smarthome

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/22399282

Wemo Stage is one of those devices that has a horrible rating if you check Amazon. However, it fills a device category that up until now has essentially had no competition and is honestly not terrible for a first of its kinds device. The category I’m referring to is battery-powered thread light switches. As someone that rents, I can’t install light switches in the wall, so this has saved my smart home by allowing me to install renter-friendly physical controls for Apple Home.

But there are a few differences:

Wemo Stage

• HomeKit over thread
• Mediocre battery life
• Responsiveness is okay most of the time, but it really depends on the stability of Apple Home and can lag
• 3 programmable buttons, each supporting single, double, and triple tap for 9 programmable shortcuts

Nanoleaf Sense+

• Not actually tied to HomeKit in any way
• Uses Lightwave (Nanoleaf proprietary protocol) over thread
• Bypasses Apple Home (thread border router) altogether
• Near instantaneous response time, and doesn’t seem to lag ever
• On, off, and dimming controls. Two extra programmable buttons that will eventually support Matter (coming soon supposedly)
• Includes motion sensor that can control lights via Lightwave protocol

The Sense+ is very new. I’ve only had mine for a few days after pre-ordering the switch. I was really hoping the Sense+ would be better all around, but despite its instantaneous response time, it has a few major drawbacks:

• lack of support for non-Nanoleaf lights
• built-in button programming is very limited; you can’t program a button to set both brightness and hue. Seriously, Nanoleaf?

I wish they could have the switch support direct control of any Nanoleaf light, but fall back to Matter control for anything else. Though I suppose mixing protocols could get messy. But Lightwave is really solid as long as you live within Nanoleaf’s walled garden. But as soon as you throw anything else into the mix, the illusion shatters.

I’m sure the Sense+ will mature with software updates. I’m excited to see how Nanoleaf improves the product!

I may mess around with more wireless Thread switches. ONVIS makes one that is more of a button form factor than a switch. But for now I find myself having to choose between Sense+ which is more responsive, or Wemo Stage which can control more devices.

I asked Aqara about what kind of shades I need with them. They told me that the minimum diameter for the tube is 40 mm. I found out that I need adapters for the correct tube diameter and profile, but when I asked Aqara about where I can find them, they just told me that they don't sell the adapters and cannot help with them.

Aliexpress sells some promising looking adapters for a 50 mm tube. The inner diameter of the tube seems to be more important, in this case 47 mm: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000169001089.html

Aqara has an installation video on YouTube, but it doesn't discuss what kind of tube or adapters are needed. A stop-frame from the video shows that they use a tube that seems like it could fit with the above adapter.

I also found a 3D model of an adapter for a 43 mm tube: https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/tool/aqara-srsc-m01-smart-roller-shade-controller-43mm Measuring from the model, the inner diameter of the tube should be 39 mm and the profile is a bit different.

I haven't yet bought anything. I guess I would need to find an adapter that fits in with the motor and roller shades that fit in with the adapter. The motor doesn't have to be Aqara as long as it's compatible with Zigbee2mqtt.