The WORLD'S FIRST HomeKit Compatible IR Blaster - With MATTER!

[@RYN988]

I just got it. This thing has completely solved my problem with my Samsung TVs! They’re all in HomeKit now and they work pretty well as long as you don’t turn them on or off with the remote as this will make their states in homekit out of sync. I can set automations in homekit and have the tv turn on when I arrive and off when I leave. I love it! Now I’m getting greedy and hoping someday we will get more control than just an on/off situation!

[@aidenfisher838]

Thanks for covering this! Didn’t know such a device could exist natively in HomeKit, will be on the lookout for similar devices from now on. Especially AC ones since those are either expensive for a large single purpose device, or aren’t natively exposed in HomeKit

[@aidenfisher838]

I wonder if the matter limitation to 3 devices means that devices such as the Aqara M3 hub will never expose the child devices to HomeKit due to the sheer number of devices it supports, maybe thats why none of the HomeKit IR hubs does it natively… TIL

[@homekitnews]

@@aidenfisher838 it would seem this is only a limitation with this particular type of device, as Matter compatible hubs like the Aqara M2 can expose many more connected child devices to HomeKit and other Matter compatible platforms with no limits.

[@aidenfisher838]

Ah right maybe its just a matter of time before more of such IR blaster exists, great more HomeKit videos 😂

[@arnie.suryawan]

The app is available in Canada. I made a Japan Amazon account, ordered it and having it shipped to Canada. Looking forward to see how it works.

[@homekitnews]

Since posting this video I found that the app is also available on the US App Store.

[@Peter-rm7io]

Ok what if the remote was not in the list, can I still add it anyway?

[@homekitnews]

@@Peter-rm7io yes, you can use the original remote to teach the Nano the various buttons.

[@PedroRaimundoX]

IS there anything like that in the marker but for RF garage door controllers? ( I want to control my RF garagem door, I know that there is the meross solution, but the implies to have it cable connected to it, but I want to control it via RF, reason: it's the main building door, I cannot plug anythng to it)

[@homekitnews]

@@PedroRaimundoX I’m only aware of one device with RF that was launching on Kickstarter last year, but it seems to have failed to reach its funding goal unfortunately. www.kickstarter.com/projects/lookin/qubiot-remote-pro

[@camiloparrasalazar9157]

Can you please make an updated AC controllers video?

[@homekitnews]

I’ll see if I can do that.

[@camiloparrasalazar9157]

@@homekitnews very glad you considered doing it. Greetings from Chile!

[@wilsonblack2023]

Would a IR blaster work a AVR in a cupboard? I use a Logitech harmony remote but would Like to use my Apple TV remote to get volume to work but it’s connected via optical not hdmi

[@homekitnews]

I guess it depends on how thick the cupboard doors are (if there are doors) and the placement of the sensor, but I can’t see any reason why it can’t, assuming the remote that comes with the AVR uses IR.

[@RYN988]

Your review is fantastic and very well detailed and I very much appreciate it. I have placed an order from Amazon Japan with international shipping because I really need a HomeKit compatible IR blaster to control my Samsung TVs (I really only need the on and off so this is fine). I have tried in the past to use homebridge but unfortunately it was way too advanced for me and it didn't reliably work.

[@homekitnews]

Thanks, I’m glad it’s of help. Just to note that the app should be available in some other App Store regions now, so you shouldn’t necessarily have to change the App Store.

[@RYN988]

⁠@@homekitnewsI wish I had read your reply before I went through the hoops to make a a Japanese Apple ID and look for the app 😂

[@iliassellountos6144]

Great video! thanks a lot one question if you would be far away not using the local wifi would you be able to change channels for example to your tv? Thanks alot for your time!

[@homekitnews]

Hi, yes you would be able to change channels remotely via the company’s own Nature app, although unless you could see the screen, it might be tricky to know if you’re getting it right of course. If you had a camera pointed in the direction of the TV, that might work.

[@iliassellountos6144]

@@homekitnews thanks alot for your prompt reply mate! just another do you maybe have a link were i can buy it? it seems like it is not shipping to Europe?

[@homekitnews]

@iliassellountos6144 hi, the only place I’m aware of that sells it is Amazon Japan, so if they don’t ship to Europe (they do ship to the US) then I’m not sure what you can do, sorry.

[@egregs]

how did you change your App Store to Japan. It's telling me I'd need to cancel iTunes music match and Apple Music to change country.

[@homekitnews]

If you’re in the US, the app should be available on the App Store there. If you’re not, it might be advisable not to change if it’ll mess up any subscriptions.

[@TechWithTony]

We’re on the small tile like device does the IR emit from? all six sides? four sides? two sides? where does it emit IR from?

[@homekitnews]

I don’t have equipment to test for such a thing, but based on my experience with it so far, I would say it emits from the front. It doesn’t look big enough to contain more than 1 or 2 emitters, at the most.

[@TechWithTony]

@@homekitnews thanks. It can be tested by blocking all sides with electrical tape and removing one side at a time and deducing it’s emitting from x side(s)

[@KABUTO2006]

I came here with the same question. What about the AC implementation in HK, as you know, AC in HK with brands like TADO are just temperatures and ON/OFF controls, while I know there are devices that can control for example, the swing flap or the velocity of the motor (air level power)

[@homekitnews]

I imagine it depends to some extent on the brand of AC, as some offer on/off, hot, cool, and Auto, as well as fan speed, and oscillation, but not all offer these. The Nano gives me the same options as my Tado and Mysa AC controllers in HomeKit, but without the built in sensors.

[@camiloparrasalazar9157]

@@homekitnews I’m in the same spot. I have Samsung AC but they do not show “Silent Mode” as an option for automations but the Remote Control has the command, even with the Aqara P3 it doesn’t show up. So I’m looking for an alternative. I think (according to your previous comparison video) Sensibo can do that but for money reasons (and also they don’t sell it here in my country) I’m not been able to test it.

[@homekitnews]

@camiloparrasalazar9157 I’ll try and check if the Sensibo offers more, but I don’t recall it offering any extras in HomeKit, but maybe in their own app, perhaps.

[@camiloparrasalazar9157]

@@homekitnews Even if I can create an automation using Silent Mode on its own app is a win because that isn’t possible through Samsung SmartThings. Also SmartThings app is so slow and laggy, I really hate it.

[@Gwakari]

I have IR blaster from Tuya connected with Siri shortcuts but it have one good feature, it can learn button by button in app, for example if I have some unsupported model of AC I can simply click ON/OFF pointing to IR blaster and add this "signal" to virtual button in app, click next button pointing on blaster and again add button for example for fan speed, etc. Is it somehow possible with Nature Remo? To create custom controls from accepted IR signals? Thanks for answer :)

[@homekitnews]

Hi, yes the Remo Nano can learn additional buttons in the same way. However, these are not exposed to HomeKit, so you only get what is offered when you first set up the device - on/off for most devices, and the usual basic features for AC controls. The app is also compatible with Siri Shortcuts too though, so it can do the same as your IR blaster for voice control.

[@Gwakari]

@@homekitnews thanks

[@whennn]

The Xiaomi IR blaster can do that too, similar to TUYA. Also u can add any remote to it by finding from the list or manually adding each button. And the cool thing is, each button action can become a Siri shortcut. And once u add all shortcut u can just combine them into 1 shortcut and create a cool shortcut automation, like turn on the tv and volume app and change to Chanel 12 all by just one command to Siri. Recently i set up so it can turn on my tv, get away from the Chinese ads of the tv turn on the Apple TV, and launch the latest news on a KZbin playlist automatically with 1 command to Siri

[@homekitnews]

There is ultimately one problem with using Siri Shortcuts; they can only be used if the phone they’re created on is connected to the same WiFi network as the devices the shortcuts are meant to control. This means that if a shortcut is created on a particular phone and that person leaves to go outside, the shortcut will no longer work.

[@whennn]

@@homekitnews can also create it on a tablet or a Mac that stays at home

[@jewczukpiotr]

Would it work anyhow with benq projector?

[@homekitnews]

If it comes with an IR remote, it should work with any device. You’ll only get on/off though.

[@HaruNg3729]

Hope they make it in Global Market soon

[@bobshowa]

any option for RF device?

[@homekitnews]

The only devices I can think of that can control RF devices are the Homey Pro gateway, and a forthcoming device called the Qubiot - homekitnews.com/2023/09/01/kickstarter-launched-for-qubiot-remote-pro-with-matter/

[@8Arachne8]

I thought the SwitchBot Hub2 can operate as an IR blaster…

[@homekitnews]

It can, as can the Aqara M2, but none of these expose IR controlled devices to HomeKit. The Remo Nano does.

[@tharais]

It does. And, it's been great. It doesn't show up in Homekit per se. But it does work with Siri Shortcuts so...........

[@SumanDebnathProfessional]

Is this available in India?

[@homekitnews]

Japan only as far as I’m aware, but you might be able to ship from Japan to India perhaps.

[@lee4515]

Can we purchase in the uk

[@homekitnews]

Not that I’m aware of.

[@joshuahaney1135]

Can you get this in the US?

[@homekitnews]

Not as far as I’m aware. You would have to order it from Amazon Japan and have it shipped over. The app is available on the US App Store though.

[@mkmmkmkmmk4686]

And how to buy it in EU

[@homekitnews]

You can’t.

[@mkmmkmkmmk4686]

Fuck yeah... is there enything else that works that way on EU?@@homekitnews

[@homekitnews]

The Switchbot Hub 2 can do much the same thing and as it has a temperature sensor built into the cable, it will show the those metrics together with the AC function if you use it.

[@faisalthe01]

Still can't beat Broadlink homebridge plugin 😂

[@lennixlennix]

I need it so badly … but can’t buy it in Germany :(

[@homekitnews]

Have you tried ordering from Amazon Japan? Thry do ship to some other countries.

[@macdee1337]

Hm… that's pretty interesting… I have been using Remo Mini for years now (living in Japan, so all local AC makers are well supported), and it doesn't support HomeKit. I actually sent inquiry to the company asking to add support for HK, and was told that in order to be able to get certified, they are required to support two-way communication (meaning controller must be able to figure out if AC is on or off) - so they basically told me that it's not possible. But huh… looks like this requirement was lifted?… It is listed as a HK-certified device at all? Or does Matter makes this all irrelevant I wonder? 🤷‍♂ Don't believe Remo can figure out if a device is on or off though, but Mini actually listens into AC's "standard" remote, and I would assume it should technically be able to at least guest the power state in most of the times at least for AC which are normally remote-controlled. The fans and TVs though… 🤔 No temp sensor totally sucks though, and I'll just stay on Remo Mini for the time being, as I rely on Mini's sensor for automations (I do have other sensors in the same room, but they could be all over the place at times, so having one source of truth, in addition to just being able to setup automations - that actually work every single time - from the official Remo's app is a big pro).

[@homekitnews]

What they told you about a device reporting back on its current state is true of all HomeKit devices with the exception of AC controllers, of which there are a few that basically do the same as the Remo products, but are in fact HomeKit certified. Non-smart devices that use IR aren’t capable of reporting their state back to their remote, and so it’s the same with the AC controllers in HomeKit. It’s almost as though Apple knows it’s impossible to expect that level of control, and so it passes certification. The Aqara P3 is the only HomeKit certified AC controller that can accept incoming signals from the original remote or replacements even after it’s been set up. In fact, it also can accept signals from other AC controllers. I have a Tado V3+ for my AC, but also have an Aqara P3 which is in line of sight of the Tado and the AC, and it changes every time I change a setting on the Tado.

[@ryovalorant]

I also live in Japan, may I ask why you need it to support HomeKit? Because I'm using an iPhone and I'm also using Alexa and I don't think it's going to affect me after they update it to support Matter. Just want to hear your opinion, thanks!

[@homekitnews]

Hi, if you’re using Alexa you already have support for this device natively. Matter support allows it to be added to HomeKit, which previously wasn’t an option. In your case the one improvement of using this with Alexa via Matter is that it makes the device ‘local’. By that I mean that normally with devices connected to Alexa, Google, or SmartThings, the device connects to the relevant company’s server, which then connects to Amazon’s servers, so they talk to each other and communicate your instructions. This means that all your functions are relying on a cloud-based internet connection. With Matter, that is no longer required, so your Matter devices, including the Nano, will all stay on your network and work even if your access to the internet is cut.

[@macdee1337]

@@ryovalorant it is all really about privacy. I definitely don’t want Amazon to have any level of access/information to any type of home devices I have. Which they do or can have with Alexa. And they’re not known for privacy. HomeKit allows you to keep things local and private. My whole home setup is HomeKit for this reason.

[@_D_A_V_E_]

Worlds first? Isn’t the new SwitchBot Hub 2 a blaster as well as all the other features?

[@camiloparrasalazar9157]

The SwitchBot Hub 2 doesn’t show the IR devices outside its own app.

[@homekitnews]

It’s is, but it doesn’t expose IR devices connected to it to HomeKit.

[@ryovalorant]

With the latest update SwitchBot Hub2 can also connect IR devices to the homekit@@homekitnews

[@rivvvers]

Hardly anything is ever exposed to HomeKit, apple seriously needs to catch up

[@cjgarrison]

What do you think Matter does and why does it matter now that we have Matter?

[@Kingsley4K]

@@cjgarrisonjust because something supports matter and therefore HomeKit doesn’t mean control intricacies are exposed to HomeKit also. Just like how this thing supports HomeKit yet is extremely limited to power on/off only for most controls.