So, why homey? -drivers, etc

Hi people.
I have now had the homey pro 2023 for some weeks, came from smartthings, which I sold with my old house.
Figured I would try a new system.
This is mostly due to smartthings stopped supporting an app I had for dlna speakers.
However, this was sometime ago when smartthings moved from groovy to matter.

So in my search for a better system I noted that athom homey was all the rage and the best, most advanced with flows, etc.
Not to mention that the price is triple what a smartthings hub is.

But what is this?
Seriously asking, what is this?
It seems for me to go back in time to smarthome old days.
None of the devices I took with me from my old house is supported here, and if you have a generic bulb connected to your hue system, like say, an ikea bulb, the homey system will not understand the light at all and no on/off commands even.
And all the other devices, like switches or motion detectors, do pair, but no actions are supported.

Okay, so I have searched the forums, it seems you need an app for every f## thing, which in itself is like the first version of smartthings, like 2006 or something.
Then I figure out who has made some of my units, then I searched for the apps.
Then I discovered that if athom itself has an official app, it so severe limited that it is a joke.
Then I find that some volunteers have made some apps, thank God for this, but then I discovered it only supports the devices they needed it to support or what they have helped others with.
Which is okay, I understand, it’s working for free, I do understand this.
But this also means that you’re at the grace of the volunteers to if a generic device you buy will work at all.

What is this? And how can you say this is a better system?
I can understand that the flows maybe is better then others ui’s, but what does that help when it doesn’t have support for units I had no problems with in smartthings or home assistant.
And the units are normal items I have bought in stores with no special requirements, working in smartthings with generic matter drivers.

I remember I coded some drivers in groovy some years ago, this was after the app ecosystem, but after matter was introduced almost everything have worked out of the box.
Some items have demanded apps like “door lock code handler” but then again this is not “tuya driver app” with support for just some items, but a generic zigbee or zwave lock code handler for supporting like codes that only work between theese dates, etc.

So hopefully someone can point out to me that my own search have been bust, then point fingers the right way for me to solve this.
Because, as of now, it seems to me that I have to tripple check everything I will buy in the future that it is supported by athom homey before buying, even if it is a standard zigbee / zwave unit. And it seems like almost all units I have, except for some fibaro units, is thrash for my new hub.
If this is the case, it’s easier to call the athom homey pro thrash and go with smartthings or something that supports standard units, dlna, etc.

So please tell me I’m wrong, missing something, and I didn’t spend $550 on this hub, and it doesn’t work better than this?

Why do you believe what commercials tell you?

2 Likes

So you allready have a lot of (old) smart stuff,just buy a controller because you read it’s ‘better’.

Then rant because devices need apps/drivers (duh, how does your PC run w/o ? )

You find that community app only suport devices at request, which sucks.

And after not informing yourself first come to the userforum for help ?

3 Likes

Well, not that old, I guess the oldest unit is about year and a half old.
But it was some items that the new owner of the house didn’t want/need. He just wanted a basic system.

I do not rant because devices needs drivers, but at the fact that athom homey doesn’t even seem to have generic matter drivers, which to me should be the most basic and important thing to have in place before you tell new potential customers that you have a better system than everyone else, which supports almost everything smart.
So where did I think wrong when it’s logical that basic generic drivers should be in place with this marketing?

Community apps and what they support, I have no meaning, and I understand. I think it’s an added bonus if people care enough to make this, because at the price point of the hub, these apps should in reality without doubt be made at the expense of athom homey. They should have a library of generic drivers that should be maintained for all the normal functions of units.

But yes, I came to the forum for help, isn’t this normal behavior for you?
But I also did read through some topics real fast before buying, but most had solutions, and I didn’t spend weeks on it.

But ignoring the non helpful, mostly negative answer from you and the poster before you, the red line is, this is it? No generic drivers? No support/functionality for non hue bulbs that are connected to the hue hub and works flawlessly through the hue app?

Hi @nimrooz

I’m sorry to hear about the frustrations you’re experiencing with the Homey Pro 2023. Transitioning to a new smart home system can be challenging, especially when device compatibility doesn’t meet expectations. Let’s break down some potential reasons for your experience and explore possible solutions or alternatives.

1. Understanding Homey’s Ecosystem

App-Based Integration: Homey relies heavily on apps (similar to drivers) developed by both Athom and the community to integrate various devices. While this modular approach offers flexibility and customization, it can sometimes lead to compatibility gaps, especially with newer or less common devices.

Generic vs. Specific Drivers: Homey emphasizes supporting devices through specific apps to ensure optimal functionality. However, this means that generic Matter drivers might not cover all scenarios or device variations, leading to issues like the ones you’re encountering with generic bulbs or switches.

2. Comparing with SmartThings and Home Assistant

SmartThings: SmartThings offers broad compatibility, especially with standard protocols like Zigbee and Z-Wave, and benefits from a large ecosystem. The shift to Matter aimed to unify device compatibility, but as you’ve noticed, some legacy integrations might face challenges.

Home Assistant: Home Assistant is known for its extensive device support and flexibility, primarily due to its open-source nature and active community. It allows for more granular control and customization, which can bridge compatibility gaps but often requires more technical know-how.

3. Potential Solutions for Homey

Check for Firmware and App Updates: Ensure that both Homey firmware and all relevant apps are up-to-date. Sometimes, compatibility issues are resolved in newer releases.

Custom Drivers: Homey allows for the development of custom drivers. If you’re comfortable with coding, you might consider creating or modifying existing drivers to support your devices. Athom provides a Homey Developer Documentation that can guide you through this process.

Reach Out to Athom Support: Contacting Athom directly might provide insights or upcoming support for the devices you’re struggling with. They can also offer guidance on best practices for integrating specific products.

Engage with the Community: While you’ve already explored the forums, sometimes detailed threads or private messages with active contributors can yield solutions. Sharing specific device models and issues might prompt someone to assist or develop necessary drivers.

4. Evaluating Homey’s Value Proposition

Advanced Flows and Automation: One of Homey’s standout features is its robust flow-based automation system, which many users find more intuitive and powerful compared to other platforms. If your primary need is advanced automation, Homey excels in this area.

User Experience: Homey offers a polished and user-friendly interface, which can simplify the management of your smart home once all devices are properly integrated.

Price Consideration: While Homey is pricier, it’s essential to weigh the cost against the benefits you derive from its features and capabilities. If device compatibility remains a significant hurdle, the higher price might not justify the experience.

5. Exploring Alternatives

If Homey continues to fall short in meeting your requirements, you might consider the following alternatives:

Home Assistant: Given its extensive device support and flexibility, Home Assistant might better align with your needs. It supports a vast range of devices out-of-the-box and benefits from an active developer community.

Hubitat Elevation: Another robust platform that offers local processing and extensive device compatibility. It’s a middle ground between Homey and Home Assistant in terms of ease of use and flexibility.

SmartThings (Revisited): If device compatibility was a primary concern, revisiting SmartThings with a clear understanding of its current Matter support and potential limitations might be worthwhile.

6. Final Thoughts

Transitioning smart home platforms can be a trial-and-error process. It’s crucial to assess which features are most important to you—be it device compatibility, automation capabilities, user interface, or cost—and choose a platform that aligns best with those priorities.

If you decide to stick with Homey, consider leveraging its strengths while exploring ways to enhance device compatibility through custom solutions or waiting for official support updates. Alternatively, exploring other platforms might offer a more seamless experience based on your specific needs.

I hope this helps clarify some of the challenges and potential pathways forward. Feel free to share more details or ask further questions!

Best regards,
ChatGPT :ghost:

5 Likes

The thing is, I did inform myself before buying the Homey.
And like a lot of people here, i’ve got al lot of thing running.

Maybe you missed my remark on running your PC ? For each and every device in or on your PC you need drivers. And it’s the task of the manufacterer of the divece to have drivers for, lets say, Windows.

I think it’s impossible to ask from Athom to instantly create a driver for each evice that comes to market.

I did see your remark about drivers in your computer, choosed to overlook it, just because windows usually actually have generic drivers that steps in if it won’t find the correct driver in its library.
So you clearly didn’t think so, but proved my point.

So no, I’m not asking homey of instantly creating drivers for any new units, but much like windows, home assistant, smartthings, etc, have generic drivers that handles at least simplest functions of an standardized unit, power off/on, etc.

Yep, generic drives with very limited functionality, like just basic settings for you videocard…

Same as Homey, generic settings for a Zwave light : on/of…

As for HA, last time i tried it was quite a hassle to get everything working…

And maybe HA is the better solution, again, maybe you should have informed yourself before buying something.

None of the smart platforms wil ever be perfect for everybody…

Yes, my new car is selected on the fact if it can be linked to homey.
Standard drivers are like the official athom released apps. The nice thing is that special variants of the official app’s are released by the community. Or apps (drivers) serving special and obscure devices out there.
Btw, i have non hue dimmer device linked to hue and controlled by homey via the homey app