Smart Hub: How to Use It For Home Automation?

This blog tells you how to connect the smart hub to the Internet, what devices can connect to it for home automation, and how to control it for home using.

What Is Smart Home Hub?

A smart home hub integrates advanced computer, network communication and automatic control technology in one, so it can realize the centralized management of other smart devices in the house.

As a hub, on the one hand, it can ensure that smart devices of different brands can communicate and work together smoothly. On the other hand, users can manage and control all the smart devices in their home in one interface through the smart home hub. Even some smart home hubs that support voice control allow users to command IoT devices in  voice.

What Is Zigbee Smart Home Hub?

Zigbee technology is a wireless communication technology whose transmission consumption is only about 1mW. In theory, a AA battery can support Zigbee devices for six years. So Zigbee smart home hub features less frequency of battery replacement. In addition, low cost is also its advantage. Because the cost of its built-in Zigbee modules is much lower than that of other communication protocol modules. Accordingly, its unit price is attractive for price-sensitive buyers.

In the aspect of IoT network building, Zigbee smart home hub performs well. The Zigbee network adopts a mesh structure that enables data to automatically bypass fault points on the transmission path, so it can stably ensure the success of data transmission. And, are there enough other nodes for data to obstacle avoidance and achieve a detour? Of course there is. Zigbee networks can be easily scaled to more than 32 nodes and even up to 300 nodes. This also makes it easier for users to add more smart home devices to the system. In addition, Zigbee smart home hub adapts to both mobile app connection and voice assistant connection. This makes it easier for users to command smart home automation in their favourite way.

Other Types of Smart Hubs

WiFi Smart Home Hub

If the room is large with so many smart household devices, then WiFi smart home hub can certainly solve the problem to the point. As the most popular wireless communication technology, almost all smart devices come with WiFi module. In ohter words, it can easily access the majority of smart home appliances in the market . In addition, the radio wave coverage radius of WiFi can reach 200 meters, so the signal blind area in the house will be greatly reduced.

What’s more, WiFi technology does well in fast transmission. For example, the commonly used 2.4GHz WiFi transmission rate can reach 300Mbps. And its theoretical download speed can reach 37.5MB/s. This undoubtedly provides users with a smoother data transfer experience.

BLE Smart Home Hub

The BLE smart home hub is also called Bluetooth Low Energy Smart Home Hub. Its low energy consumption can significantly extend the battery life of a device. It counts a lot for smart home devices that rely on battery power, since it reduces the hassle and cost of frequent battery replacement. Its product purchase price is also relatively beautiful because the cost of BLE module is low.

Meanwhile, it excels in fast startup and connection. This immediacy improves the user experience and saves their waiting time.

Smart Hub Not Connecting to Internet?

If smart hub does not connect to Internet, how can we do to fix it? Today we introduce five solutions.

Check Internet Connection

First, we verify network availability. We can use other devices such as cell phones to try to connect to the modem. If successful, then the link is working properly. However, if sometimes the modem has a temporary failure or connection problem, we can try restarting the router and wait a few minutes. In this way, you can usually successfully reconnect to the network.

Check Smart Home Automation Hub

We can log in to the smart hub management interface and access its IP address through the browser to check the network settings. The normal configuration is automatically obtaining the IP address and DNS server address.

Smart Hub Is Being Update

Sometimes, there may be firmware updates available, which may be improvements in network connectivity.

Check for physical barriers

In general, we need to make sure there are no physical barriers between the smart hub and the router to avoid signal interruption.

Use Network Diagnostic Tools

We can use the troubleshooting tools in the Network and Internet Settings of Windows. It is very useful.

Consulting Professionals

If the above methods do not solve the problem, it is recommended to consult a technical support professional or the manufacturer for further assistance.

IoT Devices You Can Automate With A Smart Hub

• Smart light bulbs: Through the smart hub, users can remotely control the switch of the light bulb. Its brightness and color temperature also can be wirelessly adjusted.
• Smart door sensor: It monitors the switching status of doors n real time. If there is any unexpected intrusion, it will trigger the alarm system. Furthermore, with a smart hub, it can intelligently interconnect with other home devices as well as send alerts to your phone remotely.
• Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms: When connected to the smart hub, it can automatically sends alarm notifications to your smartphone in case of danger.
• With the help of the smart thing hub, smart floor heating can receive remote control as well as keep proper temperature indoors.
• Air Quality monitor: Connected to the smart home automation hub, the system can automatically adjust the working mode of the air purifier based on the data feedback of the air quality sensor.
• Temperature and humidity sensor: After connecting to it, the system can automatically adjust the working mode of the air conditioner according to the indoor temperature and humidity.

How To Control Your Smart Hub

Use Physical Buttons or Touch Screens

Many smart hubs are equipped with physical buttons or touch screens to allow direct operation on them. In common, there would be buttons for power switches, volume controls, and network connection settings. Users can quickly access and modify the settings of the smart hub in the fingertip.

Mobile App control

Most modern Smart Hubs support remote control via a mobile App. First, we can download and install compatible apps on our smart phones. We can then view device status, adjust Settings, and add or remove connected smart devices on the app.

Voice Control

If the Smart Hub integrates a voice assistant, then we can control it through voice commands. For example, we can simply say “turn on the lights in the living room” or “play music”. And it will direct the relevant appliances to exert the command.

Web Interface Control

Some smart hubs also provide a web interface for easy management through a browser. The method of operation is not difficult. After users simply entering smart hub’s IP address or domain name into their browser, they can log in to its administration interface and perform various settings.

Third-party Platform Control

In addition, some smart hubs also support the control via third-party platforms, such as IFTTT. The platform allow you to connect different smart devices and create home automation tasks.

What Can A Smart Hub Do For Home?

It can help achieve a variety of functional systems, thereby improving the comfort and safety of living.

Smart Lighting System

Through the smart hub, users can remotely control the on/off, brightness and color temperature of the lights in their homes. For example, after we set up an automated task for the light, it will automatically turn off if we leave home.

Smart Temperature Control System

When we use it to connect smart air conditioning, underfloor heating, and temperature sensor devices, they can form a simple indoor thermostat system. It can automatically adjust the indoor temperature according to the indoor temperature. This balances home energy saving and living comfort.

Smart Security System

When the smart home hub is connected to door and window sensors, users can set automatic intrusion alarms to monitor their home security in real time.

Smart Entertainment System

When the smart home automation hub is connected to the smart speaker, the user can control the above various home systems through voice commands.

Environmental Monitoring System

When the it is connected to an air quality monitor, a carbon monoxide sensor and a smoke sensor, they can work together and remotely monitor the air conditions in our homes. For example, after we set it up on the app, the system can automatically direct the operation of the air purifier according to the data collected by sensors. This greatly ensure our health and environment safety.

What To Look For When Shopping For A Smart Hub

Compatibility and Scalability

Does it support all the smart device in your home? We certainly try to choose products with a wider range of compatibility and scalability. Because we may add new devices in the future.

Performance and Quality

We can ask for the processor specification of the product to ensure that the product is good at handling multiple devices connection. In addition, we should pay attention to the product conformity label to ensure its good quality. For bulk purchases, we can also pay attention to the ISO9001 certification of the factory to know their QA ability.

Security

We need to understand its data encryption technology to protect users’ data security. If the product has firewall and intrusion detection capabilities, it would be better. Besides, we can ensure the safety of products by paying attention to the CE certification of products.

Price and Cost Performance

We need to comprehensively compare the performance, function and price factors of different brands choose the products with high cost performance.

After-sales Service

Finally, we can understand the product warranty service and customer support before buying, so that we can get timely help after purchasing.

Best Smart Home Hub

Retail Market: Samsung Smart TV With Hub

Samsung smart TV comes with Alexa Build-in, which let user control the TV by vocal. Alexa is so much more than just a voice-assistant. It makes our devices deepen and enrich our understanding on world happenings, the news, and history.

White Label ODM: Phixson Smart Home Hub

Phixson offers various options of customized smart home hub for purchasers. Welcome any inquiry.