Does Philips Hue Work Okay Without Working WiFi/Internet?

A recently installed Philips Hue v2 bridge which is setup in my loft.

Philips Hue’s range of smart bulbs is set apart from many other smart bulbs because Hue requires a separate Hub (also called a Bridge), and the bulbs communicate over something called ‘ZigBee’ to the Hue Hub. Equally some newer Hue bulbs can work over Bluetooth, linking with the Hue Bluetooth app on your smartphone. But … Read more

Can Philips Hue Lights Be Used In Enclosed Fixtures?

An enclosed light fitting in my bathroom.

An enclosed light is a housing which is completely sealed off, such that any light must shine out of the partially see-through exterior surface (usually glass or translucent plastic). Enclosed light fixtures are good where you want light to shine mainly downwards, without any ‘being wasted’ out of the side or top – bathrooms and … Read more

Using Smart Switches And Sensors For Normal (Dumb) Bulbs

Marketing image for the Leviton Decora Smart WiFi 15 Amp Light Switch

People sometimes think that in order to have a fully smart lighting system, you need to buy smart lights and also smart bulbs. But this isn’t always correct. In-fact it’s sometimes better to either have smart lights, or to have smart bulbs – not both. Having just smart switches means that you still get lots … Read more

Hue And Alexa Integration Problems (& How To Fix Them)

My Amazon Echo (with a blue ring, in listening mode) next to a Philips Hue E14 White Ambiance box.

I recently started to switch over to smart lighting in my house, and overall I really like the integration with Alexa. After all, being able to control your lights using voice commands to your Echo is much more convenient than pulling out your mobile device and launching the philips Hue lights app. However, I have … Read more