Yandex Smart Home is a unique system for controlling various devices using the Alice application or voice control. Today, the complex is compatible with products from well-known companies, including Samsung, Redmond, Philips, etc. However, the company does not stop there. According to the developers, they plan to expand the number of partners in the future. In addition, Yandex presented a number of products of its own production - a smart light bulb, socket, remote control and TV set-top box. Below we will look at the features of the system, how to set up a smart home with Alice, and what devices are supported.
What is it - characteristics
Yandex Smart Home with Alice is a platform for controlling electronics in a house or apartment, providing comfortable conditions. In fact, this is an analogue of the platforms already operating today from Amazon and Google. Unlike foreign competitors, the Russian product is distinguished by a Russified interface and the ability to control a smart home through Alice. This feature makes the system more attractive to buyers from Russia.
When purchasing and installing a system, you need to understand that it only works if there is a stable Internet connection. Failures in the wired or wireless network lead to problems. The platform stops working and does not respond to user requests.
Automating Aqara Components in HomeKit
Scripts and Automation are available to automate actions.
The first ones are created through a drop-down menu on the main page. With their help, you can create simple sequences of actions without using sensors and data from them.
Creating Scenarios from a drop-down list for adding devices does not require additional devices and allows you to organize fairly complex sequences of actions.
“Automations” are located in the corresponding tab next to the main page of the “Home” and require a home center.
They are what are needed in order to launch actions based on triggers and conditions, as well as with the participation of control elements of the Aqara ecosystem - switches, buttons and a control cube.
Scripts and automations created in the Aqara Home app are not available in the Home app or HomeKit ecosystem. However, they work great without integration.
Operating principle
Manufacturer Yandex introduced the Smart Home system with Alice relatively recently, although the development of the platform has been underway for more than five years. During this time, we managed to optimize the system and establish voice control capabilities. In the process of creating the platform, the developers studied two directions:
- Ensuring the compatibility of equipment from other developers with the Yandex cloud. In this case, the question would arise of how to connect a Yandex smart home to users who have already purchased and installed the equipment.
- Creation of an open platform with the ability to interact between cloud services from different manufacturers.
How does it work
As a result, the second option was chosen, but with a significant simplification of the operating principle. Let's look at how the Yandex Smart Home works within the network:
- The user gives an order to perform some action.
- The command is sent to the Yandex cloud, where the signal is processed.
- The information is sent to the device to which the order is sent (turning on/off a light bulb, coffee maker, etc.).
A smart home from Yandex, controlled by Alice, easily interacts with products from other manufacturers. In this case, the operating principle is as follows:
- A person commands to perform some operation.
- The order is sent to the Yandex cloud.
- The command is recognized and transmitted to the cloud of the manufacturer of the managed product.
- The data is transferred to the device.
Today, setting up a Yandex Smart Home is available for equipment from the following manufacturers - Samsung, Philips, Xiaomi, Rubetek, Redmond and others. Over time, it is planned to expand the line and include Bosch, Elari and others in the list of products. At the same time, the Yandex company itself produces a number of goods of its own production at prices ranging from 1 to 1.5 thousand rubles.
How to control Aqara via HomeKit
When you launch the hub for the first time, House will ask you to specify a name and location (room) from a drop-down list for each Aqara component.
In the future, after configuration, each connected component will be automatically transferred to HomeKit without user intervention.
You can synchronize devices, names and locations in the Aqara application settings by going to the Profile tab -> HomeKit Information -> Name synchronization.
All of them will be displayed on the main page of the Home in the Accessories section.
By tapping on the shortcut you can turn the device on or off, make a number of settings, and rename the device.
For each component, a choice of location room, detailed information, technical information, and current status are available.
In addition, for most components you can select which ones will be displayed on the main screen (Favorites) and determine where notifications will be sent.
Inclusion in the Home Status group will allow you to receive data about the current state of the component in the corresponding section of the main page. All others can be found in the section of the corresponding room.
List of available devices
Yandex Smart Home reviews often discuss products of their own production. Let's highlight the main elements of the platform:
- Socket. The operating principle involves turning the power on and off. Accordingly, the user can control different equipment. This could be an electric kettle, coffee maker and other equipment. The main difference between the Yandex socket is its large size and the installation of a setting button at the end of the case. In the Yandex Smart Home application, you can set a name for each smart socket, and subsequently control them at any distance.
- Remote controller. The device is designed to control TV and air conditioning. The remote control is not used for other equipment. The product has a number of limitations in terms of functionality. With its help, you can change the volume up or down, turn equipment on and off. In other cases, the integration of Alice into the Smart Home saves the day, because basic commands are given by voice.
- Bulb. This element of the system is of the greatest interest due to its wide functionality. If desired, you can change the color, turn the device on and off, and change the temperature of the light. You can use a special application to make edits.
- Yandex Station for a smart home is a device designed to control TV, change channels and solve other problems. It is useful for listening to music and is tied to a specific profile. The speaker can talk to the owner, search for the necessary information on the Internet, inform about the weather forecast, etc.
- Yandex Module is an element of a smart home that ensures comfortable use of TV. This is a multimedia system that helps you select movies and videos, play your favorite music, make personal settings and solve other tasks. The connection is made via the HDMI connector.
If desired, you can connect devices from other manufacturers, for example, Redmond - a control center, a base for a light bulb, a kettle and other devices.
Settings
Before controlling your smart home using Alice or the application, it is important to complete the necessary settings. To install the necessary data, you need to place the equipment and set the necessary information through the application. For convenience, you can create groups and set specific commands for them. For example, the system can respond to the order “Good morning” by turning on the night light, starting the coffee maker and activating the music player.
Setting up a Yandex Smart Home through the app is not enough. It is necessary to prepare the devices of interest, that is, plug them into smart sockets, and also switch the equipment to the appropriate mode. No less difficult is to think through and set a scenario. To do this, you need to come up with a name, select devices, and also set the action of interest (turn on, turn off).
As an example, let's look at setting up a Yandex Smart Home to interact with Xiaomi products. The instructions look like this:
- install the Yandex application with Alice;
- open the side window and select the appropriate section (Devices);
- click "plus" to add a new device;
- decide on a suitable plugin;
- go through authorization, and then enter your login and password;
- Click on the update list button.
Possible problems adding devices
There may be difficulties with setting up a Yandex smart home. Some system owners note that an error occurs when entering a new device. In this case, you need to wait a few minutes and try again. Malfunctions are usually caused by increased load on the server. The developers claim that the problem is temporary and will be fixed soon.
The second point is that not all devices are displayed in the list after authorization in the application. The reason is a discrepancy between the regions in the account and in the profile with which the person connects. It is impossible not to note another difficulty - automatic adjustment of the initial settings during the second and subsequent installations. To solve the problem, take these steps:
- go to the Mi Home application;
- click on the account picture;
- open the account section;
- find the Yandex section and confirm the unlinking.
Now you can log in again. At the same time, the smart home must remember the new settings.
To connect the Sonoff system you need to do the following:
- go to the Yandex application, and then to the profiles section;
- go to the other devices section;
- go to the eWeLink section;
- log in to your account.
After performing simple manipulations, you can use the Yandex Smart Home to control devices. Using the same scheme, you can connect products from other manufacturers.
Let's look at the review of the well-known blogger Wylsacom on a smart home from Yandex, there are a lot of interesting things in the video, viewing is simply a must!
TVs - budget ones managed by Yandex.TV
Yandex.TV is an independent operating system based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). You will not see any connection with the popular Android TV in it, nor will there be a link to your Google account, but for full operation you will, of course, need a Yandex account. The firmware is a bit like the TV mode of the Station when connected to a TV, only here there is a more optimized interface with separate sections of content and there is support for third-party applications.
Yandex.TV, next to KinoPoisk HD, has other subscription services for watching movies built into it: ivi, MEGOGO, Okko, SPB TV, Tvigle, tvzavr, Wink and MTS TV. By the way, this is the main difference between Yandex.TV and the operation of a speaker with a connected TV. You can also use the YouTube application in the operating system, watch online broadcast television channels and follow new videos from bloggers. If you do not have a Yandex.Plus subscription, basic functions will remain without payments.
As in the case of the Station, Yandex.TV analyzes the user’s interests and builds recommendations based on activity (likes, dislikes, what is searched for and watched more often). Therefore, a selection of films that are likely to please your liking is always waiting on your home screen.
Who produces TVs on the Yandex.TV platform : DEXP, Hi, Leff, Yuno, Hyundai, BBK and ECON. Their cost usually does not exceed 25 thousand rubles. However, if you already have a good TV, it will be more profitable to purchase Yandex.Station - it will give exactly the same thing for 13 thousand rubles, and with excellent sound.
Where to buy and price
A common question from potential users is where to buy a Yandex Smart Home and how much the product of interest costs. To order Yandex Station, you can go to the official website alice.yandex.ru/smart-home, and then click the “Buy” button.
Then the system sends it to the Beru service, which provides information on the specifics of the purchase, configuration, delivery time and price. The cost of the device is 9990 rubles. To equip a full-fledged smart home, you need to buy additional products (smart light bulbs, sockets, etc.).
Step-by-step connection of the Module to the TV
We begin to connect the Yandex Module to the TV: The box contains very beautiful and clear instructions:
If your TV has a USB port with power (
voltage 5V and current 0.5A ), you can connect the power cable directly to the TV and then you won’t need a power supply.
In my case, this option came out for connecting the Yandex Module without a power supply.
- Power cable inserted into the TV's USB;
- USB input parameters;
- HDMI port where Yandex Module is connected.
If you have an old TV where the USB does not provide the necessary parameters, it doesn’t matter, just plug the module’s power supply into a power outlet and that’s it.
The module is connected and you will see this picture:
Let's move on to step-by-step setup of Yandex Module!
Flaws
Despite a number of advantages, the Yandex smart home has a number of weaknesses. Let's highlight the main ones:
- the ability to control from only one smartphone (the platform is tied to only one profile);
- the number of devices for connection is limited, but this list is constantly expanding;
- limited functionality of the remote control, which only works for air conditioning and TV;
- difficulties when interacting with systems from other manufacturers.
In addition, some users note the complexity of the menus and controls.
