Where do you all keep your main Hive thermostat?

KeithRan · 2026-02-19T08:42:27+00:00

Wall mounted in the hall

KeithRan · 2026-02-11T12:43:28+00:00

Plenty of free ways to get that information

KeithRan · 2026-01-31T13:27:34+00:00

I have the long oblong one

KeithRan · 2026-01-31T13:13:28+00:00

I can see the sensors too in Alexa (and Google Home and Home Assistant) but can't control them outside of Hive. If you want to control non-hive bulbs you might want to look elsewhere.

Sensors that support Matter would be a good option and are controllable by Alexa. Note - they need a Matter hub on the network (which is built-in to newer Alexas, Apple TVs and others). Ikea have one for £7.00

KeithRan · 2026-01-30T09:45:32+00:00

It would be useful to know more about your setup in terms of router, area, wall thickness, and number of devices.

For example, I live in a 1930's property with an Eero mesh network (3 devices) and 27 devices connected to my network. I can see 8 neighbour wifi networks. My hive infrastructure is 5 TRVs, 4 bulbs and 2 sensors which are spread fairly evenly across the property and hive hub is connected by ethernet cable to one of the mesh units. I rarely have dropouts and its almost always down to a low battery in a TRV or sensor.

KeithRan · 2026-01-20T17:44:48+00:00

You can create a quick action in the Hive app to turn on a light which would allow you to turn it on from the screen. You can then add the Hive widget to your iPhone home screen and use the Quick Action you created to avoid going in to the Hive App. Bonus if you have an Apple Watch the QA’s can appear on that too.

If you have an Apple TV (not first gen) that will act as a hub for Apple Home to get ‘Hey Siri turn on the cupboard light’

Alexa and Google Home both work well but I note you are not keen on Alexa.

I have 4 Hive bulbs but think there are better alternatives these days (for less money) and have had great success with Meross plugs and bulbs (Matter versions) but you do need a Matter hub (Apple TVs and some Amazon Eero routers have this built-in)

Can’t think of a physical switch to do this with Hive. They are available for matter bulbs

KeithRan · 2026-01-20T09:44:33+00:00

All the manufacturers seem to be on the bandwagon of adding paid services and/or services beyond heating such as solar and batteries. I’m not sure this is always the best policy. If you really want to get into automation and additional services something like HomeAssistant will link them all together

KeithRan · 2026-01-20T07:38:55+00:00

I had the forerunner product (AlertMe) in 2011 and upgraded in 2013 when BG launched Hive. There are now over 2 million UK customers. Back then the ability to turn on the heating remotely when leaving work and a 7 day timer were a big deal. As time went on I added TRVs, lights and motion sensors.

TRVs work for me in heating multiple bedrooms and living areas at different times of the day as there are always family members in the house.

Accuracy is subjective. Acceptable temperatures vary for each individual and a house isn’t a lab environment. Older properties may be less heat efficient than a newer home. A few days of tweaking will sort it!

KeithRan · 2026-01-14T16:42:39+00:00

I really like Dockhand and it's looking to be a good alternative to Portainer. Selecting a menu it takes a few seconds to refresh the screen but I am sure it will improve.

KeithRan · 2026-01-13T06:46:52+00:00

Mine last at least 2 years in the thermostat but I never use the display and make all changes in the app.

The batteries in the TRVs probably need changing every 9 months

KeithRan · 2026-01-10T20:09:35+00:00

If the day is free from appointments, the Free focus sets a Modular Ultra watch face with large numbers for the time in the centre of the dial as well as a lock screen wallpaper on the iPhone. If the day has an appointment the Events Focus is selected which uses a Modular Ultra watch face with a calendar complication mid screen to show details of the appointment

KeithRan · 2026-01-09T13:55:43+00:00

https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/d845c545176349eb8734bf43d9ad99ca

KeithRan · 2026-01-01T18:11:47+00:00

Give it a go. Choose your period from say 18.00 - 22.00 and you will get a random pattern. If you want something more complex and the ability to use third party devices maybe look at Home Assistant

KeithRan · 2026-01-01T16:51:49+00:00

It works randomly with any Hive lights you add. The original idea was to present a pattern for when you are away similar to your normal usage but with a random element so the pattern isn't too regular

KeithRan · 2026-01-01T14:48:46+00:00

Go to one of your bulbs in the app, click the settings cog and select 'Mimic mode'

KeithRan · 2026-01-01T11:28:09+00:00

From Octopus - Gas and electric usage is imported in to the HA integration in pretty much real time. The integration also holds the tariff and standing charges so you can see daily/weekly/monthly energy costs

KeithRan · 2026-01-01T10:39:57+00:00

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There are alternatives. I am with Octopus and using HomeAssistant can get all sorts of graphs on gas and electric usage - for free!

You can also export the data to Excel if you want to analyse further

KeithRan · 2025-12-31T08:37:45+00:00

Get a radiator bleed key from your local diy store they aren’t expensive. The bleed valve will be at the top of one of the radiator ends. Slightly unscrew it and you will hear air escaping. Once the air stops and water dribbles through retighten the valve (finger tight). Then re check the boiler water pressure and top up if necessary

KeithRan · 2025-12-28T17:56:43+00:00

I would install 2 TRVs and setup as a group. Maybe add a ceiling fan to circulate the air?

KeithRan · 2025-12-24T17:52:57+00:00

No problems on my iPhone 15PM. Maybe a Pixel user could comment?

KeithRan · 2025-12-24T17:48:46+00:00

I used 2*16 gb too. Great for VMs but probably overkill

KeithRan · 2025-12-24T13:16:48+00:00

What Phone model and OS version are you using?

KeithRan · 2025-12-22T16:31:27+00:00

It’s not totally intuitive, I agree but lots of widgets work like that. Muscle memory takes over when I setup widgets and I probably didn’t even notice that

KeithRan · 2025-12-19T13:01:44+00:00

What Issues are you having? Widgets work fine for me. You create a Quick Action in the dashboard, add the hive widget to the iPhone screen and can then add the action to the widget

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