MATTER Smart Home Devices: The Pros and Cons

[@Max86421]

Matter is the standard, it will get better over time 💯😏

[@RambozoClown]

Mater needs a unified firmware update utility. Or the devices need a web server that can do firmware updates like Tasmota does, so only a browser is required.

[@digiblurDIY]

Yep! That one missing piece for sure!

[@wapphigh5250]

I've built a fantastic 32+ device zigbee mesh now (all different lights. GPO's, heaters, sensors etc) using home assistant and Travis help - via his earlier Dell 2nd hand mini PC computer build. Look that up. It's been rock solid. Thread will just become a different mesh for me. I will still keep the zigbee stuff and mesh. When I eventually add smart locks and other auto devices, I might use a thread mesh for that - but I will still need home assistant to co-ordinate it all. In essence as Travis says, its like you will need home assistant even *more* It's not like just because Matter has arrived I'm going to chuck out all my zigbee stuff. Heck I've still got old wifi wemo gear and stuff I control direct via it's IP address (like TV's, doorbell and cameras). I'll just add a matter device if it's the *best* device. I'll still add zigbee stuff (same). The beauty about HA is you can keep all your old stuff. Better.. with Thread you have just added another radio protocol in the house. That's all.. but The more the better. If the one radio mesh goes down.. keeping all the others, you still have the others working! And the whole house doesn't go down. Keeping everything and (and all the other mesh and wifi protocols) builds redundancy. And home assistant is the glue of that redundancy. Just MO

[@digiblurDIY]

Yup you nailed it. It allows us to pick and choose random different pieces to best fit our needs in the home.

[@empiretech-andy9543]

Travis always give us real view never let us down! Keeping it.

[@digiblurDIY]

Thanks Andy! Keeping it real is key with all the fake stuff these days.

[@Max86421]

Wiz smart devices now supports Matter 1.1

[@MaxGoddur]

Years ago, I set up Home Assistant and later acquired a couple of Athom plugs from their series. I was thrilled by the ability to monitor the current, power, and voltage through these devices. Fast forward to today, after catching up on your videos, I decided to purchase the Athom Human Presence Sensor. While I encountered some difficulties in assigning a static IP address, I persisted and eventually succeeded in setting it up. Now, I'm eager to test the motion detection feature by receiving notifications on my cellphone via text messages. Do you have a tutorial video that demonstrates how to accomplish this task? If not, and if you would like a fresh cup of mocha java, please let me know. I can see it in your future.

[@digiblurDIY]

I haven't use the text messages before as it seems they come with a cost of some sort with various companies which is understandable. I use the notification on the Home Assistant companion app.

[@MaxGoddur]

@@digiblurDIY Thank you I of course will search your videos but was wondering if you have a link to a video where you show case the "the Home Assistant companion app."

[@MaxGoddur]

@@digiblurDIYI found it fascinating to configure the Home Assistant app on my cell phone to emit a beep whenever a notification arrives from both my DIY motion sensor and the Athom motion sensor. However, there is still an issue: the Athom sensor beeps regardless of whether the screen is on or off, whereas the DIY motion sensor only beeps when the screen is turned on. More troubleshooting to come.

[@cooliipie]

They just came out with the first thread bulb! "Mujoy". I can't wait for more of that!!

[@digiblurDIY]

Ouch. Expensive. Going to wait on thread myself to evolve a bit. Still in alpha stage it seems on HA.

[@MarkGhali]

Miss CompUSA! Good Memories with my dad

[@digiblurDIY]

Same! We never had other computer stores in my area. I used to hit this place like one a week to see the deals and such.

[@MarkGhali]

@@digiblurDIY Same! We used to go all the time! I have a Microcenter near me though so that is nice

[@gadget1968]

I worked at a comp USA when I first got out of the Army back in 93. Was not a good fit . Client start barking orders to on how to fix his machine . My reply F off dumb ass I am not the one bringing my.machine to someone else to fix it. So I really dont need you telling me what to do. Odd I was fired with In the next 15 minutes .

[@gadget1968]

@@MarkGhali I am guessing you lived around the north side of chicago then..

[@MarkGhali]

@@gadget1968 Nope!

[@gadget1968]

Thanks for the content and sharing your lessons learned

[@digiblurDIY]

Ha! Might be a better title there. 😎 But YT supposedly down votes the video if I rename it

[@hackersarchangel]

So I’m going to add in my experiences as of last night: I bought a set of Philips Smart WiFi Bulbs based on Wiz. The main issue is that the bulbs used the Wiz app, which is definitely phoning home to control them even without a login. I was able to get one of two bulbs to join the Home app (iOS) despite both sharing the same firmware. It appears they had the correct firmware out of the box but I’m not certain of that. That said, I agree with installing a bunch of apps just to manage/update the devices. I’d much rather the Matter spec support pushing firmware through the native app. An example is how PCs can now get firmware updates via Windows Update (not sure if Linux distributions do this yet) and I don’t need to go fetch an installer for it. If we can just simplify the process like you said , that would go a long way towards adoption for the casual user. Thanks for the info on the various products, I’ll be taking a look into them to see if I can make use of them. Currently looking for a thermostat that I can integrate into HomeKit so I can keep tabs on how hot it is in specific rooms due to the HVAC layout being suboptimal.

[@digiblurDIY]

TOTALLY THIS! They need some method of firmware updates that doesn't involve their app. That kills the whole point of thing. Now with the later version of matter you can attach the device to multiple "hubs" but it doesn't really fix the issue. The companies still want to tie us to their app though as our data is part of the revenue.

[@hackersarchangel]

@@digiblurDIY And if someone went the way of Apple (the marketing dept selling the privacy idea) and then could back the assertion that they are indeed privacy focused, I would pay extra just to get that. I want my data to stay here at home. Diagnostics I'm fine with sharing, it helps further development. Other data: no.

[@ronm6585]

Thanks Travis.

[@jasonflt]

@9:31 google nest hub has thread built into it

[@digiblurDIY]

Nice! I knew there were a couple.

[@Bigglare]

Apple TV4k is the thread radio all my devices work with. Still waiting for the update when echos, nests, and apple TV all talk together no need to buy the sky connect to get thread with home assistant with matter.

[@digiblurDIY]

Haven't jumped on thread just yet myself but will most likely do a full open source border router.

[@simongchadwick]

Travis - it won't be long until OG will be ready for the movie "Cube" ;-) Oh - and thanks for the Matter insights - I'll check back in next year to see if my Home Assistant is ready...

[@digiblurDIY]

HA is probably more ready than the manufacturers is more of the take on this. They've got some stuff to work out on the device firmware issues.

[@Genesis8934]

So it's zigbee but it's on your wifi?

[@digiblurDIY]

Not really. Matter is IP based and will be on your WiFi like other devices, but it just works locally. Zigbee is also a mesh based narrow bandwidth protocol. Thread is more like Zigbee.

[@ibiubu99]

So... I want to putt in the philips hue light strips in my kids house, but they cant run any technology without me there (idiots). What i really want is the ohilps hue light switches, which are battery powered and you can put them on the wall and at each end of the couch. If i wanted something like that switch, could i get it from something like switchbot? Its just that the Hue switches are so well designed. Easy to use and understand

[@digiblurDIY]

You could do a Hue hub there?

[@djashjones]

Travis, have you heard about Zigbee Pro 2023?

[@digiblurDIY]

No.

[@Whitepinoy]

your T-shirt ages you lol.

[@digiblurDIY]

It is such a great shirt!

[@grigoretiplea]

Honestly, I couldn’t find any matter devices in the UK. I would have tried one.

[@digiblurDIY]

That might be a good thing.

[@grigoretiplea]

@@digiblurDIY that’s true. I’m not fussed about it to be honest. Matter is a good concept, but, I’m not convinced. Maybe it’s how the companies chosen to implement it.

[@SolarizeYourLife]

MATTER OVER THREAD, is way more important then just buying a matter only products...google home will not work with no Internet access...

[@djashjones]

Looks like for matter devices you are gonna need a burner phone like drug dealers have 🤣🤣

[@digiblurDIY]

Yup, definitely for now. I have old phones around for stupid crap apps like this.

[@InsaiyanTech]

I hate how all my smart devices have different apps I hope matter works for real

[@digiblurDIY]

Been using home assistant for years due to this. Local control open source devices whenever possible.

[@Tntdruid]

So it does not *matter* yet 😂

[@digiblurDIY]

As a matter of fact, you are correct on this matter. Is madder a word?

[@Tntdruid]

@@digiblurDIY 😂

[@davidbeiler6364]

Bro, your videos would be a lot better to watch if you just shaved your head

[@digiblurDIY]

OG is gearing up yo! I do wonder how it would make the boring content better though?

[@RambozoClown]

With bangs drawn in with a Sharpie for the same effect?

[@chnillapoil0150]

@@digiblurDIY Don't bother with these trolls please

[@digiblurDIY]

@RambozoClown make sure you google "barcode cop" on Google image search.

[@digiblurDIY]

It's fun ;)

[@Razor_Burn]

Your channel is quickly becoming a go-to source for Home Automation, especially Zigbee and Matter/Thread related stuff so thanks and best wishes from Down Under! 👍🦘🐨

[@digiblurDIY]

Wow, thanks! I'll definitely keep tinkering and keep it coming.