FabianThe Hue Secure system, which was launched around two months ago and so far consists of three different camera models and contact sensors, still has many unresolved issues. Today I would like to answer two interesting questions from the community about Hue Secure and the connected smart home cameras from Philips Hue as soon as more than one bridge is involved.
I have Hue lights spread across four Bridges throughout my house, on three floors and also in the garden. If I activate the security system because I leave the house, do I have to do this four times, once per bridge? If the system detects movement in the basement at night, can I then flash the light in the bedroom (other Bridge) or throughout the house (several Bridges) or only in the basement?
Here is the first piece of bad news: Philips Hue currently treats multiple Bridges completely separately from each other. And the Hue Secure system can only be activated manually. This actually means that you arm the system on the first bridge, then switch to the second bridge and flip the switch there too. Automatic arming, for example via geofencing, is not yet available.
Nevertheless, if you are connected to the first Bridge in the app and you receive a Hue Secure alarm from the second Bridge, you can switch directly to the corresponding alarm via the push notification. However, this alarm can only be activated for the lamps that are linked to the respective Bridge.
Light alarm must be activated manually each time
Is it really true that I have to manually trigger the alarm myself as soon as I receive a message via the contact sensor or camera?
This is another question about Hue Secure that I received this week. Unfortunately, the user in question has already recognised the situation correctly. At the moment, Hue Secure only sends you a push notification and records a video clip when motion is detected. Anything beyond this must be activated manually. This applies in particular to the light alarm, which can cause selected or all lights to flash.
Anyone who does not notice the message cannot trigger the alarm. To prevent missing alarms, a possible solution would be a timer. For example, if the timer expires after one or two minutes and there is no response to the push notification, the alarm should go off automatically. What is also not helpful: Philips Hue only sends normal notifications for Hue Secure alarms, which are filtered out by the “Do not disturb” mode of iOS, for example.
Philips Hue Secure Camera
from $199.99 / €199.99 / £174.99
Let Philips Hue keep an eye on your home for you! Get a crisp, clear 1080p HD live stream, turn on the lights or send an alert to your mobile device when motion is detected, or even trigger a sound alarm with a tap in the Hue app. This wired home security camera is easy to mount and install in any home.
