Everyone has heard of Philips Hue, one of the ranges of the Dutch brand Koninklijke Philips (Royal Philips). Some even say it's the best of the best in connected lighting. But ultimately, what is it? And how does it work ?
For the answer to this last question, that is the goal of this tutorial. For the first time, and to put it simply, Philips Hue is a proprietary ecosystem management of connected products based on ZigBee technology, in its most complete version. There is a much more limited Bluetooth version. But what more than a generic application like Smart Life for example, who also supports ZigBee protocol via a Hub? This is what we will also discuss in this article.
Philips Hue: presentation of the ZigBee Hub / Bridge
We will talk about Hub, Bridge, Gateway or Bridge during this tutorial, but know that it is the same thing. The most widespread denomination being Hub, which can be translated by center, pivot ... This empirical translation shows you, despite everything, that this bridge will be the nerve center of your ZigBee network. This is where everything is going to start and everything will come back.
Le ZigBee is a data exchange protocol between different connected devices which has the advantage of consume little energy (hence wireless switches, wireless detectors…). It will work in mesh network, so each device connected to this network will serve as a relay, like a Mesh for Wi-Fi. With this operation and the dedicated hub, your Wi-Fi network will be less involved because only the bridge will be connected to your Wi-Fi.
Le Philips Hue Hub is quite simple in terms of operation because there is onlyone button (in the middle with Philips roughly above). It is delivered either alone or in starter kit including bulbs and for some of the wireless switches. It is in all cases delivered with its connection, namely a DC 5V 1A power outlet and Ethernet network cable.
Under the underside of the bridge, which looks like a Tour de France jersey with all these inscriptions, you will find your Bridge ID for installation if necessary. You also have a reset button hidden between the logos.
Philips Hue Bridge: ZigBee Hub installation
The installation is very simple. come connect network cable to your Internet Box or a Mesh module, then plug in the hub to the sector.
While waiting for it to find the network, take the opportunity to download the Philips Hue app on Android ou iOS. Please note, there are two Philips Hue apps: Hue Bluetooth and Hue. The first is a light version for devices that you will operate exclusively in Bluetooth, without a Hub. Note that Philips Bleutooth products are also compatible with the Hub, Bluetooth being an additional feature. So this is the second you need.
When the Hub has found the network, the "network" symbol turns solid blue.
" It's hard to make it simpler. " The Alexians
Above all, pay attention to properly connect your phone on the Wi-Fi network which will be used by the Hub. Then open the app and let it find your ZigBee bridge without having to enter any network code or ID of your device. To finalize the installation, press the central button of the hub and it's settled. It's hard to make it simpler. On the other hand, by doing so, you will still have to go to the settings afterwards to Create your account.
You will most certainly have a updated at doing. It starts on its own and lasts a few minutes. Accept the T & Cs and you will finally be able to get started.
First use
If you install a Hub from a Starter Kit, you will need to install at least one of the bulbs from the pack to be able to go further in the application because it is a "tutorial installation". Put one of the bulbs in place, turn on your light (or a little later) and follow the app.
This is done in two steps: create a room, the one where your bulb will be installed. Note that the bulbs of a starter kit are already configured in your Hub, you just have to put them in place to use them. Then in the room being created, come select bulb that you have installed. The number is irrelevant. You plug in the bulb, turn on the power and voila. He is necessary to finalize this step in order to be able to use your application. Otherwise, you will not have access to the application settings.
We are there in the simplest configuration. So we will see together how create new rooms and install new bulbs on the Philips Hue bridge, not pre-recorded.
Add a room with the Philips Hue Hub
Now let's look at how to create a room and install a Hue bulb. Indeed, the application has the advantage, or the defect, of functioning by associating bulbs with parts. It is possible to have it not attached to parts, but the use is a little more tedious.
For create a room, when you are in the home tab, press the 3 small dots top right and choose "Rooms and Zones". From there, go to create, create a new room, or zone.
You can then enter room name, choose your logo and select lights to be added if they already exist. If they don't exist yet, validity (with the?) without checking anything. Your part is now created.
Add a light with the Philips Hue Hub
Now let's move on toadding extra lights with the app. There are two entry routes, as with rooms:
- Either through "Light configuration", sincehouse tab.
- Either by " Light configuration " about settings
The rest is the same. It is necessary toturn on the lights to make them recognize. In some cases, you will need to enter your device in pairing mode, that is to say make it blink. The way to do this will depend on the product but you generally have to turn it on and off 4 to 5 times to achieve this result.
Made "Add a light" ou "Search". You see at the bottom that the app searches for bulbs that are in pairing mode. The lights found are highlighted with the word "New" in green. Then change the name and logo if you want, just like the parts. To do this, press the "I".
To then come integrate a light newly installed in an already created room, go to the part " House ", click on the Name of the scene where you want to put your bulb, then "Modify a room or move the lamps" et select light in the list. To finish, validity, top right.
Using the Philips Hue app
What will the app allow you to do? Does it have added value compared to other apps, which are more versatile in terms of compatible devices? This is what we will see.
Home tab
This is an important tab because this part allows you to manage parts that you created. This is also where you can add or remove. You can with a single gesture light up an entire room thanks to a virtual switch. You can also do there vary the intensity of the lights by dragging the cursor.
There is also a general switch, top right, which allows you to turn all the rooms on or off. If you want to go into the detail of the bulbs in a zone, click on the room to enter it.
You see that the color of the room changes when you flip the switch. In fact, it is that of the light from the lamp in the room that is displayed. Let's take a closer look at how the lights work in a room.
For each bulb, you can come and change its color according to its characteristics. The choice is made simply by choosing the desired color on the 16 million color and / or white touchpads. If you have several bulbs in the room, you can come and choose individual colors, on the same pad.
There is also the possibility to choose pre-recorded scenarios. These are light atmospheres (color and intensity) that you can select to adapt your brightness according to your mood. But it doesn't stop there: you can also create some on your own. To do this, select "New Scenario" at the top left, come and choose your favorite color, name and intensity. You can then, once the scenario is validated, choose its image, as it will be in the final list of scenarios. Those already registered can also be modified.
Routines tab
It is an excellent tool, which is reminiscent of the terminology ofAlexa. It is the basis of home automation and a real asset for people without a connected speaker. The routines will allow you to set up automations, that is to say, activate actions such as turning on or off lights according to different variables.
Philips has planned several routines to automate your lighting, without going through assistants or more complex systems. They are classified into different categories:
- At home or on the go: huge strength of Hue which manages to do what applications wanting to be more home automation like Alexa or Google Home are simply unable to do this natively. Thanks to geolocation, the Hue app can automatically turn on or off the lights of your choice when you leave your home and when you return home,
- Awakening : Here you can configure an alarm clock all in light (room or whole house) with a gradual ignition imitating the sunrise (over 10, 20, 30 ... or even 60 minutes if you are really struggling),
- Go to bed : This is the reverse of the wake-up call routine. You are going to prepare to go into the arms of Morpheus with warm, not very intense lights, which gradually subside. Legend has it that Philips engineers worked with sleep specialists to create the perfect mood for your torpor.
- Other routines: here, you can customize your routines more finely, manage your lights according to the time of day, from sunrise to sunset. It is the toolbox of the application.
- Timers: This will enable or disable your lights after a certain time.
Explore tab
It's a bit of a catch-all tab. There you will find a list of third-party products "Friends of Hue" (nice word game with "Friends of you", "Your friends"), ie working with Hue.
The Hue protocol is proprietary. That is to say that manufacturers wanting to market products that are recognized by the gateway must pay royalties to Royal Philips. This is the case of Gledopto, Ledvance (formerly OSRAM) ... the advantage is that these products, sometimes less expensive, very often in addition to the Hue range, will work 100% with the app.
Another interesting topic for gamers and people who like to immerse themselves in depth, you can create leisure spaces for truly engaging entertainment lighting through Hue Loisirs. Philips worked with Razer on Chroma range to provide gamers with lighting that is perfectly synchronized with their games. To do this, you can use the Hue Sync application ... But beware, it only works with a PC and not live with your application or your TV.
In the latter case, to have lighting that follows your image, you need a Hue Play Sync Box., unless you "cast" from your PC to your TV. And Hue products exclusively. Friends of Hue are not entitled to use via the box.
What will also interest a lot of people is the Hue Labs. It is in fact an access to a large number of rather well-found scenarios: put in condition to go to bed, brief lighting (time to get home for example), presence simulation, geolocation, sunset, various and varied scenes.
Philips will not fail to create some specially for certain events (Valentine's Day, Halloween, Christmas ...). You are free to come and activate those you like. You can also do research based on what you want.
To activate a scene, nothing could be simpler, just go to the chosen scene, select lamps to control, choose settings and install. You then have access to it via the banner "Hue Labs Controls", where you can turn it on and off.
Settings tab
There are some very useful things to do around here. First of all, "Control outside the house" will allow you to control your devices when you are not at home. You have to activate it otherwise, it will not work if you are in 4G for example. The interest of the system would therefore be quite close to zero. Moreover, this will allow you to create your account for the future. It's up to you to choose if you go with a Gmail account or specific ids and passwords. To finalize, press the button on your Hub and it's good.
The part "Accessory configurations" will allow you to come and operate sensors and other wireless switches. You also have a last named pad "Advanced version" which will allow you to register your address in order to be able to activate scenarios or actions referring to places or times of sunrise and sunset. You can also come and decide if you base yourself on the exact times or if you prefer to anticipate or delay them.
Using Philips Hue with Alexa
In order to be able to use the products Philips Hue with Amazon Alexa (or the Friends of Hue, such asOsram, IKEA, Innr et Gledopto) while having all the possibilities offered by the Hue application, it is necessary to go through the brand's gateway. If you go through the Hub Echo Show 2 (or Studio or Plus), you won't be able to integrate them into the Hue app.
You must therefore come and activate the Philips Hue skill, enter your username and that's it. You can then leave the application Alexa search for the Hue devices you have and they will be directly available for voice use (under the name you entered them with in the HUE app, be careful).
Using Philips Hue with Google Home
Google does not offer a speaker with an integrated ZigBee Hub, there is no question to ask. You will need activate the extension or Action Philips Hue in Google Home. To do this, go to the application settings then type Hue in the search bar. Then activate the application with your identifiers and you will see your different lights go back up in the application. You can now ask Google Assistant to turn on the lights for you.
Here is a video that explains everything in detail:
Hello I had the Freebox delta, so bought the devialet player, but since moved to orange, but I no longer have Alexa, I have an account Amazon, but nothing helps, because more updates, and bluetooth no longer works. Bravo free😡 I this disgusting, of course they do not answer the phone.
Hello Thierry,
Unfortunately, this is something that hardly surprises us. Amazon We won't be able to do anything about it and we would have a hard time answering you. I invite you to join the Freebox Devialet support group on Facebook. They will know, without a doubt, direct you and answer you better than us.
Sorry for not being able to do more and good luck 🙂
Hello,
I use the hue sync box and my question is does hue sync work with TV-style applications such as IPTV, youtube, netflix ...
Thank you in advance for your answer.
Hello,
Yes, with all HDMI sources. 🙂
Unfortunately since yesterday I exchanged my freebox revolution V6 server for a new one because the display of the old one was out of order, even if it worked perfectly with HUE and Alexa, the HUE hub can no longer connect to the internet although I perfectly control the lights via the iPhone, iPad, SIRI applications. The network LED on the right started out flashing and now it doesn't light up at all. The hub is however connected directly to the router of the new box via Ethernet, a router which also supplies other perfectly functional elements… What to do ……
I would have to go through a factory reset and re-enter my 48 bulbs, sockets etc…. And my 6 parts…. I hesitate….
There must be something in the new box that is blocking traffic but what ???? The security protocol is WPA2-PSK (AES) I think it is supported by the hub…. Thank you for some ideas of solution….
Hello, does this Philips hub also allow you to control roller shutters for example by managing scenarios coupled with sensors of all kinds?
Hello,
No, the Philips Hue hub is mainly made for connected lighting and products from the Philips Hue or Friends of Hue range.
However, a voice assistant or a home automation box can make it possible to obtain these interactions. 🙂
Thank you for that answer. I bought the Philips hub to set foot in the home automation stirrup. A way to start, then to develop my system according to needs and technological developments.
Besides, I see more and more Tuya bulbs. Could these be integrable on the Hue hub? They have the advantage of being less expensive than those of the Zigbee protocol ...
Hello Stéphane,
It is an excellent choice. Philips Hue is an expensive brand, indeed, but the quality is incomparable with Tuya which mainly offers Wi-Fi models, and some ZigBee but for which an additional bridge is unfortunately needed.
Note that other brands are more accessible than Philips and compatible with the Hue bridge, like the IKEA light bulbs, those of the excellent Chinese brand Gledopto that we talk about regularly, but also OSRAM or even Innr.
Since you made the smart choice of ZigBee and Hue ecosystem for lighting, I advise you to look this way, but you can also mix ZigBee and Wi-Fi, the main disadvantage being that you have to use two apps ( this is not a problem if you are using a voice assistant though).
Happy New Year 🙂
Bonjour.
Excellent article to which I ask a very basic question: what happens if the internet no longer works? How to control smart bulbs?
I just bought an old house with all the electricity to be redone and I am wondering if I put Philips wireless switches, hue bulbs and a bridge for the whole house. A cost certainly but less bleeding for the electrician. However I don't want to be 100% dependent on the internet connection.
The thank you box
Hi Alexand,
First of all, thank you! 🙂
So, this is precisely the advantage of the Philips Hue bridge with switches (dimmers, smart buttons, inter Friends of Hue wireless, etc…): it works even without connection. You will nevertheless lose voice control if you use it, but everything remains perfectly functional in ZigBee as long as the bridge is supplied with electricity (if necessary, no more lighting anyway…). This is one of the great strengths of the ZigBee compared to Wi-Fi bulbs: local operation. 😉
Thanks for your feedback! In this case, I find it hard to imagine any negative points in our renovation project: if we limit the bleeding and put a few Hue switches / remotes in the house (160m2) and Hue bulbs everywhere is there a better alternative? I have not yet considered the cost ... Thank you again in advance!
Hello,
Alternatives exist, but they offer less flexibility (forget Wi-Fi for wireless switches) or much more limited ranges (Chinese brand Aqara for example). The Philips Hue range is unfortunately quite expensive, that's its big flaw, but it's the price of good quality and excellent reliability, rich range and application. In short, we can say that it is the best, and it is possible to use more accessible brands with the Philips Hue hub, I am thinking in particular of Osram, Innr, the excellent Gledopto or even the much more affordable IKEA connected light bulbs.
Have a good day
Hello, I installed Philips Hue I made 3 rooms in my house with a lot of scenarios, but the app tells me that my memory of the bridge is saturated dark I think I reached 50, it counts the scenarios save in the app and on devices? What should I do other than add a second bridge?
thank you in advance
Steve
Hello,
No, the Hue Bridge does not count the scenarios, but the props do. Unfortunately, beyond 50, a second bridge is needed. If you have exterior lighting, I advise you to share interior and exterior because, as you will see, you have to switch from one to the other for lighting management. It is not super practical and a criticism often made to Philips elsewhere. Fortunately, applications such as Hue Essentials make it possible to overcome this.
Have a good weekend 🙂
Hello I have a Philips oled 754 series TV. When I want to configure the ambilight + hue from the tv, it cannot find my bridge despite waiting for several minutes and rescans it in order to find it but cannot detect it. The bridge is connected to my internet tv box and it is located 10 centimeters from my tv. Can you tell me if you have already encountered this problem and if there is a solution to connect it? Thank you.
Hello,
We haven't actually tested Ambilight, but normally it should work. Do you have a Philips Hue V2 (square) bridge?
Hello, have you ever seen the bridge for less than 50 euros please? Thanks in advance.
Hello,
It's rare, but it happens, especially if you take starter kits. Otherwise, we usually find you around 50 € indeed.
Hello, I agree, Phlips Hue is really good and very smooth in operation. But I find that we can not do everything ... what about associating a thermostat, a smoke or water detector or any other device except light fixtures and motion detectors. Is there a solution to pair Hue with other devices.
Thank you
Hello,
Philips Hue is not made for, it is an ecosystem dedicated to lighting, the company's specialty ... To go further, you must either multiply the ecosystems and call on a voice assistant to either create a home automation box. It takes time, a lot of settings, but it is the most complete solution! 🙂
Hello,
I changed my email address following a hack but my meethue.com account does not allow me to change my email address.
I wanted to know, if I delete the account to create one again, will I have to re-pair all the bulbs or the configuration is saved in the bridge?
Thank you in advance for your return,
Adrien
Hello,
To tell the truth, we never tried the experiment, but a priori the bulbs and other objects will remain well connected to your bridge. However, you will probably have to dissociate the bridge from your account… 🙂
Good coyrage
Hello, is it possible to manage the Hue Bridge with the app Smart Hue?
Hello,
I don't know about this app, but if it uses the Philips Hue API, yes. However, if you are talking about Smart Life, the answer is no.
Good evening 🙂