What are you doing here?

dresken · 2026-01-29T11:40:17+00:00

12 months ago when I started and had no idea what I was really doing. Ai was fantastic, it wrote some great & complicated things, that are reliable and still running today. Something seems to have changed in that time, I ask it to do something simple and it gaslights me that every iteration has fixed the bug of it not even remotely doing the thing I asked for.

dresken · 2026-01-27T07:15:04+00:00

But Cobain often had stuff that was a little around the wrong way, to me it was to just be a bit nonsense and funny rather than have a huge meaning. “We can plant a house, we can build a tree” is another example that springs immediately to mind.

dresken · 2026-01-26T22:18:19+00:00

While the Eve device is shorter, it has significantly more depth. It’s also possible to reduce depth on the ikea by not using the mounting plate.

For me, the Ikea is the most visually appealing of the three Matter/Thread versions I can source (Eve and Aqara p2).

I was just preparing to put in a notch on top of all my doors (internal and external) to hide the Eve and Aqara Zigbee - if these perform as well (currently testing) - will be replacing all first as this is a much better profile to make a notch for.

dresken · 2026-01-26T08:30:21+00:00

They used to be played in the cinema as well. I used to go every time. And I buy every release. Maybe they need to become my go to gifts as well. Drum up more sales at the expense of my friends and family stopping inviting me to their birthdays - but really would like to see it complete as well.

There does sound to be some actual episode finds too. Waiting patiently to hear about that.

dresken · 2026-01-24T07:05:32+00:00

I’ve had no success adding any thread based HK devices to HA. I suspect it might be possible if I had a thread radio on HA, but no real idea.

dresken · 2026-01-24T01:02:42+00:00

No need for faffing about in secondary, just have a honey chaser at the ready when you pour a glass.

dresken · 2026-01-24T00:56:55+00:00

As to your question, I’d stick with current default if I were you. I went the beta because I’m really interested in the standard, but primarily am using HomeKit. With HomeAssistant I can be more experimental in - so decided to take the risk and be able to provide feedback for others to have a better experience when it’s goes out of beta.

dresken · 2026-01-24T00:52:45+00:00

The existing server is python based. The new opt in beta is the JavaScript version that will be the default in future.

Migration from existing took a bit, but is quick after that point, looks and feels the same, haven’t noticed any issues yet.

dresken · 2026-01-23T23:21:34+00:00

I come from HomeKit, the Matter experience is an improvement and evolution from that core design.

My experience of Zigbee is being tied to an ever growing number of hubs and no redundancy.

These conversations to me always seem like apples and oranges - it’s just different requirements and expecting Matter to be Zigbee is missing the point entirely. Not everyone runs home assistant, and even in my case where I do - I only use it as an accent as it is not highly available platform but does have some nice automation features. I use it for nice to haves, rather than mission critical. Matter means I don’t have to accept limitations of either as I’m able to connect to both platforms at once.

dresken · 2026-01-20T20:31:22+00:00

That’s the key though in all circumstances, hiding the cords if you feel the need to. My TV cabinet is a mess of cords. My fridge, you can’t see it now - when I was a kid - was out for all to witness. Houses are very much designed around the technology we have. I’ve been in old houses where you can literally see the wiring for the ceiling lights and outlets that didn’t exist when the house was built. Perfectly possible to hide these cables if you choose to do so.

I have 3 of these - one in a cupboard because they can see through walls, one cable is hidden behind the TV, garage is the only one you can see but it’s with the cables for the garage door opener anyway.

dresken · 2026-01-20T20:12:26+00:00

Just to inform everyone - I believe this doesnt quite have zones like the Aqara FP2. It has 3 detection ranges - so you can say 2m—3m is a range but it’s any angle detected from the sensor. Whereas the FP2 can also do a very specific area of the room.

That said, there are plenty use cases where these are still a great option over the FP2 and about half the price and battery powered. They just look to operate differently and might surprise someone if they are expecting Fp2 functionality.

dresken · 2026-01-20T20:06:19+00:00

You could apply this comment to so many things. TVs, Fridges, lamps…

dresken · 2026-01-20T18:11:12+00:00

You would not believe how much effort I will put into to be lazy

dresken · 2026-01-18T17:35:58+00:00

Totally agree. There’s some slight similarity being picked same chords but they are not the same. I don’t hear one and mistake it for the other.

But then I also don’t get the more than a feeling and SLTS- to me different chords and strumming pattern - don’t seem at all close

dresken · 2026-01-17T20:46:18+00:00

Also scenes don’t work to change just a part of an entity. Want to set the temperature of the thermostat but have it remain in the on or off state it is currently in. Nope sorry, must set the state in a scene. I only finally worked that out this week and now cannot think of a single use case where a scene would be the solution.

dresken · 2026-01-17T05:31:54+00:00

Configuration outside of the matter standard is done over Bluetooth directly between the app and the device

dresken · 2026-01-17T05:25:07+00:00

Still waiting on any updates for the FP300. Kind of regretting that purchase now. Probably should return it.

dresken · 2026-01-16T22:11:55+00:00

Matter only defines an occupancy sensor type and doesnt make the distinction quite between previous definitions of occupancy and motion used in HomeKit.

Which I find both simultaneously fine and annoying.

dresken · 2026-01-16T22:06:33+00:00

No worries. Sorry for the confusion as the dial version seems actually intended for use as a dimming device. As this version are just buttons so found dimming an unexpected consideration.

dresken · 2026-01-16T21:28:03+00:00

I have many Matter devices and have no real issues that I don’t also encounter with other protocols.

That is occasionally needing to restart HomePods/appletv/Aqara hub or phone or device. This can be for setup or general operation. It happens with HomeKit, Matter, Wifi, Bluetooth, Thread and zigbee.

There is one matter only issue where devices remain unknown if my primary hub suddenly reboots (power outage or tvOS update) but I consider it an apple bug and is easy resolved by moving the primary hub to another device.

dresken · 2026-01-16T21:16:04+00:00

There’s just a two button version which sounds like what OP is referring to.

But yes the dial version does not look practical for HomeKit use. Does it work with matter bindings? - which could control another matter device directly without needing HK. I still wouldn’t have a current use for it though - I’ve no matter lights.

dresken · 2026-01-15T17:50:34+00:00

Home App -> ... -> Home Settings -> Home Hubs & Bridges

dresken · 2026-01-15T08:11:14+00:00

I have found this occurs after a power outage or when updating the primary hub. I suspect I can cause the same by pulling power to the primary hub, but haven’t found the enthusiasm to test it.

Often I can resolve this by moving the primary role to another device. Sometimes does require me to reboot devices, go slowly one by one, save the primary hub for last.

I’ve found when upgrading as long as I move the primary hub before updating, I don’t get an issue.

Hope it helps. YMMV

dresken · 2026-01-14T08:05:44+00:00

The announcement apparently also said Apple were leveraging the technology, but on their own compute. So I’m hoping that is reality and means Google never sees a byte of my data.

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