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Thoughts on Philips Hue Lights (midwest.social)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/homeassistant@lemmy.world
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I am a dabbler in home automation and thinking about starting to get into lighting. I have heard mostly good things about the Philip Hue line and wanted to see what peoples thoughts are about it.

Our main current automation are a large number of Google Smart Speaker and Arlo video doorbells. Everything is working now on the Google ecosystem which I think Philip Hue will connect with. Our house is 100 years old which means that our possibilities to automate are lower than a new home since we have very few overhead lights, power outlets are at a premium (we have lots of power strips running through the house).

We are thinking about doing smart bulbs in some lamps which we can leave on and a chandalier. I think the biggest issue will leaving things always powered on.

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[–] 8 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Expensive but the color quality is the best on the market.

Wasn't a fan of their hub so I connect the bulbs directly to my ZigBee hub/dongle.

I won't get on too high of a soap box, but strongly considering moving away from Google especially for home automation. Support open source privacy respecting systems and products (or at least products that don't push anti-consumer practices).

I know Phillips doesn't fit that by any means, but any device that supports a local API/ZigBee/z-wave/matter is fine in my book.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    If I was going to do more automation I would consider moving away from Google. Since their smart speakers are 90% of what we have automated there doesn't seem to be a point now.

    To be honest the best "home automation" we have are two sets of these Wireless Remote Controls that are dumb automation. Just a remote to turn things on and off. Its been the most reliable thing and simplies thing to set up so far.

    What was your problems with their Zigbee Hub? I know I will need one but want something that is plug and play. We just had a new baby so I don't have forever to play around with setting up automations

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  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago

    I had a few issues with pairing. Besides that, Phillips has made some controversial changes in the past that were anti-consumer.

    But bypassing their hub and therefore the app and online account by using a ZigBee hub avoided those concerns for me.

    Connecting and setting up a ZigBee hub was very simple. But I'm also using Home assistant so can't vouch for the process with Google.

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