Hi all - new to the forum here. Just setup my G5 POE. Was working fine in the Aqara app and HomeKit.
Continues to still work great in the Aqara app, but I noticed that it stopped working in HomeKit. I am away on business so I asked someone to reboot the camera which fixed it for me. I’ll keep monitoring this. Hoping for better reliability that having to get “regular reboots”
However, today I invited someone to my Apple Home. They (my son) accepted the invitation and can see of the device. But the G5 shows up but is “Not responding” in their Home app - while is responding on my device. My son’s device is connected directly to the WiFi at home so I wouldn’t expect any issue with connectivity, especially as my device is able to connect remotely.
Any reason for this?
Perhaps I didn’t set up the HomeKit integration in the best way.
When I set it up on my device, I was at home, on the the WiFi. I added to Aqara and then separately added it via the HomeKit QR code.
My Son doesn’t have the Aqara app on his device. I am assuming that isn’t needed but wanted to check. Is that correct?
Then I started to wonder about if I should have used the G5 “expose to matter” feature and connect to Apple Home as a bridge? Surely I shouldn’t have to do that?
Any advice welcomed. Really just looking to resolve this “not responding” thing on other devices.
@renwick_d It sounds like you’re experiencing some connectivity issues with your G5 POE camera in HomeKit, particularly when accessed by your son’s device. Let’s explore a few potential solutions based on what we know:
Wi-Fi and Network Connection: Even though your son’s device is connected to the Wi-Fi at home, ensure that both the camera and the Apple Home hub (like an iPhone, iPad, or HomePod) are on the same Wi-Fi network. You mentioned that your device can connect remotely, which generally indicates good network settings, but it’s worth double-checking the local setup.
HomeKit Setup: When you added the G5 to HomeKit, the process you followed seems correct—adding it first to the Aqara app and then using the HomeKit QR code. Your son not having the Aqara app should not be an issue for accessing the device through HomeKit, as long as the device is properly added to HomeKit.
Device Reboot: As you’ve noted, rebooting the camera helped resolve the issue temporarily. If this becomes a recurring necessity, consider looking into network stability or interference issues that might be causing the disconnection.
HomeKit Limitations: Sometimes, devices may not be fully supported in terms of certain functionalities, although they appear to be connected. Ensure your Apple Home hub is updated to the latest firmware and software version, as outdated software can sometimes cause connectivity issues.
“Expose to Matter” Feature: You shouldn’t need to use the “expose to matter” feature unless you’re specifically integrating with Matter-enabled ecosystems. However, exploring this option could potentially create a more robust network bridge for some environments.
Re-adding the Device: If the issue persists, consider removing the G5 from the Home app and re-adding it. This can sometimes resolve persistent connectivity challenges.
If the problem continues, it might be beneficial to reach out to Aqara support for further assistance. They might be able to provide more specific troubleshooting steps or identify if there are any known issues with the G5 POE in similar setups.
I hope this helps, and feel free to update us on how it goes or if you find a solution!
If your iPhone and the G5 Pro camera are not in the same LAN, you will need an Apple hub device (Such as HomePod, HomePod mini, or Apple TV) to support remote access (we do not recommend using an iPad as a home hub because its sleep mode(Due to screen shutdown) can affect connection stability). Please let me know which Apple hub device you are using. According to our testing, the G5 PoE version is more stable than the WiFi version, and unresponsive issues in the Home may not be related to network connection quality.
I think the problem has resolved itself but to answer your questions.
Noted that I don’t need to Aqara app on all devices (I didn’t think so) and the using the “expose to matter” feature isn’t the way forward.
I have a suitable hub/s in place (HomePod, HomePod mini and Apple TV). Yesterday I rebooted the camera and then had to force quite the Home app on some devices and it’s been working ever since.