IKEA smart devices | Home Assistant | Page 1

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:39 PM

#

Do IKEA smart devices work well with HA?

#

@graceful viper mentioned that certain devices work well…such as the driver and led strips

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:40 PM

#

lol it's probably going to be me answering you...

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:41 PM

#

If I have the Sky Connect dongle I won’t need their hub right?

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:41 PM

#

So... FIRST... what are you looking for in terms of kit?

#

Nope. You won't need their hub.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:41 PM

#

I just got HA and want to play with some devices.

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:41 PM

#

Ok. Fair... so like motion sensors? contact sensors? lights? etc?

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:42 PM

#

Probably.

#

Maybe switches if they have them.

#

I’m about to go into an IKEA

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:43 PM

#

Ok, so these are the devices that I know work, the Driver, the Signal Repeater, sometimes the pulgs and sometimes the bulbs.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:43 PM

#

That’s not inspiring confidence.

#

Signal repeater helps the coverage in the house?

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:44 PM

#

I've heard mixed messages about the motion sensor and the contact sensor (the vallhorn and the other one I can't rmember off the top of my head).

#

Yup.

#

If you're just starting out, I'd absolutely pick up 2 or 3 of their signal repeaters.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:44 PM

#

Whoa. That’s a lot.

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:45 PM

#

You'll thank me later though.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:45 PM

#

But this will help with all zigbee devices?

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:45 PM

#

Zigbee likes having a lot of routers available to the mesh.

#

Yup

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:45 PM

#

Ok. Added that to my shopping list.

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:46 PM

#

Ok. Is bklyn short for Brooklyn? Or, more accurately, where in the world are you?

#

(it matters for device selection).

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:46 PM

#

I’m in Southern California. Why does it matter for decide selection. LOL

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:47 PM

#

Well, because other countries use different devices that may or may not be here in the US.

#

(lol after you support HA long enough, you learn to start asking country of origin more than a border patrol officer).

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:47 PM

#

Got it. I thought I have to move . LOL

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:47 PM

#

lmao well... Southern CA... by choice? 😉 (I kid)

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:47 PM

#

You’re a dev for HA?

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:48 PM

#

No, I'm not a dev, just someone who helps out supporting 🙂

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:49 PM

#

Are the repeaters the same as range extenders? Just trying to do price on Amazon.

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:49 PM

#

Anyhow! DEVICES!!! So, The E26 bulbs are "okay". Some people say the color temperature gets a bit wonky on them sometimes. But, overall, they are not "bad", but there are better choices out there.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:49 PM

#

If IKEA is a good deal I will buy there.

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:49 PM

#

Yeah.

#

I don't see them on the Ikea site anymore though... BUT, they usually have some back with the lights.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:51 PM

#

My house is only 1400 sq ft. All one floor. There’s an external garage. Will a repeater in the garage help?

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:51 PM

#

One thing to avoid is the GU10 bulbs. THEY SUCK.

#

You'll want more than just "a repeater". So, my mesh is 101 devices currently. Of those 101, 42 are routing devices ("repeaters").

#

But, a router is pretty much anything that is mains powered (usually), like bulbs, switches, plugs, etc. The Driver does a REALLY good job at routing plus it's really flexible when it comes to different lighting options.

#

And my house is only 1150 sq ft, if that tells you anything.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:54 PM

#

Are the motion sensors and contact switches good?

#

Oh cool. If it’s mains powered it will boost the signals?

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:55 PM

#

Good is subjective. They're... um... moderately adequate. Good enough to start off on, but you'll probably outgrow them eventually for better gear.

#

USUALLY ™️

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:55 PM

#

LOL

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:55 PM

#

There are some devices that are mains powered that are NOT routers.

#

But, since you are starting off, yeah, grab a couple of the motion sensors and contact sensors and see how they work for you. They're cheap enough that if they suck in your environment, you can always return them.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:56 PM

#

Are there bulbs routers?

#

True. 1 year return policy.

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:57 PM

#

Yeah, IKEA bulbs are routers.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:57 PM

#

Sweet!

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:57 PM

#

Exactly. And that's perfect for starting out.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:57 PM

#

I need one in the garage. So when people enter I can turn light on. 🙂

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:58 PM

#

There ya go. Perfect. So, 1 (or more bulbs) and aa motion sensor. You could also throw a contact sensor on your garage door to know when it's open or closed as well.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:59 PM

#

Ooooh good idea!!!

#

Router === Repeater?

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:59 PM

#

Yup

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:59 PM

#

Nice. One less thing to buy.

#

Thank you!!!

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 8:59 PM

#

Essentially... a little more technical, but basically. 🙂

#

Of course! Happy to help!

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 8:59 PM

#

Which is more technical.

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 9:00 PM

#

A router isn't exactly a repeater. It's more like a device that end devices attach to and then it forwards their messages on to the coordinator.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 9:00 PM

#

I can research diff between repeater and router. I guess router is more intellligent because it needs to direct traffic.

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 9:01 PM

#

So, it's not signal strength so much as being closer to the end devices to hear them.

#

Right. That.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 9:58 PM

#

Is the hub the repeater? I can’t find it here

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 9:58 PM

#

The hub? Don't get the hub. Avoid all temptation to buy the hub.

#

And no, it's not. It's a coordinator.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 9:59 PM

#

What is the name?

#

I don’t see one here.

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 10:01 PM

#

The name of what?

#

The hub?

#

DIRIGERA or something like that...

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 10:02 PM

#

That’s the hub…

#

The coordinator.

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 10:03 PM

#

Yeah. Don't buy that.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 10:03 PM

#

What is the name of the coordinator? 🙂

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 10:03 PM

#

You said you have a skyconnect, right?

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 10:03 PM

#

Yes. I don’t need the hub I’m looking for the repeater.

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 10:04 PM

#

Ohhhhh.. .I don't know the actual name of it. I couldn't find it on the website, so it might be discontinued.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 10:04 PM

#

Ok. I got a bulb.

graceful viper May 17, 2024, 10:04 PM

#

But... you could just get a couple of the smart plugs and plug them in around the house.

fierce remnant May 17, 2024, 10:05 PM

#

🙂

fierce remnant May 18, 2024, 12:41 AM

#

I got the bulb and the switch paired up and working!

#

In the HA Zigbee network map. It shows the Bulb as Device Type: router !

#

The SkyConnect was janky. I had to use a 1m extension cable.

graceful viper May 18, 2024, 12:42 AM

#

Woot!!! Nice. Yup. That’s perfect.

#

Good. That’s recommended.

fierce remnant May 18, 2024, 12:42 AM

#

I'm trying to pair the contact sensor... but can't get it to pair.

#

Not much info on how to get it into pairing mode. I've tried pressing the pairing button for 15 secs.

#

I've also tried to push the button on/off 5 times

#

I had to do that with the switch...so I'm trying with the contact sensor but no dice. Gonna keep hacking.

graceful viper May 18, 2024, 12:58 AM

#

Is it the parasoll?

fierce remnant May 18, 2024, 1:29 AM

#

It's the Parasoll. Turns out it was the device. It was a bad one. I had another one and that one worked!

#

I'm gonna return this bad device.

fierce remnant May 18, 2024, 2:11 AM

#

Interesting behavior... I got the smart bulb in my detached garage...at least 20 feet away from the SkyConnect. Also there are some walls between. Now when the bulb is triggered to go on... it blinks like it's trying to pair. 😦

#

I think it's way too far from SkyConnect.

#

It's back to working again... I guess I'll just have to monitor it.

fierce remnant May 18, 2024, 3:40 AM

#

I think what I have to do is probably put a bulb/router in the house, close to the SkyConnect, so that the signal is stronger? Do you think that would work?

fierce remnant May 18, 2024, 8:22 AM

#

I also just configured my Wifi mesh network to use channel 11 (all the way to the right of the 2.4Ghz spectrum)
My Zigbee is set to channel 15 (almost all the way to the left of 2.4Ghz)
Hopefully this will be better.

graceful viper May 18, 2024, 1:37 PM

#

fierce remnant I think what I have to do is probably put a bulb/router in the house, close to t...

Yeah and that’s why I said LOTS of routing devices. They allow you to extend your mesh farther, not by signal boosting, but by adding hops to the coordinator.

fierce remnant May 18, 2024, 10:35 PM

#

I don’t have a way to add a hop between my office and the external garage. 😦

graceful viper May 19, 2024, 12:14 AM

#

fierce remnant I don’t have a way to add a hop between my office and the external garage. 😦

If you can put a router in your office and another one in the garage, you should be ok.

#IKEA smart devices