Zigbee Wireless Technology
Our Smart Devices use a technology called Zigbee to connect devices in their own network. The Homesmart.sg Aqara Smart Hub acts as a “Zigbee Router”, creating its own wireless network for our other Aqara devices to connect to.
Here’s a simple map of how our Aqara devices can be set up.
In this case, our Aqara G2H Pro works as a hub – meaning all the other Homesmart.sg Aqara devices are linked to it by Zigbee wireless. The Smart switch, in turn, is controlling the circuit to power a light fixture on and off. As all the devices are linked to the hub, the hub can now then send and receive commands to each smart device.
The smart hub connects to your home’s wifi network, provided by your existing router. This enables you to use your smart phone (also connected to home wifi) to access and configure the settings of your smart devices.
For example, you can use your phone to set an automation:
IF Motion is detected, turn ON Wall Switch
Now, when the Homesmart.sg Aqara Motion Sensor detects motion, it reports this to the Hub. Because of the automation you have set, the hub then sends a command to the Smart wall switch to turn ON.
Similarly, since your phone is connected to the Hub by wifi, you can use the app to turn the light on and off. Your phone sends the command over your home’s wifi network to the hub. The hub then sends the command to the wall switch, by Zigbee.
Multiple Smart Hubs
As a wireless technology, Zigbee is limited by range. This means that smart devices very far from your smart hub will not be able to connect, and will not work. In this case, you’ll need another smart hub in the vicinity.
This means you’ll essentially have two Zigbee routers, each broadcasting their own Zigbee wifi network. Your other smart devices must be configured to connect to the hub that is closest to it.
However, this doesn’t mean you’ll have two different smart home systems. As both your hubs connect to your home wifi, they are able to communicate with each other to integrate themselves into one smart home system.
Here’s a simple map of two hubs in one home.
Although the two hubs look separated from each other, in reality they are all now just part of the same system. In fact, there is no “master hub” or “secondary hub” – all hubs work with each other in tandem, automatically. All devices connected to both hubs can be used to communicate with one another.
For example, you can set an automation:
IF Wireless Mini Switch is pressed, turn ON Smart Wall Switch 1 and turn ON Smart Wall Switch 2.
Upon one press of the Aqara Wireless Mini Switch, both lights then turn on – even though they’re connected to different hubs.
What about more hubs and devices?
Herein lies what is revolutionary about our system and devices – they’re modular. You can have as few or as many smart hubs and devices as you want. Just one hub and one switch – that’s possible. What about 10 hubs and 100 devices? It might sound like a lot, but it’s quite common (and easy) for larger homes to grow into that number of devices. And you don’t even have to do it all at one time – start with your bedroom, and expand into your kitchen and living room later. Just keep adding hubs and devices into your network, at your own pace.
How to Choose a HomeSmart Hub?
Our smart home hubs combine the benefits of being a Zigbee router with another fully-fledged function. While many other smart hubs on the market function solely as a hub, our Aqara hubs have multiple functions built into one product. We do understand that spending money on a hub does not always come across as a worthwhile investment – and this is why our hubs are created to have more functionalities beyond just being a hub.
With our range of products that function as Zigbee hubs, choosing the right one for your home requires a little bit of understanding. We wrote this guide on how to choose a hub for that exact purpose.
Some FAQs
There are some smart home products out there that do not need a hub, right?
Yes, there are smart devices on the market that connect directly to your home Wi-Fi, without having to go through a hub. It’s a simple way to add smart devices into your home, and allows you to save the money that would otherwise be spent on a smart hub.
However, this would only be recommended for homes which do not intend to adopt a large number of smart devices, as every wifi-direct device will bring additional load to your home wifi network and router.
You also have smart home products that don’t need hubs, right?
Yes, certain products in our Aqara range do not use Zigbee, instead connecting directly to Wi-Fi, such as the Aqara Panel Switch S1E, and most of our cameras. Mostly, this is because they require higher bandwidths than Zigbee can provide.