Philips Hue: totally useless without a Hub (bridge)!!

I thought the system was smarter than this!
Yes there are now Bluetooth enabled light globes. Yes the light globe can work like a normal light globe, if you have it setup as a ‘dumb’ light globe. However, I never realised that all switches and motion sensors are ALWAYS connected together via the hub!

[@bencerichter387]

You can sync the controller with the lightbulbs and all lightbulb would work. You dont need the bridge if you’re fine with the remote

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Great tip. Thanks. I tried it quickly and it didn’t seem to work. Maybe I should try again and I perhaps need to reset the light switch to detach it from the bridge.

[@Travmeister]

You can control bulbs without a hub. You can control outside the house. I have it built into my pixel phone and can control it with google hubs too. The video didn't show me at all why an experience would be better with the hub. For me the advantage of connecting to google hub is to integrate multiple brands of devices. I am looking for a video that will explain why I should shell out more money when a google or Alexa hub can do it too. Explain the differences and how you can integrate more than just with Philips hue in a home if you so choose. Rating B- for video.

[@CornDawgOG]

Worst part about it is I use my neighbor's Wi-Fi so I have to ask them if I can plug the bridge in at their house...

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Hmm 🤔 not sure if you are joking. But that would mean that when using the app you are quite dependant on the neighbours network running. If I was faced with that kind of situation I would probably go ahead and get an old wifi box and create a local network. You won’t have internet but you would have local control to configure and manage the Hue devices. Then I would also highly recommend getting sensors and physical switches to control the lights. Then you don’t need to use the phone app at all. Makes life easier. The hub will work without internet and even without a local network. It just needs power and once switches and sensors etc are all configured everything will run direct over the Zigbee network. Good luck! Thanks for watching.

[@thestickmangamer5039]

thats stupid

[@ChickenPermissionOG]

Thief

[@CornDawgOG]

@@ChickenPermissionOG you're completely and utterly incorrect. In fact you should be ashamed of your sickening ignorance.

[@jpsaayman9220]

I would love to see you make a video. On how far the range of the hub is without internet connection

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Thanks for the suggestion. I could try that. In actual fact the other devices in the entire network work together to extend the range. In other words, a light will form with other lights to create a mesh network. Any light can receive a signal and pass it along to others until the Hub receives it. So the range is more about how the entire mesh network extends. Still possible to test.

[@Flynn....]

The dimmer switch does work but you need to connect the switch directly the motion sensor doesn't work tho

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

I’ll have to try that. 🤔 hmm.. any hints as to where I can find the ‘how to’ ?

[@Flynn....]

@@PaulWarrenEaton you first need to disconnect the bulb and dimmer switch from the hub then long press the on button in the dimmer switch the light will start blinking and you have successfully connected the light to your dimmer

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Thanks Nupe! I’ll give it a try.

[@zayaans7596]

How much time does it take to reconnect through zigbee if both (the bridge & the bulbs ) are off ? Btw Love your videos

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Thanks for your comment. If I understand your question correctly, the time to reconnect (if you have a power outage in the house) is really determined by the time it takes for the bridge to boot up. Hmm... that I’m not sure but can test. But we are talking less than a minute for the bridge to boot. I’ll reply back here when I have the answer. If I got the question wrong, please ask again.

[@zayaans7596]

@@PaulWarrenEaton yup you got it right , power outage here in India is very common and I also wanted to know if I could use them as normal bulbs with the normal physical switch at home to turn on/off them as I have only few switches on backup generator .

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Bridge boots in a little over 1 minute. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqjVeoGdgJ13gbM And yes you can use them as normal bulbs. Also check out the new Bluetooth versions of the Philips Hue blubs. Might also be an option for you. Thanks again for your question and for watching.

[@jeffreyorganes6897]

Original remote controls and switches worked without app or being connected to the Internet.

[@xanderkollee6634]

Do you need the bridge for Google home voice assistance?

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

You can also setup google assistant with Philips Hue lights that are controllable via Bluetooth. From what I understand it then means the Google assistant is talking with the Philips Hue app on your phone which then controls the lights via Bluetooth. So no you don’t have to have a bridge to use Google assistant with Philips Hue lights. You can also pair it with the bridge.

[@shaneblack1076]

I'm so mad.... Got the Phillips hue bloom as a gift. The tech shop didn't say it needed a bridge to the buyer. I of course set it up to be disappointed... And in my shared house, all the ethernet ports are being used. So I'm left with a colour changing light.... That cant change colour. I can't believe they invented lights without Bluetooth and the ability to connect it to a phone

[@shaneblack1076]

Although I read one of your comments... Can you really use an old WiFi box and just use that? I don't understand how your phone is connecting to the hub if there is no WiFi enabled? But hey if it works it works

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

@Shane Black I'm really sorry to read of your experience. If you can try take it back and insist on the latest version of the same product. The V4 (version 4) of the Philips Hue Bloom that was released in 2020 does have Bluetooth capabilities. Like a lot of the Philips range they have been adding Bluetooth into the latest versions of many lights. Be careful buying the cheap deals. Sometimes it can be that it's older stock of an older model that doesn't have the same capabilities of the latest version. Of course for someone who has a bridge it can be a real bargain!

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Ok, let me try clarify. If you have a Philips Hue bridge it does NOT need connection to the internet to work. The Hue bridge will connect to the light globes (switches etc.) via the Zigbee network. If you plug the Hue bridge into a WiFi enabled router (that is NOT connected to the internet) with an ethernet cable, you can then also connect your phone to that same router via WiFi. Then both the Hue bridge and your phone are on the same network. Your phone will not have access to the internet but it can talk to the Hue bridge. :) It's not very practical because you would need to connect to the 'offline' WiFi network EVERY time you want to control the Hue bridge. In your earlier comment, you say you don't have enough ports on the shared house 'internet connected' router. If you have a second old router, you could plug it into the first and expand the total number of ports available. Do a search for "add more ports by using a second router" and you will find some more info. In your exact scenario, if you don't plan to buy more Philips Hue lights then it becomes a little expensive to buy a Hue bridge just to control the Philips Hue Bloom. However, if you want to jump in with Hue, then get yourself a bridge and a Hue switch. Then later you can buy more and more and never need to worry about buying the 'Bluetooth enabled' Hue globes. (Because you have the bridge :) ) Good luck. Here's a video I did on my first day using the Hue switch: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f57NZHZurN9oodE

[@shaneblack1076]

@@PaulWarrenEaton thanks for the reply, Yea I think I'll just hold onto the light and maby in the future it will be more beneficial to me with more Phillips devices. But in the future I can also see my self getting the Bluetooth enabled devices instead lol. But Yea the Phillips eco system is good if you have an array of products under 1 network to control

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

You are most welcome. Be sure to look into sensors and switches to control things. Then a bridge makes more sense than Bluetooth. Or you can down the road of starting to play with home automation things like Home Assistant. 👍 Then you can also do it with a USB dongle hooked into a computer controlling stuff via Zigbee. Be warned, it’s addictive. 🤣

[@Mage_Noir]

Nice video, but i was thinking of some things that are not clear to me ( for the Bluetooth version) 1. What’s the benefit of buying a bridge if i can connect to my phone with the bluetooth + app ? _which implies the need of bridge + network_ 2. In the video you talk about the sensors and the remote, aren’t the app an alternative to that problem ? Thanks hope for your response !

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Thanks for your comment, feedback and questions. Let me try answer them. 1. To not need a phone with the app installed to run the lights. I’m trying to build a system that anyone who walks in the door can use. That means I want physical switches and motion sensors all over the house. You need a bridge for that. 2. Yes the app and a phone connecting to each light via Bluetooth is an alternative to the problem. But now my first answer is relevant again for my design. 😎 I’ve also starting tinkering with Home Assistant and have it automating my lights temperature and brightness across the different times of the day. I also need a bridge to do that. Bluetooth feels good if you just have a few lights in a room. For a while house solution, I still see the bridge as necessary. Thanks again and I look forward to more questions.

[@popnfresh2928]

Great video, new subscriber here👏👏👏 quick question…living in a two story home & I have roughly 13/14 or so Phillips Smart Bulbs, upstairs & downstairs. I have all these lights controlled on my Phillips Mobile App that works perfectly…how ever when I use my new Google Nest Mini in my bedroom to turn on & off these bulbs, all over the home, the Google Home App looses connection most times to these bulbs….LONG STORY SHORT, do I need a Phillips Bridge to keep a strong connection on all these bulbs AND should I have more than one bridge in this house❓ Again, great video channel, thank you👏👏👏

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Hmm. So if I understand correctly your current setup doesn’t have a Hue bridge. Hmm. That’s makes me think that your Google Nest mini is connected to the Hue bulbs via Bluetooth. So a Hue bridge would change the way the system works. Then the Google Nest mini would connect to the Hue bridge. Then the bridge would handle all communications to bulbs via Zigbee. In my opinion this would make the Hue network more reliable. But I also don’t have experience with the Google Nest. But in short I would say I personally think of a Zigbee network being able to handle more devices and distance than a Bluetooth network.

[@popnfresh2928]

@@PaulWarrenEaton ahhhhh, awesom…and your not the first to tell me about Zigbee better handling the network…so the bridge is my next step it seems….thanks for your input & quick response to my questions…..have a great weekend 🥂

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Hue bridge could be the easiest way to upgrade. Depends how much tech tinkering you like to do. Home Assistant can also be setup to have a Zigbee connection and connect directly to Hue bulbs and connect with Google stuff. Thanks. Happy weekend !!

[@popnfresh2928]

@@PaulWarrenEaton yep, I have it all Bluetooth with this Google set-up now, very spotty connections on the bulbs 💡 however all the smart plugs work flawlessly with the nest, but yes indeed…I’m gonna have to score the Phillips bridge this weekend….will ask the Best Buy store staff aswell….I appreciate your suggestions, great channel too👏

[@nissan300zxtt9]

I dont get the hate of the wifi being needed , from what i understand almost ALL or most smart lights etc use and NEED either wifi or internet. I have some novostella bulbs that use the smart life app which become almost useless if the internet/wifi drops out. I can turn them on and off at the switch at that time but only get the main cool white light from them with no other controls available untill wifi etc comes back.

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Yeah I understand your point. The whole Hue system on Zigbee doesn’t actually need a WiFi router or internet at all. It creates its own Local network using 2.4GHz and the Zigbee protocol. So in this regard I really like the system because it is seperate from any household WiFi traffic. However, for me in this video the surprise was that the system needs the Hue Bridge to be running for a switch to control a light. I had in my head that the Bridge might be able to program lights. For example I was imaging that a light could be programmed to ‘listen’ for a switch. But no, the switch says “I was pressed!”. The Hue Bridge hears it and checks its program and then sends a command to a light. Both the switch and light are dumb. Bridge is the ‘smart’ bit. Thanks for your comment and watching. Sounds like you have also started the smart light/home journey. Good luck!

[@robin263271]

Can’t even add hue switch to HomeKit or hue apps directly as this hub need to be added first.

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Yeah I think that Philips Hue should actually rename this little device. ‘Bridge’ makes it sound like a device to help you connect into the Zigbee network. Whereas Hub (as we all seem to call it) actually indicates that it is a critical piece of the whole setup IF you want to do advanced things. I can live with that, but I still was surprised to discover that the switches and bulbs don’t talk directly.

[@RandomMan_1]

I have an apartment with 5 smart bulbs. Never got a hub. They all work. Idk what's wrong. But mine works perfectly. I just don't have the benefit of syncing my lights to content on my TV or computer or music.

[@theattorney6072]

Is there a video about multihub setups, I have a big house and one hub will not be enough for all my lights. How to deal with that issue, i don't want to invest in something and then be blocked by this limitation.

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

In my opinion the only issue with multiple hubs is that you need to click a couple more buttons in the Hue app on your mobile to switch between hubs. However, if you think about using motion sensors and smart switches, then it should not matter at all if you would have as many Hubs as you need to handle all the lights you want. And if you want smart things to happen with devices between the two hubs, then I would probably recommend connecting things together with something like Home Assistant. But if you really go all in with a big house, then you could go straight to Home Assistant with Zigbee built in and not even bother with Hue bridges.

[@theattorney6072]

@@PaulWarrenEaton Many thanks for the above. This is the video that made me think of the issues I may face, but I don't understand everything yet : kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3nPn2ynrLCrqpY Also, i understand Alexa Can only work with one hub, so I Guess I will have to make choices ...

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Alexa can also work with one Home Assistant which can work with multiple hubs. Sorry now I’m again encouraging more gear for your home.

[@theattorney6072]

@@PaulWarrenEaton Yes Indeed, I don't even know what is home assistant lol. But I am gonna go check right away.

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

There are also quite a few videos about it around the place. I’ve done a few.

[@user-zi5jy9lt1r]

offline the hub use bluetoth to conect to bulbs in same room

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Are you sure? I have looked a little more and don’t see any details of the Hue bridge/hub being Bluetooth capable. Bluetooth will work from a phone using the Hue app and connecting directly to lights that are supporting Bluetooth.

[@nobodycaresaboutyou5590]

I use mine without bridge and it works. With phone and remote.

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

So you must have the newer Bluetooth enabled globes? If so, yep makes sense and gives you that possibility. Of course there are some other things you can only do with a bridge.

[@nobodycaresaboutyou5590]

@@PaulWarrenEaton if I want to connect to Samsung smart things I need bridge. I ordered one couple hours ago. Should arrive tomorrow.

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Yep that’s the go! Now you start to have some fun with it all. Good luck.

[@KM-rh4zl]

The app is 100x better than any silly remote…

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Well yes and no. You walk around your house with a phone in hand all the time? In our house I have removed all physical switches. Then with Home Assistant I have built things to be automatic. Just switch the ‘silly remote’ and the lights turn on and adjust to the tone and brightness depending on the time of day. Yea you can more easily impress people at dinner parties with the app. But for everyday life, I’m happy with basic switches and advanced fancy automations.

[@KM-rh4zl]

@@PaulWarrenEaton have you ever heard of pockets? Do you carry a remote around in your pocket? Now that I got my turn with the silly questions, let’s cut that out and have a logical conversation. 1. You paid additional money for the bridge, remote, and to remove all the switches from your living space. That’s additional money for the products, gas or shipping costs, time spent traveling and set ups, disturbances to living area during remodel, and additional stress. All of that for what benefit? A home system that REQUIRES you to purchase $50 light bulbs just so you don’t have to look at switches? On top of that, the additional power and internet bandwidth the router takes up will cost you. The only benefit you get is to feel luxurious but as we all know, luxury cars loose a lot of value after they leave the lot. You’re paying for more than you can ever get back. 2. Philips hue lightbulbs allow for 16millions different colors with one bulb. Let’s say you aren’t into colored bulbs, their warm-cool white bulbs offer 50,000 different shades of white. Not only that but they also have features that can make them circulate through different colors or turn them into flickering bulbs to mimic candles or a fireplace. No remote will be able to give you access to even half of that controllability. The hue remote have 4 buttons… Now I’ll play the devil’s advocate, a remote may be set up with a bunch of dials for Reds, blues, greens, w&b balance, saturation, etc… it also may have a touch screen on the remote. I do not want to have to click through all those dials and my iPhone will have more accurate representation of the colors than any screen on a remote. So by using a remote over the app, you’re loosing all the perks of hue bulbs. Philips wiz white and color bulbs are $10… smart bulbs are cheap if you’re just looking to just turn them on or off. Not to mention cheaper bridges and remotes by other companies. 3. I would not be buying Philip hue products unless I was an adult with responsibilities I can already manage. That being said, I always have my phone near by incase there is an emergency and I need to answer my phone. So even if it’s not in my hand, it’s only ever a couple more steps away than any remote would be. 4. The Philips hue app lets you set timers, schedules and will gradually dim the lights until they are off during a certain time interval. You can’t get that exact with just a remote. 5. I don’t need anything else that I have to keep track of. I’m happy to hear a rebuttal but I am not promising I’ll change my mind. I’m honest enough to say part of the reason I bought an Apple Watch ultra was for the luxury feeling, I know that and I know that that reason is only a superficial benefit. I do also go back country skiing alone, other semi-extreme sports, have heart issues, have had seizures, and live alone with no family in the state, so it’s also a safety measure. Final thoughts: The app is 100x better than any silly remote… but it may not be as fancy, elegant, or sexy as a whole smart home set up. It’s like having a 4K tv and only having the 1080p Netflix, just get a 1080p tv at that point.

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Wow. I am super impressed with your opening up of the discussion in your rebuttal. You are clearly convinced. We also clearly have different use cases and expectations. That’s all good. I would suggest you also check out the iConnectHue app. It’s not free, but others who know more than me have suggested it as an amazing app. Just sharing to try give you even more ideas or options. You are 100% correct that all I am putting in my home is luxury with this smart home setup. With Home Assistant I have my Hue bridge and lights all connected. I have tried to use some of the Hue labs formulas to create a dynamic scene that transitions in the way I hope. It’s not possible yet. I’m also in the Hue Beta trial thing ( that anyone can join) even there the ‘new’ features don’t yet support what I want. So I’m stuck using Home Assistant to achieve my goals. But yes. This is all unnecessary. I am just tinkering. Thanks for your rebuttal.

[@NocturnalToothbrush]

There's literally no point to these bridges. What the hell do they offer that I already don't have? All my smart bulbs have wifi built in, I can already operate everything from my phone app, or Google, or Alexa. I honestly don't see the point of it. I was given one, bit there's no reason for me to hook it up...

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

That might be the case for you. If everything works just how you want, then don’t make the mistake I often do.. change things and then it breaks. I could take your comment as an inspiration to challenge myself on testing if I really need a Hue bridge. I do run Zigbee devices (lights, motion sensors, switches) so I would need something to ‘bridge’ between things on WiFi or Ethernet and the Zigbee network. Thanks for the video idea.

[@NocturnalToothbrush]

@@PaulWarrenEaton Thanks for the comment. I thought I was missing something. I'll return the gift to my friend. I don't want to mess everything up!

[@PaulWarrenEaton]

Yeah if you’re not going to start installing Zigbee gear then I would recommend saying “Thanks, but no thanks”

[@nikkik3263]

Lol