I’m exploring the benefits of connecting smart bulbs directly to Home Assistant (HA) using a dongle versus through a Hub integration. Both methods work, but using a Hub feels like a safety net if HA goes down, especially since I’m new to HA, VM, YAML, and advanced IT. Connecting through Dirigera seems like a “dumb first” approach, adding automation on top with HA.
Is the “hub connected” method worthwhile? What should I consider to make future changes easier, like grouping or using helpers? Or should I just automate via areas?
Setup:
Running on a Mac Mini in a “home lab” using UTM.
Lights connected through Dirigera.
Tried both Matter and Dirigera HACS integration; Dirigera works better for the new buttons I just picked up.
Ordered USB dongles for better direct connections with new devices and non IKEA devices.
Any advice or thoughts?
PS: Sorry if this has been covered before. I’m still getting familiar with the jargon, so Google isn’t much help right now.
Cloud hub is terrible as at any moment the hub provider may break ( intentionally or unintentionally), change api breaking HA integration or go out of business. There is zero benefit to cloud hub
Local hub is just another item that may go down
13 ?? yrs of HA and only time it’s not worked is power outage
Anyway your devices should work independent of hub/manually. Non hub device may offer local webpage control. That would be backup but likely unneeded
I’m specifically thinking of my Dirigera Hub, which I believe is mainly local, right? Let me know if “hub” is the wrong or a confusing term here.
I have a Hue hub at my disposal as well that I can use (heard it has reliable integration) . But I had issues connecting newer IKEA bulbs to it a ways back.
Fair point about just another point of failure. I’m just thinking Hue or IKEA does a better job than I do at it. Thirteen years of stability seems like a pipe dream.
Is there a way to “bind” switches to a specific light? Wait? Isn’t that what IKEA switches used to do? I’m guessing there is a reason that they went another route.
I’m crisis maximizing here, I know. Talking from experience, this hobby will have a longer life if my other half never gets frustrated.
With zigbee2mqtt installed aside of HA (that’s how I have done it) you eliminate HA as the point of failure for your bulbs.
But… there always be something else that might fail.
In my case, I’m not worried of HA failing on me because it runs rock solid.
The reason for having Z2M aside of HA is because I can (running containers)
I don’t see good reasons to use a hub and integration for it if you can control the lights directly through HA.
Depending on the light, you should be able to use Matter or one of the two Zigbee integrations (ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT, read up on the difference and decide for yoursel which one you want) and cut out a point of failure.
For IKEA devices, there are plenty of blueprints that you can use without needing to fully write your own automations
Direct binding is possible with HA too, at least for Zigbee devices in ZHA which is what I use and know.
Thanks for your replies!
I believe I understand what you’re all getting at. Basically, that “everything is possible.”
I think that since my Mac Mini is the home of HA and that machine is used for other things as well, for the moment I might do a gradual transition where I connect anything new with a USB dongle and keep the old stuff.
I’ll do my best to use helper groups to make the re-connection less of a hassle.
Thirteen years of stability seems like a pipe dream. 