SwitchBot Hub Mini Smart Remote – IR Blaster, Link SwitchBot to Wi-Fi (Support 2.4GHz), Control TV, Air Conditioner, Compatible with Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT (White)

SwitchBot pressing buttons inside my R2D2
Bought this combo pack with the SwitchBot Hub Mini and its included SwitchBot fingerbot – plus also ordered another SwitchBot fingerbot. Got all of this because had two buttons – the main power button & an AC power button – that had to be pushed one after another on a Power Bank inside a starwars HD-R2D2 droid that I did not want to open up all the time when I wanted to turn it on and off. SwitchBot works great & presses quickly when you finally figure out how to get the results that you want.Great with bluetooth connecting to the switchbot app. But of course you will be using the SwitchBot Hub Mini to have full versatility to give audio verbal commands. Works great if you then connect to Google because could use my Google Nest Mini to verbally give commands to “Turn On R2D2” and later to “Turn Off R2D2” – where google solved the trick where had to issue two commands in a single command automation to have two separate SwitchBot fingerbots to each separately one after another to first press the power button & then second press the AC button to then power up the AC power adapter plugged into the power bank to “Turn On R2D2”.However, when using Alexa on an Amazon Echo, could not combine commands for the two fingerbots to have each specifically press the two different separate buttons in a single alexa command routine because the routine would only activate only one fingerbot to do both presses on only one button. Oh well, gotta do two separate alexa audio commands if using Amazon Alexa.Another minor issue was I had to place each fingerbot at an angle because each button presser did not press deep enough on the buttons – but fortunately there were the extra double-sided 3M mounting tape pieces to help securely tilt/angle each fingerbot to be able to actually press each button.Minor issues but this is still a wonderful worthwhile solution to the problem of how to remotely press buttons inside an enclosed space that you do not want to always open up. Very much worth paying for. And fortunately the batteries are replaceable.Thanks So Much to both SwitchBot & Amazon for this combined remote pushbutton technology.

It can do the job of multiple remotes
At first, it didn’t work and connect with my Switchbot Window tilt for whatever reason. The next morning it somehow connected on its own, so i don’t know maybe their servers were down? But even then I initially thought, no way I paid 40 bucks just to use my alexa with my new window tilt… right?Well it can connect to pretty much anything you use a remote for, and if you place it in an optimal angle in the middle of the room it can send signals to all of those configurations that it remembers. My Samsung TV, a Bose soundbar, and LED lights were all IR-remote operated devices that Alexa couldn’t control, and the most I could do before was use smart plugs to turn them on or off on command by shutting the power off. I bought this for the window tilt but it solved those problems too. I can turn the volume up on the soundbar by telling Alexa, when I needed a separate remote for the sound or tv. You can custom map any button and this generally works better than the preset profiles. It’s also a cool feature for unknown devices. Like my LED lights, instead of struggling to angle the remote the right way and press that one almost broken button to get the color you want, just make this hub remember it once, and this hub operates that product better than its own remote… In the picture that’s 3 remotes I don’t physically need to use anymore because I mapped their buttons on the app. They’ll also show up for alexa, but mostly basic command like turning them on or off. The trick here is to make a “scene” on the switchbot app, which basically just presses the specific button or sequence of buttons you want, then add that scene to alexa. On alexa, make a routine: “when I say ___” -> play scene. It’s a funky process but once you set it up it will work flawlessly, and alexa just sends the forwards to the switchbot app to get the exact button on the remote you want. For something’s alexa knows what to do already, so it’s even better.So far it’s a solid product. Only reason I don’t give it 5 stars is because it didn’t work out of the box, and that I feel like this could’ve been a little cheaper. Like if you just pick this thing up you’ll know it couldn’t have cost more than 7 bucks to make. Still serving its purpose way better than I expected, with no lags so can’t complain.

I recently purchased the Switchbot Curtain Rod 2 and installed this is my bedroom. They work fantastically, but it was a little frustrating having to open the app every time i wanted to open/close the curtains. The app is very well designed but it just felt like a faff to keep going into my phone every time. As a result i decided to order the swithbot button which works great. On further research i came across the hub mini which allows your switchbot devices to connect with Alexa/Google Home. Having a ton of alexas in our home i thought i would order and give it a try.The hub mini is a very small and compact device. Installation was super easy, connect to a USB power source (cable but no plug included – however i just plugged the included USB lead into a wall socket with USB power points). Connecting the hub to the app was again very simple – the app walks you through this. Within a couple of minutes i had linked the hub to the relevant switchbot Alexa skill and voila – my curtains were now Alexa controlled! Once connected to your wifi network you can also remotely control devices away from your home environment, such as opening your curtains from work or even abroad! Fantastic for security.What i was not aware of is that the hub mini also has an infrared sender, so you can set this little guy up to control your other smart devices – this includes your TV, Projectors, Sky etc. Programming the device to control my Optoma projector was a piece of cake – the app again walks you through this and inputing the manufacturer and model number of your smart device finds the relevant IR codes. You then walk through a test screen to ensure the buttons are all doing what they are suppost to do. If any of the buttons don’t work properly or your device is not known then the app allows you to send your own IR codes directly by pointing your remote at the hub and pressing the relevant button. It auto learns this code and programmes the remote in the switchbot app.Overall if you have switchbot devices then the hub mini is a must! It’s good value and has a ton of extra features that i didn’t even know it had.I hope that you found my review helpful.

Great product