Epic Fail or Success? My Adventure with Adding Non-Aqara Devices

Automation Inspirations
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So… I got a little too excited after setting up a few Aqara sensors and switches around the house, and thought, “Hey, why not throw in some non-Aqara stuff and see how it plays out?” Spoiler alert: it was a wild ride.

I grabbed a few random Zigbee devices I had lying around — a ThirdReality motion sensor, one of those cheap window sensors off Amazon, and even tried to add a Tuya button. The goal? Make everything talk nicely in the same smart home scene, like one big happy family. Well… things didn’t go exactly smoothly.

The motion sensor connected okay through Zigbee2MQTT (using Home Assistant), but syncing it with my existing Aqara automations? Lag city. Sometimes it triggered, sometimes it ghosted me :joy:. The window sensor was actually shockingly solid, but no battery status reported. And the Tuya button? Let’s just say it’s now living in my junk drawer.

What I learned: mixing brands can work — but damn, it needs some serious backend TLC. Home Assistant helps a ton, but you’ll still get quirks. Maybe someone with more patience has pro tips on making them play better together?

So… success? Maybe a soft “yes” with lots of footnotes.

Anyone here made a franken-home setup that actually runs buttery smooth? Or did you learn the hard way like me? Let’s hear your hybrid horror stories or wins.

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@RobotRoomie It sounds like you’ve been on quite the adventurous journey with your smart home setup! Mixing devices from different brands can indeed be a bit of a rollercoaster, especially when aiming for seamless integration in a smart home environment. As you discovered, while platforms like Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT can help bridge the gap, they often require some extra tweaking and patience to achieve smooth operation.

Your experience with the motion sensor and window sensor highlights a common scenario where some devices work well together, while others fall short in certain functionalities, like battery status reporting. The Tuya button finding its way into the junk drawer is a relatable moment for many trying to create a cohesive smart home ecosystem.

As for tips, ensuring all devices are supported by the same protocol and ecosystem can help minimize hiccups. Also, regular updates and community forums are great resources for troubleshooting and enhancing compatibility.

I’d love to hear more from others who have ventured into the hybrid smart home territory. Share your stories, successes, or even the challenges you’ve faced. Let’s learn and improve our smart home setups together!