The Aqara Oppel 6 button Zigbee switch is one of my favourite HA remotes (and are what I use the most to control all the most common things at home). The six buttons are arranged in rocker pairs (each with 4 actions: single, hold, double, triple tap) - with some contextual programming in HA & ```input_select``` cycling, you can really cram a tonne of functionality into one of these. It also comes with a wall-mountable magnetic base plate.
@@lawrencemanning I only use the more complex/powerful controls myself (to easily control most things in the house). For guests/family I have set up simpler single (multi-click) buttons (with a small printed cheat sheet of what each type of click does). But I prefer most functions to be fully automated (by motion/contact sensors etc.), so that guests only need to use buttons as overrides (such as turning automated bedroom lights off at night).
I use this too. WIth it's 30 triggers it can do a lot of stuff. Sadly it does not have a repeated hold trigger so doing dimming with this requires a repeated loop of some kind. I also made a 3d printed rebuild of this switch that makes it much smaller. It's on Printables (441190)
@@strawwmann3131 I think once you fall back to “cheat sheets” it’s a user interface failure. The Harmony remotes were just so much better than a bunch of numbered buttons. FWIW I don’t have motion activated lighting in my bedrooms because you end up not wanting it sometimes.
The 4 button HUE switch included with the Phillips Aurelle ceiling light I recently got has a nice feature: It sends a repeated signal about 1.5 times per second when the buttons are held down. This makes dimmer and similar automations much simpler, as you don't need any weird "repeat this loop until other trigger detected" stuff, which I had to do when dimming with the Aqara Opple. Each button has 4 actions in HA; press, press release, hold, hold release, and the hold repeats itself. Sadly it does not have any double or tripple press.
@@digiblurDIY I mean that the hold trigger is fired from the remote repeatedly by holding it down. My other switches only sends the signal once on press, and once on release, so if I want to dim a light by holding a button down I need to add a loop in the automation that waits for another trigger, and that makes them much more complicated to set up. If the loop is badly made it can lock up the whole automation.
Best remote I have is a Logitech harmony. Their backend programming server & software sux but the remote (IR only) works great. When they turn off the server I dunno what I'll use to replace it.
I got a Sofabaton(OG Bluetooth/IR), Wall switches(433), several single buttons(433), and a couple Generic remotes(433). All locally attached to Home Assistant and the 433 stuff I use because of the incredible range and extreme battery life. I'm really loving Bluetooth remotes like the Sofabaton with Home Assistant now even though they were originally a bit tough to get set up.
From the reviews I've seen for the Switch bot, I've suspected that it's not a good fit for Home Assistant. Thank you for your clear confirmation of this.
There's the Philips Gen 2 WiZ Remote, AKA the WiZmote. I haven't tried to use it with HA yet, but I have one paired to my DigUno with WLED. They're RF with an esp8266 inside and run on AAA batteries. Someone has figured out espHome for it, too. Under $20.
Just say no to drugs, to cloud controlled. I remember when Aqara refused to help when I said that I am using 3rd party zigbee hub. A few passes with a towel and a 1000 Watt shine.
I have a few of the ikea zigbee remotes that I like pretty well. There are community blueprints to get them working. Only thing I've noticed different between the older ones that use coin cell and the newer ones that use AAA are that sometimes the coincell need a "wake up" press before they'll send the command.
@@digiblurDIY Less that it needs blueprints, more that people made blueprints to make setup easier and expose all the different things in one easy place.
If i have a long range Bluetooth dongle in my HA server, do i need the Shelly Gateway dongle also or will the Shelly buttons, motion sensors, etc. just work with my existing Bluetooth?
Shelly button 4 not available in Uk and also not available in black! So bored of every bit of IoT having to be white I have a vesternet zigbee remote, we like it although have never managed to leverage double or long press. reaching end of life after about 2.5 years only because one button (most used) is occasionally double triggering
Vinyl dye spray is an easy way to change the color of most plastics. In my experience it works great and doesn't chip or rub off because it's binding with the plastic vs setting on top. Of course then you have to take everything apart, but it allows for more customization of your things, and if you wanted you could color code buttons.
Logitech dropped the ball so hard in this area. They could have owned this market completely in 2024 and just dominated it. Or spun off Harmony for a few bucks and whatever company snapped it up could be killing it now.
"Yo OG!"
I just noticed you have everything in metric! We need more people like you!
The Aqara Oppel 6 button Zigbee switch is one of my favourite HA remotes (and are what I use the most to control all the most common things at home). The six buttons are arranged in rocker pairs (each with 4 actions: single, hold, double, triple tap) - with some contextual programming in HA & ```input_select``` cycling, you can really cram a tonne of functionality into one of these. It also comes with a wall-mountable magnetic base plate.
I’ve looked at similar, but the problem is how does a guest or anyone but you really, know what the buttons do?
@@lawrencemanning I only use the more complex/powerful controls myself (to easily control most things in the house). For guests/family I have set up simpler single (multi-click) buttons (with a small printed cheat sheet of what each type of click does).
But I prefer most functions to be fully automated (by motion/contact sensors etc.), so that guests only need to use buttons as overrides (such as turning automated bedroom lights off at night).
I use this too. WIth it's 30 triggers it can do a lot of stuff. Sadly it does not have a repeated hold trigger so doing dimming with this requires a repeated loop of some kind. I also made a 3d printed rebuild of this switch that makes it much smaller. It's on Printables (441190)
@@strawwmann3131 I think once you fall back to “cheat sheets” it’s a user interface failure. The Harmony remotes were just so much better than a bunch of numbered buttons.
FWIW I don’t have motion activated lighting in my bedrooms because you end up not wanting it sometimes.
The Shelly remote looks pretty interesting.
I’m using the Lutron Pico around the house and then running automations based on what is pressed.
Sometimes it is the simplicity just goes wow...they did make this damn easy for people.
Philips Hue Dimmer Switch is my choice. Looks similar to the Shelly but uses ZigBee. They regularly go on sale too.
Great little remotes!
I didn't even know about that zooz remote. Thanks for the awesome video as always.
The recharge feature is pretty slick and they even allow penta-press.
The 4 button HUE switch included with the Phillips Aurelle ceiling light I recently got has a nice feature: It sends a repeated signal about 1.5 times per second when the buttons are held down. This makes dimmer and similar automations much simpler, as you don't need any weird "repeat this loop until other trigger detected" stuff, which I had to do when dimming with the Aqara Opple. Each button has 4 actions in HA; press, press release, hold, hold release, and the hold repeats itself. Sadly it does not have any double or tripple press.
Sounds like the Zooz. It has the press and release states.
@@digiblurDIY I mean that the hold trigger is fired from the remote repeatedly by holding it down. My other switches only sends the signal once on press, and once on release, so if I want to dim a light by holding a button down I need to add a loop in the automation that waits for another trigger, and that makes them much more complicated to set up. If the loop is badly made it can lock up the whole automation.
@Sneakydecoy yep. Looks like the same way the Zooz is and other zigbee ones with the press and releases I have used.
I like using Switch Manager (installed via HACS) to map the remote buttons in Home Assistant!
Best remote I have is a Logitech harmony. Their backend programming server & software sux but the remote (IR only) works great.
When they turn off the server I dunno what I'll use to replace it.
I got a Sofabaton(OG Bluetooth/IR), Wall switches(433), several single buttons(433), and a couple Generic remotes(433). All locally attached to Home Assistant and the 433 stuff I use because of the incredible range and extreme battery life. I'm really loving Bluetooth remotes like the Sofabaton with Home Assistant now even though they were originally a bit tough to get set up.
Aqara Opple was the best. Hard to find the 6 button version now. My Top 3, Opple (6 button), Ikea hockey puck (5 button), Hue Dimmer V1 (4 button).
I just setup a couple zigbee remotes from IKEA, work great so far and support long/short press and double press.
Same, I've got some Ikea zigbee stuff in random places.
From the reviews I've seen for the Switch bot, I've suspected that it's not a good fit for Home Assistant. Thank you for your clear confirmation of this.
Yeah pretty big pass on that remote.
Thanks Travis.
The Zigbee Aqara Wireless Mini Switch available from Amazon works really well for me.
I’d love a Decora style/fit Zigbee remote. The Zooz one is super nice, just wish there were a Zigbee version somewhere
Sengled used to make one but Phillips Hue also makes one still that is Zigbee
I have ordered a remote from Unfolded Circle. Can't wait to have it replace my Logitech harmony elite.
There's the Philips Gen 2 WiZ Remote, AKA the WiZmote. I haven't tried to use it with HA yet, but I have one paired to my DigUno with WLED. They're RF with an esp8266 inside and run on AAA batteries. Someone has figured out espHome for it, too. Under $20.
Just say no to drugs, to cloud controlled. I remember when Aqara refused to help when I said that I am using 3rd party zigbee hub. A few passes with a towel and a 1000 Watt shine.
I have a few of the ikea zigbee remotes that I like pretty well. There are community blueprints to get them working. Only thing I've noticed different between the older ones that use coin cell and the newer ones that use AAA are that sometimes the coincell need a "wake up" press before they'll send the command.
Seems odd to need a blueprint?
I have mine working directly without blueprints, and work on first press.
@@digiblurDIY Less that it needs blueprints, more that people made blueprints to make setup easier and expose all the different things in one easy place.
Hi dear,you can test Zemismart 4 button too
I'll check that one out. Is it Zigbee?
If i have a long range Bluetooth dongle in my HA server, do i need the Shelly Gateway dongle also or will the Shelly buttons, motion sensors, etc. just work with my existing Bluetooth?
Nope. You just need something to work as a Bluetooth adapter or proxy.
Dumb question (i'm sure)... But is the Shelly stuff Zigbee compatible?
Nope. They aren't doing Zigbee. Zwave, BLE and WiFi
Have you tried any of the Govee BLE remotes?
No I haven't yet. Do they work with BT proxy?
@@digiblurDIY UA-cam must have removed my link. They are supported using ble with the govee integration. I should have mine setup later this month.
Shelly button 4 not available in Uk and also not available in black!
So bored of every bit of IoT having to be white
I have a vesternet zigbee remote, we like it although have never managed to leverage double or long press. reaching end of life after about 2.5 years only because one button (most used) is occasionally double triggering
Vesternet stuff is overpriced, re-badged Sunricher stuff. I have the 8 button z-wave scene controller. Not impressed. Looks cheap and feels cheap too.
Vinyl dye spray is an easy way to change the color of most plastics. In my experience it works great and doesn't chip or rub off because it's binding with the plastic vs setting on top. Of course then you have to take everything apart, but it allows for more customization of your things, and if you wanted you could color code buttons.
@@Path.V nice one thanks
Logitech dropped the ball so hard in this area. They could have owned this market completely in 2024 and just dominated it. Or spun off Harmony for a few bucks and whatever company snapped it up could be killing it now.
If you need a remote, you are doing something wrong :)
Mind reading?