You're Going to LOVE This Hub (2)

Рет қаралды 15,567

Күн бұрын

The SwitchBot Hub 2 is the best hub from SwitchBot. It's the best smart IR Blaster I've ever used. It's a Matter Bridge (and a great one too). It has 3 sensors embedded in it. It has one of the best automation systems out there today.
And that's all on top of it being a part of one of the best ecosystems of smart home products today. It's great news for us home automation and smart home folks who love automating our lives!
Pick up the SwitchBot Hub 2 here: geni.us/SwitchBotHub2AYL (Amazon affiliate link) or at www.switch-bot.com/automateyo... (affiliate link)
With this coupon too: SJ15HUB2 for 15% off (Until May 10th)
After May 10th, 2023 use code: AUTOMATEYOURLIFE on SwitchBot's site for 10% off
Timecodes for today's video:
00:00 - SwitchBot Hub 2 Review
2:10 - SwitchBot Hub 2 vs Hub Mini
3:00 - SwitchBot Review
3:55 - SwitchBot Hub 2 Automation Breakdown
8:36 - How SwitchBot Works
9:10 - 5 New Automation Options on Hub 2
10:50 - The Amazing SwitchBot Hub 2 IR Blaster Feature
12:58 - SwitchBot Hub 2 Display Review
14:19 - SwitchBot Hub 2 Is A Matter Bridge
16:55 - An Offer For You
Join this channel to get access to extra videos, early releases, and other perks:
/ @automateyourlife
Subscribe to Take The Frustration Out Of Automation: / @automateyourlife
Our recommended smart home products (Amazon affiliate link): geni.us/3KzREP
Get in touch with us through the About Page on KZfaq, or at automatelife.net. See my Statement of Ethics here: automatelife.net/our-ethics-s...
Automate Your Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and other Amazon websites.
Thanks for watching, and Don't Hate, Automate.
Brian

Пікірлер: 108

@c849243 Жыл бұрын

Thanks again for the "heads-up" Brian. You're wonderful !

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

My pleasure! Thank you!

@DarthFurball 7 ай бұрын

Great review. But really wish the hub would also include a 433/866 mhz radio controller to control things like blind / shade motors directly

@AutomateYourLife 7 ай бұрын

Knowing these guys, they'll add something like that to the next one :)

@dontfearthegear1439 Жыл бұрын

The 2 way communication with the IR device is the first time I’ve seen that functionality 👏

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

I know! That's neat and I hope it gets better with some automation options

@ypark2877 Жыл бұрын

Your tutorial channel is great. The details on setting the switchhub 2 is well done. Surprised more from here do not subscribe to that channel also. Did not realize you did more videos there. Yolink has a good temp sensor also and great for distance. Like the LEDs on this one.

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Hey thanks! We've been inconsistent on the other channel in being able to put up content, so that's why I think. My own fault really ;) But thanks! And I do remember a great temp sensor from YoLink

@ronm6585 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Brian.

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Thank you sir!

@vinsriram1782 Жыл бұрын

Another superb review, thanks Brian! It'll be very interesting to see how it integrates with Hubitat when Matter gets rolled out on the C8.

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Yeah that's a gap for me and my home right now so I hope they do too!

@faengelm Жыл бұрын

I really liked your triggers/actions per device breakdown section.kk and the scene section

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Thanks Frank! I like giving that info and it felt appropriate with this new hub. Glad it hit for you!

@HughD Жыл бұрын

Great video, Brian. I bought one for the Matter part as I'd like Switchbot stuff to go right into Homekit w/o using Homebridge as I do now. I'll be glad to get the bot going as that is/was their core product. I'll be a little patient, but hope they get-r-done soon! Thank you!

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

I hope so too Hugh! I'm waiting for that one and it should be fairly easy since it's a switch!😃. We will wait together

@c849243 Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Too kind Big Bear! Thank you!

@bradkrekelberg8624 Жыл бұрын

Sweet, I've been waiting for an outdoor temp sensor. Hard to understand why no one has done one before this.

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

There are a few, but I like this one a lot! You'll see it fully on the next unbox video Brad. 😃

@daveschmarder-1950 Жыл бұрын

It's hard to imagine that in the second quarter of 2023, I'm still operating my shades by hand. But I can hallucinate abut buying one of these this year.

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Yeah Dave...get it done man!

@St.Plourde Жыл бұрын

Do you know the outside temperature operation for the probe? With our winter here, mine froze last winter and I was unable to got the weather at -40 c. I'm about to pull the trigger for those things, but can't find the information for the probe.

@alwaysright3718 Жыл бұрын

FYI Tuya have removed adding blinds and curtains so I would assume that there are over one million people that can no longer open and close their blinds worldwide using their voice. This is just one of the many reasons smart home automation will never become main stream tech...

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Tuya have removed adding blinds and curtains to their platform? Where did you see this?

@alwaysright3718 Жыл бұрын

@@AutomateYourLife Open the app and see if you can add a blind or curtain. I can't... so if you already had them configured Google Home see them as a switch and think they should be switched on or off rather than open or closed therefore voice commands no longer work 🤬

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

They are sitting in the tuya app and seem to be working there, but I don't have one to test. As for Google...that's a Google thing through and through. They're a pain in the ass with stuff changing all the time.

@alwaysright3718 Жыл бұрын

@@AutomateYourLife hmmm you are right, they weren't there yesterday... how bizarre. This is definitely not a Google issue, anyway I can fix the problem now...

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

I bet they're prepping for Matter.

@AurEl_HA Жыл бұрын

Thanks Brian for your detailed review, wondering if you will review soon the SmartThings Station?

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

I sure wish I could. I can't get one up to Canada right now and Samsung isn't sending them or talking to me at all. Sorry! Trying hard!

@AurEl_HA Жыл бұрын

@@AutomateYourLife just received mine last week here in Mexico (purchased on USA trough eBay), I saw Amazon will start to ship to Mexico in May too.

@johnnybegoode13 Жыл бұрын

Great video. Thinking of buying one just for 2 things, using the outdoor sensor to have a small display of the weather, and more importantly the IR blaster. But are/will be the paired IR devices be visible in Smartthings?

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Hey John! The IR blaster devices will show up in SmartThings. Visibility of the status will not. At least not yet. And keep in mind, you'll only get the On/Off button in SmartThings.

@theattorney6072 Жыл бұрын

Thx. Does the previous hub also return the information from devices like AC ?

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

It doesn't and this is the first IR blaster I've seen that does this.

@automaticasa_matteosulis Жыл бұрын

I don't seem to be able to replicate the IR command confirmation feature. If I put the hub in a box it still show the command as executed.

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Maybe yours is a model that doesn't throw back the confirmation IR status. That would be something that's known in the config I think...but I'm actually going to have to try this for myself now.

@theattorney6072 Жыл бұрын

What model do you have ? I'm waiting to know how this works before buying.

@nirsommer Жыл бұрын

next version will add dimming control between the on and off buttons?

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

I don't know, but I like your thinking!

@yanli4801 Жыл бұрын

Great video as always! I'm wondering if I can use this hub and its illumination sensor to control an Aqara shade roller. I only want to pull the shade down when it's very bright and sunny outside a west facing window. If this hub is not measuring in lux, how can I define the brightness level as trigger? So far I've been using weather triggers in aqara app, which is not very reliable. Aqaras brightness sensor can't be triggered without motion detection, so it's not helpful for my use case either. Thanks 😊

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Right now, I believe just the temperature and humidity go into Apple HomeKit through Matter, so I'd suggest that you turn on/move something in SwitchBot's app. Something like a smart plug could go on or off, and then use that to trigger the Aqara Shade Roller in HomeKit. SwitchBot has an Apple HomeKit version smart plug. It's a workaround, but I think it's the only way today! Alexa could do the same thing :)

@yanli4801 Жыл бұрын

Wow this is a great workaround, thank you so much 😊

@theflyerpr40d Жыл бұрын

For this to work with HomeKit would I need one of the new HomeKit Hub with Thread network?

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

You would need a HomeKit Hub for it to work properly, but Thread is not required at all.

@nickbadi3599 3 ай бұрын

hi great video thanks. Ive got switch bot Hub mini controlling my Mitsubishi Heavy industries wall mounted AC but the louvre control is not very good the display just shows 3 swing options that do not represent how the louvre works. Is the Hub 2 better in this regard thank you. The outdoor sensors are great BTW

@AutomateYourLife 3 ай бұрын

The Hub 2 does change some things with AC units, but it's more on the side of feedback then the actual controls you can send. So I don't think it's going to be better for you :(

@AutomateYourLife 3 ай бұрын

I think tell SwitchBot your specific unit and how it's not representative, maybe they'll correct it?

@nickbadi3599 3 ай бұрын

@@AutomateYourLife Thank you for the speedy reply . Good idea about contacting Switchbot.

@levilexi 8 ай бұрын

I need local automation for a few lamps in my office. What’s out there for that?

@AutomateYourLife 8 ай бұрын

Depends on what you mean by lamps. Controlling by switch or controlling by bulb gives you different options. Hue and Lutron will work though

@theflyerpr40d Жыл бұрын

If you display the outdoor sensors reading could it switch back and forth between the two sensors? Or is stay with only the one you choose until you change that in the App? Thanks!

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

It was supposed to be deployed yesterday, but hasn't come out yet! I think it's pick one or the other at a time and doesn't switch automatically as far as I understand it

@theflyerpr40d Жыл бұрын

@@AutomateYourLife thanks for the follow up!

@tiagofdias 11 ай бұрын

With the Smarthings Hub 0.49.X Beta update, the support for Matter Bridge end devices was added. Does anyone knows if this is working with the switchbot hub 2 and the other devices?

@AutomateYourLife 11 ай бұрын

It is not quite out of beta. Hold a bit longer!

@Sitruk99 9 ай бұрын

Would this be a good alternative to the sensibo products?

@AutomateYourLife 9 ай бұрын

It’s fairly similar and I think so, but it’s not 1 to 1 exactly on features

@jovandrazakyan4312 Жыл бұрын

Bryan can you recommend me a good smart switch like lutron diva ,i can't use lutron because in my country has 240/50hz electrical

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Do you have a hub?

@jovandrazakyan4312 Жыл бұрын

@@AutomateYourLife i use zigbee. but I will buy other hub if its needed

@AgehanaNina Жыл бұрын

Idk if you know about this but in japan switchbot sell a ceiling light and hub combine together and also a robot vacuum. Idk how good the robot vacuum cause I don't see the need but I've bought most of my stuff from switchbot thanks to your recommendation and the availability in Japan, especially amazon (they just recently added to a couple of big japanese electronic store) while also still friendly to my pocket and rental apartment Thanks for the recommendation!

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Hi Nina! Yeah I'm really excited to see some of those products come to North America. I know the vacuum is planned to come this way, so as soon as I can I'll show that one. But it sounds like you might get it before me!

@rickjameslines22 Жыл бұрын

Is the Bluetooth range better than the hub mini? I bought a crap ton of blind tilt devices for all of my windows. After setting everything up i found that I needed way more hubs than they originally claimed. I basically need one in every room that I have my devices in. Have you had any difficulties?

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Oh my...no troubles at that level for sure Rick. What's your home made of?!?

@niravniel561 Жыл бұрын

Hi, I have a question about the lock. Is it possible when unlocking the door, to keep open in a way I just have to push it from outside the door ? I'm asking that cause from out side my door I cannot open with the doot handle, I need a key, I can use the door hanlde only from inside, so basically I need a key everytime I need to open the door from outside. So it its possible to keep the door open when using the switchbot app to unlock then its good for me

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Sadly, no Nir. I don't think that's going to work for you. I think you're gonna have to do a full replacement of that door lock to get "smart". Sorry!

@faengelm Жыл бұрын

@15:32 what is the NFC setting? Does this actually trigger from an NFC tag?

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Yep! NFC tags can be used with the SwitchBot app to start any scene or device action. Really useful, but you'll need to use SwitchBot's NFC tags to have high reliability.

@faengelm Жыл бұрын

@@AutomateYourLife does the hub 2 include a tag reader?

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Oh not a tag reader there. You do the tag on your phone

@justthatjoeguy Жыл бұрын

Can Smartbot hub control "dumb" light strips that have the little remotes? I don't think it can but it'd be cool if it would

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

If they're IR, absolutely. I didn't try one but it should be just fine!

@JairusJ Жыл бұрын

Dose the screen dim

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

It does based on the illumination sensor!

@dopenerd Жыл бұрын

My experience with SB has been hit or miss. Their motion sensor is cheaper than but isn’t as accurate as Phillips. I own both. I have a few of their temp/hygrometer’s which I love. I also have the original hub mini which is just ok, it really doesn’t work on every IR device you may have. I’ll give this new hub a try, but I’m not holding my breath. Great review.

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Yeah Hiram I think they need a bit more compatibility with things like the motion sensor, but many of those main products are great. The Hub 2 has been great so far, although always keep in mind that it's early with Matter Bridges so it's not perfect yet!

@theattorney6072 Жыл бұрын

I have to ask the question again because some other reviewers say the contrary: does the hub v2 give the status of the A/C ? Does it depend on the A/C brand or features ? Thx

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

It does depend on the AC unit brand, as some don't provide feedback. However, when it does provide feedback it shows in the SwitchBot app. Not on the hub 2.

@theattorney6072 Жыл бұрын

@@AutomateYourLife Ok thank you for the reply. I know have to check if my a/c (quite old) would provide such feedback. Do you know what do I have to check for that ?

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

@@theattorney6072 remotes that reflect the state is usually a good indicator, but no...

@theattorney6072 Жыл бұрын

@@AutomateYourLife ok 👍 thx. All my remotes do reflect the state. Now I'm tempted :)

@theattorney6072 Жыл бұрын

I have read Somewhere that the Aqara Hub V2 does show the status of the A/C on the Aqara app. Can you confirm ? Thx

@dankelley9361 Жыл бұрын

Your video along with your buddies video, Paul Hibbert show this might become a very useful hub, but currently with it only talking to devices with Bluetooth (very limited range) needing the “Cloud” to work and and Matter being so spotty as your banking on this to ever work makes this IMHO a cool but not really truly solid device.

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

It's base function is useful with their products, but you gotta be bought into the Bot ;) Matter's been much improved in the last 2 weeks. I've been more and more impressed, so it's coming.

@ppp588 Жыл бұрын

i bought it and found that i cannot setup a routine to use temperature or humidity to trigger another device. this means it is a display only, this has been confirmed with cs. really disappointed

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

The Automations work just fine within SwitchBot's app. Not sure what conversation you had but it works. That means even if you're talking about another platform, you could switch the status of a Smart Plug or something simple to start the automation in that platform.

@ppp588 Жыл бұрын

@@AutomateYourLife i mean triggering non switchbot device like my air humidifier, this use case should be quite usual. alexa routine trigger just doesn't find it as trigger device

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

@@ppp588 yes, except you could do that through a lot of other SwitchBot products that can start Alexa routines. Maybe they'll add it later but for now just do a smart plug workaround or something like that

@ppp588 Жыл бұрын

@@AutomateYourLife don't get me wrong, i bought it the very first day it released, i like your video very much, thanks all for that

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

@@ppp588 just trying to help! 😃👌. Enjoy what you can

@Joseph-ko2kl Жыл бұрын

Get a haircut Hippie! LOL. Great info, thanks!

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Lol I did!🤣

@Bigglare Жыл бұрын

Probably won't love it, unless it's zigbee or zwave and not proprietary. cough cough aqara.

@Bigglare Жыл бұрын

unless it's $20...

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Well?

@rosiehawtrey Жыл бұрын

Sadly we pretty much aren't. Not for that price. I can get two tuya IR/RF blasters incl 433/315 and rolling codes, plus a zigbee thermohygrometer sensor with illuminance and still have change out of what I'd pay for a hub I don't need. Their prices are insane, especially given the Bluetooth fetish. Sadly I can get zigbee blind drivers + blinds for the other half of the flat for the cost of one switchbot window that doesn't really work (those two part hyper cheap curtain rails... Tuya is on the way to winning this because despite the fact the app is godawful and the apparently new owners are greedier than a Tory voter (Republican-ish) the hardware works with a lot of other hubs like smart things and the current light duty dumpster fire that is Hubitat... But its all irrelevant, because none of this is even remotely close to being ready for prime time and the general user. It's not reliable enough, it's not remotely close to simple enough, and that's not to mention the security issues like the Nexx gear that makes the American version of the PAL code debacle look positively Fort Knox (don't look it up if you have a sensitive disposition).

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Ok!

@c849243 Жыл бұрын

...and not just a pretty face !

@AutomateYourLife Жыл бұрын

Definitely not that ;)