Wireless Stat Options

Hive does not require a subscription but BG will pester you to sign up to Hive+ which includes a subscription. Hive+ offers some more diagnostics about your system and I believe some other benefits supposed to make your system more efficient. Myself as long as it switches on when I want it and warms the place to my desired temperature that suits me.

Richard

Hi Richard

Thanks for the reply.

Do you know whether the remote (smart) app based control works without the subscription? That bit didn't seem clear to me.

Also, your reference to BG, presumably British Gas, I have no dealings with them. Not clear how they would know of my Hive plans!

Phil

British Gas (Centrica) own Hive. You do not have to be a BG customer to use Hive.

Be aware that BG have already dropped some Hive branded products effectively bricking them.

Thanks Alan

Comments noted

You can get wireless thermometers e.g.

Once you have them in place you can set up automations through a variety of sources. Starting with the Smartlife app, moving through Google Home, and culminating in a fully fledged install of HomeAssistant on a HomeAssistantOperatingSystem appliance.

My lash up just uses the thermostat (in hallway) to switch on/off based on the temperature in the louge. It also has some fallback switch offs for when SWMBO manually overrides it (by using Google Home voa voice control).

Hive is a British Gas product don’t worry you are not tied down to them as your supplier. Use of the app does not require a subscription. You can set schedules and manually override them in the app. You can also use voice control we use Alexa. The most benefit of Hive is achieved by using their smart TRVs which can exercise heat on demand this means you can literally heat whichever rooms you want without any zoning.

Richard

Thanks Richard

Smart TRVs sound interesting. Unfortunately I only recently replaced my TRVs with plain Draytons. Eyebrows might be raised if I suggested swapping all those out!

Phil

I've used a Hive stat for a few years. Works without a sub, including away from home. No complaints - does that reliably.

The 'benefit' of the subscription is, AFAICS, access to more data - time 'on' over the past week, for example. The claim is that by subscribing that data than then be applied to save energy. Without the sub I've only got access to today and yesterday.

I suppose the concern with these things is that the cloud access could be withdrawn, or charged for. I think in that case it should still work at home, without access to the cloud. Not sure about that though.

FYI, I've just added a few cheap (£12) wireless TRVs to my Hive system. They work well, but don't talk to the main thermostat. So you can't use one of the wireless TRVs to fire up the CH for example.

Sell them on e-bay?

Which is why I D-I-Yed my own. It's more technical to set up as a result, but it doesn't need the internet at all except to know what time it is. And send warning emails

I am wary of any system which requires an internet connection to work, ie schedules etc are stored in the cloud. I use the Evohome system, the controller stores all the schedules etc and internet access is only required for remote access which is optional. Smart TRVs are often just replacement heads for existing valve bodies, the ability for each thermostat to "call for heat" is a major feature especially in older less well insulated houses.