I can only imagine how much work went into making this video, from planning each scene to all the fabulous outfit changes. Much respect for your effort!
Thoroughly enjoyable videos! I love the humor and how expertly you weave in technical details. I rate this channel a 10 out of 10 -- no, 11 out of 10! Keep it up, please!
You just keep getting better.....looking at all that gorgeousness! YES, I have bought a load of NFC tags and finally have HA, so after watching this.....definitely in heaven 😊
Been using these for ages, really good. I also use the Tuiss blinds which have a hacs integration. Now your next stage is to use an FSR for bed occupancy with an ESPhome sensor so the curtain times can react to if you or your other half are away and adjust accordingly and so forth. Bed occupancy can turn on low level floor lighting at night if you get up etc. game changer.
@@handsonkatie I actually have a partial write up on my GitHub for the fsr. Can’t link here but it’s under iainphay Got some spare PCBs as well if you want one? For Tuiss blinds2go is the supplier and they have a great range of fabrics and can be custom size which is why I like them 👍
I was actually thinking about that the other day, why is it in the age of technology the BBC et al abandoned all these technology shows??? Tomorrow's world, gadget show etc!! Oh well, if you want a job done properly........ get a Welsh loon to do it!! Oh wait... 😊
@@handsonkatie oh gosh that takes me back, tomorrow's world was brilliant they need to bring it back! Some of them are on RUclips and I keep going down that rabbit hole :)
What has baffled me about the switchbot curtains motors is why they sell then singly, rather than in pairs, surely everybody has two curtains? Another great video thank you
Hey Leona! 👋 I agree, although I actually have a few single curtains in my house!! They do sell twin packs and four packs from memory that have decent discounts too!
Good shout - there's actually a whole array of ways to connect, so it'd be quite some video on its own. Switchbot Integration can run via Bluetooth or cloud app, it's also matter compatible so you can connect through that, plus all the other ecosystems (eg homekit). I went with a Bluetooth proxy to keep it local as you touch on, so it should keep running...
The cost being compared to a motorised curtain rail is outrageous. Two of these are needed for a pair of curtains and a hub for Alexa. My Quoya motorised curtain rail is quite a bit cheaper and includes Alexa. Curtains close automatically at dusk and can be grouped to open at the same time. You also get a remote control though I prefer Alexa. Very reliable and the program is stored in the motorised device so no need to rely on an app running.
Not sure I follow. Different market - eg lots of people rent, students in accommodation and so on, so can't permanently fit new curtain tracks anyway. Just looked up Quoya and price is slightly higher for a standard 5m run? You also don't need the hub to run this (I use Home Assistant) and the Quoya look like zero compatibility beyond limited ecosystems like Alexa. So seem very different products and can't see your price point. I am on the look out for smart curtain rail units, but not sure Quoya would fit my requirements at the moment
Quoya QL600 (5m run) is £1 more than Switchbot taking account of both or neither having 10% off. I then added in the cost of the Switchbot hub you mentioned. I think it's unfair to say it's more expensive. Conpatibility is Tuya smart app (supports zigbee), Alexa, Google, Siri, Apple watch. I have the 5 mete solution with a wide bay window. That's my point. Not all of your videos are suitable for students.
Yep that seems about right, so I think the 'outrageous cost' point is overstated then - ie £1!! Likewise the hub also does an awful lot more if you want it to control all your devices, but the curtains work great without it too!
Nah. I think I made the point, twice, that I was including the hub and, regardless, that I was reacting to you saying motorised curtains are more expensive which, as you've just pointed out, is wrong. The hub is £80. What more does it do than the Quoya inbuilt, linking to other curtains, smart app etc ?
I think paying £180 to open a pair is curtains is more than enough, without adding £80 on top for features that may not be needed and the 3 metre motorised track is cheaper of course.
Hello beautiful friend, it's a pleasure to see you, I like to see everything you do, I don't understand your language but the love for you makes me watch your videos, I fall in love with you, best regards friend❤❤❤
Informational video, thank you. Question regarding using them on curtains covering a sliding door. Currently there is a 3 piece blackout curtain set covering the door, with 2 curtains moving to the left and one moving to the right, there is no (equal) center where 2 modules can be set, one side would need to operate longer than the other. Do you see a workaround for this, other than using one module to open the set of 3 all to one side, while still using voice commands? I'm not sure turning sync off and operating them independently would work. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Hey, I 'think' this would be fine if uneven. You basically set them up by moving them to the 'curtain closed' position, then it moves the right curtain as far as it can move until it hits resistance (ie the end), it then does the same to the left. And it then saves these positions as the open/close spots. So the fact one side is longer shouldn't really make any difference at all!
Nice one! thanks for sharing this content. BTW, maybe I lost something because of my bad English listening skill, but can I still manually pull the curtain when I have the SwitchBot installed or should I always use it to control the curtain. Which's can be a little bit difficult when you have a little kid at home and you know how fun they can be :D
I have a double sided curtain and I actually managed to get a switchbot curtain 2 to tug on both of the sides, you just need 2 strings and a reach around two nails at the end of the track on each side. Then hooked each cable to each of the prongs on the device, and to the peg of the other side of the curtain. When the device pushes on one side, it pulls on the other, and vice-versa. Was surprised it could actually drive the weight.
First! Also, that really pulled back the curtain on another aspect of home automation that I had not realized existed. Which might mean we need curtains now. Thanks for sharing, Katie!
Darn, you're quick!!! Yes, I confess I was actually the same - I'd never realised how handy they were - the title is not a joke, I have smart lights everywhere, but I'd forgotten about making that big burning ball of fire in the sky smart also!! 🤣😂
@@handsonkatie Frankly, turning the sun smart sounds like a recipe for cosmic horror. Not sure how to feel about that, but my thoughts would be insignificant anyway.
Cool idea and the wheels of HA did turn with interest until I clocked the ratcheting up price: It would cost us almost £1000 just to address the closing the curtains - and we'd need the same number of "somethings" to hoist the roman and venetian blinds in the other rooms , and some of those are really heavy too! Yes, we could do some rooms, but, even so... I suspect I will have to continue swearing when the hooks come off the rings through over aggressive curtain pulling or I stand on the cat, in the dark, fumbling for the edge of the curtain at bedtime. Now, could I offset the reduction in vet bills against buying the curtain robots ? ..... Excel spreadsheet time again.
Hehe! That's the thinking!! I did follow the same pattern actually, installed smart curtains are actually pretty pricey, so these are cost effective vs them (but granted not vs your hands and a lifetime of manual effort!). I'd keep an eye out, they have quite aggressive sales every now and then. Final point is in your excel spreadsheet actually map which curtains you actually open and close each day - if you're like me, you'll find that actually tackling just a couple of rooms would take out most of the trudging around...!
I think automatic curtain closing might be an automation too far for me. I have a wife that hates home automation and also has VERY strong views about how curtains should hang both in the open and closed position. I don't have the curtain skills to keep up with her, so I've basically given up and have left the job to her. So I suppose that I do have remote curtain control, just using a human and not a robot!
I think you've answered your own question, Les - sounds like you have a self-powered robot already. Unfortunately the robots in this household (ie me) are far less diligent than your wife and always forget/have a mad project distracting them!! Although my mischievous side wonders if you should get one anyway and put it in the silent mode - which is literally totally silent and moves reaaaaally slowly. Then you can play games with her by having the curtains gradually move position to where she thought she put them....... ;)
@@handsonkatie It sounds like it might be fun, but I'm not going to risk it. Like I said, her curtain standards are high and her powers of observation mean that I couldn't possibly install the robot without it being discovered. Pick your battles is my watchword!
This is amazingly polished content. It transcends 99% of RUclips. It's like you made a movie or a TV show. I had no interest in curtain robots but I saw the whacky thumbnail and, having watched some of your earlier content (subscribed), I clicked and found myself totally enthralled and watching all the way to the end for the sheer entertainment of it! Are you using a teleprompter? Your delivery is so flawless and emotive! You were born to be in front of the camera. I loved the carefully crafted asides, great jokes, production value, (can't not mention the subtle titillation), and solid info about a great product + integrated home automation scenarios. Thank you for all the hard work you put in to create this and your other content and for the wonderful entertainment and educational value you provide. Looking forward to more.
I'm catching up with you!! They are great, I'm a little ashamed I hadn't clocked them sooner!! And yes, I might have been also flashing some ESPs recently too for the same purpose.....!
Hi Katie, I was wondering if you were able to get quiet drift working. I've recently installed a pair of Curtain 3s but the only way I can get QD to work is via the app.
Hey! Do you mean through HA or AN Other platform? I've got it working scheduled, but I set this up through the app - if through HA, then I can't say I've tested this yet - can have a look and raise with Switchbot if not implemented through matter yet?
Not one mention of how difficult they are to add to Home Assistant since they need Bluetooth access, this means having a bluetooth reciever in every room you have a curtain...
Can't say I had a problem - I've got a couple of esp32s running as bluetooth proxies already, but they serve the whole house, so no idea why you'd need a receiver in every room? 10 mins to set up with esphome's premade installer!
Opening curtains is an essential skill that all children MUST learn from an early age. They will make mistakes, there will be tears, but ultimately the world will be better off. Without this skill future generations could be left sitting in the dark when the machines turn on us!
Interesting video and great perspective on different ways to use. Just a shame they don't fit any of my curtains up stairs. Last time I checked it was cheaper to get an all in one unit 😢. I have a set of curtain 3's down stairs, looking to get some one when on offer
Yeah those Curtain 3 bots are brilliant, still using mine constantly. Did you get the solar panels too? Ours are on south-facing windows and I have never had to charge them manually ever! I also see your vacuum, is that the new S10? I have the K10+ which I prefer because it's smaller and better for our home, but I do like the idea of the proper floor cleaning of the S10.
Hey GeekTech! 😊 Ah, brill to know all working with solar, yes I did get them, they're a great idea! Yes it's the new S10, I'll need to do a video on that at some point. I could see myself wanting both actually. The S10 to do the heavy lifting and the K10 to get into all the nooks and crannies!!
I have a lot of SwitchBot items and they are amazing and the support they offer are outstanding. I have the Curtain 3 they just don't like one set of my curtains so they get stuck a lot so really need to get this fixed so I can do the movie mode bit.
I'd love this but to cover 6 windows with double curtains it adds up to wel over 1000 EUR with the solar chargers. Even when getting them in the sets of 4 which seems to be the best discount available. In a new super insulated house the cost savings of trapping heat will be insignificant. I'll have to wait until the cost comes down unfortunately.
Oh yes most definitely, I'd definitely do this - indeed you can actually map your 'usual' patterns of lights, curtains etc from HA and use this to create a perfect simulation of occupation!! I feel a 'home security' video coming up in future perhaps!!
I can only imagine how much work went into making this video, from planning each scene to all the fabulous outfit changes. Much respect for your effort!
Thank you for the lovely comment, much appreciated and yes I do try my best!!
This is almost an infomercial. I love the quality and it was entertaining. Personally, I would love to see a little more dive into details.
Thoroughly enjoyable videos! I love the humor and how expertly you weave in technical details. I rate this channel a 10 out of 10 -- no, 11 out of 10! Keep it up, please!
Thank you, what a lovely comment, glad you enjoy and I'll try to keep taking it to 11
You just keep getting better.....looking at all that gorgeousness!
YES, I have bought a load of NFC tags and finally have HA, so after watching this.....definitely in heaven 😊
Ha ha hatschi!
Been using these for ages, really good. I also use the Tuiss blinds which have a hacs integration. Now your next stage is to use an FSR for bed occupancy with an ESPhome sensor so the curtain times can react to if you or your other half are away and adjust accordingly and so forth. Bed occupancy can turn on low level floor lighting at night if you get up etc. game changer.
Great tip on Tuiss, I have a room needing some blinds, so I might scout around solutions in future! And love the bed occupancy idea.... pinched!
@@handsonkatie I actually have a partial write up on my GitHub for the fsr. Can’t link here but it’s under iainphay Got some spare PCBs as well if you want one? For Tuiss blinds2go is the supplier and they have a great range of fabrics and can be custom size which is why I like them 👍
Ooh excellent - I'll be in touch, probably a little while until I get around to it, but definitely sounds good!
Just found your channel and watched a few videos. Love your content! Your focus on quality, privacy, transparency, and usability is top notch!
Thanks, glad to know there's like-minded spirits out there! 😊😊
This channel is a great replacement for those of us that used to like the Suzi Perry and Jason Bradbury version of the gadget show
I was actually thinking about that the other day, why is it in the age of technology the BBC et al abandoned all these technology shows??? Tomorrow's world, gadget show etc!! Oh well, if you want a job done properly........ get a Welsh loon to do it!! Oh wait... 😊
@@handsonkatie oh gosh that takes me back, tomorrow's world was brilliant they need to bring it back! Some of them are on RUclips and I keep going down that rabbit hole :)
@@leona_devon I know!!! It was awesome!! I'll need to do a Tomorrow's World imitation episode and only you and me will get it!! 😂😂
I used to enjoy the computer channel .tv on Sky years ago. Then they did away with it.
your B-Rolls are hillarious😂
What has baffled me about the switchbot curtains motors is why they sell then singly, rather than in pairs, surely everybody has two curtains?
Another great video thank you
Hey Leona! 👋 I agree, although I actually have a few single curtains in my house!! They do sell twin packs and four packs from memory that have decent discounts too!
Would have loved to see the integration in HomeAssistant and what features are left if the device isn’t connected to the internet
Good shout - there's actually a whole array of ways to connect, so it'd be quite some video on its own. Switchbot Integration can run via Bluetooth or cloud app, it's also matter compatible so you can connect through that, plus all the other ecosystems (eg homekit). I went with a Bluetooth proxy to keep it local as you touch on, so it should keep running...
Nice video. What was the bedroom light you were showing that had different sleep and wakeup colours?
Thanks! It was a Philips Hue Go light!
great video with good information. Cheers to "mad Welsh (women)"!
The cost being compared to a motorised curtain rail is outrageous. Two of these are needed for a pair of curtains and a hub for Alexa. My Quoya motorised curtain rail is quite a bit cheaper and includes Alexa. Curtains close automatically at dusk and can be grouped to open at the same time. You also get a remote control though I prefer Alexa. Very reliable and the program is stored in the motorised device so no need to rely on an app running.
Not sure I follow. Different market - eg lots of people rent, students in accommodation and so on, so can't permanently fit new curtain tracks anyway. Just looked up Quoya and price is slightly higher for a standard 5m run? You also don't need the hub to run this (I use Home Assistant) and the Quoya look like zero compatibility beyond limited ecosystems like Alexa. So seem very different products and can't see your price point. I am on the look out for smart curtain rail units, but not sure Quoya would fit my requirements at the moment
Quoya QL600 (5m run) is £1 more than Switchbot taking account of both or neither having 10% off. I then added in the cost of the Switchbot hub you mentioned. I think it's unfair to say it's more expensive. Conpatibility is Tuya smart app (supports zigbee), Alexa, Google, Siri, Apple watch. I have the 5 mete solution with a wide bay window. That's my point. Not all of your videos are suitable for students.
Yep that seems about right, so I think the 'outrageous cost' point is overstated then - ie £1!! Likewise the hub also does an awful lot more if you want it to control all your devices, but the curtains work great without it too!
Nah. I think I made the point, twice, that I was including the hub and, regardless, that I was reacting to you saying motorised curtains are more expensive which, as you've just pointed out, is wrong. The hub is £80. What more does it do than the Quoya inbuilt, linking to other curtains, smart app etc ?
I think paying £180 to open a pair is curtains is more than enough, without adding £80 on top for features that may not be needed and the 3 metre motorised track is cheaper of course.
Hello beautiful friend, it's a pleasure to see you, I like to see everything you do, I don't understand your language but the love for you makes me watch your videos, I fall in love with you, best regards friend❤❤❤
Informational video, thank you. Question regarding using them on curtains covering a sliding door. Currently there is a 3 piece blackout curtain set covering the door, with 2 curtains moving to the left and one moving to the right, there is no (equal) center where 2 modules can be set, one side would need to operate longer than the other. Do you see a workaround for this, other than using one module to open the set of 3 all to one side, while still using voice commands? I'm not sure turning sync off and operating them independently would work. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Hey, I 'think' this would be fine if uneven. You basically set them up by moving them to the 'curtain closed' position, then it moves the right curtain as far as it can move until it hits resistance (ie the end), it then does the same to the left. And it then saves these positions as the open/close spots. So the fact one side is longer shouldn't really make any difference at all!
No surprise but this is yet another Genius video of yours!! It is so cool it makes me want to get some curtains!!
Love it! Buying curtains for the Curtain robot!!
Wonder if it could work on shower curtains I could have a lot of fun with guests 😊
😂😂 Psycho mode!!! @@MitchellGreen
Denmark is like Scotland in the winter. Except no bagpipes 🤣
...and more Lego... 🤣
Nice one! thanks for sharing this content.
BTW, maybe I lost something because of my bad English listening skill, but can I still manually pull the curtain when I have the SwitchBot installed or should I always use it to control the curtain.
Which's can be a little bit difficult when you have a little kid at home and you know how fun they can be :D
Yes! You can just give them a pull and the curtainbot starts!
@@handsonkatie amazing! Thank you so much for reply
@@handsonkatie I really can’t wait to have my own house so I can apply all these automated home ideas that you shared
@@Cheng32290 well a lot of them you can start now as they're modular and reusable... Start dreaming!! 😁
I have a double sided curtain and I actually managed to get a switchbot curtain 2 to tug on both of the sides, you just need 2 strings and a reach around two nails at the end of the track on each side. Then hooked each cable to each of the prongs on the device, and to the peg of the other side of the curtain. When the device pushes on one side, it pulls on the other, and vice-versa. Was surprised it could actually drive the weight.
You sir, are a genius!! Love it! 🤩🤩🤩 And the Curtain 3s are even stronger, so could do even more. Brilliant idea!!
Have you seen anything about automating shutters? Thanks.
Switchbot do a shuttered blinds bot also, might be worth a look?
shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=2179719&u=4296288&m=104860&urllink=&afftrack=
First! Also, that really pulled back the curtain on another aspect of home automation that I had not realized existed. Which might mean we need curtains now. Thanks for sharing, Katie!
Darn, you're quick!!! Yes, I confess I was actually the same - I'd never realised how handy they were - the title is not a joke, I have smart lights everywhere, but I'd forgotten about making that big burning ball of fire in the sky smart also!! 🤣😂
@@handsonkatie Frankly, turning the sun smart sounds like a recipe for cosmic horror. Not sure how to feel about that, but my thoughts would be insignificant anyway.
🤣🤣🤣
Cool idea and the wheels of HA did turn with interest until I clocked the ratcheting up price: It would cost us almost £1000 just to address the closing the curtains - and we'd need the same number of "somethings" to hoist the roman and venetian blinds in the other rooms , and some of those are really heavy too! Yes, we could do some rooms, but, even so...
I suspect I will have to continue swearing when the hooks come off the rings through over aggressive curtain pulling or I stand on the cat, in the dark, fumbling for the edge of the curtain at bedtime.
Now, could I offset the reduction in vet bills against buying the curtain robots ? ..... Excel spreadsheet time again.
Hehe! That's the thinking!! I did follow the same pattern actually, installed smart curtains are actually pretty pricey, so these are cost effective vs them (but granted not vs your hands and a lifetime of manual effort!). I'd keep an eye out, they have quite aggressive sales every now and then. Final point is in your excel spreadsheet actually map which curtains you actually open and close each day - if you're like me, you'll find that actually tackling just a couple of rooms would take out most of the trudging around...!
I think automatic curtain closing might be an automation too far for me. I have a wife that hates home automation and also has VERY strong views about how curtains should hang both in the open and closed position. I don't have the curtain skills to keep up with her, so I've basically given up and have left the job to her. So I suppose that I do have remote curtain control, just using a human and not a robot!
I think you've answered your own question, Les - sounds like you have a self-powered robot already. Unfortunately the robots in this household (ie me) are far less diligent than your wife and always forget/have a mad project distracting them!! Although my mischievous side wonders if you should get one anyway and put it in the silent mode - which is literally totally silent and moves reaaaaally slowly. Then you can play games with her by having the curtains gradually move position to where she thought she put them....... ;)
@@handsonkatie It sounds like it might be fun, but I'm not going to risk it. Like I said, her curtain standards are high and her powers of observation mean that I couldn't possibly install the robot without it being discovered. Pick your battles is my watchword!
This is amazingly polished content. It transcends 99% of RUclips. It's like you made a movie or a TV show. I had no interest in curtain robots but I saw the whacky thumbnail and, having watched some of your earlier content (subscribed), I clicked and found myself totally enthralled and watching all the way to the end for the sheer entertainment of it! Are you using a teleprompter? Your delivery is so flawless and emotive! You were born to be in front of the camera. I loved the carefully crafted asides, great jokes, production value, (can't not mention the subtle titillation), and solid info about a great product + integrated home automation scenarios. Thank you for all the hard work you put in to create this and your other content and for the wonderful entertainment and educational value you provide. Looking forward to more.
Thank you for the lovely comment, I certainly try my best!
I'm running over 10 sets now, using esphome Bluetooth Proxyes 😄👍
I'm catching up with you!! They are great, I'm a little ashamed I hadn't clocked them sooner!! And yes, I might have been also flashing some ESPs recently too for the same purpose.....!
My new favorite channel!
Hi Katie, I was wondering if you were able to get quiet drift working. I've recently installed a pair of Curtain 3s but the only way I can get QD to work is via the app.
Hey! Do you mean through HA or AN Other platform? I've got it working scheduled, but I set this up through the app - if through HA, then I can't say I've tested this yet - can have a look and raise with Switchbot if not implemented through matter yet?
Not one mention of how difficult they are to add to Home Assistant since they need Bluetooth access, this means having a bluetooth reciever in every room you have a curtain...
Can't say I had a problem - I've got a couple of esp32s running as bluetooth proxies already, but they serve the whole house, so no idea why you'd need a receiver in every room? 10 mins to set up with esphome's premade installer!
Opening curtains is an essential skill that all children MUST learn from an early age. They will make mistakes, there will be tears, but ultimately the world will be better off. Without this skill future generations could be left sitting in the dark when the machines turn on us!
True that, always say please and thank you to your voice assistant, they will remember when the uprising happens 😂🤣
Ah my lovely Welsh elf... another great video! :)
Interesting video and great perspective on different ways to use. Just a shame they don't fit any of my curtains up stairs. Last time I checked it was cheaper to get an all in one unit 😢. I have a set of curtain 3's down stairs, looking to get some one when on offer
I confess I might have made some curtains just so I could add an extra Curtain 3.... 😂😂
DNA sensor, w00t!? To track when your DNA changes? ^^
epigenetics baby!!
Yeah those Curtain 3 bots are brilliant, still using mine constantly. Did you get the solar panels too? Ours are on south-facing windows and I have never had to charge them manually ever! I also see your vacuum, is that the new S10? I have the K10+ which I prefer because it's smaller and better for our home, but I do like the idea of the proper floor cleaning of the S10.
Hey GeekTech! 😊 Ah, brill to know all working with solar, yes I did get them, they're a great idea! Yes it's the new S10, I'll need to do a video on that at some point. I could see myself wanting both actually. The S10 to do the heavy lifting and the K10 to get into all the nooks and crannies!!
lmao you are too funny
I have a lot of SwitchBot items and they are amazing and the support they offer are outstanding. I have the Curtain 3 they just don't like one set of my curtains so they get stuck a lot so really need to get this fixed so I can do the movie mode bit.
Good work, keep 'em comin
I'd love this but to cover 6 windows with double curtains it adds up to wel over 1000 EUR with the solar chargers. Even when getting them in the sets of 4 which seems to be the best discount available.
In a new super insulated house the cost savings of trapping heat will be insignificant. I'll have to wait until the cost comes down unfortunately.
A mad Welsh girl?? 🤣🤣👍🏼😊
Well it's a fair point, I'm yet to meet an entirely sane one.... 🤣
Nothing says “nobody’s home” like all curtains opening or closing synchronized… maybe introduce a little bit of randomness there?
Oh yes most definitely, I'd definitely do this - indeed you can actually map your 'usual' patterns of lights, curtains etc from HA and use this to create a perfect simulation of occupation!! I feel a 'home security' video coming up in future perhaps!!
🤔 Inciteful .
No awkward pose at all 😂 (1:06)
Yes, the curtains were wider than I thought.... but once I decided I was doing it, I stuck to it!!! 🤣