As an owner of two VELUX Integra roof windows I had longed for a smarter solution than just the accompanying remote controls for opening the windows, so my expectations where quite high when I ordered the VELUX ACTIVE kit.

The box containing the product is nice with a short description and a mention of both Netatmo and Apple HomeKit.

Unboxing the product from the protective packaging reveals three devices:

An indoor Climate Sensor
The Climate Sensor will measure temperature, humidity and CO2. There is also switches to manually open or close the VELUX windows, roller shutters and sunscreenings.

A Departure Switch
The Departure Switch is used for manually securing the VELUX windows, roller shutters and sunscreenings. The same function is available in the app.

A gateway
The gateway connects wirelessly to the internet and allows operation from outside the local network.

In addition to the main hardware, there is a manual, two different power cables, batteries for the Climate Sensor and Departure Switch, and adhesive and screws for wall mounting. To insert the batteries you need to press two clips on the side of each of the devices with a screwdriver or something similar. The indoor Climate Sensor uses three AA batteries and the Departure Switch uses two AAA batteries. The overall feel of the Climate Sensor and Departure Switch is unfortunately a bit cheap and plastic-like, but once assembled again it seems fine.

When batteries are inserted and the gateway is connected to a power outlet, setup and configuration can begin after downloading the Velux Active app from the App Store. A setup assistant will guide the user through connecting the gateway to the network, pairing the devices and configure the rooms etc. Afterwards it is possible to adjust preferred settings for temperature, humidity, air quality and time for automatically opening windows for ventilation. One thing to keep in mind is that each room with a window, roller shutter or sunscreening is supposed to have an indoor Climate Sensor. The Climate Sensor itself can handle many windows, but obviously it can only measure values in the room it is situated in.

When setup is done the user can add VELUX ACTIVE to HomeKit via the Home app where it will show the windows/roller shutters/sunscreenings, the gateway, a Carbon Dioxide sensor, Humidity sensor and Air Quality Sensor. These sensors can be used to trigger scenes, automations and notifications and of course you can tell Siri to “Open the windows” etc.

I have been a user of VELUX ACTIVE for about a month and my overall impression is good. The automatic ventilation works as expected, and being able to use Siri and the app to open and close my roof windows whether I am home or not, is a nice feature.

• Pros:
  Easy setup
  Provides a better indoor climate
  Works automatically
  Compatible with Apple HomeKit
• Cons:
  The product feels a bit cheap and plastic like
  The gateway only connects wirelessly

The post Velux Active (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

Stay in control
Operate your VELUX INTEGRA® roof windows, blinds and shutters from anywhere by using the free and intuitive VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO App. At a glance, you can check the state of all your VELUX products and open/close them if needed. You can also visualize the temperature, humidity and C02 levels in each room to make sure you and your family live in a healthy environment.

Apple HomeKit compatibility lets you use voice control to operate your VELUX roof windows, blinds and shutters.

A Few times a day keeps the doctor away
Ask VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO to periodically ventilate your home, even if the temperature, the humidity or the CO2 are already at a good level. Thus, enjoy fresh air and get rid of unpleasant smells all day long.

Smart heat protection
Proactively closes any VELUX INTEGRA® shutters and awnings based on local weather forecast information, e.g. an impending heat wave. Just set your preferred comfort temperature in the App and the system will operate covers to reach this temperature.

Easy departure
Tap the VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO departure switch on your way out to simultaneously close your VELUX INTEGRA® roof windows and ventilate your home in the secured ventilation position.

DIY installation
You can easily set up and install VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO without any professional assistance. It works out of the box with any VELUX INTEGRA® installation. For most manual roof windows with a top handle bar and hinges in the middle of the frame it is possible to add a solar motor to make them compatible with VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO.
Start with an Indoor Climate Control pack, that includes an indoor climate sensor, a departure switch and a gateway which connects to the internet.

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