Den Automation

mushii

I ran out of patience with waiting for Hue lightswitches. I moved onto Homeseer3 and ZWave. Cheaper in the long run and still allows me to integrate my Hue. Hue are now used in table lamps only.

Puntoboy

I had an email update the other week saying they were shipping on the 10th Jan. Certainly that’s what their website is saying.

Jamie

Excellent, it'll be interesting to see peoples opinion after they get them out there.

chrisfraser05

I can't see why anyone would invest in a new propriety ecosystem when the price of tried and tested Zwave stuff is pretty much the same but has so many more options

PsyVision

I can see the market, for z-wave you'd have to buy the module, a suitable switch faceplate (retractive or not..) and then hope you've got a deep backbox to fit it (or use the extension plates).  Then you've got the z-wave inclusion and programming.  Obviously some systems (SmartThings) make this fairly easy.

I find this really simple but your average person may well just want an all in one unit they can wire like a normal switch and then add to the system in some Apple/Nest/Hue simple smart manner via a walkthrough UI.

Desmo

This is my only gripe with zwave....deep backboxes needed for some modules. But it's a problem Den doesn't solve, you still need a deep backbox.

PsyVision

A little, in that they recommend 35mm.  I've found the modules still need 47mm as the switches are quite chunky.  I think an integrated unit like Den presents the opportunity for shallower ones (in time perhaps).

xxGBHxx

Sorry late to the party. Only 2 comments.

1. No way
2. No way

Everyone promises their own proprietary system is the next best thing.

1. They don't rule out charging for features in the future which means they ARE DEFINITELY going to charge for features in the future. Tado have just done this and the company almost ruined itself by doing so. It might still go down the pan unless they can turn the torrent of negative reviews back. I don't want to tie myself into a(nother) solution that is likely to want to charge me for features in the future.(who knows it might be a mandated charge)
2. Where is the API to control this from other apps? Even Hue have realised that they need a really rich API to allow other things to control the bulbs and they seemingly integrate with everything these days. They state they "might" add an API in the future but is that really enough these days?
3. I am instantly on defence of any system that works using some proprietary adaptation of IEEE 802.15.4. It's not like there aren't already a whole raft of choices (Zigbee being the most well supported and obvious) to chose from that are proven.
4. The smart tags are a neat idea and I like the concept accepting my caveats above.

In the end I'm struggling to see the compelling reason to go for these over zwave modules (Aeotec nano dimmers or relays etc.) apart from the fact they're slightly cheaper.

If they had a feature rich API that allowed you to integrate this with other systems then maybe it might be a good option. You are, however, still hamstrung by their hub and online registration. You are also limited to their design and their colour options. Theres a huge benefit to going for zwave/zigbee/lightwaverf modules as it allows you use any faceplates you like.

Overall I'd have MUCH preferred this had it been built on a non-proprietary basis allowing for easy integration into other hubs but as it stands it's yet another hub and another proprietary system to struggle to integrate into your HA solution.

G

BAZil

Well den has started shipping. Has anyone received their kit yet?

elchet

I've received my starter kit today at the office (I ordered in April 2018). They've further delayed non-starter kit products, so I have 1x 2G switch and 2x 1G dimmers on back-order still.

Packaging all looks the part but I haven't even got to unboxing yet. Frankly it's been so long since I ordered them that I've forgotten what I was originally planning to do with it all. My lighting is on the way to being 100% Hue bulbs, so I'm not sure I need the dimmers any more. I'll need to see how well they play with the dimming function within Hue - ideally the Den dimmer switches will be able to use the Hue dimming rather than actually just reducing current, but that seems like a long shot.