An Internet connection is the only way to access the complete functionality of Philips Hue as it currently stands. It is also where any data sent from the wireless motion sensors will be located. Therefore, many users use a hub for an easier setup experience, especially for frequently offline or unreliable devices. It also removes the need to add code to each device, which would require a computer and a separate application whenever you wanted to add a device.
So, Why Does Philips Hue Need a Hub?
The hub is one of the most important parts of the Philips Hue system because it allows you to control each bulb individually or in groups. It also allows you to create scenes that control multiple bulbs simultaneously — like turning on all your lamps when you get home or setting them all to different colors for a party.
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8 Main Reasons Why Phillips Hue Needs a Hub
1. Outdoor and Battery-operated Light Strips Are Also Available With the Hub
First, these light strips are not just for indoor use. They can also be used outdoors. Therefore, if you plan to install them outdoors, you need a hub to control them. This will enable you to turn them on or off whenever needed.
Moreover, if you want to change the color of the light strip, then you will have to connect it to your computer or smartphone so that the changes can be made accordingly. You cannot do this without an internet connection; hence, a hub becomes necessary for such purposes.
Another benefit of buying a hub is that it allows users to control their lights from anywhere in their house or outside. This makes it easy for people who live alone or in apartments where they cannot easily reach every corner of their house due to lack of space and time constraints.
2. The Hub Is Required for Remote Access
The Philips Hue Hub is required for remote access. The hub enables you to control your lights remotely, and it also allows you to connect up to 50 Hue lights at the same time. The Philips Hue Bridge can be purchased separately from the bulbs, but I recommend buying a starter kit with both. This will ensure that everything is set up correctly, and it will make it easier for you to use all of the features of Philips Hue.
The main reason why you need a hub is that it’s required for remote access. The hub enables you to control your lights remotely, and it also allows you to connect up to 50 Hue lights at the same time. The best thing about this is that it’s compatible with most Wi-Fi networks so that even if there are other devices on your network, they won’t interfere with each other or slow down your internet connection.
3. The Hub Reduces Clutter
Many people have a lot of electronic devices in their homes these days, including smart TVs, game consoles, computers, laptops, and more. Having these devices connected to one hub can make things very messy. The Philips Hue Hub helps eliminate this problem by making everything more organized. Having all of your lighting controlled by one device instead of many different ones will reduce clutter around your home or office.
You also don’t have to worry about cables being tangled up with each other or getting damaged when they get stepped on or pulled on by pets or children. If you want to add new lights to your system, you’ll need a hub. The hub is included if you already have a Hue starter kit. Otherwise, if you want to add more lights or upgrade from a starter kit, you’ll need to buy a new Hue bridge (which is what the hub is called).
4. It Offers More Features
The Philips Hue is a smart light bulb system that offers many features. The Hue hub is one of the most important components of the system. It is a small device that connects to your Wi-Fi network and helps in linking all the smart bulbs to your smartphone or tablet via an app.
If you are planning to buy this smart lighting system, you need to know why Philips Hue needs a hub. The Philips Hue hub has the following features:
- It offers more features than just controlling lights
- It provides better security than just using standard bulbs
- It can also be used as a home automation platform
5. You Can Control the Lights From Anywhere
The Philips Hue hub is a small box that connects to your home network. Once it’s up and running, you can control your Hue lights from anywhere in the world using an app on your phone or computer. It’s also a great way to expand your Philips Hue system, as it supports up to 50 bulbs at once (if you have more than that, you should use the HomeKit or Amazon Alexa integration).
The app is simple and easy to use — just hit the big orange button at the top (or swipe right) and then choose which rooms you want to control. You can set each room up with its custom color and brightness level, so if you want one room to be bright red while another is dim green, you’re free to do so.
If you have many bulbs in your house, setting them all up individually might be annoying. Fortunately, there’s an option in the Settings menu called “HomeKit.” This identifies all of your devices as being part of one system for Siri or HomeKit commands; you can add them all into one room and say things like “turn off my lights” instead of needing to say “turn off lights downstairs.”
6. It Offers Support for Voice Assistants
Philips Hue is a smart lighting system that allows you to control your lights with your voice. But, to make this feature work, you need to use the Philips Hue Hub. The Philips Hue Hub is a small device that connects directly to your internet router or modem and processes all the commands from your phone or tablet. It also acts as the go-between for those devices so they can control your lights even when you’re away from home.
It would be best if you had a Philips Hue hub because it offers support for voice assistants like Siri (with HomeKit), Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa.
Voice assistants are becoming more popular among consumers as they allow us to control our homes without touching anything. However, these smart speakers need help from hubs like the Phillips Hue hub to work with other devices like smart thermostats and smart light bulbs.
7. It’s Compatible With Other Smart Home Devices
Philips Hue is the most popular smart bulb system, but you may wonder why it needs a hub. It’s compatible with other smart home devices, so you can use it with your existing products and save money on buying a new hub.
If you own an Echo Dot or Google Home Mini, you already have a hub for Philips Hue. These devices are Bluetooth-only and don’t have Wi-Fi capabilities. They can control any Bluetooth device, which includes the Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus and Hue Go portable lamps. The Philips Hue app is also compatible with most of these devices:
- Amazon Alexa devices (Echo Dot, Echo Show, Amazon Tap)
- Google Home Mini
- Apple Watch (watchOS 3)
8. Better Security
The Philips Hue hub is a small device that can be placed in your home and will connect to your router via Wi-Fi. It’s designed to manage all of your Hue products and allows you to control them from anywhere in the world.
The hub is necessary for security, as it helps keep your home safe from hackers. If you were to use an app like OpenHAB or Home Assistant, there would be no security features on top of this system, which could allow hackers to get into your system and cause serious damage.
The hub allows you to set up a “vacation mode” so that if someone were to try hacking into your system while you were away, they wouldn’t be able to do anything without the right credentials. You can also set up a “presence mode,” which makes sure that only people with permission can access your account while you’re at home.
Why Does Phillips Hue Need a Hub? Wrapping Up
Philips Hue is a smart lighting system that allows you to control your lights with your voice and smartphone. It’s easy to set up and use, but it requires a hub to work. The hub is an essential part of the Philips Hue system because it connects all of your bulbs to the internet and allows them to be controlled from any location. Without the hub, you’d have to manually change each bulb whenever you wanted them on or off, which would defeat the purpose of having a smart home in the first place.
If you enjoyed this article, check out our “Why Does My Ecobee Say Unoccupied?” article here!