Homey Smart Home Hub: all-rounder in the smart home?
With compatibility with more than 50,000 smart home devices, the Homey Smart Hub promises to be the perfect solution for a comprehensive smart home experience.
The advantages and disadvantages of Homey
Benefits
- Compatible with many radio standards
- Many apps are available for the individual expansion of the Homey
- Support of all known language assistants (including Amazon Alexa or Google Home)
- Compatible with Apple HomeKit
- Integrated speakers for music (possible alternative for Alexa speaker or Bluetooth speaker)
Disadvantages
- Lack of stability in little-used apps
- The app functions of the docked devices are partially restricted compared to the original application
- No group function is available natively. It must be installed later.
- The integrated loudspeaker is only of mediocre quality.
Functions and application examples for Homey Smart Home Hub
The start-up Athom promises easy control of the whole Smart homes via smartphone app or optionally also via all common language assistants. The heart of the spherical, white Homey gateway is the central control board with a 1 GHz single processor, 512 MB working memory and 4 GB internal memory. To ensure extensive compatibility, Homey can useZ-Wave, Radio and ZigBee devices make contact. A corresponding radio module is installed for each. The Homey Gateway is configured with the help of so-called flows - these are "if-and-then" scenarios that can be set individually.
Example: If the door sensor changes status and it is after 6 p.m., the lights in the living room will switch on.
The chain of “and requirements” can be extended as required for all flows. It is also possible to set "ELSE values", ie events that should happen if the desired requirement is not met.
Example: Set the intensity of the lightbulb to 20 percent - instead of the standard 80 percent "- for example because the sun has not yet set.
Particularly unusual for a smart home hub: It is also equipped with an internal loudspeaker and a headphone output and various environmental sensors. The sensors can output various consumption values such as power consumption, CO2 emissions or temperature changes.
What can the Homey Pro do?
In addition to the Homey, the Homey Pro, which is around 100 euros more expensive, has been available in stores since February 2019. The device, which with a 1 GHz dual core processor and 1 GB of RAM is twice as powerful as the "little" Homey, can host twice as many apps as the basic version. It is therefore particularly suitable for large Smart home systems suitable with many devices and extensive applications. For apartments and smaller houses, however, the performance of the normal Homey gateway has so far proven to be sufficient.
Smart home control with the Homey in the test
The Homey is supplied without quick start instructions, so that newcomers can sometimes struggle with configuring the flows. There is also no reference to the detailed operating instructions available on the Internet. However, once you have familiarized yourself with the menu of the Homey app, the control is largely intuitive and uncomplicated. However, a user account must first be set up on the Homey server in order to use the applications.
So that the Homey can control the individual smart home components, various apps must be activated, i.e. mini applications that form the bridge between the gateway and the respective smart home devices or services. There are currently more than 500 internal apps available for this, which can be configured both via smartphone app and via PC (via browser). However, not all apps are equally well-engineered. Seldom requested apps can turn out to be a bit bulky.
However, the apps for using the components of the large and well-known smart home providers work reliably. What turned out to be a disadvantage in the test: Unfortunately, several smart home devices cannot be combined into a group and controlled at the same time (example: turn on all the lights in the living room). This function can, however, be added later by installing the third-party app "
In addition, users of the all-in-one smart hub must be aware that the Homey Smart home platform supports it, problems can still arise with individual components because not all of the possible functions are supported. In our evaluation of various tests, buyers report, for example, that a smart lightbulb can be switched on and off with the Homey, but that the dimming of the bulb does not work. Or that an LG TV can be switched on with the Homey, but no longer switched off. It is therefore always advisable to search online for the compatibility of the desired smart home components with the Homey and to consider other users reports.
What is Homey compatible with?
Homey can control over 50,000 smart home devices from more than 1,000 manufacturers. An overview of all compatible systems can be found in the Athom app store. As an open hub, smart home devices generally come with the following Radio standards compatible:
Radio devices with the standards:
- WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS
- Bluetooth
- Infrared
- Z-Wave
- ZigBee
- 433 MHz (e.g. for Lightwave RF)
- 868 MHz (often used by weather stations)
Voice assistants:
- Apple HomeKit/ Siri
- Amazon Alexa
- Google Assistant
Conclusion: is the Homey Hub worthwhile for the smart home?
The Homey offers a solid overall package that is sufficiently optimized for all common smart home components. In addition, thanks to the integrated radio frequencies, older electrical devices such as weather stations can also be integrated into the smart home. The built-in speaker is not really a purchase argument for Homey due to the poor quality, the environmental sensors are a more sensible integration.
Even if Homey combines an almost limitless selection of smart devices, you should find out about the scope of compatibility before buying smart home devices. It would be a shame if you could not use all the functions of the smart devices.
Samsung SmartThings
Samsung SmartThings is unbeaten, especially in the area of networking household appliances and TVs. In other smart home areas, the list of compatible devices and systems is a little shorter, but there are enough toys for home automation.
Compatible devices for Samsung SmartThings:
Connect with the SmartThings app Smart homeDevices from different manufacturers. In contrast to open platforms such as Homee or Magenta Smart Home, the compatibility list of the Samsung system is still relatively manageable.
Samsung SmartThings plays its strengths in the field of household appliances and Smart TVs out.
Voice control is via Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Bixby possible.
The central element of the system is the SmartThings hub, which is connected to the router.
Using the SmartThings app, you define routines that the system executes at a specific time of day or when a specific event occurs.
You can put entertainment, air conditioning, security and lighting into its Home automation record, tape.
Compatible devices include popular smart home products from Philips Hue, Bose, Aeotec and Fibaro.
What is Samsung SmartThings?
SmartThings is an open one Smart home system from Samsung to control smart home devices from different manufacturers. The project started in 2012 under the name “SmartThings”. In 2014, Samsung got on board and bought the promising start-up.
The idea behind SmartThings is to network various devices from well-known manufacturers. These include lights from Philips Hue, speakers from Bose and security sensors from Fibaro. They can be grouped together and automated in if-then routines that are linked to a specific action or time.
For example, if you leave the house early in the morning, the Samsung Smart Sensor registers that nobody is in the house anymore. An appropriate routine then locks all doors, switches off the lights and switches on the security camera. If you have left the bedside lamp on, that is no problem. SmartThings tells the smart socket to cut the power. If you go to sleep at 11 p.m., the app reports doors or windows that are left open before turning down the thermostat and turning off the light.
Log into the SmartThings platform with a Samsung account. If you have created a SmartThings profile, the app will automatically search for compatible devices. To manually add a device to the list, simply scan the QR code.
The heart of the system: The Samsung SmartThings Hub
The SmartThings app communicates with the Samsung SmartThings Hub. The hub is a kind of control centre that wirelessly controls all smart home devices and forms the central node between devices and smartphones or tablets. The hub supports WiFi, ZigBee3.0, Z-Wave and Bluetooth Low Energy. Thanks to the minimalist, round design, the hub blends inconspicuously into its surroundings. If you want to save yourself the LAN connection to the router, you can opt for the SmartThings Wi-Fi, which is both router and hub.
The brain of the system: The SmartThings app
With the SmartThings app you can
- Control the registered devices and define their settings (time, brightness, etc.).
- Create routines to perform several actions at the same time in certain scenarios.
- Set up to 20 users who are also allowed to control the Smart Home devices.
- See status changes immediately (for example, when - SmartThings turns off the lights or turns down the thermostat)
SmartThings Smart Home sensors from Samsung
Samsung produces its own smart home products for SmartThings. Above all, simple sensors play an important role here, as they can pass status changes on to compatible household appliances, lighting systems or surveillance cameras.
- Multifunctional sensor to check doors, windows or drawers to see whether they are open or closed
- Socket adapter to switch non-smart devices on and off via the app.
- SmartThings Button to control SmartThings devices.
- Motion sensor
- Presence sensor
- Water outlet sensor
- Air quality sensor
- Smoke detector
- Switch / dimmer
Samsung home appliances compatible with SmartThings
With household appliances in particular, it is evident that SmartThings is not as open a system as it would like to be. The compatibility list for household appliances essentially only includes Samsung devices. On the other hand, Samsung SmartThings is still the smart home system that most thoroughly covers the area of household appliances. You can network and control these household appliances from Samsung using the app:
- Smart TV
- Air conditioner
- Air cleaner
- Washing machine
- Dryer
- Vacuum robot
- Fridge
- Stove
- Cooking surface
- Dishwasher
- Window blind
Lighting systems compatible with SmartThings
- Philips Hue
- Osram / Lightify Yeelight
- Tint
- Sengled
- LiFX
- Innr
- IKEA
- Aurora
- Aeotec
Switches and dimmers compatible with SmartThings
- Aeotec - Nano Switch, Nano Dimmer, Smart Switch 6, Smart Dimmer 6
- Fibaro - Double Switch 2, Single Switch 2, Dimmer 2
- Neo Coolcam - Z-Wave Switch
- Qubino - mini dimmer
- RGB + CCT - LED controller
- Sengled - Smart Switch
- Sonoff - Basic R3 Zigbee
- TP-Link - Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch HS200
Security systems compatible with SmartThings
Improving the security in your own four walls is one of the main goals of Samsung SmartThings. With the smart system, you can use video doorbells, WLAN door locks, smoke detector, Security camera as well motion detector network numerous manufacturers via the app. Routines can also be defined here. If someone tries to force the window open while you are away, SmartThings will send you a push notification. The app also turns on the lights and the television to deter potential intruders.
Video cameras compatible with SmartThings
- Netgear Arlo
- Netgear Spotlight
- Netgear Floodlight
Sensors compatible with SmartThings
- Fibaro - smoke sensor, water leak sensor, door / window sensor, motion sensor (Z-Wave)
- Ecolink - Zigbee door / window sensor, Z-Wave Plus door / window sensor
- Eria - AduroSmart door / window sensor
- Sengled - door / window sensor
- eWeLink - door sensor
- Sensative - Strip Guards
- Nyce - door / window sensor (Zigbee)
- Neo Coolcam - door / window sensor
Electric door locks compatible with SmartThings
- Danalock - V3 Smart Lock (Z-Wave) and V3 Smart Lock (ZigBee)
- KeyWe - KeyWe Smart Lock
- Yale - Conexis L1
- Sirens compatible with SmartThings
- Sercomm (ST Brand) - Camera RC8335 (for Vodafone)
- Neo Coolcam - Z-Wave plus alarm siren
- Eternitry - Wireless Siren for Zigbee
Air conditioning technology compatible with SmartThings
SmartThings helps you to save energy and to feel more comfortable in your home. Intelligent sensors report temperature and humidity. If the air is too dry, the humidifier starts up. You can also easily monitor your power consumption with a smart ammeter. If it seems too high, use the SmartThings app to check which devices are in standby mode and switch some off.
Thermostats compatible with SmartThings
- Danfoss - Radiator Thermostat LC-13
- Sylvania - contact and temperature sensor
- Honeywell - radiator controller
- Air purifiers and sensors compatible with SmartThings
- Aeotec - Multisensor 6 (light, humidity and vibration sensor)
- Miro SmartHome air purifier - MP18 and MP24
- Ecolink - Z-Wave Plus moisture and frost sensor
Music control compatible with SmartThings
You can also integrate your Smart TV into routines with SmartThings. For example, you can set up a “welcome routine” when you come home from the office. If you recognize the smart video doorbell, the light switches on and your favourite music welcomes you.
SmartThings compatible speakers
- Bose Sound Touch - 300 Soundbar, Wave Music System, 130 Home Theatre System, SA-4 or SA-5 Amplifier, 520 Home Theatre System, 650 Home Entertainment System, 10/20 or 30 Wireless Music System, 123/525 or 535 Entertainment system