HomeKit PSA: even new eve window/door sensor needs FW update to use Thread

[joeblough]

I just came here to ask how to know if an eve window/door sensor is using Thread with the new AppleTV 4K. however i happened to look in my eve app and noticed that there was a firmware update pending for the window/door switch i installed the other day. the release notes say the update is required to enable Thread. this was a bit of a surprise since the eve was brand new and was advertised as using Thread, so i thought it would work out of the box.

it seemed like it was already using Thread since it seemed to be more reliable than my Koogeek door sensor which definitely uses BTLE. but that might just be down to a better radio in the new AppleTV 4K. anyway i wish there was a way to actually see how various homekit devices are talking to the appleTV!

i find that in general BTLE homekit accessories just don't work well as the range seems to be too limited. hoping that Thread solves that problem.

 

[ouimetnick]

I played with the eve app recently even though I don’t own any of their devices. It shows you what thread products are connected to what.

I was able to use the Eve app to see my Nanoleaf bulbs (thread enabled) were connected to my mom’s HomePod mini.

 

[joeblough]

ok i will check the eve app again. it is pretty busy in there so not sure where to look...

 

[joeblough]

ok - under the device itself you have to hit "edit" and then add in the 3 thread-related things shown.

initially it said "transport: thread, capabilities none and thread status: disabled" but now it has changed to "transport: bluetooth, capabilities: sleepy and thread status: disabled." not sure how to get it to use thread... the hub is an appleTV 4k gen 2, so it should be thread-enabled.

 

[joeblough]

well it seems the eve keeps bouncing between thread and bluetooth LE. this is attached to a garage door and it seems like when it's open the eve falls back to bluetooth. eventually after closing the door it reestablishes a thread connection. the door blocks the line of sight to the appleTV when it is open.

this is too bad as i had hoped thread would be more resilient. i guess one thing i could do is replace a koogeek door sensor on a door that's between the garage door and the appleTV and hope that thread would form a mesh network between the sensors.

 

[ouimetnick]

well it seems the eve keeps bouncing between thread and bluetooth LE. this is attached to a garage door and it seems like when it's open the eve falls back to bluetooth. eventually after closing the door it reestablishes a thread connection. the door blocks the line of sight to the appleTV when it is open.

this is too bad as i had hoped thread would be more resilient. i guess one thing i could do is replace a koogeek door sensor on a door that's between the garage door and the appleTV and hope that thread would form a mesh network between the sensors.

You could put one of those new thread enabled Eve smart outlets nearby. Thread doesn’t need line of sight to work in my experience. It has a pretty decent range as well.

 

[joeblough]

that's true, i guess the outlets are the same as the new appletv4k? ethernet to thread bridge?

whatever the cause the distance is apparently too much even for thread, i guess. has to go thru the entire length of the garage, then a wall/door, and then the appleTV is in a TV nook which is basically behind 6-7 feet of wall from the point of view of the garage door.