WeMo Bridge adds HomeKit & Siri support to your Belkin smart home accessories
Belkin's popular line of WeMo smart home products was recently brought into the HomeKit fold with the release of the new Smart Bridge, a simple device that lets you control your existing WeMo devices via the Home app and Siri.
The WeMo Smart Bridge was first announced earlier this year at CES 2018. It works similar to the Philips Hue bridge. Just plug it into your router, add it to the Home app, and you now have HomeKit support for all of your existing WeMo devices.
Let's take a closer look.
On the back of the bridge is your unique HomeKit pairing code. As a backup, it is also printed in the instruction manual.
The setup here is dead simple. Connect your WeMo bridge to your router or ethernet switch, then connect it to power. Open the Home app on your iPhone or iPad, tap the "+" icon to add a new accessory, and scan the HomeKit code on your bridge or from the instruction manual.
The setup process walks you through the process of adding the bridge to your home. If you already have existing WeMo products set up, those will be added to HomeKit at the same time. It is very well done.
Now, you are able to do (almost) all of that within the Home app. You can use the Home app, or Siri, to turn on/off your WeMo devices, or create more complex automations.
HomeKit support also means guaranteed integration with all other HomeKit devices.
As an example, you could use the Fibaro motion sensor to turn on your WeMo Insight outlet when you walk into the room. Or turn on your WeMo Mini when your Elgato Eve sensor detects the door being opened.
As WeMo devices have been on the market for quite some time, only certain devices will work with the new Smart Bridge. That includes the WeMo Mini, WeMo Insight, WeMo Switch, and WeMo Dimmer.
The other limitation pertains to the Insight outlet. WeMo Insight is really handy in its ability to tell you how much power is being consumed by the device plugged into it. There are other HomeKit outlets that do the same, such as the Elgato Eve Energy. While the Eve Energy makes that consumption data available in HomeKit, the Insight doesn't. At least not at this time. If you want to get that information, you have to view it within the WeMo app.
Luckily, the WeMo system does not fall into this category. Each time we sent a command from HomeKit to one of the Wemo accessories, the result was near instantaneous. It was very impressive.
The lack of energy data in HomeKit and the necessity to plug an additional device into your router remain the only two blemishes on an otherwise solid accessory.
The WeMo Smart Bridge was first announced earlier this year at CES 2018. It works similar to the Philips Hue bridge. Just plug it into your router, add it to the Home app, and you now have HomeKit support for all of your existing WeMo devices.
Let's take a closer look.
Setup
In the box, you receive the bridge (which has an integrated ethernet cable), a micro USB cable, and a USB power adapter. I really like the fact the ethernet cable was integrated into the bridge, but it does make it difficult if it is too short for your setup or if it ever happens to break.On the back of the bridge is your unique HomeKit pairing code. As a backup, it is also printed in the instruction manual.
The setup here is dead simple. Connect your WeMo bridge to your router or ethernet switch, then connect it to power. Open the Home app on your iPhone or iPad, tap the "+" icon to add a new accessory, and scan the HomeKit code on your bridge or from the instruction manual.
The setup process walks you through the process of adding the bridge to your home. If you already have existing WeMo products set up, those will be added to HomeKit at the same time. It is very well done.
Capabilties
HomeKit support means a few things for users. Prior to HomeKit integration, you could control your devices from your phone, monitor energy usage, and schedule them.Now, you are able to do (almost) all of that within the Home app. You can use the Home app, or Siri, to turn on/off your WeMo devices, or create more complex automations.
HomeKit support also means guaranteed integration with all other HomeKit devices.
As an example, you could use the Fibaro motion sensor to turn on your WeMo Insight outlet when you walk into the room. Or turn on your WeMo Mini when your Elgato Eve sensor detects the door being opened.
Limitations
There are two noticeable limitations for the WeMo Smart Bridge.As WeMo devices have been on the market for quite some time, only certain devices will work with the new Smart Bridge. That includes the WeMo Mini, WeMo Insight, WeMo Switch, and WeMo Dimmer.
The other limitation pertains to the Insight outlet. WeMo Insight is really handy in its ability to tell you how much power is being consumed by the device plugged into it. There are other HomeKit outlets that do the same, such as the Elgato Eve Energy. While the Eve Energy makes that consumption data available in HomeKit, the Insight doesn't. At least not at this time. If you want to get that information, you have to view it within the WeMo app.
Performance
The biggest concern we see with bridges is responsiveness. Some produce a slight delay as the command is passed through the bridge and onto the accessories.Luckily, the WeMo system does not fall into this category. Each time we sent a command from HomeKit to one of the Wemo accessories, the result was near instantaneous. It was very impressive.
Conclusion
If you are one of the many WeMo users, the Smart Bridge is an easy way to add significant new features to your existing smart home. It is a far cheaper option as well when compared to purchasing a host of new accessories.The lack of energy data in HomeKit and the necessity to plug an additional device into your router remain the only two blemishes on an otherwise solid accessory.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
Comments
If you're a bit of a tinkerer it's also very easy to set up the same thing on a Raspberry PI - and with that you now have your very own Wemo HomeKit hub at a fraction of the cost (or whatever other devices you plug into HomeBridge - I've plugged in my roomba and air conditioning too.)
This website also put together an awesome guide (yes!) to making your own HomeKit camera using Raspberry PI and HomeBridge.
https://store.idevicesinc.com/idevices-outdoor-switch/
Now I’m doing a remodel in the living room, putting in recessed LED cans. I’ll hook them up to this iDevices wall dimmer and have them dim over the course of the evening:
https://store.idevicesinc.com/idevices-dimmer-switch/
Could also do this dimmer which has a motion sensor:
https://www.incipio.com/accessories/commandkit-accessories/commandkit-smart-wall-switch.html
One could also go cheaper with this basic HK-only dimmer:
http://www.leviton.com/en/products/dh6hd-1bz
...It really has never been better to deploy home automation.
https://www.amazon.com/WeMo-F7C027fc-Switch-Smart-Plug/dp/B00BB2MMNE/ref=pd_sbs_107_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00BB2MMNE&pd_rd_r=AX0ME21KKXTGZ1Q9KJB7&pd_rd_w=Fvgyo&pd_rd_wg=dJvNH&psc=1&refRID=AX0ME21KKXTGZ1Q9KJB7
The bad: I couldn't see them in my Home app, but buried under the Wemo bridge icon. I can get around by creating a scene to add a plug to it. Not big deal.
The good: I can use Philip Hue remote to control them all individually or under the scene. I have 3 Hue light bulbs in living room for 2 nightstand and 1 for the entry console table, 2 Wemo plugs for stair strip lights and entertainment center back lights, Ecobee thermostat and Zmodo IP camera. With 1 Hue remote, I just hit one button from the remote, it will set the scene I want OR I can just say "Hey Siri, Good Bye" or "Alexa, Good Bye". BTW, I configured my smart home to be controlled with both Siri and Alexa.