What are /r/tradfri's favorite Products & Services?

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Unfortunately it really depends on your router. I did it with my EdgeRouter X (by setting up a temporary PPTP server on a Digital Ocean droplet in the US) and I must say it was quite involved. Some routers also expose a simple UI to do so, and with cheap or free to try VPNs that supports OpenVPN (such as NordVPN) the process could also be very easy. Again, it really depends on what router you have.

It's just that those apps don't know how to communicate correctly with that specific LED strip. There's not really a fix unless the app developers decide to support this led strip (which is pretty unlikely).

I actually found this app that correctly sets both white/RGB leds of the LIDL strip. It's meant for colourloops but if you set a colour and then turn it on/off with any other app it will stay that colour.

You could try deleting the room using my app Hue Essentials for Android. After it is connected to the Tradfri gateway, open the room you would like to delete, tap the three dots at the top, and tap delete. If you still have issues deleting the room, let me know!

To get the bulb reacting to music you will also need another Tradfri app, Tradfri Melodi does this quite well: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tradfrilux.melodi

The IKEA app only has 20 colours. There is no way to get more colours using only the IKEA app. If you want more colours you could use a 3rd party app, like my app Hue Essentials. That will allow you to set more colours, just like the Hue/LIFX apps.

If you're on Android Hue Essentials (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.superthomaslab.hueessentials) can now pair to the Trådfri hub and supports multiple hubs.

I was using it when transitioning to the Hue hub and it works great. Much slicker than the Ikea app.

I assume you can add two Trådfri hubs, I don't see why not.

Home Assistant is also a possibility.

It installed on my Pi really easily and just works. It has configuration that can do just about anything - I have rules that integrate my Tradfri with wireless switches, my heating and more. You probably need to be comfortable with the command line to get the most out of it, though.

Apple Ecosystem - You can connect the gateway to your HomeKit app. Then you're able to control it through the Home App, that comes with Mojave. Android and Windows system - Connect Tradfri App to Google Assistant and go to https://assistant.google.com/ on your PC.

I haven't done this but if you need quick symbols, get the free version of fontawesome (https://fontawesome.com/how-to-use/on-the-desktop/setup/getting-started) or the Google Material font (https://github.com/material-icons/material-icons-font/tree/master/font) - only to name two.

Kykou can insert the icons in your text processor of choice by adding the icons with the insert symbol function. Changing size and colors is easy and the symbols are always crisp as it is vector graphics.

Yep, this is nothing ready made, but hope this helps

Does the IKEA app show any error which could be helpful? Are you using a VPN? You could try if my app Hue Essentials is able to find your gateway. If that works fine then the IKEA app should work as well. Could you try that and let me know?

That first problem is, apparently, just a thing that happens. My gateway's wifi process crashes and the whole gateway has to be rebooted every 15 or 20 commands I send to it. Nothing I've tried has worked. We're just stuck waiting for Ikea to update the software.

Sixteen hours is not insanely long for updating remotes and bulbs, either. Zigbee is a VERY low-speed protocol. I've only got about 20ish devices total, and the last of mine didn't finish downloading a software update until a little over two days later.

And, yeah, I had the same problem with trying to pair remotes with the gateway while the gateway was updating. Which is annoying, because there's no way to tell if the gateway has finished updating unless you have at least one remote paired with it, because, until then, the Tradfri app won't show you the gateway's status. Try the Android Hue Essentials app; it's also Tradfri compatible and has a much better UI.

If you are on Android, then Hue Essentials is a good alternative. Supports IKEA Trådfri with plenty of features and options including different scenes.

You could try my app Hue Essentials for Android. It can connect to the Trådfri gateway and should have what you are looking for.

If you have an Android device, you could try my app Hue Essentials. This app connects to the Tradfri gateway and does not block functionality if you don't have a Wi-Fi connection. I'm using a VPN myself as well, and it connects correctly to the gateway when the VPN is active.

I was using a skylink wireless switch and to be honest it worked like crap. Never reliable, always unpairing.

The tradfri bulbs and remotes just work.

If you're technically inclined there's an app that's already available in the Google Play Store.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=thekolo.de.widgetsforikeatradfri

If you need help setting it up, let me know.

Ymmv, but my gateway was crashing. Read a few threads that suggested diversion or Pi hole could block some connections to analytics servers. When this happened the gateway became unresponsive. I don’t know the exact cause, but disabling diversion (in my case) resolved the behaviour.

And Pi hole is self described as an ad blocker. It’s implementation is just one way to skin the cat. https://pi-hole.net

have something like this and it works for me:

https://www.amazon.com/Extractor-Damaged-Stripped-Remover-Hardness/dp/B0B2CR5P1V/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=screw+extractor&qid=1661631959&sprefix=screw+e%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-7

SD cards just aren’t made for the amount of reading/writing that home assistant does. It might work fine initially but after a while things start to randomly fail and your system will just get slow to the point where it completely stops responding and eventually completely corrupts. This can take 6 months~1 year so you don’t really notice it initially.

I scored a 240gb SSD off eBay for €15 and a Ugreen usb-sata converter for another €12. It was a hardly used SLC drive, but most drives should work. You should really watch out which usb->Sata converter you get because some don’t support trim, some don’t work with the Pi at all and others (like I found out) have insane EMF and basically tank all your wireless signals (wifi, Bluetooth, Zigbee etc.). This adapter is what I settled on but if that’s not available in your region there’s an extensive list of good and bad adapters found here .

Trust me, not only is it much faster and more responsive, it will also save you a lot of headache when that SD card eventually fails. They all do.

Scalpers have it if you need one urgently - https://www.amazon.com/IKEA-003-378-13-Trådfri-Gateway-White/dp/B07KMBHJGS/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=2DULXFMR6Y0DB&keywords=ikea+tradfri+gateway&qid=1652892615&sprefix=ikea+tradfr%2Caps%2C212&sr=8-3 Don’t know the original US price but it was around €30 here. Or you can buy an universal ZigBee hub - https://www.amazon.com/dresden-elektronik-ConBee-Universal-Gateway/dp/B07PZ7ZHG5/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=214TIE46C4AC5&keywords=conbee+ii&qid=1652892715&sprefix=conbee%2Caps%2C224&sr=8-2

In that case you can use a Google Home compatible sensor. Though you probably won’t find one that doesn’t need its own hub.

I’ve seen Aqara sensors and accessories recommended a lot. They have multiple hubs that aren’t too bad price-wise and are compatible with Google Home.

Well on the 3rd picture it’s classed in the Gateway subcategory, so it might be a different kind as you see with other brands.

The current gateway is not practical for many people as it needs wired connection, this might be a plug-and-play device that uses your wireless network and only has the plug.

Might look like this one for example. Or even smaller with USB. We’ll see, but definitely good news.

Node-RED is a visual programming environment where messages flow from one node (e.g., a Home Assistant Events node, a switch node, etc) to the next. A flow is a set of connected nodes.

Hopefully that's not the case lol. But here I found a few on the Amazon Germany site and they say it can be delivered to Romania.

https://www.amazon.de/Generisch-Tradfri-Socket-Zigbee-Control/dp/B089SBPQL1/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3MANFKM1ONBCI&keywords=Ikea+tradfri+repeater&qid=1642931347&refresh=1&sprefix=ikea+tradfri+rep%2Caps%2C1106&sr=8-1#

This looks like the newer version of what I purchased.

https://www.amazon.com/IKEA-502-883-39-Ansluta-Electronic-Transformer/dp/B07KM25PQ3/ref=sr_1_4?crid=26B7IKBX82P96&keywords=ansluta&qid=1641429508&s=hi&sprefix=ansluta%2Ctools%2C138&sr=1-4

I’ve gone for this TP-Link TL-SG1005D, 5 Port Gigabit Ethernet Network Switch, Ethernet Splitter, Hub, Desktop and Wall-Mounting, Plastic Case, Plug and Play, Energy-Saving, Black https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ZOOJXEG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_QN2Q8MB4RNS998ZQ2RFB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

You can just download the APK and install.

I found this site that has it.

https://apkpure.com/ikea-home-smart-tr%C3%A5dfri/com.ikea.tradfri.lighting

Now I usually only use APKmirror as I trust them but for some reason I cannot find this app there so as I have never used this site before I cannot say if it is risk free or not!

I use home assistant for that. It takes all your smart devices and treat them as input/output devices, including google home speakers. You can think of it as integration of different sometimes even incompatible platforms. Home assistant is open source platform activily developed and has big and helpful community with formu and discord, so if you are stuck there are people willing to help you. Can be installed on raspberry pi, virtual machine, or as a service on your operating system. Raspi is recommended AFAIK. It will require you to make your hands dirty. The good news is, the more you willing to do in it the bigger benefit you will get. Website: https://www.home-assistant.io/ Reddit: r/homeassistant

PS. There are plenty of other projects, like openHUB, which can do similar things. I just liked HA the most. For list see link below or simply google: home assistant alternatives. https://alternativeto.net/software/home-assistant-io/

Hope this helps.

I tried to get Pytradfri running on Windows, but it fails on the CoAP client - it need linux specific tools to compile and is therefore not possible at the moment.
I ended setting up a Raspi to run Home Assistant, that I can then control from my PC (and my phone as the Tradfri app is rather annoying).

There is a Docker setup for windows for Home Assistant that might make it able to run under Windows as well and if so, then you could use Docker to run pure Pytradfri itself as well. But I haven't tested it so I can't say if it works or not.

I believe the feature needed to be run on a HomeKit hub as mentioned on Apple site.

"Adaptive Lighting, Face Recognition, and Activity Zones in the Home app will require an Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad set up as a home hub and compatible HomeKit accessory." Apple iOS 14 Preview from the 4th footnote.

Which mean it could be the hub sending a color changing command to the bulbs when its needed to and the bulb doesn't need any update.

I seem to have miscommunicated. If you use Windows on your PC and Android on your phone:

Use the Tradfri app on your phone. Connect the app to Google Assistant. Do this in order to be able to control the lights from Google Assistant. Now go to assistant.google.com on your PC, and use this site to being able to control the lights from your regular Windows PC.

Thanks! First I tried Hue Essentials with iOS but it didn't support Trådfri. Then I downloaded Bluestacks on my Mac and installe Hue Essentials on that and got it to work! Works like a charm now:)

I 3D printed a cover that replaces the panels that go over the switches with a bit of a box, so it sticks out from the wall and doesn't allow the switch to be flipped. It's flat on the front so I can stick the magnetic mount for the controller onto it. Link: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/gOrM8PZNHwu

Myself, I got that one (mostly because, well, it was white... judge me all you want) : https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B0174Q2M7G/

Had to cut a tiny little bit of plastic on the mains' side (bottom right) and completely remove most of the plastic cap on the LED side (upper left). On that last side, you might have to try both orientations to find the right one (hint : if the LED turn on, you've won).

https://imgur.com/a/36WAt7M

Apparently these work- I have NOT tried myself, but I have just bought some.

Looking at the comments they work so long as you don't mind getting a knife out and trimming some of the plastic- it seems black ones require less trimming.

Good luck and shame on IKEA for this stupidity!

https://www.amazon.es/kalb-Material-f%C3%BCr-M%C3%B6bel-Verl/dp/B0174Q2LR2?th=1

A normal rechargeable AAA is 600mAh so two of them should last 24x longer than this rechargeable 2032. Normal rechargeable AAA's do have the issue of charging to 1.3v max and some devices get weird if they don't have at least 3v. The solution is to use constant AAA's that always output 1.5v until they die. Problem is they're not cheap.

https://www.amazon.com/Rechargeable-Batteries-Constant-Life-Span-Toothbrush/dp/B08F7MQZ39/

I love Ikea but their supply chain management is really the worst. Stuff's always out of stock.

Well, if you need a Vagdal cable and can't get it from them, there are compatible products on the market, see for example below from Amazon.de. Not sure if there is a uniform, generic names for these. "LED Mini Connector Cable" is what it's called in this case. Might be able to find this on ebay or other Amazon sites, too.

If you don't mind the shipping cost you can order the German product from anywhere in the world. With express shipping it arrives within three days where I live (in Asia), usually.

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0174Q2M7G

You can buy just the flic button stickers

https://www.amazon.com/3-Pack-Flic-Buttons-Control-control/dp/B0851BMSGF/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=3ARR2ZCOZ8HZM&dchild=1&keywords=flic%2Bbutton&qid=1632647902&sprefix=flic%2B&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlm...

if the output is a steady 24v dc and you need 12v dc, a cheap buck converter (like a step down transformer but much more efficient): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089GS7F5T/ref=cm\_sw\_em\_r\_mt\_dp\_F58SH7WQFSXJ9JSJMZKV?\_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

>https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pairs-Connector-Female-Cable-Battery/dp/B06XRBKSY2/ref=sr\_1\_26?crid=36RH4R1HH7EKQ&dchild=1&keywords=2+pin+led+connector&qid=1625815253&sprefix=2+pin+led+co%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-26

Hi Nathanio84, I used your suggested jack, worked well, thanks, only I don't have the space for the Bec connector, I have as much space as the lamp length... Do you have an idea, is there an angled alternative? I've been searching online, but didn't find anything yet. Thanks in advance! Cheers

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pairs-Connector-Female-Cable-Battery/dp/B06XRBKSY2/ref=sr_1_26?crid=36RH4R1HH7EKQ&dchild=1&keywords=2+pin+led+connector&qid=1625815253&sprefix=2+pin+led+co%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-26

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This is what I've used in the past

In the US, Floalt comes differently. In Europe, I believe it comes with a 2-prong socket on the edge that you can plugin a power cord like FORNIMMA. However, in the US it just comes like a ceiling mount with a couple short wires poking up. So I went to a hardware store and purchased a "power tool replacement cord" and wired that up directly so that the connection is inside the metal box.

​

Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Bergen-Industries-Inc-PS915143-Appliance/dp/B07BQ8PY21/ref=sr\_1\_5?dchild=1&keywords=power+tool+replacement+cord&qid=1622826051&sr=8-5

I don’t know how it’s dimming (PWM or otherwise), but as you suspected all lights connected to a single driver will turn on, off, and dim together (it’s not possible to select them individually).

For your use case, have you considered just using a cheap battery powered light with a motion sensor like this? We have these in a few closets and they work great. Recharge is via USB once every 3-6 months, plus they’re easy to unclip and use as a handheld light wherever you might need one (or during a power outage).

The gateway is discovered using mDNS (=a broadcast message over UDP on port 5353 iirc). You can try to install an mDNS browser app (eg this app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.druk.servicebrowser ) and see whether you have a _coap._udp entry in there. This allows you to see whether the gateway can be detected correctly.

Maybe UDP broadcasts are blocked on your network?

wait are saying that with the conbee, I end up getting Ikea switches to show up in Apple Home/Homekit??

(device I found: https://www.amazon.com/dresden-elektronik-ConBee-Universal-Gateway/dp/B07PZ7ZHG5)

You could try out our app Tradfri Lux! We show a page with all the battery levels as a %! We also considered pushing notifications, but that would result in needing to run in the background and continously connecting to the gateway and thus consuming quite a lot battery of another device 😉 Feel free to give it a try:

• for android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tradfrilux.lux

• for iOS https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tradfri-lux-for-home-smart/id1525689398

From the same developer you could try Tradfri Melodi, not free but uses your microphone to sync beats. It works quite well imo.. Here you can find it on Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tradfrilux.melodi

We just launched an application Tradfri Lux in which we tried to utilise the screen more efficient without compromising on controls. We would love your feedback!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tradfrilux.lux

True, unfortunately.

We were banned by Google because we added the following text to our description "TEMPORARILY FREE TO BRING SOME LIGHT IN THESE DARK COVID-19 TIMES! ENJOY AND STAY SAFE".

Google doesn't "allow apps that lack reasonable sensitivity towards or capitalize on a natural disaster, atrocity, conflict, death, or other tragic event."

I assume we will get un-banned at some point but I'm afraid the promotion will be over by then (Google only allows promotions of 7 days).

Tradfri Thunder *is* still available though. The iOS apps are also still available for one or two days.

I use the Google Home app to control Trådfri things in two different locations and it works fine. Don't remember exactly how I set it up, if I used two different devices or simply reinstalled the Trådfri app. If your're on Android you could look into something like https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.hider.master.dual.app&hl=en_US to install two versions of the Trådfri app on the same device. I think this functionality is also built in to some flavors of Android.

If you don't mind using another app, check out my app Hue Essentials. It has support for widgets and quick settings tiles. See screenshots on Google Play for an example of the widgets.

My app Hue Essentials supports quick settings tiles for IKEA TRÅDFRI. Once you have connected your Tradfri gateway, you can set up quick settings tiles in the left menu. The app has some widgets as well if you prefer those instead. Let me know if you have any questions.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=thekolo.de.widgetsforikeatradfri&hl=en

Works, but not always very responsive...

You could use my app Hue Essentials. It allows you to set more colours than the Ikea app. Once you have connected your gateway, tap on your room and then tap on a light to set a colour.

Got the update in the UK now and it does indeed enable the blinds in HomeKit!!

I did require a VPN.

I used NordVPN and specifically the US3143 server.

Other US servers didn’t work for me but that one did.

It needed VPN on the router so that both the gateway and my phone appeared to be in the US.

I'm interested in this branded version of a Sunricher wall switch dimmer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NBNVGV2/What device did you select when adding it to the Tradfri gateway using the Tradfri app?

Probably not what you are looking for but Ikea makes a 30W LED driver, but it only supports dimming a single channel (so no RGB option). I use it with 24V warm white strips and they work really well, remotes and all, the driver is also a power supply so you don’t need to buy that extra, and with these JST connectors you don’t need to solder anything. If you are looking for only white light, then I’d go with that.

Otherwise, like others have mentioned it, a r/Gledopto RGB controller with a power supply and the strip you mentioned would work. I would watch out for color fidelity with the cheap strips you are mentioning, and white color reproduction if you only have RGB LEDs and not RGBW (which I believe the Ikea bulbs have). I would consider getting a Hue strip if you want a really clean / no hassle / high quality solution and are OK paying extra for that.

Thanks for the tip! Have you looked into GE Link bulbs? They sometimes fall of the network if they're TOO far away, but they are zigbee bulbs, so they should connect much easier. Also, they are significantly cheaper. Just add manually by the alphanumeric number on the bulb.

GE Link 2 pack

GE Link 12 pack

Edit: They do flicker a bit when they are dimmed. Idk if that's a deal breaker

We released an (Android) app some time ago doing just this: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tradfrilux.melodi

Did it work before in English? Or is this the first time trying to set it up? It should work.

1. Open Trådfri app
2. Link to Google Account ()
3. Open Google Home app. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.chromecast.app
4. Maybe delete the current house if no or not many other devices are connected to it.
5. Create a new house.
6. Add new device (Works with Google)
7. Find Trådfri - IKEA smart lighting and add it.
8. Devices should now be visible and you can assign them to different rooms.

Regarding these steps, how far are you able to get?

I haven't been able to enable or disable independent lights, only entire rooms. Take that in consideration when assigning rooms.

Actually it is possible to put a bulb in multiple groups. You can't do it in the Trådfri app. However, it is possible by using my Android app called Hue Essentials. Just create another group with your lights. The created group will be visible in the Trådfri app as well.

If you don't mind not necessarily using Ikea hardware there is a pic sensor that will plug into any barrel Jack lighting system. All you have to do is find a DC powered light strip with a standard barrel Jack connection. here