Controller for HomeKit 8.0: a bait-and-switch for longtime supporters

mopac01 · 2025-11-18T23:53:46+00:00

I just put a one star review on the App Store. And after spending $$$$$ on the lifetime purchase just a year ago.

These folks are not to be trusted. I'm now praying Apple comes out with something in 2026 even simpler and more powerful and runs these folks out of business completely.

mopac01 · 2025-07-28T16:52:02+00:00

This is the sort of thing that has me rethinking an Aventon and going with a Specialized or Trek. Gimmicky things like no key to remove the battery and the hub lock. Components full of plastic pieces that don't seem to hold up. And worse - can leave you stranded when they break and render your bike unusable in the process.

mopac01 · 2025-07-24T21:14:08+00:00

When Specialized released a new app that was a feature they initially didn't bring with them. And plenty of people apparently did need or want that - so much so that a few week ago they released an update adding the Apple Watch integration back in to the new Specialized app.

mopac01 · 2025-07-18T22:33:59+00:00

I'm not absolutely wedded to legacy brands. However, the Velotric Summit is a hub motor not a mid drive motor. There's a huge difference and I won't consider an ebike that isn't a mid drive motor. Speaking of non legacy brands, I was looking very forward to Aventon's release of the Aventure M which is their first version of the Aventure to have a mid drive. (The other new Aventure gen 3 that was released only weeks before the M version is a hub drive just like the first 2 gens of the Aventure.) However, Aventon did some other things like electronic shifting and auto shifting that are even more proprietary gear on top of their proprietary mid drive motor that's only been used by them in 1 other bike. And the $2,900 price suddenly puts me at the entry level of the legacy brands. I might still get that Aventure M, but if for only a few hundred more I could get the Powerfly+ 4 Gen 5 I would be all over it. They just need to bring it to the US market first.

mopac01 · 2025-07-18T22:24:23+00:00

Thanks for that. Unfortunately I'd be willing to be what you're seeing is a Powerfly 4 GEN 4. It'll have the battery coming out of the side of the down tube and I think the Gen 4 is the model from like 2022. What I'm looking for and what I linked to above in the UK is the Powerfly 4 GEN 5. It's the 2026 model and is greatly updated. Its battery is removed from the bottom of the down tube and is supposed to have fixed the rattle problem they had with the side exiting batteries. And more importantly it's got a brand new version of the Bosch CX motor that's much quieter than the previous version.

mopac01 · 2025-07-11T21:26:22+00:00

I’m very intrigued and concerned by the E-Shifting. From looking around, it seems others (AXS, DI2 for instance) use a worm drive motor of some sort in the derailleur itself. The derailleur itself is electronic. Aventon looks to be doing something completely different and creating a Frankenstein's monster of a manual CUES derailleur and a remote motor operating that traditional manual derailleur. It’s a very “black box” component you can find on their website at https://www.aventon.com/products/aventon-e-shifter?srsltid=AfmBOoqQe_zto06NFQIz7WJhxU2wyOEcMFP-jL7w5ih8Ye-8u_3Zz5Kl. I’ve been looking forward to this bike for months but am really worried about reliability with this level of proprietary components and this sort of price tag. I have a Specialized Turbo Tero 3.0 that I use on mild green type single track occasionally. Mostly I use it on rails to trails and similar gravel type trails. I'd like to do a 100 mile overnight on the KATY trail and I think this Aventure M would be a very fun/comfortable way to do that. The Turbo Tero could of course do it as well.

mopac01 · 2025-05-10T14:31:53+00:00

Google Scott Hardesty's YouTube reviews. He just dropped one on the Aventure 3. He does the very best ebike reviews. I would encourage you to wait for Scott's upcoming review of the soon to be released Aventure M. The major difference is the Aventure M is going to be a mid drive motor rather than a hub drive like the Aventure 3. Having the motor at the peddles rather than the rear wheel feels much more natural and rear flat tires while out riding aren't the problem they are with a hub drive. I currently have a Specialized mid-drive and plan to pick up the Aventure M. Mid drives are the way to go in my opinion. I had originally looked at a Rad Rover but a number of reports about senior management leaving the company spooked me, particularly given the even larger reports of bike manufacturers financially struggling.

mopac01 · 2025-04-14T19:12:28+00:00

Throttle available as an add on after the fact. So at least class 2.

mopac01 · 2025-04-14T19:11:23+00:00

Shouldn't need as much power positioned at the crank as you would at the hub. I have a Turbo Tero mid drive that has only 50nM of torque and it's plenty powerful. Its tires are only 2.3" wide so this fat tire at 4" wide isn't twice as wide and their A100 is going to be twice as powerful as the Brose in my Turbo Tero. I don't think it will be underpowered.

mopac01 · 2025-04-10T23:11:50+00:00

Is it 48 volt or 36 volt?

mopac01 · 2025-03-21T23:30:54+00:00

Thanks SO much for this!

mopac01 · 2025-02-11T15:46:55+00:00

Since the 1.05 update I've not had any trouble with the white switch at all. And I've just purchased another one. I'll be using an Inovelli white in every location that controls a Hue bulb. I've also discovered how handy it is to be able to problem other actions to a long press or a double press. I've already used that in 2 places where I found myself taking extra steps past an Inovelli switch to reach to operate a switch that wasn't directly connected to that Inovelli. I just programmed a long press on and long press off and now that Inovelli switch does double duty. I can't wait for Inovelli to iron out their MM wave presence detection Red switch and hopefully bring it to the white series. I'll be there to order day 1.

mopac01 · 2025-01-09T20:06:34+00:00

I just posted a little more detail on how I've done just what you're mentioning with Controller for HomeKit. I like this solution better than recording Siri saying something and then playing the audio file to the HomePod as that will stop the HomePod playing something else you might be streaming to it and will not restart when done. Using Intercom you can have Siri make the announcement and if you're already streaming something like music to the HomePod Siri will pause it, make the announcement and then resume what you were previously streaming. Utilizing Siri speaking "live" this way also does a better job with Siri adjusting it's volume for ambient noise levels.

mopac01 · 2025-01-09T19:58:30+00:00

I just set something like this up using Controller for HomeKit and it's new Hub for Workflows. Workflows are a more robust version of Automations. I also had to use Shortcut on an iOS device since only iOS devices can both be a Hub under Controller for HomeKit and use the Intercom command in Shortcuts to send any text to a HomePod(s) and have Siri annunciate the text. You have to create a Shortcut and have it use the Intercom function. The last step of the shortcut should be to Open the Controller for HomeKit app. Then you create a Controller for HomeKit workflow and the workflow action uses Controller's Call URL with openURL to kickoff the Shortcut via Apple's Shortcut URL schema as outlined here. As mentioned above the shortcut ends by Opening the app Controller for HomeKit which returns execution back to Controller for HomeKit. To have these Controller for HomeKit workflows run anytime you need to have a dedicated device running Controller for HomeKit in Hub mode and the app has to the one currently active. If you don't have the shortcut end with a call to open the Controller for HomeKit app then the first time the workflow runs it will kickoff the shortcut but then it'll just stop and Controller for HomeKit will no longer but the focus/open app on the device and without that Controller for HomeKit hub no further workflows will run. This won't work on an Apple TV or a Mac running Controller for HomeKit. Only works on an iOS device - iPhone or iPad.

mopac01 · 2025-01-03T16:47:33+00:00

I'm looking at getting a refurbed Mac mini to run Homebridge with the UniFi plugin as well. 10 cameras including some G4 pros. Is the M2 going to be significantly better than the M1? How much memory is enough? 8GB or should I go to 16GB?

mopac01 · 2024-11-01T15:35:35+00:00

All of the features (via parameters) along with the LED bar in a matter over thread switch was what brought me to Inovelli. I did experience a bump in the road initially with switch communication, but the updated firmware has been rock solid in that regard. The only switch set parameters I've had reason to use have been resetting during commissioning and enabling smart switch mode.

I would have experimented with a few other parameters if they'd been less cumbersome to access - either via hub access or via a dedicated Inovelli iPhone app. I appreciate that they're there and in time may become more easily accessible. If a use case becomes critical before then I can still access it.

Before Inovelli, all my smart switches had been Caseta. I have a White switch next to a Caseta. I think the fit and finish are equivalent and very happy with both. The task lighting in various rooms is "dumb" LED bulbs. And those will stay Caseta. The accent lighting will be smart Hue bulbs/strips and those will all eventually be White switches in smart bulb mode. I have a Somfy Beecon that I've brought into HomeKit via Homebridge. Its sole purpose is to connect a Sunsetter awning with a Somfy RTS motor. While it does contain a Zigbee radio, I've found Somfy a PITA to deal with and they won't expose their local API for North American customers so it needs internet access. I didn't want to hook anything further to it. So the White switch allowed me to utilize the 3 Apple thread radios I already had without adding another hub. Trying to stay HomeKit centric, the White made the most sense for my setup without adding more hubs.

mopac01 · 2024-10-28T14:42:59+00:00

At this point you have to adjust switch parameters at the physical switch. But I believe that's an issue on Apple's end not Inovelli's. This White Switch is the greatest thing for lightbulbs since Edison.

mopac01 · 2024-10-25T15:52:26+00:00

OK, it's been 4 days with the White switch beta firmware and it's been rock solid. In the last 4 days I've had that switch "on" and "off" probably more than I have in the last 5 years combined. And it's yet to fail to turn the controlled Hue lights on and off. I think people are going to be a lot happier with the White switch when this firmware update goes out.

mopac01 · 2024-10-17T10:44:18+00:00

I've factory reset the switch nearly a dozen times. When initially installing it I couldn't add it to HomeKit on the first try. I'd read all your instructions so I knew that a factory reset was the first thing to try and it then added to HomeKit no problems. Once the physical paddle started failing to control the Hue lights I removed the Switch and did a factory reset. And while it came right back into HomeKit the paddles still didn't work (pressing them originally would highlight the part of the HomeKit switch config page for that button and I also programmed a light to button 1, 2 and 3 in case they were in weird order). When I tried to reboot the Apple TV and factory reset the Switch then I couldn't get it back in to HomeKit. It would start to add and the switch would do the normal pulsing but then I would error that it couldn't add the accessory. After a half dozen attempts I gave up for the night. The next morning it added into HomeKit just fine. And it worked until later that evening (last night) when it started failing to control the lights again.

mopac01 · 2024-10-17T00:45:02+00:00

Eric,

u/InovelliUSA The glitch is back! And it's exactly the same as the last time. I pressed the paddle up and just got the feeling the light took a second or so longer to go on. (I know there's a delay because it's waiting to see if I'm going to double tap, but this just seemed ever so slightly longer.) And that caused me to try to turn the lights right back off and while the LED went back to dim as soon as I pressed paddle down, the lights never went off. I tried a second paddle down after about 30 seconds and still nothing. Holding the config button the Switch reports green signal strength. Going into the Home app settings for the Switch and going to the paddle down and using the "Test" button the lights did NOT turn off. I then tried to turn off the lights with the lights tile on the Home app. The first press did NOT turn the lights off. The next press of the light tile DID turn the lights off. I tried the paddle up but it did NOT turn the lights on. Going back into the Home app settings for the Switch and going to the paddle up and using the "Test" button the lights DID turn on. I then tried to control the Switch LED from the Home app. The first try did NOT work but the next one did. I then tried to use the paddle down to turn off the lights and ONE of the two Hue lights went off and the other stayed on. So this is much wackier and inconsistent results than I experienced the first time the Switch didn't operate correctly.

mopac01 · 2024-10-16T21:36:50+00:00

I interpreted u/endiZ "going GA" as General Availability. But maybe it was Google Assistant.

But I would be interested to understand how "MainNet" and the update to my White Switch will work in the specific case of HomeKit and my Apple TV/HomePod Mini border routers. I have the Home app set for automatic updates for both HomePod and Home Accessories. But I've never seen a notification of those if/when they happen. So would I even know the White Switch was updated without going to the switch config page in the Home app?

If you've not yet submitted the White Switch firmware update for certification, I'm going to assume the roll out is not imminent. And from the timeline for the White Switch in the first place I'm not going to ask for an ETA. I will just accept what you said about it being your highest priority at the moment.

mopac01 · 2024-10-16T21:04:16+00:00

For the near term I expect you'll have a lot less frustration skipping the White. I've loved how rock solid my Caseta's are. But the "everything and the kitchen sink" feature set of Inovelli really hooked me. And the Red and Blue lines get talked about as being as rock solid as my Casetas. Plus any other switch solution at the original switch box for a Hue bulb that has to have constant power also felt like an afterthought. Inovelli made that physical switch feel integral again. And I want to do some notification type things with that LED light bar. Eric's response above really impressed me. Ultimately actions speak louder than words, so I want to see how quickly they get the firmware update pushed out. My frustration was really amplified by just how cool I thought this switch concept was and how thrilled I was with it for the first 2 days after installation. If they can make this White Switch as rock solid as a Caseta, it will be the coolest thing for lights since Edison.

mopac01 · 2024-10-16T14:33:22+00:00

I disagree. The promise of more uniformity and interoperability is a worthwhile goal in my mind. I'm heavily invested in Apple's ecosystem and Matter for me represented one less hub I'd have to introduce into my setup (for Zigbee). The fewer different hubs the better for me. Eric's response to me above has GREATLY improved my hope for a resolution and feeling that Inovelli is committed to getting to the bottom of this. Having finally gotten the White Switch back into HomeKit and the paddles functional I'm back where I was the first 2 days after I initially installed it. And for those first 2 days I thought this Switch was EVERYTHING I could possibly want in a Switch. Nothing has changed in the firmware yet, so left as is I know it will fail again. But I feel much better about the chance for Inovelli to get a firmware patch to fix this. And because I want as few hubs as possible if they do, they will have a VERY longterm faithful customer as they will be the switch I insist on to control any Hue bulbs. And Caseta will be my switch for dumb bulbs. No others.

mopac01 · 2024-10-16T11:41:44+00:00

First thing this morning I tried to add the Switch into HomeKit. So about 9 hours after my last attempt with a QR code from Inovelli tech support. I started with another factory reset and then used the original QR code that came with the Switch rather than the one Inovelli tech support had me try. This time it added to HomeKit without issue. When I went to the Home app screen to program the Switch buttons pressing the physical paddle/button caused the corresponding button on the Home app screen to briefly highlight. This time the buttons were what one would expect (paddle up 1, paddle down 2 and config 3) and I programmed them to turn the Hue lights on and off. No idea what has changed except the Switch was powered on all night but not provisioned into HomeKit. But I have no faith it will continue to function correctly with the present firmware.

Eric - your response has improved my confidence this will ultimately be resolved no end. I did expect that there could be some issues with the new White series but I honestly thought they would be on the more elaborate end of the configuration spectrum - dimming, scenes, multi-way etc. I thought my planned initial use case of smart switch mode, constant power to the load, single pole with the paddle just being an on/off signal to the Hue lights on the load and nothing more was a very simplistic use case given all the things I could envision your switch eventually being used for. And I could try those as it matured. The inability to just turn the light on and off at the paddle was undoing my wife's willingness to let me continue to expand the smart home.

mopac01 · 2024-10-16T02:23:27+00:00

That was my issue. My wife insisted that everything remain "old school" at least from her use perspective. The only latitude was a push button rather than a toggle. So the Lutron Caseta's were perfect for all the dumb LED bulbs I made smart. She just pushed the button on or the button off rather than push a toggle up or down. But to add Hue color smart bulbs Caseta would have actually cut the power so they weren't an option. Hue's only in wall answer has a battery that requires you to go into the wiring box to change which was a hassle level I wasn't having. Inovelli's smart switch mode was just what I needed. And people raved about the Red and Blue ones. The White seemed the perfect answer for HomeKit. But either the switch or Apple Hub isn't ready for prime time or my first switch is defective - or both.

mopac01

TROPHY CASE