Updated Eve Motion Sensor Gains Thread Support

[w5jck]

Someone is wearing their big boy pants. 🤣

Nope. I think he just pooped in his diaper, as he is the one acting childish. The Apple apologists around here make me sick, just like the Apple haters do. Two extremes, both of which are wrong. People should use whatever works for them when it comes to home automation. I use both Apple and Amazon, and quite frankly, neither does that great of job on a consistent level. Siri is rather stupid, and Apple doesn't fully open HK. Alexa won't shut up, always trys to push more sales, but the accessories are more plentiful and often work better. Neither is anywhere close to the level they should be at though, and I doubt either will get to that point any time soon.

 

[Ashbash75]

Nope. I think he just pooped in his diaper, as he is the one acting childish. The Apple apologists around here make me sick, just like the Apple haters do. Two extremes, both of which are wrong. People should use whatever works for them when it comes to home automation. I use both Apple and Amazon, and quite frankly, neither does that great of job on a consistent level. Siri is rather stupid, and Apple doesn't fully open HK. Alexa won't shut up, always trys to push more sales, but the accessories are more plentiful and often work better. Neither is anywhere close to the level they should be at though, and I doubt either will get to that point any time soon.

I just don't get it. Apple haters I understand but round here, any slight criticism about Apple products and it's a crime.

Homekit has a lot of potential but it seems Apple just does enough to keep it's fingers in the pie and that's half baked. I really do hope they do not screw up thread/matter/choip like they did with zigbee!

 

[name99]

Late to what party? Hue is on Zigbee while this new Eve sensor is on thread.

They use two different standards…

Thread is superior in every category as well as being backed by the Matter application layer which is fully integrated with iOS and Android.

The Apple TV is already a bridge border router for thread accessories, which means no hub required.

Here are a few key points for the unfamiliar:

• much lower latency (often half of Zigbee's);
• Thread seems to send the commands in the first packet, not wait for back-and-forth connection establishing.
• much better performance in the mesh network - especially over multiple hops
• no need for a hub - all IP based, directly addressable without "translations" by a hub to the rest of the network
• as redundant and safe as the internet, using proven IP technologies
• open and royalty-free standard (openthread implementation on github)
• built specifically for the smart home - with easier device commissioning (e.g. via smartphone / QR code)

Thread is SUPPOSED to be superior. I'm not yet convinced.
You get better range than BT, yes, because of the meshing; but Thread latency seems to be really bad. And this is latency for things like light bulbs and plugs, which always have power so they can't use "but we're desperate to save power" as an excuse.

It's still a new spec so there's a hope that it's just dodgy 1st gen HW, or bad implementations in SW, but so far I'm disappointed compared to what was promised.

 

[Ashbash75]

Thread is SUPPOSED to be superior. I'm not yet convinced.
You get better range than BT, yes, because of the meshing; but Thread latency seems to be really bad. And this is latency for things like light bulbs and plugs, which always have power so they can't use "but we're desperate to save power" as an excuse.

It's still a new spec so there's a hope that it's just dodgy 1st gen HW, or bad implementations in SW, but so far I'm disappointed compared to what was promised.

Really? That's interesting, do you have any more information on this?

 

[name99]

Two of the Eve energy plugs are on thread. The Eve Extend is on Thread. I'm sorry, but while I accept Thread should be superior, Eve has executed it badly, and their customer support team are absolutely terrible. Rude, obnoxious and without any empathy at all when the products break.

I don't know about the US, but in the EU, products must be fit for purpose for 2 years. The manufacturer hasn't got a leg to stand on if their product breaks. They must repair or replace it. Eve constantly tries to fight this and lie their backsides off claiming only a one-year warranty. These are pure lies. It's 2 years in Europe and 6 in the UK.

I wouldn't touch Eve products again with a barge pole, especially having spent so much on them in the past.

My Hue products have been flawless since day dot, and the one bulb that died was replaced without question 3 years after it popped. Added to that, the range is phenomenal. I own two properties and one has a very large garden. The Hue lights work across the entire property without any issues, both inside and out. Aside from the fact that Eve doesn't have the same products as Hue, their motion sensors work flawlessly, wind, rain or shine. They all have temperature sensors which are accurate and using HomeBridge, you can log the results as you would do with Eve Weather.

The sockets are reliable and just, work. They work with automations both on the Hue platform and on HomeBridge and the latency on the sensors is about half a second...if that. (I use them across my property for the outdoor floodsides and terrace lights).

In short, there are much better solutions to Eve.

I agree that Eve on Thread seems to have been executed very badly and they need to fix it ASAP.
But Eve Extend is not Thread, it was a BT Extender (which worked badly, yes), and has been discontinued since it's irrelevant to a Thread world.
You lose credibility by throwing it into the rant.

Both Hue and Eve are not ideal. In particular the Hue app is just awful and is never fixed. The refusal to play nice with HomeKit and the fact that if you press just one button by mistake it will rename all your lights in HomeKit (breaking all your Automations) are UTTERLY unacceptable. I've abandoned Hue after multiple lights, sensors, and switches, because I just have no interest any more in constantly dealing with this PoS app and the Phillips' passive-aggressive unwillingness to actually work with HomeKit any more than the bare minimum they have to to stick the logo on the box.

 

[name99]

Really? That's interesting, do you have any more information on this?

I have Eve Energy plugs on Thread, and Nanoleaf Essential bulbs on Thread.
Both have noticeably higher latency than what they replaced.
The Nanoleaf Essential bulbs came in a three-pack. One was trouble-free, one took multiple reboots and similar nonsense to work, one has never worked in terms of smartness (basic connection, enough to see it on the network, but no more).

Now both of these could be argued as "shoddy work by Eve and Nanoleaf". And that's probably true. But it also means that the hope we all had, that Thread means the stuff can be trusted to meet at least some minimum quality level, was just that, a dream.

 

[Ashbash75]

I have Eve Energy plugs on Thread, and Nanoleaf Essential bulbs on Thread.
Both have noticeably higher latency than what they replaced.
The Nanoleaf Essential bulbs came in a three-pack. One was trouble-free, one took multiple reboots and similar nonsense to work, one has never worked in terms of smartness (basic connection, enough to see it on the network, but no more).

Now both of these could be argued as "shoddy work by Eve and Nanoleaf". And that's probably true. But it also means that the hope we all had, that Thread means the stuff can be trusted to meet at least some minimum quality level, was just that, a dream.

I've read reports about nanoleaf can be troublesome to get onto the network. Eve is really hit/miss in terms of quality and they are not popular in the UK but I think that's down to the cost But the latency thing is new to me, cheers for that!

 

[beanbaguk]

Nope, I just don't see how a device (hue XYZ) that requires a hub/app/third party configuration (home assistant/bridge) is comparable to a native/no-hub homekit device.

I'm not opposed to HA/HB but I'm willing to pay for native support and I've yet to find a device worthy of firing up HA/HB for. I've also yet to need a hub for ANY of my smart home devices and I'd like to keep it that way.

Well, you’d best ditch your HomeKit hubs then…

 

[Ashbash75]

I get why certain people want native HK and I get why people want to use the likes of HA.

What's even better is that home automation is very popular which gives us choices, so for us consumers, it's a win win.

 

[Mac1986]

My interest in this comes from the fact that it looks like the only sensor I’ve seen that will let you use the light sensor without having to also use the motion sensor. I’ve been wanting my lights to turn on when it’s cloudy out and it looks like this should allow me to set up an automation to do that.

 

[Ashbash75]

My interest in this comes from the fact that it looks like the only sensor I’ve seen that will let you use the light sensor without having to also use the motion sensor. I’ve been wanting my lights to turn on when it’s cloudy out and it looks like this should allow me to set up an automation to do that.

Either wait for the reviews or buy it from Amazon and if it is rubbish send it back 🤣🤣

 

[beanbaguk]

My interest in this comes from the fact that it looks like the only sensor I’ve seen that will let you use the light sensor without having to also use the motion sensor. I’ve been wanting my lights to turn on when it’s cloudy out and it looks like this should allow me to set up an automation to do that.

The Hue sensor does that already. As a bonus, it’s a quality and proven product without the crummy Eve customer support.

 

[keithop]

My interest in this comes from the fact that it looks like the only sensor I’ve seen that will let you use the light sensor without having to also use the motion sensor. I’ve been wanting my lights to turn on when it’s cloudy out and it looks like this should allow me to set up an automation to do that.

yep that's exactly what I'm hoping for too. Far as I know the hue light sensor requires motion for it to bother reading/reporting the lux

 

[keithop]

The Hue sensor does that already. As a bonus, it’s a quality and proven product without the crummy Eve customer support.

may I ask if you've tried this because everyone else I've spoken to says that the hue light sensor only takes a reading when there's motion?

 

[Ashbash75]

may I ask if you've tried this because everyone else I've spoken to says that the hue light sensor only takes a reading when there's motion?

No, I know the Aqara motion does that. Below is my Hue Motion. Lux reporting is adjustable.

 

[keithop]

My interest in this comes from the fact that it looks like the only sensor I’ve seen that will let you use the light sensor without having to also use the motion sensor. I’ve been wanting my lights to turn on when it’s cloudy out and it looks like this should allow me to set up an automation to do that.

just to say Eve Support came back and said yes it works:

"
I am happy to confirm that you can use both sensors individually for automation. I just created one test automation with Eve Light Strip that will turn the light on if the light level falls below 10 Lux, and it worked like a charm.

If you still have any questions, or if there is anything else we can do to help, don't hesitate to contact us again.

Best regards,

Ghania
Eve Support"

 

[Mac1986]

just to say Eve Support came back and said yes it works:

"
I am happy to confirm that you can use both sensors individually for automation. I just created one test automation with Eve Light Strip that will turn the light on if the light level falls below 10 Lux, and it worked like a charm.

If you still have any questions, or if there is anything else we can do to help, don't hesitate to contact us again.

Best regards,

Ghania
Eve Support"

Thanks for checking! I was wondering if maybe I missed a footnote somewhere that said the two must work together. This confirms it then!

 

[beanbaguk]

may I ask if you've tried this because everyone else I've spoken to says that the hue light sensor only takes a reading when there's motion?

Yes it allows for both motion and light in HomeKit.

 

[keithop]

Yes it allows for both motion and light in HomeKit.

thanks for checking.... I'd been told that although you could see both sensors, the light reading didn't actually change unless there was motion.

 

[Mac1986]

I like Eve products, I will wait for this one to hit Amazon since they have 10$ fedex charge on site.

I just ordered it from Amazon. Looks like it was just added.

 

[Apples Apples Everywhere]

Thanks, in for three.

Thanks, my order has shipped!

 

[_Spinn_]

Very cool. I love my Eve thread devices and I'm glad to see more devices transitioning over to thread.

 

[keenkreations]

I like Eve products, I will wait for this one to hit Amazon since they have 10$ fedex charge on site.

It is already on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B5YK7QYZ

 

[Apples Apples Everywhere]

I like Eve products, I will wait for this one to hit Amazon since they have 10$ fedex charge on site.

I ordered from Eve directly, shipping was free.