{"id":2966,"date":"2022-04-27T00:25:09","date_gmt":"2022-04-26T22:25:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pr.gagadget.com\/unify-your-smart-home-with-hoobs-bring-unsupported-devices-into-apples-homekit-video\/"},"modified":"2022-04-27T00:25:09","modified_gmt":"2022-04-26T22:25:09","slug":"unify-your-smart-home-with-hoobs-bring-unsupported-devices-into-apples-homekit-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pr.gagadget.com\/en\/unify-your-smart-home-with-hoobs-bring-unsupported-devices-into-apples-homekit-video\/","title":{"rendered":"Unify your smart home with HOOBS \u2013 bring unsupported devices into Apple\u2019s HomeKit [Video]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"source-title\">Unify your smart home with HOOBS \u2013 bring unsupported devices into Apple\u2019s HomeKit [Video]<\/div>\n<div class=\"source-text\">\n<div >\n<p>HomeKit\u2019s ecosystem is fantastic, but the directly compatible devices can get expensive \u2013 especially if you already have incompatible devices at home that you need to replace. $25 for a smart plug, $40 for a door sensor \u2013 it really adds up quickly. There are plenty of other smart home devices available on Amazon, from $6 smart plugs to $25 cameras, outside the HomeKit ecosystem. Thankfully, many of these otherwise unsupported devices can be brought into HomeKit with the use of Homebridge software.<\/p>\n<p><span ><\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<div >\n<h2>Table of contents<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-video-unify-your-smart-home-with-hoobs\" data-level=\"2\">Video: Unify your smart home with HOOBS<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-what-is-homebridge\" data-level=\"2\">What is Homebridge?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-installing-homebridge-on-a-raspberry-pi\" data-level=\"2\">Installing Homebridge on a Raspberry Pi<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-home-hub-vs-homebridge\" data-level=\"2\">Home Hub vs. Homebridge<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-setting-up-an-apple-device-as-a-home-hub\" data-level=\"3\">Setting up an Apple device as a Home Hub<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-adding-smart-home-devices-to-homebridge\" data-level=\"2\">Adding smart home devices to Homebridge<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-adding-a-kasa-smart-light-switch-to-homekit\" data-level=\"3\">Adding a Kasa smart light switch to HomeKit<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-adding-a-nest-thermostat-and-doorbell-to-homekit\" data-level=\"3\">Adding a Nest thermostat and doorbell to HomeKit<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-adding-cameras-to-homekit\" data-level=\"3\">Adding cameras to HomeKit<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-adding-blink-cameras\" data-level=\"4\">Adding Blink cameras<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-adding-wyze-cameras\" data-level=\"4\">Adding Wyze cameras<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-adding-existing-ip-cameras-to-homekit\" data-level=\"4\">Adding existing IP cameras to Homekit<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-adding-unsupported-smart-outlets-to-homekit\" data-level=\"3\">Adding unsupported smart outlets to HomeKit<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-bringing-bridged-devices-into-the-home-app\" data-level=\"2\">Bringing bridged devices into the Home app<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-using-other-voice-assistants-to-control-homebridge-devices\" data-level=\"2\">Using other voice assistants to control Homebridge devices<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-adding-alexa-support-to-homebridge\" data-level=\"3\">Adding Alexa support to Homebridge<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-adding-google-assistant-support-to-homebridge\" data-level=\"3\">Adding Google Assistant support to Homebridge<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-the-downsides-of-homebridge\" data-level=\"2\">The downsides of Homebridge<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-is-homebridge-the-solution-for-you\" data-level=\"2\">Is Homebridge the solution for you?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 >Video: Unify your smart home with HOOBS<\/h2>\n<figure >\n<div >\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Don&#039;t be limited by HomeKit \u2013 add unsupported devices to your smart home with HOOBS\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DaIPkN5zQl0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 >What is Homebridge?<\/h2>\n<p>Homebridge is a piece of software that connects to an unsupported smart-home device in order to make it accessible through Apple HomeKit. There are thousands of smart home devices otherwise limited to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant support that become accessible through Apple\u2019s Home app with the use of Homebridge.<\/p>\n<figure ><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment- src=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/2022\/04\/26\/add-smarthome-devices-to-homekit\/hoobs4beta_header_trans-2048x816-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/HOOBS4BETA_header_trans-2048x816-1.png\" data-orig-size=\"2048,816\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='\"aperture\":\"0\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"0\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"0\",\"iso\":\"0\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"0\"' data-image-title=\"HOOBS4BETA_header_trans-2048\u00d7816-1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/HOOBS4BETA_header_trans-2048x816-1.png?w=655\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/HOOBS4BETA_header_trans-2048x816-1.png?w=1000\" title=\"Unify your smart home with HOOBS \u2013 bring unsupported devices into Apple's HomeKit [Video]\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2048\" height=\"816\" alt=\"HOOBS\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/HOOBS4BETA_header_trans-2048x816-1.png 2048w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/HOOBS4BETA_header_trans-2048x816-1.png?resize=155,62 155w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/HOOBS4BETA_header_trans-2048x816-1.png?resize=655,261 655w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/HOOBS4BETA_header_trans-2048x816-1.png?resize=768,306 768w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/HOOBS4BETA_header_trans-2048x816-1.png?resize=1024,408 1024w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/HOOBS4BETA_header_trans-2048x816-1.png?resize=1536,612 1536w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/HOOBS4BETA_header_trans-2048x816-1.png?resize=350,139 350w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/HOOBS4BETA_header_trans-2048x816-1.png?resize=1600,638 1600w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/HOOBS4BETA_header_trans-2048x816-1.png?resize=150,60 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/figure>\n<p>Homebridge can be run on Windows, Linux, macOS, or a Docker container, but I prefer to run it on a low-cost Raspberry Pi. I personally use HOOBS, which is an easy-to-use version of Homebridge with a nice web interface. HOOBS can be <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/hoobs.com\/product\/hoobs-image\/\">downloaded for free<\/a> and installed on your own Raspberry Pi, or you can purchase an all-in-one box kit with it ready to go.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Raspberry Pi 4 kit: $149<\/li>\n<li>HOOBS all-in-one: $249<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 >Installing Homebridge on a Raspberry Pi<\/h2>\n<p>If you opt to install Homebridge\/HOOBS yourself, it is actually very straightforward. Start by <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/hoobs.com\/product\/hoobs-image\/\">downloading the image<\/a>. It\u2019s free, but you can opt to donate a custom amount to support the software if you like. Be aware that you\u2019ll have to put in payment details to download even if you\u2019re not donating. <\/p>\n<p>Once the \u201choobs-##.xz\u201d file is downloaded, you can use a program like <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.balena.io\/etcher\/\">balenaEtcher<\/a> to flash the operating system to an empty micro-SD card. It is important that this SD card is empty, as flashing the image to it will entirely erase the card and any files left on it. The SD card can then be inserted into the Raspberry Pi.<\/p>\n<p>The Raspberry Pi should be powered with a <meta charset=\"utf-8\">USB-C cable and connected to your home internet with an ethernet cable. You can set up HOOBS over Wi-Fi, but directly wiring it will provide more reliable results.<\/p>\n<p>To connect to the HOOBS device, open your web browser and go to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/hoobs.local\">http:\/\/hoobs.local<\/a> if you are on a Mac or <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/hoobs\">http:\/\/hoobs<\/a> on a PC. On your first visit, you will be asked to set up an account, then you will be greeted with the interface. This is the web interface you will use to connect new smart home devices and add additional plugins.<\/p>\n<h2 >Home Hub vs. Homebridge<\/h2>\n<p>The Raspberry Pi only serves as an interface between the non-HomeKit device on your network and an Apple device on your network. It will not function as a Home Hub, which is necessary to control smart home devices through the Home app away from the local network. This means that you will need one Apple device at your house powered on in order to control your home devices when you are not on your local network.<\/p>\n<h3 >Setting up an Apple device as a Home Hub<\/h3>\n<p>As Apple <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT207057\">describes<\/a>, you can use a HomePod, HomePod mini, Apple TV, or iPad as your Home Hub device. A HomePod or Apple TV signed in with the same iCloud account as your Home will automatically become a Home Hub. To set up an iPad as a Home Hub, the iPad must be signed in to the same iCloud account that was used to set up your HomeKit devices. Then go to Settings &gt; Home &gt; Enable and choose Use this iPad as a Home Hub.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Apple iPad 10.2-inch: $319<\/li>\n<li>iPad stand: $18<\/li>\n<li>HomePod mini:<strong> <\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/shop\/buy-homepod\/homepod-mini\">$99<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Apple TV 4K: $169<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 >Adding smart home devices to Homebridge<\/h2>\n<figure ><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment- src=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/2022\/04\/26\/add-smarthome-devices-to-homekit\/smart-home-devicesderek\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Smart-Home-devicesDerek.jpg?quality=82&amp;strip=all\" data-orig-size=\"2000,1000\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='\"aperture\":\"0\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"0\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"0\",\"iso\":\"0\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"0\"' data-image-title=\"Smart-Home-devicesDerek\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Smart-Home-devicesDerek.jpg?quality=82&amp;strip=all&amp;w=655\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Smart-Home-devicesDerek.jpg?quality=82&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1000\" title=\"Unify your smart home with HOOBS \u2013 bring unsupported devices into Apple's HomeKit [Video]\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1000\" alt=\"Smart home devices to integrate with Homekit\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Smart-Home-devicesDerek.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Smart-Home-devicesDerek.jpg?resize=155,78 155w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Smart-Home-devicesDerek.jpg?resize=655,328 655w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Smart-Home-devicesDerek.jpg?resize=768,384 768w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Smart-Home-devicesDerek.jpg?resize=1024,512 1024w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Smart-Home-devicesDerek.jpg?resize=1536,768 1536w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Smart-Home-devicesDerek.jpg?resize=350,175 350w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Smart-Home-devicesDerek.jpg?resize=1600,800 1600w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Smart-Home-devicesDerek.jpg?resize=290,145 290w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Smart-Home-devicesDerek.jpg?resize=150,75 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\"><\/figure>\n<h3 >Adding a Kasa smart light switch to HomeKit<\/h3>\n<p>I personally love smart light switches. They easily integrate with existing fixtures, and you don\u2019t <em>have<\/em> to treat them like a smart device. You can still hit the switch like you would any other light; they just add the option of smart control. Kasa has multiple different options for these smart switches.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Kasa dimmer switch, three-pack: $49<\/li>\n<li>Kasa light switch, three-pack: $35<\/li>\n<li>Kasa three-way switch, two-pack: $34<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>First configure the switches in the  <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/kasa-smart\/id1034035493\">Kasa Smart app<\/a> on your phone. To connect with these switches (or other Kasa plugs or bulbs) to HOOBS it\u2019s as simple as installing the Tplink Smarthome plugin. It automatically discovers the Kasa devices on the network to make them available through Apple\u2019s Home app. Once your devices are added to HOOBS you\u2019ll just have to link the bridge to Homekit <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#h-bringing-homebridge-devices-into-the-home-app\">as described below<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 >Adding a Nest thermostat and doorbell to HomeKit<\/h3>\n<p>By <em>far<\/em> my favorite devices to access through HomeKit are my Nest doorbell and thermostat. They have worked flawlessly in the Home app with live camera view, two-way speaking, and temperature control.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Google Nest Learning Thermostat: $199<\/li>\n<li>Google Nest wired doorbell: <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/store.google.com\/us\/config\/nest_doorbell_wired?sku=_nest_hello_doorbell&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAnuGNBhCPARIsACbnLzp__fJ4EJwZbjhpizO_ZwNQLZiVOuOLvbScILeAy1yuUe6MlPUpdwkaAjAdEALw_wcB&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;hl=en-US\">$149<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Start by setting up your Nest smart home devices in the Nest app, then head over to HOOBS and install the Nest plugin. On the configuration page, select link account. A new popup will open, so check that your browser didn\u2019t block it. Log in to your Google account \u2013 the same one used in the Nest app \u2013 then copy the provided code and paste it in the next step. Just like that, your Nest devices are connected to HOOBS.<\/p>\n<figure ><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment- src=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/2022\/04\/26\/add-smarthome-devices-to-homekit\/nest-doorbell-homekit-hoobs\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Nest\u2013Doorbell\u2013Homekit-Hoobs.png\" data-orig-size=\"3410,2022\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='\"aperture\":\"0\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"0\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"0\",\"iso\":\"0\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"0\"' data-image-title=\"Nest\u2013Doorbell\u2013Homekit-Hoobs\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Nest\u2013Doorbell\u2013Homekit-Hoobs.png?w=655\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Nest\u2013Doorbell\u2013Homekit-Hoobs.png?w=1000\" title=\"Unify your smart home with HOOBS \u2013 bring unsupported devices into Apple's HomeKit [Video]\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"3410\" height=\"2022\" alt=\"Nest doorbell integrated into Apple Homekit.\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Nest\u2013Doorbell\u2013Homekit-Hoobs.png 3410w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Nest\u2013Doorbell\u2013Homekit-Hoobs.png?resize=155,92 155w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Nest\u2013Doorbell\u2013Homekit-Hoobs.png?resize=655,388 655w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Nest\u2013Doorbell\u2013Homekit-Hoobs.png?resize=768,455 768w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Nest\u2013Doorbell\u2013Homekit-Hoobs.png?resize=1024,607 1024w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Nest\u2013Doorbell\u2013Homekit-Hoobs.png?resize=1536,911 1536w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Nest\u2013Doorbell\u2013Homekit-Hoobs.png?resize=2048,1214 2048w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Nest\u2013Doorbell\u2013Homekit-Hoobs.png?resize=350,208 350w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Nest\u2013Doorbell\u2013Homekit-Hoobs.png?resize=130,78 130w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Nest\u2013Doorbell\u2013Homekit-Hoobs.png?resize=1600,949 1600w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Nest\u2013Doorbell\u2013Homekit-Hoobs.png?resize=150,89 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3410px) 100vw, 3410px\"><\/figure>\n<h3 >Adding cameras to HomeKit<\/h3>\n<h4 >Adding Blink cameras<\/h4>\n<p>Blink cameras are a very low-cost way to add cameras to your smart home. Blink offers a paid subscription for cloud storage of video, but you can also use the Blink sync module to store the clips locally on a USB drive without paying for cloud storage. The Homebridge integration with the cameras is still a work in progress, but the current version offers camera thumbnails, temperature readings, occupancy sensors, alerts, and the ability to arm\/disarm the security system. The biggest limitation is the live view, which is currently only working for first-generation cameras.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Blink camera mini: $34<\/li>\n<li>Blink outdoor and floodlight: $139<\/li>\n<li>Blink sync module 2: $34<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>After getting your Blink cameras set up in the Blink app, install the Blink For Home HOOBS plugin. Enter the configuration and input your login credentials. On the first run, you will get a text message with the two-factor authentication code. Plug that code into the PIN requested in configuration, and you should be good to go.<\/p>\n<h4 >Adding Wyze cameras<\/h4>\n<p>As I mentioned above, the Blink cameras still need a bit of improvement before they can provide a flawless experience. If you want a more full-featured experience and are willing to put in the time, Wyze cameras are a good option. Just be aware that setting them up takes <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/EliasKotlyar\/Xiaomi-Dafang-Hacks\/blob\/master\/hacks\/install_cfw.md\">a lot<\/a> more work, including modified firmware. With the modified firmware, you can add them to HOOBS as you would a standard IP camera.<\/p>\n<h4 >Adding existing IP cameras to Homekit<\/h4>\n<p>It\u2019s easy to add a standard IP camera to HomeKit using HOOBS. Start by installing the Camera FFmpeg plugin. From there, you can add a camera under the configuration column. You will need the RTSP URL as well as a still-image URL. While adding the URL is all you have to do, you can adjust more specific options, such as the resolution, bitrate, frame rate, encoding method, and add multiple cameras.<\/p>\n<h3 >Adding unsupported smart outlets to HomeKit<\/h3>\n<p>The Tuya and Smart Life apps are supported by almost all of the low-cost smart outlets and myriad other devices available on Amazon. Thankfully, the Tuya Web plugin can also bring all of these accessories into HOOBS and HomeKit. Beyond general smart outlets, you can also bring fans, dimmers, blinds, thermostats, and more devices into HomeKit.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Single smart plug four-pack: $22<\/li>\n<li>Energy monitoring smart plug two-pack: $19<\/li>\n<li>Outdoor-rated dual-smart plug: $19<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Start by adding all your smart outlets and other Tuya-compatible devices to the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/smart-life-smart-living\/id1115101477\">Smart Life app<\/a>. Then, add the Tuya Web plugin to HOOBS and enter the configuration page. Enter your country code (1 for the US), select your platform (Smart Life), and enter your log-in credentials. It\u2019s as simple as that!<\/p>\n<h2 >Bringing bridged devices into the Home app<\/h2>\n<p>Bringing smart home devices from HOOBS to Apple\u2019s Home app is simple. <\/p>\n<p>Open the HOOBS web interface and go to the Bridges tab. From there, select the desired bridge. Open the Home app, select +, and choose Add Accessory. Scan the QR code provided by HOOBS to bring the accessories on that bridge into HomeKit. <\/p>\n<p>After scanning, you will have the opportunity to name your smart home devices, choose an icon, and select which room they belong in.<\/p>\n<h2 >Using other voice assistants to control Homebridge devices<\/h2>\n<figure ><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment- src=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/2022\/04\/26\/add-smarthome-devices-to-homekit\/google-assistant-amazon-alexa-apple-homekit\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Google-Assistant-Amazon-Alexa-Apple-Homekit.jpg?quality=82&amp;strip=all\" data-orig-size=\"2000,1000\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='\"aperture\":\"0\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"0\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"0\",\"iso\":\"0\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"0\"' data-image-title=\"Google Assistant Amazon Alexa Apple Homekit\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Google-Assistant-Amazon-Alexa-Apple-Homekit.jpg?quality=82&amp;strip=all&amp;w=655\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Google-Assistant-Amazon-Alexa-Apple-Homekit.jpg?quality=82&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1000\" title=\"Unify your smart home with HOOBS \u2013 bring unsupported devices into Apple's HomeKit [Video]\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1000\" alt=\"Google Home Apple Homekit Amazon Alexa\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Google-Assistant-Amazon-Alexa-Apple-Homekit.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Google-Assistant-Amazon-Alexa-Apple-Homekit.jpg?resize=155,78 155w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Google-Assistant-Amazon-Alexa-Apple-Homekit.jpg?resize=655,328 655w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Google-Assistant-Amazon-Alexa-Apple-Homekit.jpg?resize=768,384 768w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Google-Assistant-Amazon-Alexa-Apple-Homekit.jpg?resize=1024,512 1024w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Google-Assistant-Amazon-Alexa-Apple-Homekit.jpg?resize=1536,768 1536w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Google-Assistant-Amazon-Alexa-Apple-Homekit.jpg?resize=350,175 350w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Google-Assistant-Amazon-Alexa-Apple-Homekit.jpg?resize=1600,800 1600w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Google-Assistant-Amazon-Alexa-Apple-Homekit.jpg?resize=290,145 290w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Google-Assistant-Amazon-Alexa-Apple-Homekit.jpg?resize=150,75 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\"><\/figure>\n<p>While the main purpose of Homebridge is to bring all your devices into HomeKit, it also unifies all your smart-home devices. This is where Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support really show their value. You can bring all your smart home devices together with Homebridge, then use whichever smart speaker you have to control them. Why spend $100 on a new Apple HomePod mini for every room if you already have an extra Echo Dot lying around?<\/p>\n<h3 >Adding Alexa support to Homebridge<\/h3>\n<p>The Alexa plugin allows you to control any Homebridge-controlled devices with any of your Amazon Alexa devices \u2013 even the Astro household robot. After installing the Alexa plugin, you\u2019ll need to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.homebridge.ca\/newuser\">set up an account<\/a> for the skill.<\/p>\n<p>Enter your login credentials in the HOOBS Alexa plugin <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/hoobs.local\/plugin\/homebridge-alexa\">configuration page<\/a>. Then, install the Homebridge Alexa skill in the Amazon Alexa app and link the skill to your account.<\/p>\n<h3 >Adding Google Assistant support to Homebridge<\/h3>\n<p>Google Assistant support has been particularly useful for me as I now use a Pixel 6 Pro. While most devices around the house have integration support with Google assistant through their respective apps, using HomeBridge makes adding all the devices from different apps at once extremely simple.<\/p>\n<p>The plugin to connect to your Google account is Gsh. Install the plugin, then go to the configuration page. From that page, select Link Account and sign in to your Google account. From the Google Home app on your <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.google.android.apps.chromecast.app&amp;hl=en_US&amp;gl=US\">Android<\/a> or <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/google-home\/id680819774\">iOS device<\/a>, select Plus in the upper left corner &gt; Set up device &gt; Works with Google &gt; and add the Homebridge service. From there, log in with the same Google account.<\/p>\n<p>The Homebridge-connected devices will show up under Linked to you. You can then move each device to the desired home and room within the Google Home app.<\/p>\n<h2 >The downsides of Homebridge<\/h2>\n<p>Homebridge and HOOBS are fantastic solutions. The software allows otherwise totally unsupported devices to be integrated into HomeKit. There are other bridges available, but these tend to be very brand-specific devices. Using HOOBS, you can use almost any smart device with HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant. But, it isn\u2019t a perfect solution.<\/p>\n<p>Getting the setup right for devices is a bit more complicated. When I was installing the TPLink smart plugin, the HOOBS web interface froze, and I had to unplug my Raspberry Pi to get it unfrozen. Once it was set up, however, I haven\u2019t had any issues. Everything has been working as expected.<\/p>\n<p>There are also security considerations. I am comfortable using the software and the various plugins in my home, but native HomeKit devices are arguably more secure than installing HomeBridge plugins that rely on cloud services.<\/p>\n<h2 >Is Homebridge the solution for you?<\/h2>\n<figure ><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment- src=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/2022\/04\/26\/add-smarthome-devices-to-homekit\/homebridge-software\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Homebridge-software.png\" data-orig-size=\"2254,764\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='\"aperture\":\"0\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"0\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"0\",\"iso\":\"0\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"0\"' data-image-title=\"Homebridge-software\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Homebridge-software.png?w=655\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Homebridge-software.png?w=1000\" title=\"Unify your smart home with HOOBS \u2013 bring unsupported devices into Apple's HomeKit [Video]\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2254\" height=\"764\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Homebridge-software.png 2254w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Homebridge-software.png?resize=155,53 155w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Homebridge-software.png?resize=655,222 655w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Homebridge-software.png?resize=768,260 768w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Homebridge-software.png?resize=1024,347 1024w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Homebridge-software.png?resize=1536,521 1536w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Homebridge-software.png?resize=2048,694 2048w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Homebridge-software.png?resize=350,119 350w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Homebridge-software.png?resize=1600,542 1600w, https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/Homebridge-software.png?resize=150,51 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2254px) 100vw, 2254px\"><\/figure>\n<p>That certainly depends, but if you have myriad apps on your phone all with the dedicated purpose of controlling one of your many smart devices, Homebridge or HOOBS could certainly be a great solution. It allows you to uninstall or move all those apps to the App Library while you use Apple\u2019s Home app or Siri for almost every smart home-related need.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re just a bit tech-savvy, it doesn\u2019t take too long to set up, and you can add way more smart home devices than work natively with HomeKit. And, with each non-compatible device you bring into HomeKit, you can save money over the native options. There is even support for HomeKit Secure video now through <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/koush\/scrypted\">scrypted<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Do you have favorite smart home devices? Let us know in the comments down below!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">\n<p><!-- youtube embed -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"source-image\">https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/9to5mac.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/12\/HOOBS-featured.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&#038;quality=82&#038;strip=all&#038;ssl=1<\/div>\n<div class=\"source-link\">https:\/\/9to5mac.com\/2022\/04\/26\/add-smarthome-devices-to-homekit\/<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unify your smart home with HOOBS \u2013 bring unsupported devices into Apple\u2019s HomeKit [Video] HomeKit\u2019s ecosystem is fantastic, but the directly compatible devices can get expensive \u2013 especially if you already have incompatible devices at home that you need to replace. $25 for a smart plug, $40 for a door sensor \u2013 it really adds [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2967,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pr.gagadget.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2966"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pr.gagadget.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pr.gagadget.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pr.gagadget.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pr.gagadget.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2966"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pr.gagadget.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2966\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pr.gagadget.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pr.gagadget.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2966"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pr.gagadget.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2966"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pr.gagadget.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2966"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}