it still worked.

On a side note, it didn’t work the first time I tried. Got an error that intercom could not be sent but didn’t say why.

Yes I got this error too, but not recently. But I still can’t send a message over LTE. I’ll continue to try, thanks

 

[Itinj24]

Yes I got this error too, but not recently. But I still can’t send a message over LTE. I’ll continue to try, thanks

No problem. It does work though. Try a really strong cellular area and give it a little time.

 

[Itinj24]

I actually still had the notification sitting in my center. This is exactly what it said:

 

[waw74]

1st rule of things when things aren't working right - reboot everything
2nd rule - go to the forums.


reboot your phone

reboot your router and HomePods, wouldn't hurt to go through and unplug them all, then go back to the first thing and plug them in. this can help keep the router or HomePod from caching info

if you have appleTVs, add those in the router and HomePod mix


I'm guessing intercom uses the home hubs to relay just like homekit. Apple doesn't specify, probably because if you using intercom you already have a HomePod.


Go into the home app, check the hubs,
in the top left, hit the home icon, then home settings, then hubs and bridges.

All of your HomePods/aTVs should be listed in the hubs section, One should be "connected", the rest should be "standby"