Hive Starter Pack

It's not as easy to setup as anyone would like.

If you're not already bought into a different home automation kit, and you don't want to spend $$$ on Philips kits, this Hive kit is a really good option.It's probably the easiest "cheap" option I've used. I had tested several Chinese brands and Hive has the easiest app to use and was the easiest to install. This kit comes with a hub to make it all work, two cool/warm white light bulbs (no colors), an outlet, and two motion sensors.Here's what I did:For rooms I don't hang out in for hours at a time (bathroom, pantry, garage...), I put in a motion sensor. When I walked in the room and tripped the sensor, I set it so the lights would turn on. Then a minute or so after I left the room, the lights would turn off. I set the motion sensors up high enough that the dogs couldn't trip it.For rooms I hang out in for hours at at time (bedroom, office, living room...), I used the light bulbs and the outlet. I like to set the bulbs to bright blue-white light earlier in the day, and yellowy light in the afternoon, to mimic the sunlight outdoors. Since the set only comes with two bulbs, I used the outlet to control a lamp without a smart bulb in it.The app is really easy to use and I recommend using it over anything else. I have Google Home but found it really confusing trying to get Hive to work with it (whereas Philips works very seamlessly).The biggest point I'd make is if you like this set, stick with only Hive. It gets hairy REALLY quickly if you mix two or more different home automation brands in your home.

Love my system. Very easy to set up. Wish it came with more bulbs.

I've been trying to install the hub all day, and it is still not working. Even after customer service and following their instructions precisely, all I get is a bunch of cryptic blinking lights (green/yellow/red) at various speeds.Advice per phone rep (nice but useless): "Honestly, the box instructions don't do a good job of conveying that, once you plug in the smart hub, it might have to run some firmware and other online updates. Now since you didn't know that, you might have unplugged the hub during an update which caused the hub to go into 'fail-safe mode'. The only way for us to get your hub out of 'fail-safe mode' is to unplug the hub, replug the hub, count to ten, and the repeat this 6 times. After that, leave the hub plugged in and then don't bother it. The lights will flash but then in approximately 20 minutes you should be up and running with a solid green light."Well it's now been 2 hours later and we are still flashing.

The Hive starter pack, made in China, includes the Wi-Fi enabled hub 360, two light bulbs, an outlet switch, and two door sensors.The Hive app is used to register all the included pieces, starting with the Hive hub 360. The app is fairly simple to use, while the scheduling is cumbersome. Connecting a new Hive item is done with a few button presses, and so is adjusting or switching the bulbs and switch on or off.Scheduling is done day by day, where the times and settings can all be customized to your expectations. There doesn’t seem to be an option for creating a repeating schedule though. Repeating scheduling takes more time than is necessary to set up, plus some settings use a dial that is difficult to repeat at the exact level. The app can also be used to create groups so that all items in the group work together. Preset actions are also available, that can make changes simpler to accomplish.I don’t care for the hub requirement, there are plenty of options with many of the same features that don’t need a hub. Hubs take up switch ports and create a mess of cables and boxes. Additionally, adjustments are completed after a short delay which may be the hub receiving commands from the smartphone then sending them to the item.The hub itself is simple to install, and needs installed first. I have a large house with wifi throughout. Since my router is on one end of the house, I was concerned that the bulb I place on the other would not connect. However I had no problems connecting that bulb. The hub has little rubber feet to protect the surface where it rests. It doesn’t have any method of hanging to the wall or securing somewhere.The bulbs are adequately bright and setting them is simple enough. I tend to prefer switches to simple smart bulbs though. I cannot turn off a bulb except through the app or possibly a light switch. I can turn on/off a switch easily without hindering the schedule. The bulb only works when power is available. If someone without the app turns off the light with a switch, then it won’t turn on when scheduled until power is restored.The 3.75” tall switches will likely be placed on the top outlet where the bottom plug is small enough. Placing the switch in the bottom outlet will block use of the upper outlet. The switch works with the press of a button or using the app.The door sensors are placed in the desired location after removing the protective strip from the CR17345 battery. The app keeps a log of all opening and closing occurrences and times, although there is a delay when receiving the log data. Nothing else happens unless a sensor action is set. I can select actions for specific times of the day (scheduling) then select to receive notifications or control either a plug or bulb.I prefer TP Link / Kasa products, as they have many of the same items without a need to use a hub. TP Link has dimmer switches which I use throughout the house, and the app has repeat scheduling. However, Hive has more security based options and the thermostat. My house has an alarm, so the security options don’t appeal to me.The Hive starter pack is a good option to consider, especially if you/re looking for security options or thermostat control. The items work well except for the delayed response. Otherwise I would recommend looking at alternatives without a hub.PROS:App mostly simple to useCreate control groupsWorks with Alexa, Google Home and IFTTT1-year limited warrantyCONS:Repeat scheduling function neededRequires a hub