HubitatElevation Home Automation Hub (Model C-8) Compatible with Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Aqara

I bought this a few weeks ago thinking with my existing Zigbee devices, that this would hook right up to them; they didn’t. I’d already invested a small fortune in devices/sensors/gadgets, and the idea that Hubitat would not work with any of them was very discouraging. Unfamiliar with Hubitat, I didn’t know if I had a bad device or the device was just very selective on what it works with. I’m a programmer of many years, and when some of what I was doing was taking about 3 seconds (using SmartThings/Google Home) to go through all the clouds, I was determined more than ever to get this to work so… I bought a new zigbee sensor, one stating it works with Hubitat. I received the device, installed it… and was surprised when I unplugged the cable to my modem disconnecting me from the internet and was able to turn a light off. That was about 2 weeks ago and since, I’ve replaced most of my sensors/gadgets with ones that work with Hubitat, and I now have more than 100 devices both physical and virtual.Having used this now for 2 weeks, truly I tell you… this is an incredible device. When I turn something on or off, it’s instant. Incredible is pushing a button on my phone and as soon as I do… before I even take my finger off my phone… the action of on/off has already taken place. There is NO DELAY unless the device itself it slow to turn on/off (like a TV, WIFI colored LED bulbs, etc.).Hubitat works with Zigbee and Z-Wave devices, but not all of them. It also works with Matter devices but requires you to commission the Matter device first using something else (like a hub), and then share the Matter device via the device you commissioned it with; I use a SmartThings hub for such and to control my Samsung TV’s. So I’d add the Matter device to my SmartThings hub, then open the Matter device up in SmartThings, 3 little dots menu upper right corner, click “Share with other services,” click QR code, and then you’ll get a QR code with a new Matter code. Take that code to Hubitat (on the same network as your hub), add device, add Matter device, enter the code and you’re done… that’s all that needs to be done to add a Matter device to Hubitat. Not all Matter devices can be shared so not all Matter devices can be added to Hubitat.To get things to work, there is “programming” involved… some call it “coding.” But you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know how to program it. I don’t know what the programming language is that they use… but it’s all easily understandable programming instructions… you’ve just got to play with it and see how it works. Common to me was “If () then” statements. I took it from there and just started messing around. If you know Basic or Javascript, you can use and will eventually get how this works. This isn’t something you can just jump into and by the end of the day have your “smart home” together. I’ve programmed for 30 years and am still learning their system. The payoff in the end is wonderful… automated home without a required internet connection.It does have a built-in editor to help those who don’t know the system or how to program, to program. It’s very buggy. I’ve learned, instead of trying to edit an “If () then” statement, to just insert a new one and delete the old. I’ve gotten stuck in the editor where it won’t allow me to get out… even aborting the page and going back, it resumes right where I left off. Plenty of times, I’ve just needed to finish an edit with whatever information, just to get out of the edit so I can delete it and start over. Sometimes the editor once I’ve completed a statement, won’t provide the “Done” button to let me continue… that can happen when creating a “while” statement. So far the only thing I’ve discovered needing help with the Hubitat is their programming/coding editor. But, it allows me to program and use the Hubitat device when I otherwise would not be able to since I don’t fully know the language it uses. The editor, while it is buggy with conditional statements mostly, is better than nothing.There is way too much to cover for a full review of this. I struggled to figure it out but just kept with it. There’s still plenty I don’t know but am learning little by little. This really isn’t something you can just throw together in one day well, maybe if you’re just using a few switches/devices and not doing anything special with it. I’m still learning, discovering, and building. Consider the reviews, but if you really want a smart home free from the internet, this is the route you want to go. Get it, try it out for a few weeks, and if you don’t like it or aren’t understanding it, return it before the 30 day window. I originally was going to send this back, but have since canceled the return request and won’t part with it.

The place I'm renting came with several Z-Wave contact sensors, a motion sensor, and a thermostat. After doing a little research, I bought the Hubitat C8 in order to use these devices with HomeKit. It was fairly straightforward. I added the Z-Wave devices to the Hubitat, then exposed them to HomeKit. Everything is working well, and it's especially nice to be able to automate my thermostat. I also like being able to create virtual switches (and expose them to HomeKit) to use for things like "guest mode", where other automations can do things based on whether or not I have a guest in the house. The rules engine is especially powerful compared to what you can currently do with HomeKit automations. Overall, I'm very happy with it, and I plan to buy one for my girlfriend to use at her place.

Listen, folks, I'm an EE with 30+ years, a Rocket Scientist, and even I think this device is far too complex than it needs to be. My goal was to replace my Nexia (now TRANE) Z-wave Hub with the Hubitat hub. I read about the complexity but also how folks were doing some cool integrations. I have a Yale Door Lock, 3-Kasa switches, one hubspace dimmer, and 5 z-wave light switches (actually one is the garage door controller). So I thought, cool, Hubitat can integrate them all.Started with the YALE Assure 2 lock. Out of the box had to install the Lock Manager (or whatever its called) to set codes. No biggie. Set up notifications using a Notifier App (that's two apps), so when I open the door with the DASHBOARD I get notified (Door Open, Door Closed), cool. BUT, and here is the big BUT, when I use a code that was programmed in using the Lock Manager, NO NOTIFICATIONS. Go onto the user community (lots of great info and helpful folks) and some suggest a custom app that helps to "refresh" the device status. You see, if you do a refresh and open the door (or after you open it) it will update to the correct status.I think you see where I'm going with all this ... in the end, never did get the notification codes to work and after loading 3 code modules to "refresh" (which kind of worked, every minute), I still didn't know who the heck opened the door (by code)!So I fell back to my TRANE (aka Nexia) Z-Wave Hub, reset my YALE device and within 10 min, yes 10 minutes folks, I had .... enrolled the lock to my TRANE hub, programmed unique names and codes into the lock, setup a day in a week where my cleaning lady could enter between 7 am - 5 pm, and set up notifications to my iPhone!!! AND ..... it worked the FIRST TIME!!!!! 10 minutes vs all day Saturday!I give all these folks who write code and do all this stuff to get devices integrated and working ... not worth it when there are apps that do it all (schedule on/off, notify, etc.) right out of the box.So I use TRANE to control and/or notify me of door opens/close, garage open/close, and control all my z-wave lights. Use KASA for those few devices (I'll probably replace the WIFI devices with Z-wave), Hubspace for the one dimmer (in a closet, it's a motion switch just cool to have the app).Bottom line, if you have A LOT of time on your hands and want to figure out all the Hubitat complexities, have at it. Otherwise, get a hub with built-in integration and just buy compatible hardware .... and you're done (in hours not days or even weeks!!).Cheers!