Buying a Xiaomi Gateway & Accessories but Not Sure about Versions

DoaAn on 21/01/2019 - 18:16

Hi,
I need a bit of help with figuring out what I'm buying as far as Xiaomi gateways go.
Leaning towards this one: https://www.shopro.com.au/smart-device-1/xiaomi-mijia-smart-…
I think it's the updated version. Apparently there's a new 6 in 1 bundle coming this week with an international version. What's the difference? Or is the one I linked to the international version?
Also, just to double check, if I get the Aqara Body Sensor, will it connect to the Mi Gateway, or do I need an Aqara one instead? I'm leaning towards getting the Aqara version of the body sensor simply because they can sense if the room is bright and I don't think the Mijia ones can. But I don't really want the Aqara gateway both because it's more expensive and because I've heard it won't connect to Raspberry Pi (which I've ordered).
I've already got a couple of Yeelights set up, though may get either get another for the bathroom, or get a bedside lamp and move the bedroom one to the bathroom.
Basic set up I'm going for is to have light intensity varied depending on time of day, and going on/off depending on motion sensors. And using the motion sensor + gateway as alarm system when I'm out of the house. Pretty sure I can set it all up through Hass.io to have alarm come on/off depending on if I'm home or not. Though maybe I'll include a switch near the door in case it doesn't work. I've also got a Broadlink coming to control the aircon, and want a power socket of some kind to have my fan turn on at bedtime and off when I get up in the morning (I have a bad habit of forgetting to turn it off).
Also want some kind of home assistant for voice commands but I'm not sure if I should get google home mini or echo dot. I have a Macbook & an iPhone 6 so could use those if I can link the Homekit with the pi, but I'm not sure how well that works. Plus, shortcuts aren't working on my iPhone, so I'm not sure if Homekit commands will. Bit confused about it all.

Any advice on the set up would be appreciated. This is my first attempt at any kind of home automation, and at using/setting up a Raspberry Pi. Thanks.

Electrical & Electronics Xiaomi

Comments

  • tryingtohelp on 21/01/2019 - 19:16

    PM me plz

  • batrarobin on 21/01/2019 - 20:12

    TLDR; Just go with Aqara Camera (with in-built Gateway), better value for money and it supports all Mijia and Aqara sensors.

    https://m.catch.com.au/product/aqara-smart-security-ip-gatew…

    • DoaAn on 21/01/2019 - 21:57

      I wasn’t aware that there was a camera with the gateway included. I’ll have to have a look into it. Thanks

  • ZiyiW on 21/01/2019 - 21:16

    Hey, so I have a Mijia smart home system set up, but I'm not sure how it will differ from yours because all of my stuff are the Mainland Chinese versions, not the international version.

    That being said, I can give you some advice kinda. There are just a few questions though. Is your main phone the iphone 6? Or do you use an android?
    You seem to be planning to use Siri, but tbh the raspberry pi solution isn't really great. It's not consistent and will work with less smart home appliances in the future now that Mijia can work with Siri Shortcuts, and more devices support Homekit.

    I'm not sure about the international version, but the Chinese Aqara home gateway natively supports Apple Homekit. It should be the same though.

    This is complicated, it would be best if you could PM me.

    • DoaAn on 21/01/2019 - 22:01

      I only have the iPhone which is why I was leaning towards using Siri, but it doesn’t really bother me to use google or Alexa instead. Siri rarely seems to do what I ask of it anyway, and spoken shortcuts don’t work at all no matter the app.
      Disappointing to hear that about the raspberry but I’ll have fun playing around with it anyway and learning how to set it up. Do you know if it’s more consistent using google or Alexa assistants?

      • ZiyiW on 21/01/2019 - 23:07

        Not quite sure about that one, but you will need an android phone to set it up though.

        • DoaAn on 22/01/2019 - 00:11

          Sorry, to set what up?

          • ZiyiW on 22/01/2019 - 19:41

            @DoaAn: You need the Mijia app to run the system, right? And I'm not quite sure how the Google assistant would work on the iphone.

            • DoaAn on 22/01/2019 - 21:08

              @ZiyiW: Mi Home app is on iOS and works fine. And so does Google Home & Google Assistant. If shortcuts was working I could even say Hey Siri Hey Google to make google assistant do something.
              There's also a Home Assistant app for iOS, but I'm not sure yet how that works. I'll be using Hass.io on the raspberry pi to link up my aircon (via broadlink), my tv and fan as well as the xiaomi sensors.
              Ideally, I'd love to have my alarm & lights turn on/off depending on whether I'm working that evening, but it might be better to just have hass.io track if I'm home and automate it that way.
              Main reason I'm thinking of getting a voice assistant linked up is to be really lazy and tell the lights to go to certain scenes without having to pull out my phone and navigate to the app. That and to more easily play & pause music. At the moment Siri (on my Mac) doesn't alway understand and instead of just pressing play if I'm using Spotify, will open itunes and play a random song on that. Plus if I tell it to pause the music, it says Ok, and does nothing.

  • bdl on 21/01/2019 - 21:17

    if I get the Aqara Body Sensor, will it connect to the Mi Gateway, or do I need an Aqara one instead?

    it will connect…

    Plus, the Gateway you got will be fine with hass.io

    • DoaAn on 21/01/2019 - 22:02

      Thanks for the reply. It’s good know it won’t be an issue

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