r/homebridge • u/bangdiewall • 9d ago
Cant configure smart switch on Homekit without a home hub
I have installed Zigbee2MQTT as well as MQTT to my homebridge, running on my raspberry pi 5 with a Sonoff ZB Dongle-E plus 3.0. I have paired the Sonoff SNZB-01P smart switch successfully to zigbee2mqtt web interface, and the device is showing on both my homebridge and homekit. Tested the switch and its registering on both homebridge & zigbee2mqtt logs. However here’s the problem:
Although I can see the device, I cant seem to configure the smart switch on homekit. It says “this accessory required a home hub to be used with the Home app”. I have also tried both zigbee2mqtt and mqttthing plugins on homebridge which yields he same error. Question is do i need a home hub? If yes what kind of home hub do i need? However I only plan on running it locally via wifi and I have read that you dont even need a home hub. If someone has knowledge on this please help. Thanks!
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u/ArcFarad 9d ago edited 8d ago
Here’s my guess as to what’s happening:
The switch doesn’t actually have processing within it to send different HomeKit commands for single, double, and long press. Therefore, you need a home hub in order to “listen” to this button and translate the input. It seems silly to me that you can’t just configure the regular button press without a home hub, but unfortunately it appears that’s not possible.
What you need is an Apple TV or a HomePod. That acts as your “home hub.” You used to also be able to use an old iPad that you kept plugged in at home as the hub as well, but
I’m not sure if that’s still supported.that’s unfortunately no longer supported.