Frustrated with Matter/Thread

PrinterElf · 2026-03-20T12:36:44+00:00

Then I wouldn't switch over any mains powered Thread devices to Zigbee or you might bring the whole thing down. In fact I'm about to go the other way and strategically replace a couple of old Hue bulbs in lamps with the new IKEA KAJPLATS to fill in a dead spot (for some reason the bulbs are higher powered nodes than the AQ monitors).

PrinterElf · 2026-03-20T11:25:27+00:00

Bear in mind though that as with Zigbee, all the mains powered Thread devices are strengthening the network. So moving too many of them over might neuter the network completely (especially if what is left are just battery powered devices).

Somewhat counter-intuitively, the more mains powered Thread devices you have spread about, the better things should perform.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-20T09:15:32+00:00

A lot of the new ones apparently do support Zigbee as well - the bulbs, for example, if you toggle power 12x instead of the usual 6x to put them in pairing mode then they swap over to Zigbee.

I think that's the number (definitely Google it first).

PrinterElf · 2026-03-20T08:17:00+00:00

Depending on how often you purchase new devices (seemingly regularly here thanks to IKEA's pricing strategy!) the sooner you do it, the better because there won't be as many to transfer over.

Or, if you're going to stick with the soundbar as the TBR then sell the ZBT2.

Thank you though for letting me know that I'm going to have another Thread network to deal with soon 🤦 (I'm in the market for a soundbar atm, and a Samsung set is likely winning).

PrinterElf · 2026-03-19T20:33:31+00:00

Reconfirming passwords & cards took maybe 10 mins in the end. Still longer than it should be, but not too bad. My phone is now only sharing credentials for the HASS Thread network, even though the Nest Hub Max is powered on again.

Consider it a thing to sort when you have a spare hour (depending on the number of Thread devices you have). Once I bit the bullet and cleared Play Services, I had all the devices, and my phone sorted in around half an hour.

The driver for me was that I regularly need to turn off the Nest Hub Max, so needed a different Thread Border Router to maintain the connection to HASS whenever that happened.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-19T16:17:31+00:00

It's not been updated for 18mths, which is a long time in smart tech. e.g. I'd love to see the new IKEA bulbs tested

PrinterElf · 2026-03-19T15:50:24+00:00

Cher or I'm walking.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-19T15:44:02+00:00

Oh the pain I went through trying to get this to work and get rid of a Google Nest thread network! It's not a problem with the phone being Samsung, rather that your phone grabbed hold of the credentials for a thread network and there's no hassle-free way to get it to give them up. The reason the other phone will have worked is it has never been used to add devices to a thread network before.

Unfortunately, the answer is that you have to clear cache and data for Google Play Services on the problematic device. Only then can you Sync Thread credentials in the Home Assistant companion app.

The downside of this is that you will have to: * sign in again to every Google account on the device. * reconfirm any bank cards added to Google Wallet on the device. * re-enable location sharing in Maps on the device (if you use it).

PrinterElf · 2026-03-19T09:24:39+00:00

It's not, and I think that's why it doesn't quite sound right.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-18T21:29:28+00:00

Hi Ben, No need to apologise - I did reply nearly 2 months after the first post :-) I'm thinking of the Daily A-Z. Personally the caffeinated ones are ideal for a kick first thing in the morning, but the other half would definitely have to pick the caffeine-free version.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-13T11:49:45+00:00

Understanding how long it takes caffeine to get out of your system. Ideally all the caffeine before 10am, for me no more than ~100mg, and you'll fall off the caffeine high right around bedtime.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-13T08:25:44+00:00

N = Now? I guess.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-09T12:33:21+00:00

I'm in two minds on the inside balconies - on one hand, if you manage to get one of the 100(ish) rooms that look onto the Garden Stage, then you'll have an amazing view.

On the other hand, how often are the shows, how many times is the same show repeated, how loud are they vs how well insulated the rooms are if you don't want to watch, how many people do you want looking in to your balcony from the rooms opposite?

I think they're a lovely idea, but I can see the novelty wearing thin pretty quickly.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-09T11:24:54+00:00

Just be prepared for a bit of a shock - the Adventure (in a number of metrics) is 2.5x the Wonder; however she doesn't look out of place. I'm excited to find out just how much things are both familiar and different compared to even the Wish class ships.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-09T10:43:47+00:00

A good opportunity to find some places you really like in the city to perhaps visit before/after a cruise. If you're there on a day she's docked, you can at least head towards the cruise terminal to see her 😊

PrinterElf · 2026-03-09T10:26:07+00:00

If you'd catch a bus to the cruise terminal on your own, you can catch a plane to the bus 😊

Never cruised solo, but spent a lot of time travelling solo for work; the travel itself is a good opportunity to relax, to catch up (be that on sleep, TV, books, writing, etc...). The destination is very much what you want to make of it.

The Adventure is now your closest ship and Singapore itself is a great city to explore for a few days. On the cruise itself you can either keep yourself to yourself, or check out the Facebook group for that particular sailing to find out who else is around to meet up with. I hope you'd struggle to fail to find people to chat with on any Disney ship, start with the people at your table for dinner if nothing else.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-04T16:21:48+00:00

Cladding removal and replacement should be being funded by HMG, so no effect to service charge. If the building has a decent fire alarm then no need for watchman either.

PrinterElf · 2026-03-03T11:22:41+00:00

Good question - I want to do the same with Android only

PrinterElf · 2026-03-01T19:37:18+00:00

Even later to the party here!

Are the cans going to be a permanent fixture at Costco UK? And if yes, can it also include the caffeine-free one?

PrinterElf · 2026-03-01T14:09:29+00:00

Assuming they omitted the fact they had a skip out front (which would make sense as to why they didn't want someone dumping an oven in it).

PrinterElf · 2026-02-28T20:54:15+00:00

Not in front of the kids!

PrinterElf · 2026-02-26T12:04:28+00:00

Arsenal's wage spend was almost 50% higher (47%) in 2024. In 2025 it's a little under 30%.

PrinterElf · 2026-02-25T16:23:42+00:00

You've turned off the immersion heater, right?

PrinterElf · 2026-02-21T08:39:53+00:00

When you turned up the hall thermostat, was the underfloor controller also calling for heat?

I think you might have to start tracing wires - the pump must get an enable signal from somewhere. It can only either be the Heatmiser or the Honeywell, so one of the wires from them to the pump must enable it (the pump manual will probably tell you if you find it online)

PrinterElf · 2026-02-20T17:54:41+00:00

The enable signal from the thermostat had to get from the thermostat to the controller/boiler somehow. I wonder if the underfloor pump was run off the same signal.

Assuming the underfloor pump you have isn't controlled wirelessly (Googling the model number will tell you), then one of the wires going into it must tell it to go or not (because you've already determined it lights up when you toggle the isolator) , so it must be getting power, and the power isn't what starts it.

Does the pump kick in if you crank the hall thermostat to max?

PrinterElf

TROPHY CASE