Getting started with Apple HomeKit

[@luxtron002]

This was incredibly helpful! In the process of trying to add smart accessories to my home for the first time ever.

[@EricWelander]

That's great Luisa! All the best with your new smart home. I am working on more beginner and tutorial content for viewers like you in the coming months.

[@uniqueflh2941]

“Oh. This new accessory for HomKit.” Dude. You SO need to do an entire video in that voice. That legitimately made me laugh. 🤣 Good video as usual. Explaining the basics of Apple’s ecosystem is challenging- if for no other reason than the use of the word “Home” in their naming structure….similarly to how they name EVERYTHING video streaming related “TV”. It’s insane. Anyway good stuff. Thanks for the content.

[@EricWelander]

Thanks Bradley! I'm glad you like that silly voice. I agree that the generic name of the Home app could be tricky for new users to understand, but naming and branding is hard!

[@craigs.4302]

Everything I have is as platform agnostic as possible via Home Assistant forwarding into Homekit. I will never just purchase a device that is exclusive to Homekit only. No way! Apple's cool, but I use Linux and Android too, so they will never have my loyalty when it comes to Smart Home tech. Still? Eric's one of the good guys and I like his personality, so I see what he has to say.

[@BryanEsler]

Really nice overview, Eric.

[@tharais]

Eric: You made the device installation into Homekit look way too easy. I have many devices from many brands. And, although theoretically they install the same way you did with the Eve outlet here, it almost never works that simply. My biggest frustration with Home automation in Homekit for the last few years, is getting the devices installed in Homekit which often turns into hours of trying and retrying. I can seldom scan the QR code because it is either non-existent or non-accessible when the device is set up. So, I have to write down the Homekit code and manually enter it. The second biggest frustration has been when a device becomes non-responsive in Homekit and I end up resetting and reinstalling it. That's a real PIA. My Rachio 3 controller has become non-responsive again, and I've spent two hours resetting it, directing my iPhone on to the network it broadcasts, then entering the Homekit code manually and then waiting for ten minutes for it to reconnect. But, it comes back as unable to do so. This has happened maybe four times in two years that I've had the Rachio 3. The worst part is, trying to find an answer on how to get devices to reconnect. There are all sorts of techs saying "try this", "try that", buy a new router, stand on your head in the corner and put your iPhone on the floor in front of you. Dump Homekit and get Alexa. Most of them don't work in one's own situation or, require a great deal of IT tech skills. For instance, I recently set up a Homebridge VM bridge on an old workstation I've got (along with Plex server) in an attempt to bring my Nest devices into Homekit. I've gotten it to work but not reliably and I'm still fooling with it. The worst is, when I have to reset it all and then rebuild it because there is no way I've found to effectively back it up. The biggest consumer issue with HA IMHO isn't the incompatibility between the HA apps that we often go on about, but the difficulty in setting up and keeping the devices going in Homekit - and probably Alexa and Google Home as well. Until it is something that anyone can do without having to be a tech guru, it just won't get to the huge potential market that is out there.

[@stuartbell8354]

How does it work with differen people in home who don’t have tech mind?

[@oregieman]

Really really helpful, very new to this. Thanks

[@kennya6921]

Yeah, skipping over the automation issues where HK fails to respond. Pity, it often doesn't work for a long period with no indication of the problem.

[@PhannyObsession]

OK. So, I get that if I want Remote Access to my Devices, I need to buy a HomePod. But, how does the HomePod connect to the Devices? Is it over WiFi? Because some of my Devices would be way too far from the HomePod to connect via Bluetooth

[@lostinmusicalspace2480]

what camera are you using there to show up on this app?

[@definitely_]

Kasa Smart Plugs Are Affordable and work great with Siri Shortcuts

[@PetSue]

Nice work Eric, just wondering please if you know if there's a HomeKit Fluro Tube out there yet?

[@BenDMitchell]

For the life of me, I can't figure out how to control my smart plug with HomeKit. Can someone explain to me how to schedule my plug to turn on at certain time and turn off at a certain time. I don't see a on and off option.

[@tetchuma]

From a current user in a small apartment… Avoid using an iPad as a hub. Also, WeMo “smart” outlets are aggravating to get paired!!!

[@dr9683]

What HomeKit security system do you use?

[@Polkster13]

Very nice video, Eric. I am having an issue that I have been unable to fix. I have a scene that pauses the HomePod Mini in the Master Bedroom and I have another scene that pauses the HomePod Mini in the 2nd bedroom. At night we have automations that turns these two HomePod mini's on and they plays white noise while we sleep. When my wife's iPhone wake-up alarm is turned off, then we run the scene that pauses the Master Bedroom HomePod. When my iPhone wake-up alarm is turned off, it runs several scenes including the one to pause the 2nd bedroom HomePod Mini. Lately, my wife has been getting up later than me and when I turn my wake-up alarm off, it is pausing both the HomePod Mini in the Master Bedroom and the one in the second bedroom. When I look at the scene that I am running, it only pauses the 2nd bedroom HomePod Mini; but that is not what it is doing! Have you heard of anyone else experiencing this issue or know how to fix this?

[@boredproductionsofficial]

hi, is there a way to use your sonos speaker for pc?

[@curtispazarjr4985]

Great review!!!!!

[@liiontommy]

Is it safe/wise to use HomeKit in a commercial environment - i.e. a restaurant?

[@misstubbie1313]

wehome. That was funny! 😂

[@EricWelander]

Haha yes! Welanders in weHome using a wePhone Pro and a weBook Pro. Also…we home! 😄

[@chasrathburn]

Tech Owen Wilson??

[@EricWelander]

Haha thanks!

[@cassio2999]

Google home can do much more

[@GreeniusGenius]

Lmao no. Google Home apparently can’t even run routines based on a motion sensor being triggered.