TP-Link Tapo H100 Smart Hub with Chime Review: Adds flexibility

Verdict

The TP-Hyperlink Tapo H100 Sensible Hub with Chime is affordable, compact and simple to arrange. Whereas most bulbs and sensible plugs within the Tapo ecosystem don’t want a hub, this elective one permits you to add low-power Web of Issues (IoT) merchandise together with sensible mild switches, doorbells, and door and movement sensors. Greater than that, it will increase the scope for automation in your Tapo system, for instance through the use of switches and sensors to set off different actions. It’s an amazing product, however in the event you’re planning a specific state of affairs, test you’ll be able to’t save extra money by shopping for the H100 or the same H200 hub in a bundle.

Introduction

One of many issues I’ve all the time preferred about TP-Hyperlink’s Tapo and Kasa sensible ecosystems is that neither wanted a hub, decreasing their problem and preliminary outlay. Nevertheless, with out one, Tapo couldn’t assist low-power wi-fi units, limiting the vary of sensors and different gear TP-Hyperlink might provide.

Now the corporate has launched two sensible hubs. The Tapo H100 Sensible Hub with chime (reviewed right here) acts as a bridge between low-power Tapo units and different gadgets within the vary.

The H200 Sensible Hub with chime is just a little greater, and provides a wired Ethernet connection and MicroSD card slot that may present storage for chosen Tapo safety cameras.

Design and options

• Plug-sized gadget
• Easy to arrange
• Provides low-power Tapo gadget assist

The H100 is simply the scale of a small energy adaptor, and it plugs straight right into a mains socket. Give it a second to start out up, then you should utilize the ‘Add’ button within the Tapo app to find and add it – you’ll be prompted to use any obtainable firmware updates, too.

By itself the H100 is pretty ineffective, aside from including a speaker that may be triggered by different Tapo units. The hub’s primary function, nevertheless, is to hyperlink battery-powered Tapo gear to your wi-fi community, and subsequently the broader Tapo ecosystem. TP-Hyperlink is releasing extra low energy IoT units, however on the time of writing the checklist included the S200B button, S200D dimmer swap, S210 and S220 mild switches, T310 and T315 humidity sensors, T110 door sensor and T100 movement sensor. Right here I’m reviewing the H100 with the T100 movement sensor – I’ve reviewed the S220 mild swap individually.

As soon as the H100 is configured, it’s easy so as to add some other units that require it. So as to add the TP-Hyperlink Tapo T100 Sensible Movement Sensor, for instance, you take away its battery insulating tab, then simply add from the app such as you would some other Tapo product. TP-Hyperlink says the T100 is delicate throughout a 120° angle at as much as seven metres. It’s mounted through a ball-joint that allows you to fine-tune the route it’s pointing in.

Relying on the units you’re utilizing with it, the H100 makes a variety of eventualities doable. For instance, you should utilize the S200B Sensible Button to activate a lightweight, or use the T110 Sensible Contact (door) sensor to set off the hub to play an alarm or doorbell sound. One downside with the latter state of affairs is that the speaker isn’t particularly loud – it’s unlikely to scare off any burglars, and also you won’t even hear it if it’s tucked away.

I put in the T100 movement sensor within the ceiling nook of our downstairs hallway, with the concept that I’d use the sensor and hub to show three Tapo sensible bulbs on when motion was detected. Relying on the time of day I wished completely different behaviour: lights on brightly and instantly throughout bedtime hours, and a extra relaxed and heat mild within the evenings and mornings.

I used the Sensible web page within the Tapo app to configure a number of automation scenes, every of which is switched on and off relying on the time of day. Looking back, I overcomplicated issues, however the important behaviours I wished labored completely. The sensor has three sensitivity ranges – on the default, center one it reliably detected human motion with out being triggered by my cat.

Initially, the Tapo app warned me that the T100 sensor was being activated a number of occasions a day, and that this may result in a shorter battery life. However regardless of being in one of many busiest components of our home, it was nonetheless working 9 months after I first put in it. The sensor will get its energy from a hefty, replaceable CR2450 lithium cell that TP-Hyperlink says will final for 2 years – it’s a disgrace there’s no rechargeable battery, although.

Efficiency

• Low energy use
• Good wi-fi vary

The TP-Hyperlink Tapo H100 Sensible Hub with chime ties up a single energy socket, nevertheless it’s compact sufficient that it gained’t get in the way in which of neighbouring ones. It barely makes use of any energy, falling beneath the minimal one Watt that my mains meter can detect.

Though the H100 and T100 use low-power wi-fi communications, their vary seems to be a minimum of nearly as good as you’d count on from a regular 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection. That’s largely as a result of they solely want a low bandwidth, and since they use decrease frequency radio within the 868/922 MHz vary, which is much less affected by obstructions. I attempted transferring the hub and sensor to the 2 extremes of my home, with the sign impeded by a concrete ground. They nonetheless communicated with none issues.

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