Retrofitting
Smart home without renovation: Shelly, Hue, Thread and co.
Not every house gets rewired. Which radio solutions work reliably in an existing home, what they cost and where they fail.
Most houses in Switzerland already exist. Anyone living in one does not install a bus system but retrofits. There are more good solutions for that today than ever before – and more ways to lose track. An overview by radio technology.
WiFi: Shelly and relatives
Shelly builds small relays and dimmers that fit behind the existing switch in the flush-mounted box. The switch stays, works as before, and in addition the lamp can be switched by app, schedule or voice. That is the cheapest way to retrofit a house. Two reservations: there has to be enough room in the box, and fitting on the 230-volt mains belongs in the electrician's hands. And anyone hanging thirty modules on the WiFi should have a solid network.
Zigbee: Hue, IKEA, Aqara
Zigbee is an economical radio network in which permanently connected devices reinforce each other. Philips Hue made it well known: bulbs, luminaires, switches and sensors, connected via a bridge. IKEA and Aqara offer similar systems more cheaply. Zigbee is mature and reliable, but the manufacturers' bridges form islands. Anyone mixing several brands needs a common hub.
Thread and Matter: the new way
Thread is the successor in the spirit of Zigbee, but with an internet address per device and without a manufacturer bridge. Together with Matter, devices emerge that work in Apple Home, Google Home and Alexa at the same time. Eve, Aqara, Nanoleaf and more and more manufacturers supply such products. A Thread router is hidden in many speakers and TV boxes today. For new purchases, this is our first recommendation.
868 MHz: Homematic IP and blinds
Homematic IP from eQ-3 transmits on 868 MHz, has a long range and covers heating thermostats, window sensors and roller shutters well. For blinds, the motor manufacturers themselves also matter: Somfy with io-homecontrol and RTS is widespread in Switzerland and can be integrated into most systems via a box.
The hub: who keeps the overview
- Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa: simple, free, good for voice control.
- Home Assistant: runs locally on a small computer, connects practically everything, but demands some learning.
- Manufacturer apps: only if you stay with one brand.
Where radio fails
Batteries nobody changes. A WiFi router in a corner of the cellar. Too many bridges, each with its own account. And the wish for one hundred per cent reliability from a technology built for ninety. Anyone who accepts that and starts with one room gets, for a fraction of the cost of a bus system, a home that can noticeably do more.
Our role
We plan the retrofit, choose the technology per function, take care of the network and set up the hub. Everything on the mains is fitted by the electrician we work with. In the end you have one app, not seven.
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