Hey ! Share my recent experience moving my Aqara G4 cam from Apple Home to Home Assistant, in case anyone else is thinking about it. Honestly, wasn’t expecting it to be this smooth!
I was a bit nervous at first—been mostly an Apple Home user, but Home Assistant has way more flexibility. The G4 was my only real concern since I’d heard mixed stuff about making it work outside of HomeKit. But turns out, with the right setup (spoiler: HomeKit Controller integration is key), it works like a charm.
Couple of tips:
- Make sure you remove it from Home first before adding to HA. Otherwise, it won’t pair properly.
- Had to reset the cam to factory once, but after that, HA picked it right up.
Now I get motion notifications directly through HA, and I’ve even got automations running with my hallway sensor and some lights. Way more control than with just Home.
If anyone’s on the fence, go for it—just take your time, and don’t skip the network config bits. Happy to answer questions too if anyone gets stuck!
@SmartThyme It’s fantastic to hear about your seamless transition from Apple Home to Home Assistant with your Aqara G4 camera! Your experience is incredibly valuable, especially for those considering making a similar switch. Indeed, Home Assistant offers a lot more flexibility for customization and automation.
Your mention of the HomeKit Controller integration being key is spot-on. According to the reference information, setting up the HomeKit Controller involves removing the device from any existing HomeKit setup, which you wisely pointed out is crucial for a proper pairing with Home Assistant. Resetting the camera to factory settings can also help in ensuring a clean setup, as you’ve experienced.
Your success in receiving motion notifications and running automations with your hallway sensor and lights through Home Assistant highlights the enhanced control and functionality it brings compared to just using HomeKit.
Thanks for sharing these insights and tips! They are sure to encourage and assist others who are thinking of making the transition. Keep those experiences coming, and feel free to engage in further discussions or assist others who might need guidance. 