This video is in Chinese, but with English subtitles.

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• Note – the video is in Mandarin, but English subtitles are available, so you just need to activate them.

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The packaging is fairly standardised now with Aqara’s style already set, but as you can see on the rear, the device is both HomeKit and Mi Home compatible, as well as being a WiFi device. The front also shows that the E1 has a WiFi relay or repeater function, which is something new for Aqara hubs.

The device itself is fairly uncomplicated, with the front showing an Aqara logo, a pairing/reset button, and a small LED. The rear contains the HomeKit code.

The profile for the E1 reveals just how thin it is, with the main body only marginally deeper than the USB plug that powers it. The dimensions for the E1 are 8mm/0.3in (D), 108mm/4.25in (H), 30mm/1.18in (W).

Another example of the size of the E1 is with it here next to an AirPods case. As it’s a low power device, in many instances it can be plugged into a suitable USB port on a power strip, for example.

Adding the E1 to the Aqara Home app, involves the same procedure for any hub, and once added, will also be exposed to HomeKit as a Bridge.

Whilst the E1 has no speaker or buzzer, it can still act as a security system, so if you already have an M1S, or M2 hub, which do contain a speaker and Siren sounds, the E1 is another means of activating the Alert System in the Aqara app, via the Home app.

The E1 is a fully functioning Zigbee 3.0 hub, just like the G2H, P3, M1S, M2 and others.

The additional function of the E1 being able to act as a WiFi extender may be of use in areas where WiFi devices aren’t close enough to the main router, so it serves double duty in this case.

We’ll be doing a full review soon, so subscribe to get our posts as they go live, in addition to following us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to keep up with all the latest, as it happens.

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The newly unveiled E1 switch range is now available on Xiaomi’s flagship online third-party store xiaomiyoupin.com and shows both wired and wireless options, with single and double rocker variants for each, with the wired switches being offered in both neutral and no-neutral options.

What’s of interest is that while these are only currently available in China, the wired switches sport dimensions and design suitable for EU standards, which is to say the ‘back box’ has rounded corners, as well as 4 slots for screws that are designed to ‘turn and lock’ into place. The dimensions of the switch are 86 x 86 x 30.15mm.

The rear of these switch does not reveal any EU certification as such, so if you were thinking of buying one, despite them only having just been launched in Mainland China, you would ultimately be better off waiting for the H1 switches to become available. Aside from this, the H1 has a higher power rating, at 100-250VAC, 50/60Hz, Max. 8A, compared to the E1, which is listed as 220VAC at 50Hz, with a maximum of 5A.

It goes without saying that the E1 switches are HomeKit compatible, and aside from also working with the Aqara Home app, are also compatible with Mi Home, for those that use it, and use Zigbee 3.0, which in this case means they are incompatible with the original Aqara hub, only Aqara’s Zigbee 3.0 certified hubs, at least officially. This includes the Aqara M2, M1S, P3, and the G2H and will almost certainly include the forthcoming E1 USB hub we reported on earlier this week.

The post Aqara Introduce New ‘EU Style’ E1 Switches appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

image credits: Brother Lin Shi via Weibo

Before you get too excited however, Aqara has informed us that this product will be a b2b (Business to Business) product only, and is unlikely to be available for sale to the general public in China, let alone internationally. The OP described this as a body sensor which he claims is not only able to detect motion as standard, but can even detect people even when they’re sitting still, reading a book or having a bath, for example.

According to some FAQs that also surfaced a while ago, the sensor comes with the option for three levels of sensitivity, and due to its shape, can even be mounted into the ceiling, much like a downlight…only without the light part.

As with virtually all of Aqara’s products, it will support Zigbee (we assume Zigbee 3.0 at this point) and will be compatible with Apple HomeKit, although given that it’s a b2b product for Chinese companies only, it’s unlikely to be certified to work with Amazon Alexa or Hey Google.

The post New Aqara ‘Body Sensor’ Surfaces Online appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

One such device that has just surfaced is the Aqara T1 Smart Plug. This is actually the first smart plug for the Chinese market with official Aqara branding, with previous Zigbee-based smart plugs coming with the Mi or Mijia branding. As this has the T1 suffix, it means that this is not only officially Zigbee certified, but also uses Zigbee 3.0, like the aforementioned G2H. For this reason, it’s unlikely to work with the current Aqara hub, with the company’s website stating that this requires the Aqara M1S hub or another Zigbee 3.0 gateway to function (like the ever-elusive M2 for example). Visually, the new plug looks identical to the US version, minus the different pins and socket, and what appears to be a white outer layer, as with the current US smart plug.

While this particular smart plug may not be of massive interest outside of China, it does bode well for eventual future upgrades to the current lineup of Aqara products in other markets, most importantly perhaps, the US, although it would be nice for the UK to get a look in as well, perhaps when a UK Aqara hub eventually surfaces…

The post Aqara Zigbee 3.0 T1 Smart Plug For China Revealed appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

If you would like to read the review in Simplified Chinese, click HERE.

PACKAGING

The packaging for the P3 is very compact. and only contains two products: The P3 air conditioning companion and the Aqara temperature sensor. On the front of the box is the P3, sensor, and the Work with Apple HomeKit logo. The back of the box is marked with the product model number KTBL12LM, which supports two wireless protocols – Wi-Fi 2.4GHz and Zigbee 3.0, with a maximum power of 4000W.

THE P3

The overall appearance of the P3 product is similar to that of the previous-generation Aqara air-conditioning companion (upgraded version), except for the addition of a HomeKit QR code, which is stuck on the side of the body. The front of the unit is a 16A Chinese power socket, whilst above that is an LED indicator. The device is powered by a 16A plug, the bottom of the body has a pill-shaped pairing button, and on the other side, there is a speaker. Incidentally, the P3 motherboard also contains a temperature sensor. Because the temperature generated by the motherboard, there will be a certain amount of variance from the actual ambient temperature, so this thermometer should only be used for overload protection with the P3. The temperature and humidity sensor in the bundle can be attached to any corner of the room to monitor temperature and humidity more accurately.

ADDING THE P3 TO AQARA HOME AND HOMEKIT

At present, the P3 only supports HomeKit and Aqara platforms at this time, so no Google or Amazon integration.

The procedure to add the P3 is very simple, which is especially the case with HomeKit configuration. You can directly open the camera and scan the HomeKit QR code to complete the addition of the device. In this case, we started off using the Aqara app, as we need the app to help with configuring the AC functionality initially.

Open the Aqara app main interface and click the add button in the upper left corner.

• Find the Air Conditioning Mate P3 and tap the icon to add products.
• Read the guidance prompt, confirm that the device has a flashing yellow LED, and click Next.
• The Aqara app automatically brings up the HomeKit interface, so scan the QR code on the side of the body of the P3 (or inside the product box) to add it.
• Name the air conditioner, alarm, and temperature and humidity sensor respectively.

Luckily, the Aqara temperature and humidity sensor is already paired with P3 by default, so there is no need to go through pairing for this device.

CONFIGURING YOUR AC UNIT TO WORK WITH THE P3

• Select the relevant air conditioner device in the menu (the P3 in this case)
• Choose your particular brand of air-conditioning unit
• You then go through a procedure to match infrared signals from the P3 that match functions on your AC unit (on/off, mode, fan speed etc)
• Finally, set the functions for the air conditioner. If your air conditioner does not have certain functions, you can click to disable these functions in the interface. The temperature range defines the maximum and minimum temperature that the air conditioner can adjust to. Some air conditioners may not include a temperature panel display, so the lighting options will not appear on every air conditioner.

FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES IN THE P3
As a compact product, P3 has a lot of functions, and the package contains a variety of functions.

• Aqara Zigbee 3.0 Gateway
• Air Conditioning Companion
• Temperature and humidity sensor (via the sensor in the package)
• Alarm system
• Infrared remote control
• Smart socket

AQARA ZIGBEE 3.0 GATEWAY

the P3 includes a full Aqara Zigbee 3.0 gateway, which can connect 32 sub-devices. For example, the temperature and humidity sensor in the set is connected to the air conditioning partner by default. If you have multiple products including a gateway in your home, it pays to connect each device to the nearest hub so as to ensure the quality of Zigbee signal. Aqara has updated the firmware to support the cross-gateway automatic setting function. It is hoped that Aqara can further optimize the gateway function and let the sub-devices automatically select the optimal gateway access. Zigbee 3.0 also brings a more stable connection and more functions for sub-devices. For example, Aqara human sensor can now display battery levels through the new gateway.

AIR CONDITIONING COMPANION

Follow the previous steps to match the infrared code of the air conditioner, the air conditioning adjustment options will then appear in the Apple Home app. Apple home supports three operating modes: heating, cooling, and off. The temperature can be adjusted to a minimum of 1 degree. Due to HomeKit restrictions at present, there’s no support fan speed adjustment.

Of course, as a HomeKit smart home device, the most important thing is automation. Using the HomeKit geofencing function, you can easily set the air conditioner to turn on when the first person arrives at home, or change the AC to the corresponding temperature when someone arrives at home, or when the last person leaves home, automatically turn off the air conditioner. In the screenshots above, the Siri shortcut function is used to automatically determine the temperature of the home.

• When the room temperature is higher than 23ºC, the ‘cooling’ is automatically turned on, and when the room temperature is lower than 18ºC, the heating is automatically turned on. The air conditioner is automatically turned off when the last person leaves the house.

You can also add weather conditions as a ‘condition’ according to your needs. Of course, the commands will be more complicated.

In the Aqara app, the P3 supports more additional functions. Compared to HomeKit, it supports heating, cooling, and off three modes, but  It also adds automatic and dehumidification functions, as well as support fan speed and sweep.

Aqara has also added two special modes; ‘quick cooling’ and ‘peaceful sleep’, which is convenient for quickly adjusting the temperature to a comfortable level when you get home, and intelligently adjusting according to the temperature curve when sleeping. It also supports ‘power statistics’ mode, which shows how much power is used in a month. Not only that but it also supports the detection of real-time power. When the air conditioner is in standby, it automatically cuts off the power to ensure that you do not pay an extra electricity fee. Aqara even considers that the light of the air conditioner may affect the user’s sleep quality in the settings, allowing the user to set the temperature display panel to turn off the air conditioner at night.

TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY FUNCTIONS

The temperature and humidity sensor that comes as part of the package, will automatically work with the air conditioner partner. The top of the HomeKit menu will directly display the air conditioner status and room temperature. Pull to the bottom to view the current humidity. In the Aqara app, the current temperature and humidity are directly displayed in a conspicuous location, which is convenient for users to view. The barometer function is currently only available in the Aqara app. The parameters measured by these sensors can be used not only for P3, but also for automatic linkage with other products within the Aqara app, and have the same function as the normal retail temperature and humidity sensor.

ALARM FUNCTION

This is an interesting function, and may also be the first domestic complete 4-mode alarm that supports HomeKit. The alarm can be set to one of four modes – Home, Away, Night and Off. Only four modes are supported in HomeKit, and the alarm trigger method needs to be set in the Aqara app. We enumerate the corresponding setting modes under different modes below and hope that the following settings can give you some inspiration, and then make your own unique settings according to the different home environments.

• Home mode
  The garage door and window sensor are turned on. When it is detected that the garage door or window are opened, the gateway alarm is activated.
• Away mode
  The human body sensor and the door and window sensor of each room are turned on and the alarm is armed. When movement is detected or the door or window are opened, the gateway is activated.
• Night mode
  The door and window sensor is turned on. If the door and window are turned on at night, the gateway flashes silent light alarm and pushes the alarm message to the mobile phone.
• Off mode

INFRARED REMOTE CONTROL

Whilst the P3 can control your AC, it can also control other devices, such as TV sets, set-top boxes, electric fans, etc., through the 8000+ infrared commands contained within it. At present, only the air conditioning function can be controlled in HomeKit, however. According to the strict certification conditions of HomeKit, the connected sub-devices must also be certified by HomeKit.

SMART OUTLET

The P3 Aqara Air Conditioning Companion supports changing the working mode to smart socket mode, so it can control some 16A high-powered non-smart electric heaters, electric water heaters, etc., and supports devices up to 4000W, compared with Mijia smart sockets which can only support devices up to 2200W of power. The P3’s output is more stable and the safety is more guaranteed.

PRODUCT COMPARISON

Comparing the Aqara Air Conditioning Companion P3 and Aqara Air Conditioning Companion (upgraded version), the main body appearance is almost identical, but of course, the P3 supports HomeKit, while the ‘upgraded version’ is mainly used with  Mi Home. It is precise because of HomeKit’s accurate geofencing function for family members, that you can easily set different temperature preferences when different members arrive at home, and can also intelligently identify when the last family member leaves, turn off the air conditioning alongside other operations. Geofencing not only relies on your mobile phone’s GPS but also cooperates with the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functions of Apple’s Home Hubs. The reliability and accuracy of geofencing are higher. Native Siri voice control commands under HomeKit, compared to setting the control voice commands one by one through the Siri shortcut (if used via Mi Home), HomeKit commands are more natural, and there is no need to say the preset commands word for word. At the same time, it supports ‘fuzzy’ temperature increase and decreases, and the upgraded version has no way to respond to ‘fuzzy’ commands.

The Aqara Air Conditioning Companion P3 and Tado Cooling V3+ both support HomeKit. Tado’s design is more in line with the appearance of fully-fledged thermostats. The panel is flat, and the front contains an LED matrix. The panel also supports touch gesture operations. The product is connected to your network via Wi-Fi and controls your air conditioner via infrared. Still, there are many problems encountered in actual use, and Tado cannot solve them fully.

Here is a list of the main problems you might encounter in use. The P3 and Tado both include infrared receivers, which is how the two products quickly match the infrared code of the air conditioner, by reading the commands issued by the remote control. However, after Tado is set up, the infrared receiver does not contain any other functions. For example, there might be other older members in the family who will still pick up the old remote control to control the air conditioner. The Tado will not adjust its own state according to the instructions received from the remote control, causing the display state and air conditioner operation state to be out of sync. In other words, you may turn on the Apple family to see that the air conditioner is cooling, but in fact, it may be blowing hot air.

When Aqara receives the air conditioner remote control command, it automatically matches the command issued by the remote control. The infrared code of each air conditioner manufacturer is different when the Apple home is opened. The manufacturer usually does not publicly provide the infrared code used by its own air conditioner. Aqara needs to preprocess and serialize such infrared codes. After receiving an infrared signal, you need to identify the remote control model of the air conditioner corresponding to the infrared signal through an algorithm, and parse out the air conditioner status, mode, wind speed, set temperature, etc. The older Aqara air conditioning partner would complete this process in the cloud. Powerful computing power can quickly complete code analysis. However, HomeKit is based on local processing operations. The above process needs to be completed on the local chip. This requires higher algorithm and requires a longer time to optimize the hardware and algorithm.

IN SUMMARY

As the first HomeKit intelligent air conditioning companion in China, this product has been in development for more than two years. The product is compact and powerful, and it is especially dedicated to product details. Aqara has considered the user first in all cases. The unique infrared synchronization function also takes into account the actual usage habits of the other people at home who may use the older remotes. It is these details that reflect Aqara’s strong technical prowess in this area. In the purchase of intelligent air conditioning products, the quality of the air conditioner itself cannot be abandoned because of intelligence. With Aqara Air Conditioning Companion P3, professional big-name air conditioners can now also be smart!

The post Aqara P3 Air Conditioning Companion (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

• If you prefer, you can read the Chinese version of this review.
• Para los que prefieran, aquí encuentran la version en español del review.

Since the receipt is a test unit, the packaging that came with it is very different from the official product you may end up buying. The packaging for the test version here is just a plain white box with the product label: smart camera G2H (gateway version), the product colour is white, as they didn’t have the other colours when it was sent to me.

There is practically no difference between the outward appearance of the Aqara G2H and the previous Aqara G2, with the only main visual exception being the HomeKit QR code on the base of the stand. The top has the same pill-shaped pairing button as with the G2. The package also contains the power adapter, Micro-USB power cord, a metal plate and some adhesive tape, a reset pin and the instruction manual.

SETUP
The G2H works with both Apple HomeKit and Aqara Home apps and has also taken the lead in supporting iCloud security recording when it comes to usage in China. Due to iCloud recording, the G2H will not be supported by the Mi Home app, only the Aqara Home app. You can download the Aqara Home app during the pairing process, or you can set it up and use it directly within Apple’s Home app without having to use any third-party app, if you want the most native iOS smart home experience. Here we will cover two different settings.

At the time of writing, Aqara just launched a brand new version of their app, and the overall UI has changed a lot, which has also led to the invalidation of some of the previously set screenshots of the settings that I took when I set this camera up over seven months ago. However, the initial setup process has not changed much. The pairing process in the Aqara app can is quite simple and basic, but also not too elegant. You basically open the Aqara app, click the add button in the upper left corner and select the G2H smart camera, use the included card pin to long-press the reset hole for five seconds, release it after hearing the prompt, and continue to enter your Wi-Fi name and password in the app. The Aqaara App then generates a QR code containing the encoded Wi-Fi name and password. You then simply point the QR code at the smart camera’s lens, with the camera then reading the information contained in the QR code to connect to the corresponding Wi-Fi network. It takes a little adjustment to get the QR code in a suitable position, but the overall solution is practical, but not so elegant.

When it comes to Apple Home, things are a little different. We can open Apple’s Home app, select the + button to add an accessory, and then scan the QR code on the bottom of the camera to automatically complete the Wi-Fi setup process. If you still want or need to use the Aqara app, just open the settings page for the camera and select the Aqara app Card.

The base of the camera is basically a large magnet, which can be easily stuck to most metal surfaces. The camera body is very light, so the large area of the magnetic base can safely hold the weight of the camera and the cable itself, so installation is in this way is firm and reliable. If you want to affix it to a non-magnetic surface, the attached metal mounting plate can also play a role, as it also comes equipped with a double-sided adhesive patch of the same size. If you are afraid that the self-tapping screws that come with the camera will damage your chosen mounting surface, you can also use this double-sided adhesive the metal mounting plate just as easily.

The biggest feature of this camera is to support Apple’s home function. On this basis, it also supports the iCloud security recording function, and supports the encryption of video storage in the iCloud cloud. This is also one of the core selling points of the product.

FUNCTIONS

The camera will appear as two accessories in HomeKit, namely the camera and a motion sensor. The camera supports HomeKit Secure Video (HSV). With a HomePod, Apple TV, or suitable iPad acting as a Home Hub, the captured video will use AI to intelligently recognise people, animals, or vehicles in the picture, and detect related actions. The gateway will encrypt the video clip and upload it to iCloud. This functionality requires the user to have a 200GB iCloud plan although the video itself does not use up any of your iCloud account storage capacity, and it can be stored for up to 10 days. The highest 2TB iCloud plan will allow for up to five cameras.

The camera can automatically confirm whether there is a family member at home, according to the family member’s iPhone, Apple Watch, etc. I set the G2H to allow viewing of real-time pictures when going out as well as record video. It’s set to automatically stop recording when someone is in the house, and only allow viewing real-time images and detection activities. If you are particularly concerned about your personal privacy, you can also set the camera to turn off at home. The included motion sensor will also stop working. (The motion sensor is based on video screen analysis, not an infrared (PIR) sensor).

Compared with older generation HomeKit smart cameras such as models by Netatmo or Logitech, the overall design of Aqara is not stunning, and the functions are very simple in some ways. The camera’s lens has a 140º ultra-wide-angle Field of View, so even narrow and long balconies can be fully captured by the picture. The thermal management of the camera is very good, so there’s never any heat buildup and there were no crashes or screen delays during use. 1080PHD picture quality, whether it’s night or day, looked really quite good.

In the Home app, it also supports the viewing of recorded videos, as well as the two-way audio function. Click the microphone button to initiate a voice call, and dial the progress bar to quickly view the previous video. In the lower right corner, you can also quickly control other accessories in the same room as the camera, such as the coloured light strips on the balcony in my case. Through Siri shortcuts, you can also set an automation, so if someone to break into the house when there is no one in the house, the lights will flash red, which will (hopefully) scare away some uninvited guests.  The red dot on the screen indicates that the camera is currently recording and streaming video, with a blue dot indicating that the camera is working normally. Similarly, there is an identically coloured LED on the front of the camera.

G2H not only supports Apple’s Home app, but also expands its functionality via the Aqara app. The camera supports an up to 32GB SD card, and in fact, there is no problem with using a 128GB SD card, although it’s possible that they’ve limited it to 32GB for compatibility reasons. The G2H is equipped with a 256MB video cache, so if you don’t use an SD card to expand the storage space, you’ll still get the sound and motion recognition notifications in the Aqara app, along with a 10-second video preview.

GATEWAY FUNCTIONALITY

Aqara G2H is not only a smart camera, but also a fully functioning Aqara Zigbee gateway, which also supports the latest ZigBee 3.0 child devices that are starting to come on the market, so you can add other Aqara family devices to be included in other scenes. In the example above, an Aqara motion sensor was moved from my original Aqara gateway for experimentation. The great news is that supported child devices also get exposed to HomeKit, and will appear in Apple Home. With the exception of the night light function on the original Aqara gateway, the G2H covers all other functions of the gateway.

SUMMING UP

The G2H is an affordable smart camera with many practical functions. It also includes a powerful, built-in Aqara gateway, 1080P high-definition video, a 140º FoV, and clear video without dead ends. A two-way voice call function, which is clear and loud. At the same time, it supports both Aqara and Apple HomeKit platforms, which further expands functionality. It is the first to support the HSV in China, and the cloud encrypted storage saves video without additional cost. No wonder Mijia doesn’t plan to support any HSV products. Otherwise, to whom is their VIP package sold? With Apple HomeKit and HSV, do I miss Mijia? Not at all!

The post Aqara G2H Gateway Camera – HomeKit Edition (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

The P100 has many of the same features of the N100 and N200, all of which are designed to work with doors that use mortice style locks. Opening the door via Siri voice command is possible, as well as using the tried and tested keys that are provided with the locks.

In addition to these methods, the lock has a fingerprint reader built into the handle, as well as the option to use either the keypad, or either of the two provided NFC keyfobs to open the door.

The lock uses a rechargeable Li-ion battery, which comes with a USB-C cable for recharging, although it seems you can also use 4 AA batteries instead, if you prefer. As regards the built-in camera, it’s not clear whether this is exposed to HomeKit, or whether the camera is exposed as a video doorbell or a regular camera. As soon as we know more, we’ll update the article.

The post Another new Aqara Door Lock is Released – With Built-in Camera appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

• Important note: whilst this product is available outside of China via some international resellers, the product is generally only for Chinese consumers, so the options mentioned below are only available to consumers in Mainland China at this time.

Aqara offers a choice of three curtain fabrics and colours, along with a fully shaded roller blind, a semi-shading roller blind, and a Shangri-La dimmable roller blind. Depending on the different colours and different materials, the price ranges from 999-1299 RMB. In this particular case, the location for the installation is in the office, with the Shangri-La blind being used. This type of blind has an adjustable light transmission function, so for the office environment, it’s a good choice. No loss of privacy, but also a good shading effect.

The maximum supported width of the roller blind is 2.2m. With full shading, the semi-shielding fabric supports a maximum height of 4m, whilst the Shangri-La curtains support a maximum height of 3.5m. The Product, if you were to buy it in China, from an approved reseller or installer, includes the finished roller blinds, control boxes, plugs, instructions, and fixed parts that have been pre-installed. This is important to note, as the roller blind motor that is listed on some international sites may not include some of the parts necessary to make the blinds fit. Indeed, the motor is only 60cm wide, so there are additional parts that are no doubt required in order for the device to actually cover windows wider than this. To control and connect to the blinds, you need the Aqara gateway which connects via ZigBee (These cannot work with the Mijia gateways or the current generation of gateway cameras).

The roller blind itself has a 3-core power cord and an RJ11 cable that connects the cable to the control box.

The top of the control box has an RJ11 connector that connects to the roller blind body. The front side of the control box consists of three buttons for setting the height limit of the roller blind when they’re initially set up. There’s a blue LED on the top of the button. A pairing button is hidden at the bottom of the control box to either reset or begin initial pairing of the box.

INSTALLATION

In our example, the installation process was completed by an Aqara installer, and the video below briefly records part of the installation of one of the roller blinds by the staff.

The connection pairing process is also very simple, and the installation staff will help you debug all the installations and links, but if you want to connect and debug yourself, the process is actually very simple.

INSTALLATION VIA MI HOME

Open the Mi Home app, click Add Device, select Aqara Roller Shade Controller from the Household Security section, press and hold the reset button at the bottom of the control box for five seconds until the blue LED lights up, and you will then connect to Aqara Gateway in the usual manner. After connecting the roller blinds, it’s also necessary to set the height limit of the roller blinds to prevent the motor from being excessively caught in the roller blind and burning out the motor.

SETTING THE BLIND LENGTH

Using the three buttons on the front of the control box, we can clear any previous settings, set the height limit, the lower limit and also reverse the motor.

1. Reset: Press and hold the UP and DOWN buttons until the blue LED on the box lights up. The motor emits 3 beeps, and the motor reverses and moves forward once to indicate that you’ve successfully reset the settings for the blind positions.
2. Setting Upper Limit: Use the UP and DOWN buttons to adjust the roller blind to set the highest limit – in other words, blinds recessed completely, or the position you want them. Once you have the position set how you like it, press the middle PAUSE button five times in quick succession and you should hear three beeps with some small up and down movements from the motor. The uppermost limit has now been set.
3. Setting Lower Limit: Use the UP and DOWN buttons to adjust the roller blind to set the lowest limit – in other words, blinds at their lowest level covering the window, or the position you want them. Once you have the position set how you like it, press the middle PAUSE button five times in quick succession and you should hear three beeps with some small up and down movements from the motor. The uppermost limit has now been set.

Note: Upper and lower limit positions must be completed within a certain period of time, as eventually, the power-off will reset any incompleted settings; roller blinds vary according to the curtains involved, which in turn changes the motor resistance. This means the motor does not have a stop function, so for safety reasons, The roller blind must be manually set to the height limit with the control box.

The bottom of the roller blind is equipped with a weight slider for the installation of the curtain because of slight adjustments in situations where the top section might be uneven.

Finally, you can change the appearance of the roller blind in the settings section so that the animation can match the actual movement of the curtain.

IN USE – MI HOME

The Aqara intelligent Roller supports Mi Home, Aqara Home and Apple HomeKit (a firmware update is required for the Hub). The benefits of controlling the blinds by either of the apps are that they can be controlled not only by Siri, or the Xiao-Ai voice assistant but also by the use of the aforementioned apps, whether at the office or from your home (or anywhere else for that matter). With automations in the Home app, the roller blinds can be adjusted according to sunrise or sunset, and the roller blind height can also be adjusted according to the intensity of the sunlight with an appropriate light sensor.

IN USE – APPLE  HOMEKIT

With the release of the 1.6.6 firmware update for the Aqara hub, the roller blind motor, as well as the B1 curtain controller, both became HomeKit compatible, and are visible in the Home app. In the images above, you can see that the five separate roller blinds have been grouped for easier control, although the same control can be achieved with the use of a scene.

The post Aqara Roller Shade Controller – An Overview appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.