Smart home capabilities from Xiaomi (Smart Home) – review and comments. "Smart home

Xiaomi is one of the most popular companies offering to fully automate your home. Smart home control from this company carried out throughWiFi, which allows you to issue commands to equipment from anywhere via a smartphone. A review of the “smart home” from Xiaomi will allow you to evaluate all the advantages and features of the system, choose the appropriate package and additional equipment for maximum comfort.

Features and benefits of the smart home system from Xiaomi

The smart home capabilities of Xiaomi are not inferior to other well-known manufacturers, and the quality of the equipment ensures long work systems without failures. The company offers its clients the purchase ready setXiaomi Smart Home Kit, at the same time, if additional functions are needed, the equipment can be purchased separately without any problems.

The advantages of this manufacturer's system include:

1. Modularity. At the request of the home owner, any functions can be connected to the system, which can be easily combined into a single system.
2. Low power consumption of equipment. Immediately after you start using the system, your electricity bills will drop significantly.
3. The ZigBee protocol protects all data that is transmitted over a wireless network. This prevents unauthorized people from invading the system.

The central link of the entire system combining modules is the hub. In addition to its main function, it has several features:

• has a built-in speaker, which allows you to use it instead of an alarm clock and for listening to music;
• can act as a night light, the brightness of which can be adjusted independently through the application.

The system's capabilities include many functions that help make your home more comfortable, save time and reduce electricity and heat bills.

What do smart devices from Xiaomi include?

The Xiaomi smart home kit includes a hub (central module), a smart button, a motion sensor and a window and door opening sensor. Additionally, the equipment will increase home automation and allow you not to worry about household details.

Where to buy smart devices from Xiaomi!

You can find a complete set of equipment from Xiaomi on the official website of the online store - https://ru-mi.com/device/umnyiy-dom/: for you favorable prices for the entire line of smart devices and equipment for home and apartment!

The features of each system function are as follows:

1. Security sensors. They are necessary not only to protect your home, but also for the convenience of home owners. Sensors react to any movement in the room; if necessary, the system can instantly turn on the camera to capture ungreedy guests. Sending a notification to a smartphone will allow the home owner to know in a timely manner that someone is in his home. Another ability of the sensor is to turn on dim light when a person appears in the dark. This allows you not to disturb your loved ones when returning home late.
2. Opening sensors. Installed on windows and doors for the convenience of residents and safety. All openings are recorded so that the owner can track them. If the door opens while the house is on alarm, the main hub will start making siren sounds and flashing lights, which will scare away unexpected guests. Additional sensor capabilities may include turning off air conditioning when a window is opened and other useful functions.
3. , which can be controlled using wireless networks, will allow automation household appliances. Breakfast can be prepared independently, according to a given mode, and the robot vacuum cleaner will clean without the intervention of the owner.
4. Sensors temperature and humidity providing an ideal microclimate. Having adjusted the operation of the heater and humidifier in automatic mode, you can forever forget about the cold in the morning and too dry air.
5. Smart button- incredible useful device. It can be programmed for a specific action, for example, double tap can turn on room heating or an alarm, and long-term hold can turn off all electrical appliances during the owner’s absence.

To control the “smart home” of this company, you need to install an application through which the entire system will operate. The completeness of the functions will allow you to almost completely automate your home and relieve yourself of some of your household responsibilities.

Cost of the smart home system from Xiaomi

The minimum set of “smart home” from Xiaomi can be purchased at a price of 5 thousand rubles. It's an incredibly budget-friendly option, making it affordable for most people. Additional equipment will have to be purchased at an additional cost.

Approximate cost for the most popular items:

• motion and opening sensors, temperature and humidity – from 990 rubles;
• water and air purifiers - from 11,000 rubles;
• smart sockets - from 990 rubles;
• switches - from 1400 rub.

You can assemble an ideal system for yourself at a very reasonable cost; you can fully automate your home with a system from Xiaomi within 50,000 rubles.

Equipment installation and difficulties

Despite the many functions and affordable price of the “smart home” from Xiaomi, there are some difficulties with its operation. They are due to the fact that all the equipment is made in China, for this reason the following problems arise:

1. Smart sockets are equipped with a Chinese plug, so installing them will require a special adapter.
2. The proprietary application works exclusively in a mixture of Chinese and English languages, while the first one predominates. It’s quite difficult to understand; various tricks will allow you to translate the entire application into English in order to understand what it’s about. But later you will have to control the system from memory or intuitively, which causes many difficulties.
3. All messages from the speaker are issued on Chinese. You won’t be able to hear the radio in your native speech from the speaker; everything is exclusively in the manufacturer’s language.

If you do not pay attention to these difficulties, the operation of the system will not cause trouble to its owner. Equipment installation takes a little time, one of the features is the need to insert a special paper clip into each element of the system. After a few seconds, the connected equipment will appear in the application and can be controlled at your discretion. Once all the equipment is installed, you need to adjust the lighting brightness, speaker volume and other functions to ensure the optimal level of comfort in your home.

Installation of equipment does not require the intervention of specialists. It is enough to install the application on your smartphone and connect the main module to the wireless network, and then install additional equipment. The entire procedure takes no more than an hour, and the setup time depends entirely on the number of functions and the owner’s requirements.

Who is a smart home from Xiaomi suitable for?

Smart home system from manufacturer Xiaomi perfect for small spaces. She will become ideal option for those who want to test the capabilities of a “smart home” and are not ready to immediately invest a large amount of money in the system. The budget option will help you appreciate all the advantages of automation; after several months of use, it becomes clear what functions are missing to take this into account in the future.

Perhaps this system will completely satisfy the owners, allowing them to enjoy the comfort of their home and free up time. Residents of cottages and large country houses will be able to evaluate all the available functions, complementing the system at their discretion in order to further create their ideal “smart home”.

The “Smart Home” system, which involves combining electrical appliances into single network and management of their work, today it is difficult to surprise anyone. But for many this system will seem difficult and impossible.

But technology does not stand still. Manufacturers are emerging who are ready to challenge established dogmas and present the market with newer and more advanced systems.

One of these companies is Xiaomi, which has expanded the capabilities of the smart home, making it even more functional and simple.

Below we will consider what the smart home system from Xiaomi is, what elements it consists of, and what principles the network is built on.

What is a Smart Home?

“Smart Home” is a system for controlling equipment in a person’s place of residence, which provides comfort, safety and energy saving with limited participation of the owner.

Over the years, once unique technologies have become widely used. If previously motion sensors were used only in security systems, today they are even installed in entrances (to turn on the lights).

A modern Smart Home system must promptly identify and respond to force majeure situations. So, if a leak occurs, a command is given to shut off the water. Has an intruder entered your apartment? The alarm goes off and the police are called. Do you smell gas? The system issues a command to close the gas tap.

This list can be continued for a long time. The point is that major decisions are made automatically, without human intervention.

The design of the Smart Home system occurs during the construction process or during major renovations of the building. The cost of the equipment is substantial, so the costs for setting up the system are appropriate.

But there are solutions that can reduce the cost of solving a problem, for example, or the system described below.

What is a Xiaomi smart home?

The main advantage of the Xiaomi Smart Home series smart home is that it is controlled using a smartphone. This is due to the presence of communication with the head unit via Wi-Fi.

Moreover, during the setup process, the system is “linked” to the user’s account, which allows you to control it remotely - from any place where there is Internet access.

The second advantage is the ability to add a group of devices that are sold separately from each other. As an example, a surveillance camera, lamps, smart socket and other equipment.

The Xiaomi Smart Home kit includes a group master device (gateway), which monitors the following aspects using sensors:

• Movement;
• Door position;
• Switch positions and so on.

Options

When assembling the Smart Home system, it is worth considering that there are three configuration options:

• Basic;
• Smart Home;
• Individual, with additional control bodies.

Let's look at the main options.

The basic package includes:

• Main controller;
• Sensor for opening and closing doors, as well as movement;
• Universal button.

The manufacturer positions the set as a home alarm kit.

Included Xiaomi kit Smart Home includes the following elements:

• A multifunctional gateway that can additionally be used as an online radio or night light. Even with an unstable Wi-Fi connection, the device performs its functions.
• A door and window sensor is a product that reacts online to opening or closing;
• (ZigBee version).
• Motion sensor.

If desired, the user has the right to supplement existing devices with additional monitoring bodies and devices. To expand the functionality, you can purchase the following elements:

• Temperature and humidity sensor;
• Wireless button;
• Smart curtains and so on.

Review and capabilities of the main gateway (controller) Xiaomi Smart Home Gateway 2

The controller combines the elements of the Smart Home system into a single whole. Its functions include connecting sensors, setting control programs, sending commands to connected devices, and working as a night light or radio.

The kit comes with an instruction manual, the controller itself and a special clip. The latter is necessary to link regulatory authorities to the device.

You can judge the quality and reliability of the controller just by its appearance. But keep in mind that its plug is only suitable for Chinese sockets, so you will have to purchase an adapter.

Gateway versions

The Xiaomi Smart Home controller has a second version gateway. The first version does not have a radio, and the second version has a radio.

The advantage of the latter option is that the device works in developer mode and copes well with tasks in alternative systems management.

The diameter of the controller is about 8 cm, and the thickness is 3.5 cm. The product has a button that, when pressed, turns on additional features.

A speaker is installed on the front part. It is necessary to work in radio, alarm or alarm mode.

Features of the Zig Bee interface

The task of the controller, in addition to the functions already discussed, is to combine two interfaces - Wi-Fi and ZigBee.

The ZigBee interface has much in common with a wireless network and “blue tooth”, but it has a special feature - it consumes a minimum of electricity, which ensures a battery life of up to a year or more.

To receive signals, a gateway and ZigBee protocol are used. As soon as a signal is received by the device, the controller communicates with a special “cloud” using the interface, after which certain commands are executed.

If you disable the gateway, all sensors that are connected to it are also deactivated.

How is a mesh built using the ZigBee protocol?

Settings Xiaomi networks Smart Home is produced as follows:

To control the controller, log into it through the app on your phone. The user can turn on the backlight, change the color and brightness of the glow.

When you go to the Device tab, you can add new sensors. To do this, click “Add device”, select the device and click the confirm button (located at the top).

Features, characteristics and operating principle of a smart socket

In combination with the multifunctional gateway, which was described above, a smart socket allows you to check the status of a particular device even in the absence of the owner of the house.

Through special application You can set the on and off times for each outlet. To distinguish connected devices, special icons can be installed.

Smart plug characteristics:

• Voltage - up to 250 Volts;
• The body has a square shape;
• Color - white;
• Weight - 63.5 grams;
• Dimensions - 5.5*4.4*3.1 cm;
• Operating temperature- from 0 to 40 degrees Celsius.

Possibilities:

• Remote control from a smartphone. The user can set any scenario for the socket. For example, at a certain time the water heater, the light in the hallway or the multicooker turns on.
• Automatic shutdown in case of overheating (a temperature sensor is provided). If the outlet becomes overheated, the user receives a notification and the current supply is stopped.
• Check status from a distance. Now you don’t have to worry about devices that are not turned off.
• Timer function. With this option it is possible to reduce energy consumption and extend the service life various devices. For example, you can set the water heater to turn on and off before waking up or coming home from work.
• Application of complex technologies in production. In the manufacture of the device, fire-resistant material is used that can withstand temperatures up to 750 degrees Celsius. Product quality meets CQC standards.
• Compatible with operating systems Android and iOS.

Connecting the smart socket of the Xiaomi Smart Home kit occurs in three steps:

Capabilities of window and door opening sensors

Xiaomi Smart Home window and door sensors are special devices that make life comfortable. The kit includes two elements with special notches.

When the elements are close to each other, the reed switch (a special relay that responds to a magnetic field) is activated.

With their help, it is possible to determine the fact of closing or opening windows (doors) or other sashes. Often used with air purifiers and air conditioners. When the windows are opened, the devices are turned off; when closed, they are turned on.

Also included is adhesive tape for mounting.

Operating principle:

• Connect the device to a door or window;
• Using an app on your smartphone, combine it with an air purifier, for example;
• Make the necessary settings.

To set an algorithm that includes a melody, do the following:

• Place the sensor on the door;
• Switch it to smart plug;
• Complete the settings.

To set security modes:

• Install sensors;
• Turn on security mode;
• Receive an alert on your phone when strangers enter your home.

Possibilities:

• Switching to standby mode when opening a window for ventilation;
• Automatic switching on of lighting;
• Turn on video recording if strangers are found in the house;
• Can be used not only on doors and windows, but also on mailbox or closet;
• Use of high quality materials that are resistant to moisture and fire;
• The device response speed is only 15 seconds;
• Ease of connection and synchronization with sensors installed in the house;
• Ability to connect up to 20 devices to one switch.

Specifications:

• Input voltage - 3V;
• Color - white;
• Dimensions - 3*2.6*1.5 cm;
• Weight - 0.1 kg;
• Android version - version 4.0;
• Operating period - from 5 years;
• Permissible temperature- from -10 to +50 degrees Celsius.

Scope of application - control of air humidification or cooling elements (for example, when a window is opened, the devices are turned off), to track the position front door to turn on the lights or trigger the security alarm.

When setting up, the following scenarios are used - open, closed or open for more than 60 seconds. For example, when quick opening or closing the door (up to a minute), the scripts are not executed.

Wireless switch capabilities

The Xiaomi Smart Home wireless switch is a special device with which you can quickly wake up your child for school or turn off the power of connected equipment with one click.

The device does not require special installation, can be mounted in any convenient place and has local control.

Externally, the wireless switch looks like a small “puck” that is attached using double-sided tape. The front surface of the button is push-button. Its diameter is 5 cm and thickness is 1.3 cm.

Motion sensor capabilities

Motion sensor - key element systems.

Its capabilities:

• Timely detection of movement (animals and people).
• The use of a group of sensors installed in each room. As a result, it is possible to control the entire house or apartment. Installation is carried out near the bed, doors and TV.
• Availability of on and off timer. If during a certain period the device does not detect movement in the room, the TV and air conditioner turn off.
• When darkness falls, the night light turns on, which can be configured using an application on your smartphone.
• Automatic shutdown.
• Control of movement of pets.
• Easy to install. No tools are required for installation - just lay or glue the sensor to the surface.
• High quality. During the manufacturing process, powerful IR sensors are used, and recognition accuracy is ensured by the presence of an optical lens. The body is made of material that is resistant to UV rays and retains for a long time appearance. In addition, the product is made using special technology, which allows it to be used in damp rooms.
• High speed reactions - up to 15 ms.
• Low energy consumption. The battery in the product will last for two years.

The connection is made in two stages. First, add motion sensors using the application, then insert the key into the device to configure it.

Specifications:

• Compatible with iOS7 and Android 4.0;
• Weight - 20 g;
• White;
• Dimensions - 6.5*7*3.5 cm.

How does a temperature and humidity sensor work?

The main options for a temperature and humidity sensor in a Smart Home system such as Xiaomi Smart Home include:

To get started, you should take a few steps - launch the application and connect the Xiaomi Smart Home gateway, select the add option, then press the button and hold it for five seconds.

A message about the connection should appear on the gateway page.

How to distinguish devices that require a gateway from those that can do without it?

If the sensor does not have a wired power source and is powered by a battery, the product will not be able to work without a gateway. In addition, a gateway is required for a smart socket and all switches running on the ZigBee protocol, as well as smart curtains.

Other devices (lamps, water purifiers, multicookers, etc.) operating via blue tooth or Bluetooth work without a gateway.

Connection

Connecting the Xiaomi Smart Home is done as follows:

Once the preliminary work is completed, you can begin connecting the sensors.

Here the algorithm of actions is similar:

The principle of connecting all sensors follows an identical algorithm.

Example scripts

One of the most interesting moments in the study of “Smart Home” from Xiaomi Smart Home - assigning scenarios. It is worth noting that the configuration of the latter is limited only by the imagination of the home owner, as well as the number of connected elements.

For example, on weekdays you can set the alarm to turn on after leaving for work and turn it off 3-5 minutes before returning. If no movement of the protected object is detected within a certain time, the alarm is activated again.

For convenience, it is worth setting up the buttons for quick access, and then use them to control the Xiaomi Smart Home without logging into the application.

For example, when approaching an apartment, you can activate a preset mode, which involves turning off the alarm, turning on the lights and activating the main devices. For convenience, it is worth providing access to other residents of the apartment.

Pros

The advantages of the Xiaomi Smart Home smart home system include:

• Benefit in price. Essentially, the smart button is given as a gift;
• Availability included necessary devices;
• Ease of installation;
• Large selection of scenarios;
• Convenience;
• Reliability.

The main drawback is the lack of translation of the application, which leads to difficulties when setting up scripts. In addition, when you purchase a Xiaomi Smart Home, you get a closed system that only works with Xiaomi.

Frequently asked questions and their answers

In conclusion, we will present a block of questions that users ask and give answers to them.

QUESTION 1: “I plan to use Xiaomi Smart Home at the dacha. They use the Internet from Tele2, a router with a wireless network is installed to connect devices. Tell me, is the connection between the Smart Home and the application carried out directly with each other or through the Xiaomi cloud?

ANSWER: The second option is correct. Switching occurs via the cloud, so control is available via mobile internet on your phone or using another wireless network (for example, in a cafe).

QUESTION 2: How many temperature sensors are recommended to be connected to the Smart Home from Xiaomi Smart Home? The official website states that the operating protocol is a wireless Wi-Fi network, but this is hard to believe given the battery life of up to five years. I came across information that Xiaomi Smart Home Gateway 2 works with regulatory authorities via ZigBee, and this confirms the theory about less energy consumption. Tell us what protocol is actually used?

ANSWER: The main control unit of the Smart Home system is connected via wireless network, and its elements are based on the ZigBee protocol. The maximum number of such elements is up to 20.

QUESTION 3: Which application should I download from PlayMarket to set up a smart home?

ANSWER: MiHome application is required. Today the program is also available in the Russian version.

QUESTION 4: Much equipment for the Smart Home is made in version 1 or 2, like the controller. How compatible are these products?

ANSWER: practice has shown that there are no compatibility problems.

QUESTION 5: what is the difference between the 1st and 2nd generation?

ANSWER: In the 2nd generation, an Internet radio option was added.

QUESTION 6: I plan to purchase temperature, smoke, door/window and motion sensors, as well as a Xiaomi router. What controller will you need to work through the application - Mijia Honeywell or Cube?

ANSWER: to control a smart home using an application, all you need is a main unit and a router (any). Using a Xiaomi router allows you to combine all elements and set scenarios. The task of the Cube controller is to control using the movements of the controller, and the smartphone acts as an intermediary. As far as Honeywell is concerned, this is a regular smoke detector.

QUESTION 7: Is it possible to control Xiaomi Smart Home elements using IR rays or a radio signal, or only via Wi-Fi?

ANSWER: the unit works through a router and via Wi-Fi. To work through infrared ports, additional equipment required - Xiaomi universal-ir-remote-controller.

QUESTION 8: Will the Xiaomi Smart Home work with routers from other companies?

ANSWER: yes.

If you have other information on this topic or have questions, write them in the comments, we will try to answer them.