With me having the Adobe Iota setup already in place, alongside a multitude of Aqara hubs with built-in sirens/speakers, I decided a while ago to take the plunge and buy the Abode Keypad 2 and add it to my Abode system, which I should state, is required for the keypad 2 to be used, whether it’s the Iota Gateway, that includes a camera, or the Smart Gateway, that doesn’t. Without one of these, it’s just an expensive paperweight. So, if you either have an Abode system and fancied the idea of a separate alarm panel, or don’t, but are enticed by the idea of one, read on…

PACKAGING/CONTENTS

The Keypad 2 (to distinguish it from its non-HomeKit original) is featured on the front of the packaging, and although it’s the second iteration, it still only shows it as ‘Keypad’. There’s no chance of buying the wrong model, however, as the old version doesn’t seem to be available. It’s also visually very different to the 2nd version. The rear of the box states the features, which are;

• Built-in motion sensor that lights up the display when you’re in close proximity
• Backlit buttons, so you can see what you’re doing when controlling the panel
• Rechargeable internal battery that can last up to 6 months between charges
• Completely wire-free apart from when recharging the battery with the included USB cable

It does state that an Abode gateway is required, as I stated in my intro.

Aside from that, there’s not a lot to see, but the box is very sturdy, and the contents are well-protected.

The first thing inside is the keypad itself, which is covered in a plastic sheet to protect it from fingerprints and dust. Underneath it and magnetically coupled to the keypad is a metal backplate, which we’ll touch on shortly. Below that is another layer that includes all the additional pieces;

• Two double-sided 3M stickers
• four screws and rawl plugs
• USB-A to Micro USB cable
• Quick guide

The aforementioned magnetic metal plate I mentioned can be attached to a wall or any surface with either the 3M stickers, or with the provided screws. The small sheet doesn’t really tell you how to pair the keypad to your hub, which is all dealt with in the Abode app, but it does give you a decent idea of the features of the keypad that you may not be aware of besides the obvious ones.

THE KEYPAD

So onto the keypad itself, and whilst it’s quite straightforward in terms of its looks, it’s nonetheless nicely laid out. around 70% of the front is taken up with buttons, which consist of 4 rows of three for digits 0 to 9, plus two buttons with a triangle and square symbol. Prior to the keypad getting an update for HomeKit compatibility, these were designated for ‘future use’ but are now in fact exposed to HomeKit, although not quite in the way you might be accustomed to (more on than later).

Next to these 12 buttons is a single column of 3 buttons, one for each alarm mode – Away, Home, Standby. The remaining 30% of the panel is taken up with a contrasting black section (just like the Iota gateway) that prominently features the Abode logo, along with a speaker, and a motion sensor.

The underside of the keypad features the Micro-USB port for recharging the internal battery, and aside from that, there’s nothing to see around the other edges of the device, which has the following measurements;

• width – 3.1″ / 79mm
• height – 5.7″ / 145mm
• depth – 0.8″ / 20mm

If it couldn’t get any more minimalist, the rear of the keypad has nothing to see with the exception of an indented section for the magnetic mounting plate (and screws) to match up with, which is simply white, with four holes should you want to use the included screws to mount it to the wall with. One of the four recesses on the back of the keypad features a reset hole should you need to factory reset the device.

Overall, my initial impressions are really good, and I like that the company have gone for the two-tone approach that matches some of their other products. The buttons are really well spaced out, so even the ‘sausage fingered’ amongst us won’t have any problems arming or disarming the alarm. I do have one reservation which I’ll mention later, but it’s nothing major.

INSTALLATION VIA THE ABODE APP

As with any device that requires a hub, you need to add the keypad to your Abode gateway first, via the Abode app. The Abode devices that go through the hub and are exposed to HomeKit – of which there are many – usually use the RF433MHz wireless protocol to communicate with the gateway, which in turn exposes them to HomeKit. The Keypad is one such device.

• Click on the ‘+’ icon
• Select Add Device
• Select Security Add-ons

• Select Keypad 2 from the list
• Follow the on-screen instructions to pair the device
• Once paired, name the keypad

• Next, you need to change the default user to a name of your choosing
• You can also set your own pin code at the same time
• Additional users can then be added, with up to 40 users

• After that, the motion sensor inside the keypad will be automatically paired
• You can also assign an appropriate name for the keypad if you wish

Once that’s done, you will see two separate entries in the Abode app – one for the keypad, and another for the motion sensor within the keypad.

As the keypad and the built-in motion sensor are essentially security devices, for the motion sensor, you have the option to set it up as a trigger for alarms in both the Home and Away modes. For either mode, you can have the sensor to be Inactive, Active after countdown timer, or Active immediately.

If you’re not familiar with how the Abode alarm system works, essentially you have three modes, all of which (sort of) correspond with the four modes you find in HomeKit. They are Standby (Off in HomeKit), Away (same as HomeKit),  and Home (which is the same as Home and Night/Sleep in HomeKit). As you can deduce, Abode doesn’t differentiate between Sleep and Home modes, which sort of makes sense, but if you set the alarm to Home in the Abode app, it’ll always show it as set to Home mode in HomeKit, which avoids any potential confusion.

When you set up any motion or contact sensor in the Abode app, you can have it so that the sensors don’t trip any alarm until the countdown timer you would have previously set, has expired, which is what is referred to by the option ‘Active after countdown timer’. You can have sensors to be inactive of course, and ‘Active immediately’, which means they’ll trigger an alarm as soon as the alarm is set regardless of the countdown timer.

The reason for the countdown timers, if you haven’t already guessed, is so that upon setting the alarm as you either go to bed or leave home, you have time to get yourself ready before the alarm and trigger devices become active. Conversely, upon coming home, you can buy yourself some time to get into your home and disable the alarm before the siren starts alerting your neighbours.

IN HOMEKIT

Onto HomeKit, and just like the Abode app, the keypad and the motion sensor are both exposed as separate devices, although as there’s actually no ‘keypad’ functionality that relates to HomeKit as such, what you get is options to assign functionality to the two buttons I mentioned earlier that have a square or triangle symbol on them.

The way in which Abode has done this is a little odd, but it still works once you’ve got the hang of it. For the Keypad 2, which is exposed to HomeKit as a button, it lists one set of actions, with Single press and double press. However, the single press actually relates to a single press on the button with the triangle symbol, whilst the double press is actually related to a single press for the button with the square symbol. It would obviously have made more sense to just expose each button separately, with just a single press option for each, but it is what it is.

As with all sensors since iOS14, the Keypad motion sensor is grouped at the top of the Home app screen. Strangely enough, this motion sensor is listed separately from the other motion sensors in the same room, as HomeKit sees motion sensors and occupancy sensors as separate. After speaking briefly to Abode’s online support as to the difference between their motion and occupancy sensors (I believe there is inherently a difference), I was told that the occupancy sensor is actually just a motion sensor, and was simply assigned to the ‘occupancy’ section when it was originally set up. This is also the case with the company’s standard motion sensor, which is also exposed to HomeKit as an Occupancy sensor.

THE KEYPAD IN USE

Speaking of the motion sensor, when you approach the keypad, the display automatically lights up for a few seconds, so you can see the keys. The motion sensor is supposed to cover 90 degrees, which I assume is in the horizontal plane, at a distance of up to 3 metres/118in. So far the sensor has picked up motion very well, so there are no complaints in that respect at all. The keypad itself doesn’t have an alarm as such, and merely activates or deactivates the alarm/siren built into the Abode gateway, as well as being a trigger for the alarms via the built-in motion sensor, if used. However, it does have a speaker, which allows the keypad to emit elementary beeps when you press the buttons or set the different alarm modes.

When the keypad lights up as you approach it, the Abode logo will also light up and display the logo in one of three colours to show you which mode the alarm is set to at that time;

• In Standby mode, the logo will simply appear white, like the rest of the lights on the keypad.
• If the alarm is set to Away, the Abode logo will appear red.
• If the alarm is set to Home, the Abode logo will appear blue.

Additionally, when you’re recharging the internal battery, the logo will appear green and will stay illuminated. Once charging is complete, the logo light will turn off. The first three colours are also replicated on the LED on the front of the Iota Gateway, so if you are in Away mode, the LED on the Iota will be red also.

This brings me to the one thing I’m ever so slightly less keen on with the keypad buttons, which are made of durable rubber. I don’t mind the material used, but because of this, on occasion, if you don’t press them squarely in the centre, the buttons can slip to the side slightly, which in some rare instances means a button can get slightly caught under the surrounding plastic casing. Usually, the button pops back into place by itself or with a little light help, so it’s really a non-issue for the most part, but something to be aware of if you start to notice it happen more often.

When it comes to how you operate it, I’ll assume that anyone reading this has never used an alarm panel before, but it really is quite straightforward. If you’re going to bed or leaving the home, you tap on the appropriate button (Home for bedtime, Away for leaving the house). Once you do that, you have a certain amount of time before the alarm is armed, which is something you set in the Abode app. Once you’ve left home or gone to bed, and the alarm is armed, you’re set. If you want to disable the alarm, you simply have to type in the code you created by yourself in the Abode app, followed by tapping the Standby button to disarm the alarm. Once again, you should set the amount of delay time to give yourself enough time to deactivate the alarm before the siren goes off (more appropriate when you’re coming home and the alarm is in Away mode).

EXTRAS

As the Keypad is wireless and it’s magnetic, it can be placed almost anywhere where there’s a magnetic surface, although using it with the provided plate in a permanent location is really the best place for it, as the metal plate provides a lot more ‘grip’ ensuring there’s no chance of the keypad falling off. The magnets are really quite good, and so I don’t have any worries that it’ll come crashing to the ground unless someone deliberately gives it a pretty good whack!

What you might have missed is that the three mode buttons each feature additional small icons – an exclamation mark on the Away button, a fire icon on the Home button, and a Plus or Medic icon on the Standby button. These represent a Panic Alarm, a Fire Alarm, and a Health Alarm once set up via the app or the keypad. It should be noted that these functions are generally the preserve of the paid monitoring services that Abode offer. Long pressing any of these keys will activate the appropriate notification to Abode, who will then take the relevant action to deal with the request, so if the ‘Fire’ alarm is activated, they’ll call the fire department for you, or an ambulance if the Health alarm has been triggered. The Panic trigger will, as I understand it, trigger a call to your nearest police department. As these paid features are only supported in North America (and maybe the UK now that Abode has a presence there), in my case, living in Taiwan, there’s no option for me to use such things, and so I can’t test it – not that creating a test to call out the cops out is ever a good idea of course…

The Keypad can also be used as a quick way of changing the settings for the built-in motion sensor. Long pressing the 4 & 6 buttons together will enable or disable the motion sensor, whilst long pressing the 7 & 9 buttons will disable or enable the button press and countdown sounds.

ABODE KEYFOB

If you purchased the Iota Security Kit, you would also have received the Abode Keyfob which also allows you to control the gateway’s different alarm modes, but only when you’re within range of the hub. The only downside is that the icons on the fob don’t match up with the icons on the keypad, which is a little confusing. Still, if you forget to set the alarm and don’t fancy opening your door again to set the alarm via the keypad, this is a handy solution. Of course, when you’re outside the door, you can also use the keyfob to disable the alarm before entering, assuming your gateway is within range. You can check out our video below of the Abode Keyfob as part of the video on the Iota Security kit;

SUMMING UP

I guess first off the bat, the question would be is it a necessary device? Well given that you can set the alarm modes using a variety of methods, especially in HomeKit with automations and geolocation functionality, or even by making use of a spare wireless button to do much the same, then no, it’s totally not necessary. But then in the world of Smart Homes, when has that really mattered? Still, for those of you that have various family members, some of which either don’t have a smartphone or even if they do, don’t use HomeKit, Google, Amazon or Abode’s own app, then a traditional physical device for an alarm system is going to be a welcome sight for just about anyone – except for burglars of course. It’s this aspect of it that works for me on one level, and the fact that it does it for a reasonable price (usually between US$80~$100) only adds to its appeal.

Even though it works primarily with Abode’s own Gateways, if like me you also have alarms via Aqara that are also exposed to HomeKit, then with a couple of simple automations, you can get those alarms to sync with the Abode, so all of your alarms are synced. You could also make use of the two programmable buttons to activate or deactivate your other alarms independently if you wish, so as long as you have an Abode setup in place, this is something I’d really recommend regardless of whether its necessary or not.

I’ve had it for a while now (around 6 months), and although I didn’t really start testing it until a couple of months ago, I’ve had no issues with it, other than one instance where I accidentally triggered the alarm. After that, even though I’d set it to Standby mode, the Abode logo was glowing red. At first, I thought the battery needed recharging, but it soon became apparent that it wasn’t the battery at all. In actual fact, the glowing logo was trying to tell me that the alarm had been tripped (even though it had since been set to Standby after), I guess so that I might want to investigate if I wasn’t there when it had happened. After a bit of quick Google ‘research’ it seems that to get rid of this, you have to activate either Home or Away mode, then turn it back to Standby, which then clears the ‘warning light’.

The post Abode Keypad 2 (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

PACKAGING

At the time of purchasing this from China, with the help of fellow reviewer Eric Yao, the M2 was hard to find, even on the Mainland, but looking at the packaging, it would appear that it had possibly been sitting around, waiting for release, for a while. The reason I suggest this is that even though Aqara has updated its packaging design somewhat, with the use of a blue circle to highlight the products, which in this case is missing, the older Aqara logo is also being used on the packaging. Not that it matters of course, but something to note if you see the newer packaging when you buy the newly released EU/International variant. Still, the container is fine and protects the internals adequately enough.

The box features all the basic info you might need (in Chinese in this case), along with the official ‘Zigbee Certified Product’ logo, which we’ve seen pop up more and more on both Aqara and Mijia branded devices. Products with this badge are using Zigbee 3.0 in almost all cases. Aside from this, you get the usual flurry of features and specs, as listed below;

Specifications:

• Model: ZHWG12LM
• Dimensions: 100 x 100 x 30.75mm
• Network connection: WiFi IEEE 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz
• Device connectivity: Zigbee 3.0 IEEE 802.15.4, Bluetooth LE 5.0
• Operating temperature: -5ºC ~ +50ºC
• Operating humidity: 0 ~ 95% RH

Features:

• Capable of connecting 32 child devices, or up to 128 with the use of signal repeaters
• Dual WiFi antennae
• Micro USB power supply
• RJ45 Ethernet port for wired internet connection
• Zigbee 3.0
• Siri voice control
• built-in Infrared (IR) transceiver
• Control both Zigbee and IR devices via automations, scenes etc

As you can see, the M2 is a very capable device, although there are a few caveats that should be noted with regards to a couple of points listed above; first of all, even though the M2 can act as a Bluetooth hub, currently there are no Aqara-branded Bluetooth devices available – not that many people would be interested when compared to the speed of the Zigbee devices. Additionally, the Bluetooth functionality is not of the Bluetooth Mesh variety, unlike the Mi Smart Gateway, so it’s unclear as to what use cases the Bluetooth functionality would be used for at this point.

The other point to note is that the M2 is being touted as having the ability to support up to 128 devices, and while this is true, the only way to achieve support for this number, is by using repeater/relay devices within your setup that act as sort of ‘mini hubs’ by themselves. It basically works like this; you have your M2 as the main hub, and you can connect various Zigbee devices directly to it. If you add a permanently powered device to the hub, like a smart plug, or a wall switch (with neutral only), then these act as relays for devices that are subsequently added to the M2, if the relay device is nearer to the newest child device you add. Each repeater/relay device can support up to 16 child devices. This then essentially increases the number to a theoretically possible 128 devices, although whether you’d reach that amount in practice is going to be uncommon I suspect.

THE M2

Aside from a small manual, that contains one of three instances of the HomeKit code, you get a USB type power supply, a USB > Micro USB cable, and the M2 itself. There’s also a HomeKit code on the base of the M2, as well as on one of the inner flaps of the box.

The M2 looks very modern and slick on first viewing, although it really is a big dust and fingerprint magnet. The sides, being that they use very glossy plastic,  are particularly prone to this. The top, which incidentally has the new Aqara logo (unlike the box), has a textured feel to it. It might have been better to use this texture all around, but I believe the sides are actually translucent, to allow the infrared transceiver to emit signals, so a textured surface may not have worked. Thankfully, everything is in matching black.

The whole device is quite minimalist, so on the front, you only get a small pairing/reset button and an even smaller LED. For anyone who has problems sleeping from glaring LEDs, I’ve found that this LED – which in normal operation is blue – didn’t bother me at all. We’ll come back to the LED in a minute, but the button, as mentioned, is for pairing mode and resetting the M2, just like you’d find with Aqara’s other hubs, of which there’s a growing number!

the rear of the hub is where it all gets a little more interesting, with an RJ45 ethernet port, a Micro-USB port for power, and an as-yet unused USB-A port. Whilst the M2 has decent WiFi capabilities, if like me, you prefer a wired connection where possible, this is a big plus, and I’ve had mine plugged into my router from day one, which is how it’ll stay. The other big plus is the use of a separate USB power supply, which really puts paid to the issue of having to use an adaptor if you’ve either bought a hub in the past, with a  different built-in plug, or there wasn’t a variant that comes with your type of plug. Now, even if you get the Chinese version, and want to use it in the EU, you just have to use a regionally suitable USB plug that in most cases you’ll have lying around spare. There’s a constant complaint as to why companies are still using Micro USB instead of USB-C, and yes it’s mildly frustrating, but in all honesty, it’s not as though you’re ever going to be unplugging it once a month, let alone daily, so it’s not a problem for me. Finally onto the USB-A port, and at present, it seems it’s only for diagnosis purposes and is of no use to the end-user. Maybe they’ll expand its use down the road later though.

Finally onto the base of the hub, which is where the audio speaker resides, along with the third instance of the HomeKit code. The base has a couple of rubber strips that act as feet. If you already own, or at least aware of the original Aqara hub (Aqara M1 as it’s being described these days), you’ll know it comes with a speaker and a night light. The M2 has dispensed with the light, but retains the speaker, although it’s not as loud as the M1’s speaker, which isn’t massively loud anyway. With this in mind, I’d say that although it’s loud enough to easily wake you up in the event of an alarm, like the M1, it’s never going to match the volume of a pro alarm system’s siren, even compared to the Abode gateways, which I’ve found to be decent in this regard. Still, the M2’s speaker can still be used as a doorbell chime, an alarm clock etc. The night light is always of use to me in automations, but I can see why it wasn’t included here, which I’m going to posit is once again for the unimpeded functionality of the infrared transceiver.

IN HOMEKIT

In HomeKit and the Home app, the M2 initially shows up with its own tile, representing the security system, or alarm. As it ha no other function besides being a hub, it’s also listed with the Hubs & Bridges section of the Home app in the settings for your HomeKit home. The great news is the all four possible alarm modes available in HomeKit are exposed with the M2 (Off, Night/Sleep, Away, Home). Even better, these modes also sync between the Aqara and Home apps, so selecting a mode in either app, will activate that mode in the other app. Whilst the current Aqara hub only has Away and Off options, the new M1s, and the P3 also have all four modes exposed like the M2. The hub portion of the Aqara G2H camera is the odd one out, as its alarm functionality is not exposed to HomeKit. As previously mentioned, the speaker in the M2 isn’t too loud, but it’s more than enough to notify you.

INFRARED TRANSCEIVER

Another seemingly useful benefit of the M2 is the built-in IR transceiver, which essentially allows the M2 to control any of characteristics available for devices that use an IR-based remote control, be that TVs, fans, AC units, set-top boxes etc. The reason I say ‘seemingly’ is that in my case, there aren’t too many devices in the home that use IR remotes these days, and even if they do, they tend to also have wifi access too, meaning I can control them in other ways. Indeed, my ageing Samsung TV is only ever used in conjunction with my Apple TV, which automatically turns on the TV, when it is turned on, so in the case of the TV, it’s not of massive use. That’s just me though. Similarly, with the AC unit in the bedroom, until I got my Tado Smart AC controller (read the review HERE), this would have been quite useful, but the fact the Tado has a physical control panel makes it generally a much more ‘hands-on’ devices for most users in the home, than via the app.

When I first started getting into HomeKit, I was already on the way to working out ways of controlling IR-based devices, with the help of the LifeSmart Spot (which was originally – but unofficially – exposed to Homekit), and later on, the Mi Universal Controller, both of which use the same IR transceiver technology. So in one sense, the Aqara M2’s option isn’t anything new to me. What it does allow for, is the ability to add these IR devices into scenes and automations in the Aqara app, as though they were regular devices. That itself is not quite HomeKit integration of course, but it’s close. If you then take into account that smart switches and buttons that can be added to both Aqara and HomeKit can also control these IR devices, then you get something very close. It just all depends on what you think is useful for controlling specific aspects of an IR-based device.

Aqara give you a selection of device types to choose from, including stereos, DVD players, smart lights, and even the opportunity to create a custom remote of your own choosing.

A while ago, when light strip options were severely limited and pricey, I bought a cheap light strip from my local DIY store, that came with its own IR remote. With the help of the custom remote option, I can easily create a software-based remote to replace this remote control, and from there, control the low budget strip using the M2.

For my Samsung TV, you can see I’m able to set up a fully functioning remote in the Aqara app, which also includes a ton of features you’re hard-pressed to find with the original remote., which does present some distinct advantages when you consider what can be achieved with automations. Further still, with the fact that the Aqara app can convert scenes and automations into Siri Shortcuts, the possibilities for voice control become very enticing, which I’ve begun to exploit with my recently acquired HomePod Minis (HomePods Mini?).

CHILD DEVICES

When the original Aqara Hub came out, it was an easy job knowing what child devices were or weren’t exposed to HomeKit, but with the addition of the G2H, the M1S, the P3, and the M2, thing become a lot more complicated, as what might be exposed to HomeKit via one hub, has yet to be exposed to HomeKit via another hub, and that’s even before you take into account the regional server issues. This isn’t something I can necessarily blame Aqara for, as devices that are exposed to HomeKit via one hub, need to be recertified for each new hub, and this can be a lengthy process if you have a lot of child devices. So far, based on the Chinese M2 I’m using, I can confirm the following devices are exposed to HomeKit, via the Aqara app, set to the Mainland China server;

• Aqara temperature and humidity sensor
• Aqara door and window sensor
• Aqara motion sensor
• Aqara leak sensor
• Aqara vibration sensor
• Aqara wireless mini switch
• Aqara wireless rocker (double & single)
• Opple Wireless switch (2, 4, 6 button)
• Mi door and window sensor
• Mi motion sensor
• Mi temperature and humidity sensor
• Mi smart button
• Mi smart plug (Taiwan)
• Mi light sensor

Undoubtedly, there are going to be more that are exposed to HomeKit, or at least will be when the M2 spreads throughout the EU, where it has just been released, and the US, where it’ll be available at some point in 2021.

THE M2 IN USE

I’ve had the Chinese version of the M2 since late August 2020, so I feel that I’ve had enough time to assess any potential issues. First of all, I didn’t go full steam ahead and move everything over from other hubs, just so I could test it out, as that would potentially be asking for trouble, but I’ve tested devices here and there over the last few months, and I’ve not once had an issue so far. Whether this is down to the wired connection, or because I’ve found all of my Aqara devices pretty robust in this manner, I’m not sure, but it has been solid. The one initial problem I did encounter, which has since been resolved, was that when I added the M2, after the Chinese G2H was already added, I found that the alarm modes in the Aqara app would change for the G2H, but not the M2. This also meant that the alarm modes were not synced between Apple Home and Aqara. I resolved this by removing both the G2H and the M2, and re-adding them again, with the M2 being the latter to be added. It seemed that adding the M2 last, made it the default device for the alarm functionality and modes, although I’ve since added an Aqara M1S hub, which also has the four alarm modes. The situation now is that whether I arm the M2 or the M1S in either the Home app or the Aqara app, they sync between both apps, and with each other, which is great.

So, taking everything there is to say about the M2, I’m finding it difficult to complain about anything with this nifty little device. The speaker isn’t that loud, but then neither was the original, so…

It also marks an improvement over the Mi smart Gateway I mentioned at the start of the review, mostly due to the speaker and the IR blaster. The Mi smart Gateway has both the Bluetooth and Bluetooth Mesh hub functionality, but I’ve tended to steer clear of most Bluetooth devices for a while now, and Bluetooth Mesh devices that are both compatible with the Mi Smart Gateway and HomeKit seem to be scarce, so these plusses are of no consequence to me. While I sort of miss the night light, I do still have a few of the original hubs (2 x Chinese, 1 x Hong Kong, 1 x US) plus the Chinese Aqara M1S, so I’ve still got plenty of choices if I want to make use of a night light if I want. In conclusion, this is all that I hoped it would be, with my expectations not having been dampened by the incredibly long wait.

The post Aqara Hub M2 (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

• Easy, tool-free installation
• 85-decibel siren
• Battery life of up to 10 years (replaceable)
• Optional cable increases detection
• Easily pair to your gateway

The post Abode Water Leak Sensor appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

Turn the 4th button into a panic button, and now with the latest firmware update, this button is exposed to HomeKit for use as with a long-press action, to trigger scenes or automations.

Give temporary access to neighbours, contractors, babysitters, etc. Arm & Disarm your system as you come and go for incredible convenience.

• Height: 2.06″
• Width: 1.35″
• Depth: 0.55″
• Battery: CR2032 (included)

The post Abode Key Fob appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

• The new keypad is full of features designed to make it the ideal tool for easily arming and disarming your system.
• Set up to 40 unique PIN codes
• Backlit buttons allow for easy arming & disarming in low-light
• Built-in motion detection displays your system status every time you walk by
• Rechargeable battery lasts up to 6 months (charging cable included)
• Magnetic wall mount allows for easy, versatile placement
• Customizable: turn off sounds & motion detection

The post Abode Alarm Keypad 2 appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

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From your smartphone, the system enables you to speak to people and listen to what’s happening outside/

Control and manage your external lighting
For an even greater deterrence effect and increased peace of mind, you can link your camera to an existing lighting system.
At night, lighting deters intruders and helps illuminate the path to your doorstep.

Secure Cloud storage for your videos
Data security is a major stake in today’s world, which is why the video storage and data streams used with the system are protected and encrypted.

Available in two colours
White or grey, simply choose the colour that best matches your home exterior.

The post Somfy Outdoor Camera appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

PACKAGING

Whilst the Abode Iota Home Security Kit isn’t a small financial investment, you do get a lot for your money, and for that, you’d expect decent protection for the contents, which in this case is definitely true, with a very strong box protected by a thick cardboard outer sleeve. This sleeve presents you with all the necessary information you need if you happened to pick this off the shelf out of mere curiosity, although it does not explicitly state on the outside that this kit will work with Apple HomeKit (it does, trust me). Indeed, it doesn’t really go to any great lengths to explain all of the possible integrations it’s capable of – and there are many – possibly due to Abode wanting you to know that whether you want a more complete smart home or not, their system can work all by itself, without any help from any of the three main smart home systems.

When it comes to HomeKit integration, after I initially set the system up, I had to update the firmware, which was revealed soon after setup was complete. Once that firmware was in place, an option within the app was added to expose the gateway to HomeKit. Within this option, the app generates a HomeKit QR Code. As I was adding this device on my iPhone, I had to scan the code from my iPad in order to use it, but you can simply take a screenshot, or copy the 8-digit code down and enter it manually. It was all pretty seamless.

The front of the box displays the heart of the system, the Iota Gateway, along with the reassuring slogan ‘smart. secure. all-in-one.’, which reinforces what I’ve said about the system being able to be used in a standalone capacity. The front doesn’t feature the other parts of the kit, but a list of included content is shown on one side of the box, along with requirements, such as an Abode account (free) and an internet connection with a minimum of 1Mbps download/512Kbps upload speed.

The rear of the box goes into a little more detail about the technology involved, compatibility with other devices, protocols, and brands (Z-Wave, Zigbee, Philips Hue, LiFX, Nest, Ecobee etc.), as well as an overview of how the system can be expanded upon*, and provide even more security, via optional paid monitoring packages, if required. The other side of the box outlines the simplicity of the setup, along with a mention of the Abode app, which you’ll need in order to set the system up initially.

* You can check out which Abode devices currently work with HomeKit via our listings page.

Once the outer sleeve is removed, you have the container in stylish black cardboard, that open via a flap. Upon opening the box, you’re greeted with the full set of devices that make up the ‘starter kit’, namely the Iota Gateway, the keyfob and the two halves of the contact sensor. Removing the top layer reveals another box that contains the power supply along with a few other bits and pieces.

This second box primarily contains both the power supply and an ethernet cable, which we’ll mention later. Along with these, you get a paper slip that acts as a ‘cheat sheet’ to get your Abode set up running quickly. It also has an activation key printed on the top, which you’ll need when you first connect the device to the company’s servers, so it can be registered. It’s advisable to keep this document, or at least a copy of the activation key, in a safe place.

THE IOTA GATEWAY

The centrepiece of the security kit is the Iota Gateway, which is an impressive looking device, that serves as the hub for your other Abode devices (in addition to other third party products), but has quite a few other functions; As well as being a hub to get your child devices exposed to HomeKit, it also has a built-in 93dB siren, a motion sensor, and a 1080p camera with a 127º horizontal field of view (67º vertical field of view). It also has a built-in microphone and speaker for 2-way audio. Visually, it really appeals to my taste, employing a stark, two-tone look for the top and bottom halves of the device. The top half is made of barely translucent plastic, housing the motion sensor and camera, whilst the bottom half is covered in a knitted mesh fabric, similar to what you’d find on the HomePod, that houses the speaker and microphone. Although the gateway isn’t especially tall, due to the imposing design it can perhaps appear larger overall. The gateway is 180mm / 7.1in in height, and 78mm / 3.07in deep/wide. One really staggering tidbit is that the Iota gateway can support up to 160 devices, which most people are unlikely to even get half-way to passing.

Both the motion sensor and the camera lens are visible on the top half of the front, with the bottom half only showing an LED status light when powered up. The rear of the device is sort of the opposite, in that there’s nothing to see for the top half, with the bottom section revealing the power socket and ethernet port, for the included power supply and ethernet cable. The gateway can be used with either 110-120v or 220-240v systems, so if you’re in Europe, for instance, this setup can be used without any issues. On the subject of the ethernet port, it’s good to note that this device can connect to your network by connecting it to a free ethernet port on your router, although the Iota is also able to connect to your network wirelessly. It can only connect via the 2.4GHz band, however, not the 5GHz band, which my D-Link Omna camera is capable of.

A closer look at the rear of the Iota also reveals a tab that when opened, shows slots for both a SIM card and a Micro SD card. The Micro SD card is for recording footage locally, as opposed to via Abode’s own servers, whilst the SIM Card slot – which actually comes with an included but unactivated SIM card – is to allow the gateway to keep connected to Abode’s servers in the event your internet connection goes down. This functionality is only available if you choose one of the company’s paid plans, however, and is also only available to North American customers, so it’s not an option for me living in Taiwan.

The top of the unit has the Abode logo cut into the black plastic, whilst the base features a switch that can be toggled on or off. This switch turns on the built-in backup battery, which is designed to kick in if power is cut to the device. The battery should last around 72 hours. Taking all of the protective features into account – the SD card for local recordings, the SIM card for continuous connection to Abode, and the backup battery if the power to your home goes down – it’s clear that the company are taking as many steps as they can with this gateway to keep it going under exceptional circumstances, which has impressed me mightily. The fact that it also has the camera, siren and motion sensor built-in, takes it even further, which we’ll look into next.

In terms of how the Iota gateway connects or communicates with Abode’s own-brand products, it uses AbodeRF, which is the company’s own version of RF433MHz. Aside from this, all of Abode’s gateways can connect to a variety of third party devices, either using Zigbee 1.2, or Z-Wave. Z-Wave seems to represent the lion’s share of devices that are compatible with Abode, with company’s like Aeotec, August, Fibaro, Leviton, and Schlage, just to name a few. It should be noted that if you’re integrating either of the Abode gateways with HomeKit, none of these third-party devices actually get exposed to HomeKit, not that you’re limited to one system or the other, of course. This does also mean that whether or not you’re using HomeKit, the Abode system can integrate with a lot of other systems, like Philips Hue, Yale, LiFX, Ecobee, Kwikset, Google Nest, and more.

THE IOTA CAMERA

NOTE: All screenshots of the Abode app are from the Beta version, which at the time of writing, is not publicly released, and so may differ from the version you may be aware of.

I’ve actually got quite a few cameras, some of which aren’t even in use, but all of them bar one, are not HomeKit compatible, being that they’re part of the Xiaomi smart home ecosystem. The one HomeKit camera that I do have, and have had for over two years now, is the D-Link Omna, and so this is the only camera I can use with which to compare the Iota camera.

The Iota streams at 1080p, which is the minimum I’d expect these days, and although it isn’t compatible with HomeKit Secure Video (and I’m told won’t be), it’s still a fairly decent camera. The still and streamed images, while slightly different from the Omna in terms of overall colour, actually seems slightly richer and crisp. The Omna has a 180º field of vision (FoV) (compared to the Iota’s 127º FoV), so that could account for it, perhaps. Both the Omna and the Iota are connected to Wi-Fi, with the former using 5GHz, and the latter, 2.4GHz. When I’m in the Home app, the Omna launches the live stream faster on every occasion, with the Omna almost instantaneous. The Iota can take up to three seconds to show the live stream, although this difference could be down respective Wi-Fi bands each camera uses – could this be down to the 2.4GHz being more cluttered due to more devices being connected than to 5GHz? Possibly, I don’t know, but oddly enough, when the Iota was connected to the network via ethernet, it was even slower to start showing the live feed in the Home app.

One thing I’m really not a fan of is the time stamp that shows in the top left corner. To me, it’s a reminder of the ‘old school’ Swann security cameras I used to have. Granted, it may be useful, but it would be preferable if there was an option to turn it off – which there isn’t unfortunately. Another slight negative is that the live feed on the Iota isn’t quite as smooth as it is with the Omna. The video feed is slightly ‘choppy’, almost as though a frame is missed every few of seconds, which is also noticeable if you watch the time stamp counting out seconds, where it will stop, before fast-forwarding a couple of seconds. It isn’t a massive deal in many ways, and I’m told a fix is being worked on to address this.

The Iota camera also plays nicely with the popular HomeCam app for Apple TV (as well as for iOS devices), so it’s nice to be able to stream your cameras directly to your TV screen when required.

As the camera is integrated with the gateway, along with the motion sensor and alarm, all three devices can work together in a variety of ways, either via HomeKit or totally within the Abode system. We’ll go into a bit more detail on that later, but for now, we’ll look at the other devices that come as part of the Security Kit.

In the Abode app, there are several settings for the camera, including turning the camera on or off, adjusting the streaming bandwidth, video quality (720p – 1080p), the length of the video clip capture (a maximum of 30 seconds), a pre-capture option that allows you to catch up to 30 seconds of footage before a trigger has occurred. along with a few sound options.

IOTA GATEWAY MOTION SENSOR

As already mentioned, the gateway features a built-in motion sensor. This get exposed to HomeKit in the normal way, and works exactly like any other HomeKit sensor, with all the same attributes. In the tests I set up for it that I tied to scenes, it worked every time, and whilst it wasn’t quite as fast as the Zigbee-based Aqara sensors I have, it was fast enough, and in fact, it’s less sensitive than my Aqara motion sensors, which I find a little too rigorous in detecting movement. The Motion sensor’s sensitivity settings can be adjusted (low, medium, high) in the Abode app, so in that aspect, it’s quite useful. The sensor is certainly more responsive than any of the Bluetooth motion sensors I have.

THE ABODE KEYFOB

Both the keyfob and the mini window/door sensor that come with the Security Kit are already pre-paired, so there isn’t a lot required to get these two items up and running as such.

The Abode keyfob is a nice addition to the kit, that really does give off the impression that the company are all about security, insomuch as they realise that not everyone wants to use their phone all of the time. With that in mind, it’s great that if you prefer something more tangible, that can be controlled manually, with physical button presses, then a dedicated keyfob of this kind ticks all the right boxes. In terms of dimensions, it’s quite discrete, around the size of a small box of matches or slightly smaller than a Zippo lighter, although similar in overall shape, measuring 14 x 53 x 35mm / 0.55 x 2.08 x 1.38in (Depth, Height, Width).

As with the Gateway, the keyfob adopts the two-tone theme of 50/50 black and white, with only the black half having any functionality. One side of the keyfob has the Abode logo, whilst the other four distinct but subtle icons separated from each other with crossed lines. The top black half of the keyfob is made of matt-like rubber, with the buttons requiring only the smallest of presses, like the buttons on a TV remote, for example, so it’s entirely possible if you have this fob in your pocket, you could inadvertently arm or disarm the system. This could only occur when you’re in range of the hub, however, but it’s just something to be aware of. At the top of the vertical line is a tiny LED that flashes red whenever one of the four buttons is pressed. Only three of the four buttons currently have a function;

• The small circular dot activates ‘Away’ mode
• The small dot within a circle activates ‘Home’ mode
• The cross sets the system to ‘Standby’ or ‘Disarm’ mode

The fourth button with the ‘Plus’ symbol, doesn’t have a function and is reserved for “potential future use”, although the Abode website states that it can be programmed to be used as a ‘panic’ button. This isn’t a HomeKit-compatible product however and so doesn’t get exposed to HomeKit, so any customisation for the fourth button has to be performed in Abode’s own app.

The keyfob is powered by a CR2032 battery which can be accessed by pulling the white and black halves apart. According to the website, the keyfob can work up to 30.5m / 100ft away from the gateway, which is quite impressive, although this number probably refers to a ‘clear line of sight’ between the keyfob and the gateway, so once walls start getting in the way, that measurement will likely reduce. A cursory glance of the Abode website didn’t bring up information on battery life, but I suspect a minimum of 12 months would be about right, depending on usage.

THE ABODE DOOR SENSOR

Door/window sensors are a really effective product type, as they’re so versatile. not only can they be added to doors or windows, but also drawers, jewellery boxes, or even your mailbox, as long as they’re in range of the hub of course. Door sensors are also quite basic in some senses, and usually take on the same form factor of the main body, which holds the electronics and transmitter etc, with the other portion a simple magnet housed in a plastic case.

This is the case with Abode’s offering – dubbed the Mini Door/Window Sensor, which is actually one of four versions the company offers. This particular model isn’t the smallest contact sensor around, but it not massive either; main body – 11 x 53 x 29mm / 0.43 x 2.08 x 1.1in, magnet – 7.5 x 25 x 14mm / 0.3 x 1.0 x 0.55in (Depth, Height, Width). Once again, the company employs a two-tone effect to this product, although given that it’s meant to be a bit more unassuming, the effect is achieved with mildly contrasting matt and gloss plastic finishes. Thankfully, the stickers that indicate where to line up the two halves are removable. The sensor also comes with two adhesive stickers, although unlike the typical double-sided adhesive strip you tend to see, they provide two single-sided stickers, with velcro on the other side, allowing the main part to be removed from the door frame, in order to change the battery more easily.

As with the motion sensor, this is exposed to HomeKit as a regular contact sensor and works well. The reaction times were almost on a par with my Zigbee door sensors, and (sorry, I have to say it again), but easily faster than the Bluetooth ones I have. The company claim up to four years of battery life, which is very impressive, even by Zigbee standards. The sensor uses a replaceable CR2450 coin battery. Overall, it’s an unassuming piece of kit, and rightly so, but it does the job well. It’s also great that it can work with the camera and alarm in a variety of different ways, which we’ll go into shortly.

THE IOTA ALARM/SIREN

When it comes to the alarm part of this setup, it should be stated that whilst HomeKit has four modes – Off, Night, Away, and Home – the Abode system only has three – Standby, Away, and Home. Some other systems that include an alarm, like the Aqara hub, currently only have an arm/disarm option, however. Due to Abode only having the three options, it would appear that selecting either the Home or Night modes in the Home app, activates Home mode on the Iota Gateway and in the Abode app. That sort of makes sense, as there are only minor differences between the two, although It would be great if Abode was able to add the fourth mode for parity. So, in essence, the modes between the Home and Abode apps looks like this;

Having briefly tested the alarm, I can attest to the loudness of it. It’s not just that it’s loud enough to deter potential an incursion into your home, but the quality of the siren sound is of decent quality, coming across – to my ears at least – as a more ‘full-bodied’ speaker, so the overall impression you get of the sound (for as long as you can bear it) is of ‘pro’ quality. I am, as you may have guessed, comparing this to my other alarm system, the Aqara hub, which whilst a great all-round piece of kit, is slightly let down by the speaker, which just isn’t as full sounding. Whether this increases the odds of an opportunist burglar fleeing at the sound of this particular alarm over another, is anyone’s guess, but it can’t hurt.

The Abode app has a more than sufficient amount of options for all aspects of the devices that come as part of the Security Kit, let alone additional devices that you might want to add in the future, so there really are too many to cover in a lot of detail, but just in terms of choices for the alarm siren, it has to be said, you won’t be disappointed. Options for the sounds are generally offered at three volume levels – Off, Low, or High – which covers door chime settings, delay sounds for the different alarm modes, as well as confirmation sounds. It really is quite extensive, as can be seen in the screenshots above.

OTHER ASPECTS OF THE ABODE APP

All of Abode’s child devices can work with the alarm portion of the gateway, so whether you want a simple low-level alert alarm that’s also sent to your phone if there’s a water leak, for example, or the full-blown panic alarm if the worst should happen, it’s all possible. Additionally, there are sections covering all aspects of the devices that connect to the Iota Gateway, as well as account, internet, and integration settings for connecting to systems previously mentioned. Much of this app, although still in beta, has replaced a large portion of what is currently accessible via the company’s web-based app, which is great if you don’t mind deving into a browser. Having pretty much everything in one app is the way forward though, ultimately, with the web-based app a decent backup option.

Wrapping up this overview of the Abode app, the main screen, and first of the five tabs at the bottom of the screen, simply called the Dashboard, gives you quick access to the camera along with the three alarm modes. Whenever you select the two active alarm modes (Home, Away), the gateway will count down, with 1 beep per second, so if you set the alarm arming delay to thirty seconds, you’ll get thirty beeps before it arms. Whatever amount of time you’ve set in the settings for the arming delay time, will also be reflected in a visual countdown effect within the icons for these two modes. The Devices tab gives you access to not only the camera, but settings for the built-in motion sensor, and any child devices that have been added. Here you can also group devices in any manner you wish, be that by room, or by sensor type etc. For the camera, you can also take a screengrab from the camera or record footage on the fly.

While Abode can play nicely with many systems it does appear to take itself seriously as a complete in-house security solution. This is why they offer a section labelled Cue, which allows you to create automations with rules, action and conditions. It’s possibly not as extensive as what can be achieved in the Home app for devices that aren’t security centred and also work with the Abode system, but it does offer a few options that aren’t possible for the alarm within the Home app.

SUMMING UP

I have to say that given the number of options you have with not only the Abode app but all the devices that can connect to the gateway, I’ve more than likely I’ve missed a few details here and there, so apologies if that’s the case, but there’s a lot! The depth of customisation for the siren is pretty impressive, and if you were to only use the Abode app without worrying about whether a device compatible with the gateway will be exposed to HomeKit, then you really are spoilt for choice. This choice is mostly sensors though, so don’t expect the Abode system to replace what’s on offer, in a broader sense, via Apple HomeKit.

What you do get is an all-in-one starter kit that does the basics, with you being able to add more as and when you want. That’s nothing new in some ways, as Aqara offer the same kind of choice. Still, Abode specialises in security in particular, and it’s evident when you see the paid secure monitoring options they offer it becomes apparent how seriously they take it. I haven’t really touched on these paid choices, as I’m really focussed on the hardware in the main, but even their plans are very flexible, and nowadays it’s all about choice for the consumer.

Has the system been good for me? At first, I did have an issue with the Iota gateway disconnecting once a day, which was quite disturbing, when you think that it’s the nerve centre of the system for security purposes. This happened when I was connected via ethernet at the time, and although I wasn’t directly connected to the router, I’d assumed it would be the best option. I have to admit that my system isn’t the best, and could do with a bit of streamlining, so I took to unplugging the gateway’s ethernet connection and went with a Wi-Fi connection instead. Soon after that, I’m glad to report the disconnections stopped. Whether the fault lies with my setup or not, I’m not sure, but as long as the gateway stays connected, I don’t really care how it does it. Aside from that, the keyfob and the door sensor have worked flawlessly, the motion sensor does the job well, and the camera is decent enough.

If we’re going to be fair, the slightly stuttering image from the live camera feed isn’t great, but I can live with it, and I do tend to look at the camera portion of the gateway as a bonus feature rather than a central one. After all, their other hub doesn’t come with a camera, and you can also buy separate cameras from either Abode or any number of manufacturers, so I’ll live with it. The siren/alarm part is what I consider the core feature, and as I’ve stated before, it’s LOUD. That’s all I need aside from reliability, even though where I live, we’re very safe thankfully. If it wasn’t for the fact that our apartment is already fully kitted out with sensors, I’d quite likely consider more Abode devices, as I’m really not too keen on Bluetooth sensors.

Finally, whether it matters to most people or not, I do like my devices to look good if they’re on show, whilst also having them blend in. The Iota does this in spades for me. I simply love the design. Taste is personal of course, but with this being both the heart of the system, as well as being a camera, it will get seen, and it should look good. I think it does.

Many of Abode’s products can be bought on Amazon.com, but it’s also worth checking out the company’s online store, as, at the time of writing, they are offering up to 50% off selected items from their range of products.

Full disclosure: Abode provided HomeKit News with the Iota Home Security Kit for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was made or requested.

The post Abode Iota Home Security Kit (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

Despite the few options available for this type of sensor, this category is, in many ways, just as useful in the home as smoke sensors, for example. Clearly, the task of water leak sensors is to detect potential water leaks in one’s home. This could be anything from a leaking washing machine or dishwasher, as well as other random accidents, including watering flowers, or, for example, a bathtub that is being filled but forgotten about. It is definitely worth having at least one device of this type in every home that can protect you from these types of incidents and at the same time, the potentially high repair costs associated with them.

The by now well-known company Eve, which manufactures home automation devices operating exclusively in the Apple HomeKit system, has just released such a device called the Eve Water Guard, designed for water leak detection. This new product, that we first reported on at IFA 2019, and subsequently showed up at CES 2020, has now been made available in multiple territories for purchase.

UNBOXING | PACKAGING

The Eve Water Guard packaging is presented in the same clean and transparent style and is easily recognisable as an Eve product if you’ve ever owned any of the company’s previous products. The front features the product, with a noticeable red glow around the product, which isn’t just for show, as it does indeed look this way! We’ll get to that in a bit. The rear of the box has the basic features of the device (in French, German and English), along with requirement. One side of the box promotes the Eve for HomeKit app, whilst the other side lets you know that it has a 100dB alarm, a 2m extendable sensing cable, and, as already mentioned, four adaptors along with the capability to work across the two voltage ranges.

After opening the packaging, you’ll find the Eve Water Guard device in the form of a white plastic cube with exchangeable adapters designed for use in different regions. Four types of adapters are included; EU, UK, US and AU versions. In addition, a cable that acts as a 6.5 ft / 2 m long water detection sensor, along with a quick start guide. Contact and guarantee information sheets are also included. The code for pairing with HomeKit can be found printed on the quick start guide, as well as being found on the device itself. On other interesting note; you can’t see it on the packaging right now, but the Eve Water Guard has won an IF World design award for 2020.

THE DEVICE

Technical specifications of Eve Water Guard

• Power: 100-240V @ 50/60 Hz. 50 mA
• Wireless Connection: Bluetooth Low Energy

Dimensions

• 65 x 65 x 45 mm (excluding plug)

Compatibility

• Australia: Type I sockets (AS 3112)
• Europe: Type E & F sockets
• United Kingdom: Type G (BS 1363) sockets
• U.S. & Canada: Type A & B sockets

The Eve Water Guard does give the impression of a solidly made device with high-quality materials. The main cube-shaped section (the alarm, essentially) itself is made of high-gloss white plastic, with no moving parts except for the replaceable power adapter. The device is powered directly from the power outlet, so batteries are not required. The main body of the device isn’t especially large, but it is larger than most smart plugs. On the base of the main body, you can find the socket for the sensing cable, which is essentially a 1/4″ jack socket, and a small hole which houses a reset button, should you need to get it back to factory settings.

There’s a built-in 100dB siren within the device, which when triggered by a water leak, will play an audible alert, in addition to a red LED light inside the alarm, that disperses the light into the back of the device, as well as at the front, behind the front panel with the logo on it.

The device is then essentially two parts; the alarm, with a built-in warning light and the sensor, that detects the actual leaks. The sensor itself was designed in the form of a separate cable connected to the main device through a 1/4″ jack socket located underneath the device. The attached cable is 6.5ft / 2m long. Eve also offers extensions for this cable, giving you the ability to extend the sensor by up to 490ft / 150m with 6.5ft / 2m extensions, sold separately. The cable is made of a water-absorbent material, due to the fact that the cable acts as one long sensor along its entire length.

INSTALLATION

The process of adding the Eve Water Guard to HomeKit is no different from the standard procedure for other devices that can be added. After scanning the HomeKit code, you can change the name of the device and assign it to any room, as normal. Once installed, however, it’s best to use the dedicated Eve for HomeKit app for the extensive set of features available, that are not exposed to other HomeKit apps. The Eve for HomeKit app is available on the App Store in both an iPhone version and a separate version for the iPad.

As with many of Eve’s product line, the Eve Water Guard communicates with HomeKit using the Bluetooth protocol. In the event that you’re unable to place the Eve Water Guard within Bluetooth range of your HomeKit home hub, to extend the range of the Bluetooth signal, you can also use another product by Eve, specifically designed to act as a Bluetooth hub for Eve devices, called the Eve Extend, we’ll publish a review of this product separately soon, but it’s one of the devices you might find useful in situations like the one described before.

A HomeKit hub is required if you want to create automations that include the Eve Water Guard, or when we want to have Remote Access to the device’s status when you are away from home. In the event that you do not have a device working as a HomeKit hub in our home, thanks to how Bluetooth works you will still be able to communicate directly between the Eve Water Guard and your HomeKit client (a suitable iPhone, iPad or iPod) so that you have access to basic configuration functions as well as the ability to check the device’s status. It’s good to note that the Eve Water Guard continues to work even if it loses contact with the HomeKit system, so for its core function it is autonomous; if a water leak is detected, the built-in siren and the flashing red warning light will still work.

As is clear, the main and only function of the Eve Water Guard is to notify you of the detection of all kinds of water leaks. Throughout the testing period of this device, I have never been disappointed. The time from the actual leakage and notification is variable, but certainly fast enough for us to have time to react appropriately. This is due to many factors, ranging from the amount of leakage, cable placement layout, the time it takes for water to get through the material, and of course Bluetooth communication speeds. On average, you will receive a notification within a few seconds. In this case, it’s definitely worth paying special attention to the arrangement and placement of the cable, which can make a large difference with regards to the reliability of detecting water leaks.

When water leaks are detected, the Eve Water Guard’s built-in siren and pulsing red LED light are activated. In the Home app, you will receive a notification in the form of a push notification and a change in the status of the device from Ready to Leak detected. In situations when you are away from home, in order to receive notifications, and the ability to view the status of the device, a HomeKit hub is required, and I would suggest, vitally important.

When the alarm is triggered upon detecting a leak, both the alert and the alarm will be active until the cable is completely dry. To deactivate the alarm, the only option in a situation like this is to temporarily mute the alarm sound until it is completely turned off. This option can only be found in the Eve for HomeKit app. In the Eve app, when a leak is detected, a dialogue box the ‘mute alarm’ option will show up. In addition, you will also find the same mute option in Eve Water Guard options section. It should be noted that the alarm cannot be turned off completely by just using the app, so if you are in the same location as the alarm itself, you can deactivate the alarm by disconnecting the cable from the Eve Water Guard itself, by or simply disconnecting the entire device from the power supply. When you reconnect the cable to the Eve Water Guard or turn on the power again before the cable is completely dry, then the device will be triggered and the alarm will sound again.

EVE APP EXTRAS

In Eve for HomeKit app, you will also find a few additional functions not available in other HomeKit apps. The first is a reminder to perform an alarm test, which tests if the Eve Water Guard is functioning properly. The test consists of immersing the cable probe in water and triggering a short test alarm at a reduced volume. This function can be found in the Eve Water Guard options. You can also set intervals for test reminder there. The available options are:

• never
• every 30 days
• every 3 months
• every 6, months
• every year

Another feature is a record of events that shows when the Eve Water Guard was added to HomeKit, when each alarm was triggered and muted, or when the last test was carried out, and with what result. There is also an option to export this data in XLS format for use in other applications. As with any HomeKIt device from Eve, no cloud connections are used, and all data is always securely stored locally in the Eve for HomeKit app. Eve Water Guard works only in the Apple HomeKit system like all other Eve products, so you won’t find any other integrations that go beyond the HomeKit system (Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa for example), but we can extend the notifications for when a water leak is detected, to any devices operating in this system. So, beside notification via the built-in siren, the red flashing light and push notifications, we can also attach other lights or AirPlay2 audio devices. This means that if a water leak is detected, some of the smart plugs will be turned off automatically, and certain smart bulbs can turn on, and to a specific colour, for example.

SUMMING UP

What distinguishes the Eve Water Guard most from other devices of in this category of sensor, is the use of a probe-like cable, acting as a sensor along its entire length, which opens up many new use cases, whistly covering a potentially larger area. The additional possibility of extending this cable by up to 490ft / 150m certainly adds even more value. However, it often happens that not every solution works in all situations of course, so there are places where such a solution creates new possibilities for us, at the same time there are many other places where devices with built-in sensors directly at the bottom of the device can work better ( like the Fibaro water leak sensor), where we do not require or are unable to use a long cable. Before buying, you should think carefully where and how you want to use this device, and choose the device that suits you best to the conditions in which it will be placed, as well as function with the best results or coverage.

The same applies to the power supply itself. It’s certainly convenient to have a direct power supply, without worrying about replacing a battery. This solution allows us also to have a fairly loud, built-in siren and warning light, which is not standard in most devices of this type, but conversely, we don’t always have access to an outlet where we plan on having such a device, although having the ability to extend the sensor cable by a very large amount does address to a large degree. To some extent, some places that are more exposed to water leaks tend not to have outlets too close by, like underneath sink, so devices using batteries can be a better choice and being largely passive devices, which usually means the batteries can last for 2+ years.

On this topic, it’s difficult to talk about the pros or cons of such a device or device type. Everything is simply dependent on the specific conditions in one’s own home, and the Eve Water Guard is offering us a whole new approach on this. If you think the Eve Water Guard will work in your home, then I can definitely recommend this device. It’s solidly made, with a modern look, as are all of Eve’s devices to date. Most importantly, you can rely on it to save you from the potentially large costs associated with water leak damage. The only feature that I miss, is a button on the device to immediately silence the alarm.

Full disclosure: Eve provided HomeKit News with the Eve Water Guard for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was made or requested.

The post Eve Water Guard (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

and serves as a full-length sensor for monitoring large areas of your room. And the Eve app reminds you at regular intervals to check that Eve Water Guard is working perfectly. With Eve Water Guard, avoid expensive water damage and add a watertight layer of protection to your home.

Leveraging the power of Apple HomeKit technology, Eve Water Guard connects directly to your iPhone, iPad, or home hub such as an Apple TV or HomePod via Bluetooth technology – all without a bridge. Eve accessories are designed to safeguard your personal data – no matter whether you access Eve Water Guard locally or remotely, your personal data is never disclosed

Features:

• Avoid expensive water damage: Eve Water Guard detects water leaks and alerts you the moment they occur
• Alerts you acoustically with its 100 dB siren, visually by a red flashing warning light and notifies you via iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch
• 6.5 ft / 2 m sensing cable (extendable up to 490 ft / 150 m) serves as a full-length sensor for monitoring large areas of your room
• Perfect for the bathroom, utility room, basement and beneath sinks and water pipes
• Apple HomeKit-enabled for unparalleled ease of use and advanced security
• Simple setup: Direct connection via Bluetooth technology – no bridge or gateway required
• Absolute data privacy – what happens at home, stays at home

Specs:

• 100 dB siren
• Visual alert
• Notifications
• 6.5 ft / 2 m sensing cable (extendable)
• Scenes
• Siren-test mode

The post Eve Water Guard appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

With these sombre thoughts in mind, today I’m turning my attention to a small and relatively cheap smoke detector/alarm, made as a collaboration between Mijia and Honeywell.

• Now before I go headlong into the review itself, it should be noted that this is certified for use in Mainland China and Hong Kong only. This doesn’t mean you can’t use it (although that also depends on the laws in your particular country), but if you did have a fire, and wanted to claim on your insurance, whilst relying on this device as your only form of smoke detection, chances are you wouldn’t be covered, as it wouldn’t be considered admissable as a certified device (unless you live in China or Hong Kong, obviously). So, it’s probably best to view this as a backup as opposed to the main sensor/alarm/detector, or better still, simply treat it as a notification device, with a regular ‘dumb’ smoke alarm as the main detector for the purposes of insurance, as well as an extra layer of safety. More is better I would suggest.

UNBOXING

The Mi/Honeywell Smoke Detector has been around for a few years now, and in that time the packaging hasn’t really changed since I bought my first unit in early 2018. The front shows the device itself, or at least what you’ll see of the device once it’s in place, with some Simplified Chinese text at the bottom that basically translates to ‘Smoke detector’ or ‘smoke alarm’.

The sides of the box are equally barren of much detail, with only the Mijia and Honeywell logos on one side, and a smoke icon with the same Simplified Chinese text as is found on the front.

Once opened, the smoke alarm is the first thing you’ll see. Underneath that is the provided CR123A battery, also known as a half-AA battery (not to be confused with the less common ER14250 battery). To complete the list of contents, you’ll find two rawl plugs and corresponding screws, two small booklets in Simplified Chinese, and two double-sided curved strips if you don’t want to mount the alarm with the screws.

THE SMOKE ALARM

The device is relatively small, although probably no smaller or larger than a standard ‘dumb’ smoke alarm. It’s circular, coming in at 90mm/3.54in in diameter, and 36mm/1.42in in depth. It weighs approximately 100g/3.52oz, so is light enough to be suspended from a ceiling without the worry that it’ll fall under its own weight. The front has a series of holes for the alarm, with an inner, elevated circle that exposes the smoke detecting sensor array. Imagine a typical flying saucer with windows atop the disc…There’s a button to set up the device, that can also be used for testing and muting the alarm when necessary.

The rear of the detector houses the battery compartment and is held in place with the backplate the slots into position with a slight turn. The two curved adhesive strips sit in the recessed areas of the backplate perfectly. You also have two screw holes if you go with the more permanent fitting option.

The alarm part of the device has an 80dB built-in siren, which might not be the loudest on the market, but in my tests, it is plenty loud.

IN MI HOME | AQARA HOME | APPLE HOME

The smoke detector can work as a standard device without the app, so if you don’t want to use the smart parts, then it still functions as required, which is great, as you wouldn’t want the device to only function if it’s connected to a network. Of course, if you want notifications, or use it in automations, you’re going to need to add it to either the Mi Home or Aqara Home apps, and as it uses the Zigbee protocol for wireless communication, you’re going to need a Zigbee hub. As this is an older device, it will work with the older Mi hub, as well as the newer Aqara hub. You’ll need the Aqara hub if you want it exposed to HomeKit, with the hub on at least 1.5.0 firmware.

If you use the Mi Home app for this device set to the Chinese Mainland server, along with the Aqara hub, it will, in turn, be exposed to Homekit and appear in the Apple Home app. In the Mi Home app, you have a few options for the device; You can automatically link the smoke detector to the alarm part of the hub without the need to create an automation. You can, of course, create separate automations, although you may want to create your automations in the Home app to control other HomeKit devices, like lights or smart bulbs, for example. There’s an option for the app to remind you to test the alarm monthly, although I’ll be honest and say I can’t ever recall getting a notification as such, so I’m not sure if it actually works, and I’ve just not noticed. The self-check function simply asks you to start the procedure and confirm if you’ve heard a loud beep from the device, to confirm both the battery is in working order, and the device is connected. In terms of where the device is situated, you can adjust it to one of three detection tolerance levels;

• Smoke-Free Zone
• Zone for a small amount of smoke (eg a living room where someone may smoke a cigarette)
• Zone for a moderate amount of smoke (eg kitchens)

As I’ve got my Smoke alarm added to the Mi Home set to the Chinese Mainland server, this setup is the most convenient setting, where regional blocks with the Mi Home app and Xiaomi smart home products can be an issue. As far as I’m aware, you can’t add this device to any hub other than the Chinese one if you’re using the Mi Home app, but you can add it to any hub via the Aqara Home app. To add it this way, you need to be signed out of the app, which sets the app to HomeKit Mode. Once in this mode, any device listed in the Aqara app can be added to the hub, including the smoke detector. In the Aqara app, it doesn’t appear you get the same options that you see in the Mi Home app, so no smoke level settings, or monthly test reminders.

Setup via the Mi Home or Aqara home apps is as easy as it gets, and is pretty much in line with other devices in respect of adding them to the system.

IN DAY TO DAY USE / SUMMING UP

With something like a smoke alarm, it’s not easy to truly know whether it will work when the time comes, and how reliable it is until you have a fire! You can do the monthly tests of course, but in order to really know if it can detect smoke, you’re going to have to create some…err…smoke. I’m not suggesting you set your sofa on fire of course, but something like an incense stick or a slow-burning piece of card, held near the smoke sensor should soon tell you if it works. These are the kinds of tests I’ve performed periodically, just to make sure it’s fit for purpose, and so far so good. There’s always the possibility that it could let me down just when I need it, but then that’s true of any smoke alarm in theory.

I’ve had this early 2018, and so far I’m glad to say it hasn’t had to be triggered as part of a real emergency, but all the tests I’ve done, have triggered the alarm each and every time. In the time that I’ve had it, I’ve moved home once, and setting it up anew was as easy as I’d hoped, although keeping it paired to the same hub, which in turn, whilst connected to a new wifi network, still had the same SSID and password, definitely helped. Since having had this smoke detector for almost exactly two years, the battery is still showing as 100%, which is a bit suspect, although I’ve seen this with other Zigbee-based devices, like the Hue Dimmer Switch, for example, so maybe not so unusual. Some online stores claim the replaceable battery has a 5-year lifespan, so in theory, you’d only have to replace the battery once for the average lifespan of the device – it’s recommended that smoke detectors are replaced every ten years.

This is considerably cheaper than many of the other smart HomeKit compatible models available, and it’s worth noting that with the Honeywell connection, it can be taken seriously. I can’t imagine a company like that putting their name to something if it’s not any good. Indeed, First Alert’s OneLink series of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have had some terrible reviews on Amazon and considering the company’s years of expertise in the field, you’d expect better performance, which according to quite a few less than happy consumers, isn’t exactly the case. I only have a couple of Onelink Multi-sensor devices, and they’ve been very solid, so I don’t have a bad experience with their products, albeit limited to one device type.

Since the introduction of the Aqara hub, with it being the first HomeKit compatible device that also supported child devices that in turn got exposed to HomeKit, many people still ask if this is compatible, and as is evident from the review, it emphatically is. As already stated, you do need to have your hub running firmware 1.5.0 or higher, but it’s unlikely you’re running anything lower than this on your Aqara hub at this point.

So, would I recommend it? Yes, I would, with the explicit provision that it be treated as complementary to a standard ‘dumb’ smoke alarm, and as such, treated as a backup, albeit with smart connectivity. If you live in the US and want just the one device to be smart and not rely on a ‘dumb’ backup, then it would seem that First Alert/OneLink is your only option for HomeKit. If you live in the EU, you have offerings by both Eve and Netatmo, while both expensive, do look good, although they also look suspiciously alike. Both Eve and Netatmo are generally considered as reliable companies, with good products.

It should also be pointed out that as this is an older product in Mija’s arsenal of smart devices, there’s currently no replacement for this product that we’re aware of that’s also HomeKit compatible, with the only other product that works with the Xiaomi smart home system being the Aqara smoke alarm. However, apart from not being compatible with HomeKit, it’s really only designed to work in China, as it comes with a SIM card to dial out in case of an emergency, but is only compatible with Chinese telecoms systems.

Whatever you choose to do, it’s wise to get a smoke alarm regardless of whether it’s a smart or dumb one, as you never know what might happen.

The post Mi/Honeywell Smoke Detector (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.