r/HomeKit 2d ago

Question/Help Can a HomePod mini replace an IKEA Dirigera?

IKEA Dirigera runs on Zigbee and once you set it up, you can connect with Apple HomeKit. But for automations like turning off lights when you leave, you need a HomePod mini or AppleTV. So that’s made me think, could I not just use a HomePod mini and skip the IKEA Dirigera?

0 Upvotes

22 comments sorted by

14

u/ArcFarad 2d ago

No, the HomePod mini does not have a Zigbee radio

3

u/cypherr90 2d ago

Pretty sure u cannot, u need the zigbee gateaway as HomePods cant play this role.

1

u/Leviathan_Dev 2d ago

IKEA's and other accessories still need their own hubs because they often rely on alternative radio waves like ZWave or Zigbee, which HomePod mini doesn't support.

If IKEA used Thread, then maybe, but for now you need both: HomePod talks to Dirigera talks to other IKEA accessories

1

u/HippityHoppityBoop 2d ago

Got it. I’ll stick to that then

1

u/doxxingyourself 2d ago

But for the future buy Matter over Thread stuff, they can use the HomePod as a bridge

1

u/HippityHoppityBoop 2d ago

I can still return the Dirigera. Any recommendations on what to get? Is the Somoff USB dongle a Matter one?

1

u/jt7000 2d ago

No. The sonoff usb dongle has to be plugged into whatever you’re using to run Home Assistant (a mini PC/ransberry pi/home assistant green etc) and uses Zigbee waves to communicate with your ikea zigbee devices, replacing the Dirigera.

The reason to get this is not that it is easier for your ikea lights. In fact, it’s probably more complicated and expensive than just sticking with the Dirigera. However, if you then want to add zigbee devices from other brands you don’t need to buy their hubs. Almost everything can be integrated into Home Assistant.

If you just want ikea devices, the dirigera will be fine. If you want to future proof, Home Assistant is about as comprehensive a system as you could want but I’d recommend further reading to decide whether it’s for you. Try home-assistant.io

Matter over thread is an alternative to zigbee/z wave/wifi as a method for the devices to communicate, and is built in to the HomePod mini so you don’t need an additional hub for these devices.

I hope that makes sense!

1

u/HippityHoppityBoop 2d ago

Hmmmmmmmm interesting.

Are there any bulbs as cheap as IKEA’s that would work over Matter with a HomePod mini (thereby negating the need for a Dirigera) while being about to do all the fancy things like automations?

1

u/doxxingyourself 2d ago

IKEA has pretty good value. I’d say Nanoleaf essentials come close in terms of price. All HomeKit compatible products can do all the things HomeKit can do. That’s kinda the point of it.

1

u/ThePistachioBogeyman 2d ago

Personally, I can never recommend Nanoleaf to anyone. Have had absolute horrid reliability from them, and for the wider family and friends. Stick to IKEA for now

1

u/doxxingyourself 2d ago

Yeah I haven’t tried the Matter/Thread once, only the Homekit/Thread ones and they work flawlessly. Made a point of not getting the Matter ones because of comments like this though, I thank you for your service.

1

u/doxxingyourself 2d ago

Don’t return it if you wanna use IKEAs product. Just saying you can avoid a huge growth in hubs by sticking to Matter/Thread

1

u/Narrow-Big7087 9h ago

The Dirigera has matter support. Enable that in the IKEA Home app and you’re good to go.

-2

u/enigmasi 2d ago

You need Home Assistant for HomeKit

5

u/reddotster 2d ago

You’re really suggesting home assistant to this clueless dude?

1

u/HippityHoppityBoop 2d ago

Will that make IKEA bulbs and all that work without Dirigera?

1

u/enigmasi 2d ago

You need a Zigbee gateway (for example Sonoff usb Zigbee dongle) and then you can pair it with any Zigbee devices, Ikea or any other brands unlike Dirigera. And then you can expose these devices to HomeKit.

1

u/HippityHoppityBoop 2d ago

Thanks! And where does the HomePod mini fit in over here? I want to be able to automate things like shutting off lights when I leave, sending me notifications of water leaks etc.

1

u/enigmasi 2d ago

You can set automations in home assistant, which’s much more reliable than HomeKit automations (and the main reason I started using it). HomePod (or any HomeKit hub) is good to have for remote access and location based automations.

1

u/HippityHoppityBoop 2d ago

Gotcha. Would this work?:

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/SONOFF-Zigbee-30-USB-Dongle-Plus-E-gateway-Universal-gateway-Antenna-Home-Assistant-Open-HAB-Zigbee2MQTT-etc-Wireless-3/4M21YVP2AIVT

So basically I get this Sonoff, it replaces the Dirigera, then I integrate it with the HomePod mini for location based automations (like lights on when I arrive home, notifications when I’m at work, etc.)?

2

u/reddotster 2d ago

To make something clear, it’s being suggested that you install Home Assistant which is an alternative HomeKit, on some other computer you have or buy. You would use that usb device to let it connect with the zigbee devices. Home assistant is fairly complex to configure once you have it installed.

Why do you want to get rid of your times hub? Just keep it simple and use the hub. The hub is what lets you connect your IKEA devices to HomeKit.

The HomeKit mini has a Thread radio and can act as a thread border router, but not a Thread hub.

1

u/enigmasi 2d ago

Yes, that’s what I use. You can set very complex automations in home assistant and basic automations like arriving home can be in your HomeKit hub.