Why No 433 MHZ Transmit in US?

Why does Homey say that in the “USA and Canada, transmitting on the 433 MHz band is not allowed and therefore disabled automatically.” ?

https://support.homey.app/ > Scroll down to ‘Customer Support’ > follow links

Don’t think this is a support issue as this is stated on the FAQ section for the Homey Bridge.

Sure, but you want an answer from Athom, as I understood from your question.
The best and quickest way to get that answer, is informing @ support.
This is mainly a users forum, and we don’t know backgrounds about Athom’s decisions :wink: :+1:

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Guess it has to do with this

This article covers the use of 433 MHz in IoT use cases. https://www.edn.com/using-433-mhz-for-wireless-connectivity-in-the-internet-of-things/

I believe a license is required only if you wish to use this spectrum for long, high powered transactions, like amateur radio.

The restrictions mentioned there are very likely too limiting for Homey, with the additional complication that Homey’s transmissions fall (partly) beyond Athom’s control if you consider that transmissions are instigated by (third-party) apps.

Thanks for your article about IoTuse cases,
If I read:


and further ,

Homey has to “Deny” flows that transmit to switch / dim Light bulb after sending a signal to Light bulb # 1. So When you send to a second or third light it will probably fail. (And building these extra restrictions for one country where it doesn’t contribute to a stable functioning, Guess the Somfy Remote is legal in USA but not meant to be used in automation according to these regulations.)

Maybe Z-wave and Zigbee are better for home automation and not bound to that FCC regulations.

I have 2 Somfy shades that use RF. The 10 second limitation wouldn’t be a limitation in that use case.

There is also nothing stopping me from pressing a button on the Somfy RF remote twice within 10 seconds, so I wonder if a different rule that governs remotes vs devices that regularly send updates.

It is just the way as your article describes that makes implementing difficult imho.

Do you have examples of other home automation controllers with FCC certification on the market that do allow programmable 433Mhz communications? (In the US)

I believe the Bond Pro might match that description. IR, RF and Wi-fi with an ESP32 processor.

America uses 433 mhz in government commutations but we are supposed to be able to use 433 mhz if it is under one watt of power (short range). I want to use kinetic switches (battery free) with homey pro, this is not fair it is turned off!!!
Enocean uses 902 mhz in America, to bad homey does not have more frequencies available to use!!!
https://www.enocean.com/en/product-category/kinetic-switches/

Lodge a complaint with FCC?

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maybe you can work around with:

How about a satellite Homey Bridge in RF only mode!