Switchbot Blind Tilt (BLE User questions)

[Player2]

I am considering getting a few of the blind tilts for my home. I see that I can connect them to Homey without a Hub and I assume that is using Bluetooth. I feel like all of the devices would be within a range that I could see BLE working, but had a few questions for anyone who connects the tilts to homey in this way.

1. Do you have any Tilts semi far away from your hub. I have one I would like to place upstairs with the hub downstairs. Typically bluetooth headphones would connect over that distance, but not sure if that is a safe comp.
2. Do you do all of the calibrations in the Homey app? Or do I need to use the switchbot app?
3. Are you able to control the tilts with a voice assistant (such as Alexa) if you expose the device to Alexa via Homey?

Thanks!

[Peter_Kawa]

Switchbot sells Ble device as standalone, and Hub targeted devices (which obviously rely on a Switchbot Hub (& possibly cloud dependent);
Not sure what protocol the Hub targeted devices use

You can consider using a cheap ESP32 board instead of using Homey Ble, and tuck it somewhere upstairs

Switchbot curtain

Connecting to SwitchBot devices via BLE is generally much more efficient than with the their hub and is my preferred method. However, Homey also has the same range limitations as the hub and you might not be able to position Homey as optimally as the hub. If you are a bit technical: I also provide code for a cheap ESP32 module (can be purchased from Amazon for around 10 GBP). You use the Arduino IDE to program my code into the ESP32. Once setup you can place one or more of these around the hou…

Switchbot curtain

It’s on Github https://github.com/AdyRock/SwitchBotBLEHub. Instructions are also in the readme. Hope it is useful to you.

[Player2]

Thanks. I might buy one and see how it goes.

[smarthomesven]

The Hub devices use cloud to communicate (webhooks, so they are updated in real-time). I use some Temperature&Humidity sensors with the SwitchBot hub mini, they work great.

[Player2]

I got one in and the BLE connection to homey is spotty at best.

So I have a few options.

1. Move the homey hub but I doubt that will fix the issue if I get more services as the hub is located centrally.
2. Get the homey hub. But I read that is BLE as well so won’t I have the same issues if I have devices all around my home outside of the BLE range?

[smarthomesven]

Just get the SwitchBot Hub Mini in that case. It has a high range (better than Homey’s BLE), and it also works with Homey via the “Blind Tilt (Hub)” device.

The Hub Mini also has an IR blaster, so you can also use it to control f.e. TVs, fans, heaters and anything else with an IR remote in range of the hub

Moving Homey might improve BLE in that specific location, but it will of course weaken the signal to the devices which are further away

[Player2]

So the Hub Mini should work? I see they have a matter hub as well, but they have a bundle with the Hub Mini in it.

Are you just connecting the Blinds to the Hub and then the Hub to the Homey? Then if you connect the Hub it will pass the devices along?

Link

Amazon.com: SwitchBot Smart Electric Motorized Blinds Kit - 3Pack with 2.4G WiFi...

[smarthomesven]

You should connect it via the cloud instead of Matter, Matter is a very unstable standard and is not reliable. The cloud is far better. The Matter hub also works as a regular hub using cloud, so it should be fine

[Player2]

Thanks. The bundle is a good deal for me as I need 3 more so it works out well.

Thanks again for the help.