Kogan SmarterHome Smart Blinds Driver $71.99 + Delivery ($59.99 Delivered with Kogan First) @ Dick Smith by Kogan

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Lmanofsteel on 02/04/2023 - 13:03 dicksmith.com.au (785 clicks)
Last edited 03/04/2023 - 07:47 by 1 other user

Been eyeing Kogan for the next discount on their smart blinds driver (lowest ever was $49.99 in Oct 22, which I missed!). Price has usually been $79.99 and fell to $71.99 for a while. All of a sudden, saw recently that they jacked the price to $129.99! Thanks very much inflation!

So I quickly checked Dick Smith and found they weirdly dropped theirs to $59.99 (I just needed a Kogan First trial), which is excellent pricing IMO despite not lowest ever! I don't understand their economics here, but heck, I've pulled the trigger on 3 units!

Hoping the Kogan driver's much higher torque performs better than Aqara E1 blind drivers, which failed with my heavy 1.8x3m blinds. Just bear in mind these Kogan drivers are mains powered, which I absolutely don't mind – already too many rechargeable devices around the house.

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• 

  jonoz on 02/04/2023 - 13:19

  Ordered 1 to try, fingers crossed.

• 

  usmanhafeez2000 on 02/04/2023 - 13:32

  Looks like it will work with beads type cords only. Mine is plane rope type cords. Any idea if this will work?

  • 

    manofsteel on 02/04/2023 - 13:43

    Can't say for sure, but noticed one of the reviews mentioned this:
    "the item exceeds my expectation. And built quality, the driver torque, it works just fine with my line string blinds."

  • 

    nateboy on 02/04/2023 - 14:10

    +3

    I can confirm these work with rope type cords, and are much more powerful than the Aqara's. Wall mount is quite clever too, in that it allows for further vertical adjustment even after screwing to the wall. Included remote is very handy also (which the Aqara don't come with). Operation is very loud.

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  Kill Joy on 02/04/2023 - 13:57

  +1

  @manofsteel Can you report back how you go with these compared to the Aqara E1? I was planning to get the E1 purely as it was zigbee compatible which I prefer over Wifi.

• 

  kenthevk on 02/04/2023 - 14:01

  so works with Google and alexa without the kogan smart hub?

  • 

    manofsteel on 02/04/2023 - 14:32

    +1

    I'd use the Smart Hub more, considering one of the reviews mentioning the below:
    "…it only has limited compatibility with Google Home. You are able to ask the blind to open and close, and you can specify a % (e.g. open to 50%). You cannot add it to a routine or schedule (e.g. a morning routine where things turn on automatically) and cannot stop it once it has begun to open or close."

  • 

    flickr on 03/04/2023 - 20:32

    Yes, I have three and it connects directly to Wi-Fi. It works with Google without a smart hub

• 

  Fuzzyduck on 02/04/2023 - 14:32

  +1

  These are pretty good for the price, I had one fail though it kept forgetting the programmed height and would also forget the Alexa integration.
  But the others were great worked amazing what is a very small investment and amazing result. If I was more savvy I would have sent it back for a refund but it didn’t start doing that until some months later.

• 

  ash2000 on 02/04/2023 - 14:40

  +1

  Great product, I've been using one of these for 2 years on a 6m length of vertical blinds .

• 

  pepsicles on 02/04/2023 - 14:47

  +1

  I bought these recently for my Balcony vertical blinds which measured 3.5mx2.1m.
  Had to buy 2, one for the bead cable and 1 for the rope cable.
  Hooked them up with the Tuya app and remote control.
  Works with google home.

  So far so good!

• 

  benny2000 on 02/04/2023 - 15:38

  Mains power is unsightly. Definitely more interested in rechargeable aqara ones, which never seem to go on sale.

  • 

    manofsteel on 03/04/2023 - 19:18

    The problem though is the Aqara ones are underpowered if your blinds are heavy like mine. I had to return a few Aqara E1 units and burn postage cost. :( I think battery-powered drivers tend to be weaker. So depends what blinds you've got.

    • 

      benny2000 on 03/04/2023 - 19:34

      Fair enough. Do you know of any good rechargeable ones?

      • 

        manofsteel on 03/04/2023 - 21:56

        I don't mate, sorry.

  • 

    stevo2000 on 05/04/2023 - 15:55

    Wouldn't you need windows to make smart blinds worthwhile?

    • 

      benny2000 on 11/04/2023 - 19:05

      Depends. In my studio apartment they separate my flat mate and I from the common cooking area.

• 

  amanda89 on 02/04/2023 - 15:42

  KEEP in mind these only work on the 2.4ghz band, no luck if you have google WiFi etc

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  Jklaro on 02/04/2023 - 16:06

  Anyone know if this will work with roman blinds?

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  jaydisc on 02/04/2023 - 19:16

  +1

  I had a Zemismart one of these that worked great, but I’ve recently switched over to Zemismart tubular motors (inside the blinds rod). No more beads/chains, or boxes on the wall.

  • 

    manofsteel on 02/04/2023 - 21:02

    Do the tubular motors retrofit into pre-existing roller blinds, or is it proprietary to Zemismart products (ecosystem lock-in business model)?

    • 

      lachhelix on 03/04/2023 - 00:30

      +1

      There are a bunch of generic motors that can be retrofitted into your standard tubes - just search for tuya blinds on aliexpress - this is what I did. Much better/nicer than having a thing stuck to the window frame with a cable running down the wall

    • 

      jaydisc on 03/04/2023 - 07:41

      +2

      Pre-existing. You just gotta choose the right diameter. I’m using them with cheap 38mm diameter blinds from Spotlight. They have sizes down to 25mm. As a matter of fact I didn’t even swap out the brackets or non-motor plug at end of the roller. I’m still using the Spotlight parts. I literally just swapped out the bead chain plug for the motor. Very standard.

      And yeah, Zemismart is just Tuya, so generic Tuya should be identical in software, and maybe cheaper. I bought the Zigbee variant and paired with HA/ZHA/ConBee.

• 

  Honeyju on 03/04/2023 - 11:49

  +2

  These are loud btw and slow on pulling up and down, save your money

  • 

    flickr on 03/04/2023 - 20:32

    Any better alternative with similar price?

    • 

      Honeyju on 03/04/2023 - 21:09

      Nothing that i have seen or bought. Sorry.

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  jonoz on 04/04/2023 - 13:17

  All set up and installed, really struggles raising the blinds that are 1.8m wide by 2.0m high (so well within the 2.5m X 2.5m claimed).

  None of the cogs fit properly, the correct one as per the manual slips when raising so after 3 ups and downs (effectively 3 days usage) I have lost 6" from my max open height.

  Anyone had similar problems?

  • 

    manofsteel on 04/04/2023 - 14:03

    +1

    Disappointing to hear that. Mine are arriving this afternoon – will try them out and let you know my luck.

  • 

    manofsteel on 12/04/2023 - 23:05

    Mine has worked well for over a week now, including successfully pulling the heaviest 1.8x3.0m blind. Motor is a bit loud, but worth it as it does the job. Remote control, app control and Google assistant control are awesome. Really like how one RC can control multiple blinds.