Are you tired of juggling multiple remotes? The new SwitchBot Hub 3 makes things easy. This device works with Home Assistant and can control all your devices from one place. It has sensors for motion, light, temperature, and humidity—and best of all, it can send up to 30 custom commands to other Matter devices.
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What Does This Really Mean for You?
Imagine being able to turn off your TV, Set-Top Box (STB), and Air Conditioner automatically when you leave the room. Sounds like automatic saving money machine, right? With SwitchBot Hub 3, this is now a reality. But how does it work?
If you are tired of reading watch this…
I have a long form video about SwitchBot Hub 3 and you can watch it below!
Setting Up Your SwitchBot Hub 3
First, let’s open the box. Inside, you’ll find an adapter and a desk stand.
Plugging in the device is straightforward, and adding it to the SwitchBot App on your smartphone is a breeze. The pairing process is simple, with helpful pictures to guide you through it.
Learning Your Devices
Next, I want to learn your TV and STB remotes so that I can control those devices with the SwitchBot Hub 3 and automations. This is made easy by the large database of Infra Red codes for different devices (more than 100 000), which means most TVs (and basically everything else) will work perfectly with Hub 3. However, let’s see if this will bebe the case for custom-built devices like my STB.
Testing the SwitchBot Hub 3
I used a custom-built Set-Top Box (STB) as a test device, and I’m happy to report that it worked great. The STB was not found in the IR database, but there is a learning/cloning method that Hub 3 support. I only needed to learn/clone a few keys from the STB remote to start controlling my TV & STB using the Hub 3. And now, with built-in SwitchBot automation section, I can make automations and scenes like a pro.
Home Assistant Integration
But what if you want more complex home automation scenarios or want to integrate devices that aren’t supported by the SwitchBot App? That’s where Home Assistant comes in. By adding the SwitchBot Hub 3 via Matter Standard, you’ll be able to see its sensors and start using them in automations. You can even expose other SwitchBot devices to Home Assistant as secondary device via Matter.
Limitations of the SwitchBot Hub 3
While the SwitchBot Hub 3 is an impressive device, there are a few limitations to consider:
- The display feels like a touchscreen but isn’t actually one. There are 4 capacitive touch buttons that can be customized so overall the display is kind of “semi-touch”
- There is no Radio Frequency (RF) module and Hub 3 can only controls Infra Red or Bluetooth remotes. Most Air Conditioners are using RF remotes and they won’t work with SB Hub 3.
- But these limitations can’t be a deal breaker or maybe they can, What do you think?
Additional Features
The SwitchBot Hub 3 offers many additional features, including:
- Up to 30 custom commands to activate automations for Matter-compatible products
- A brand new dial controller for ultra-precise control over volume, temperature, and Apple TV remote
- Support for Fire TV, Roku, Android TV, and more
- If you have SwitchBot Meter Pro (CO2) it can show the CO2 level on the HUB 3 display
- 4 customizable scene buttons and real-time indoor/outdoor environmental data monitoring
Conclusion
The SwitchBot Hub 3 is a nice addition for a smart homes. With its ease of use, extensive features, and seamless integration with Home Assistant, it’s an essential device for anyone looking to enter in the smart home world.
Price and Where to Buy
At the time of writing, the SwitchBot Hub 3 costs $119.99 US dollars or 129.99 EUR / GBP, depending on where you’re buying it. You can find the buying links below. Buying something from these links will help this website at no additional cost for you.
- SwitchBot Hub 3 (Amazon): https://amzn.to/3FXqArv
- SwitchBot Hub 3 (EU Webstore): https://bit.ly/3Hu3w3X
Now, check these articles if you want to learn more about SwitchBot Products & Home Assistant. I’m Kiril and I’ll see you there. Bye!