Xiaomi Mi home automation products have been popular bargains here, and I now have a couple.
But the Xiaomi Mi Gateway seems to be hard to find, and most references here on OB seem to date back to 2018, so I'm wondering if there is a new product that serves as a gateway that I should be looking for. I've looked on gearbest, amazon and lightinthebox.
What gateway product should I use if I want to start connecting them together, and are there any 'must-have' products in the family?
Thanks, that helps knowing to look for 'Aqara'.
The current Aqara hub (with RGB night light) seems to be $90-$100. Does that sound right? Seems more expensive than OB'ers usually pay ;-)
I just use the original one, and pair it with home assistant. It doesn't have Bluetooth, but it works well otherwise.
There is a new gateway with bluetooth available. I think it's also got a voice assistant built in.
Is this the one? AUD39.75 https://www.gearbest.com/home-smart-improvements/pp_30054772…
No voice assistant, that seems to only be on the Aqara (at least out of what I could find).
Yeah that's the new one I think. If you're planning on using home assistant, I'm not sure how hackable the new ones are.
Aqara hub generally is the newer/wider integrated equipment these days. Like all Xiaomi/ecosystem products, there are multiple versions of the same items (with the same names, even for updated models). Later Aqara products contain language options and better/integration with some smart home speakers.
For example Aqara - temperature and door/window sensor and motion can work with Alexa/routines/triggers, while Xiaomi/Mi tend not to play nicely. Do note that sensors/hubs come in both brands and can be mixed and matched with varying results. I would highly recommend looking to Aqara branded stuff moving forward if your looking for integration with other items, otherwise you still have control with the Mi home App (CN server most options; AU lesser)
Geekbuying has deals form time to time, select Amazon/eBay sellers at localised prices, along with Banggood (AU/CN warehouse) as well.
Appreciate that additional info, including ideas on which website to get them from - hadn't checked banggood
The Aqara seems to be A$90-$100 and has voice & night light.
https://www.gearbest.com/access-control/pp_3003167741312387.…
The Mi Gateway is A$40 and has BT/WiFi/Zigbee but no voice or light.
https://www.gearbest.com/home-smart-improvements/pp_30054772…
Don't know I really need the voice or light - Google Home for voice, and I'd buy the night light separately if I wanted one.
Want something that works reliably. Anyone with experience with either of these models, and any pitfalls?
looking to buy one too and not certain which one..
I just bought a V2 Xiaomi gateway recently. Avoided the V3 due to lack of speaker which I use for doorbell and alarm siren. I have it setup with Home Assistant so it quite flexible with automation. Only downside is that there's a limit of 30 child devices. You can get much cheaper alternatives if you're just looking for a way to pair the devices.. especially if you're not looking to use the proprietary cloud software with Xiaomi/Aqara. Look into Zigbee2MQTT if you don't mind rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty.
Link to where you bought it? Helps me know I'm looking at the one you're referring too - I'm getting lost in the myriad of options.
Seems I purchased it way back in March and the model is no long available from Banggood.
It was previously advertised as "
[Upgrade Version] Original Xiaomi Mijia Smart Home WIFI Remote Control Multifunctional Gateway Work with Mijia Smart Sensor Kit"
I paid $44 shipped.
Thanks for taking the time to look for that extra information - much appreciated. I think it is similar to the one I linked above for A$40, which gives me confidence it can integrate with Google Assistant which is what I was looking for.
PS: don't have the time for hardware hacks, but appreciate the pointer.
@norkle: I should mention that when I said "Home Assistant" above, I'm not referring to Google Home. Having said that, MiHome is compatible with Google Home nevertheless.
Home Assistant is very different to Google Home.
Think I'll go ahead with the $40 option. I've seen a few comments that the Aqara product can be a bit less than the Mi.
Ordered from banggood
Hey OP, I am on the same boat and looking for a gateway that can connect to Alexa and work with Aqara door sensors that I bought recently. Do you mind pasting banggood link here?
Soitanly.
I bought from here:
https://www.banggood.com/XIAOMI-Mijia-Smart-Multimode-Gatewa…
Still waiting for it to arrive, it was shipped from CN 12 August, I expect it may be another 4 weeks, hard to know.
But I think it is the same as:
https://www.gearbest.com/home-smart-improvements/pp_30054772…
I've generally had better experience with banggood, but gearbest has recently been good too. YMMV
Hi norkle, just wondering if your gateway 3 has arrived and you are using it?
I have the older Xiaomi V2 gateway and I'm finding it goes offline intermittently (blue light flashes) and also the automation fails sometimes - I have door sensors programmed to switch on a light but it often fails. I'm thinking of getting a new gateway, although I'm not even sure if that will fix the problem. Perhaps the autoamtion is failing due to the China cloud servers. Anyway, I'm contemplating getting a new gateway and just wondering how you are finding yours?
@ohagas - I bought one after norkle and have been using it for over 2 weeks now. Working perfectly for me but I don't use it for any automation. I am only using it to get notification via iOS Home app when the main door is open and closed.
@IMadeYouReadThis: @ImadeYouReadThis - Thanks for that. What triggers the notification though? That would suggest some type of automation. Do you have sensors connected?
@ohagas: so I've got the door/window sensors and status change in that sensor activate the notifications.
Mine arrived, and I've been using it as a bluetooth gateway to some temp/humidity sensors, and a smoke detector arrived this week, and it acts as a wifi gateway to it. The only automation I'm doing is having the smoke detector send me an alert if it triggers.
I had to use Chinese mainland for the smoke detector - Singapore worked fine with the temp/humidity sensors.
I'm using Mi Home, but Aqara seems to work too.
Apparently one of their smart plugs has the gateway function.
Ordered it, will update when it comes from AliExpress
really, which one?
interesting, I can't find much details about it but it looks like the gateway is bluetooth only (not ZigBee) and it doesn't say if its compatible with homekit (if that's important for you).
Those Aqara sensor deals have had examples of Zigbee hubs you can use with plenty of discussion in the comments.