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Thread ID: 134402 2013-06-28 01:22:00 Help needed for new Wifi Lighting Business stevo018 (17117) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1347309 2013-07-02 05:24:00 funny this should show up, since a couple weeks ago PB tech (i think) posted a blutooth version on their FB wall and asked if anyone would be interested in them stocking them.
They were about 20-30 bucks a bulb from memory, and some people were a bit meh. Seemed like a cool idea too, though I'd be keen to compare their brightness with other bulbs and all that if I was going to use them in the lamps and sockets in this house. Mum's always complaining that our house is dingy despite many 100w bulbs.

If you get in touch with me on 0273012474 I might have something you can work with. Let me know...
stevo018 (17117)
1347310 2013-07-02 22:40:00 So, I picked myself up a "Starter" pack for just under a hundred bucks, met up with Ryan and had a quick chat, he gave me a bit of a demo of them.

Got home last night, and naturally it was first on my list of things to do!

I didn't bother reading the guides or anything, I just thought I'd see how easy it was to get up and running with just a little bit of "smarts". Turns out it's not too bad.

For the lights it was just a matter of swapping out the old ones, plugging in the new ones, and initially they act as just "dumb" LED Lights which was cool. I put one white one in my living room, and the other in our dining room.

Firing up the WiFi Bridge was pretty easy. It comes with this cool looking little white cable (Yeah I know, it's the little things, but I noticed it still) and it just gets powered off a USB port of some sort. Doesn't draw much power so we've simply got it running off our network-attached printer which had a USB port on it. No issues with that so far, but just something to keep in mind that you'll need an "always on" USB port. Otherwise you can pick yourself up a Power -> USB adapter from the $2 shop sometimes.

Setting up the WiFi Bridge wasn't too difficult. It starts off with its own WiFi network you've gotta join from a Cellphone or laptop. I did it from my Nexus 4 using Chrome without a problem, though it did take like 60 seconds for the WebUI to initially come up with the login prompt.
Some of the "names" for the fields on the WebUI weren't as obvious or straight-up as they could be. Labelling them "STA" mode and or whatever probably isn't as intuitive as "WiFi Client" or "WiFi Host" for example. I hit the save button on it, told it to use DHCP (Coz I knew I could look it up in my router) and then sat and waited for a minte... The network didn't disappear?
Turns out after saving it you then have to go in and still reboot the device manually, though there was no notification that you had to do-so. Again this is quite probably in the instruction booklet, but I'm a male, who on earth reads instruction booklets? ;)

I did however see a place for the firmware to be upgraded, so presumably it's the kind of thing they could invest a small amount of time and some TLC into it to get these things I'm nitpicking at sorted.

Anyways tested out the standalone remote, that thing is pretty cool! Changing the 'warmth' of the white from a cool white to a warmer yellowish hue. I only got the white lights but am keen to go back and get a color one or two, and maybe a few more whites for half the rest of the house!
I even managed to get my wife out of the bedroom away from the TV for a few minutes to "show her something cool". Initially she her thoughts were "OMG another remote, whats this one for?" (Coz we have a lot of remotes) but I got her individually turning them on and off from it, dimming the lights, turning them on or off altogether, adjusting the warmth... She was pretty much instantly hooked!

Now I've still not been able to get the app on my Cellphone to work which was odd. I assigned it a static DHCP lease, rebooted it, confirmed it was coming up on the new IP by firing up the WebUI, but for some reason my cellphone just doesn't wanna work.
Was pressed for time last night so couldn't *really* have a good play with the App, but I'll have another look tonight!

All in all, I was quite impressed, the lights are certainly bright enough, I love the extra controls, it's easy enough to setup (Though the firmware could use some loving), and when I told some mates on G+ they all expected it to be around the same sort of price as the Phillips Hue system. That would have been well out of their price range, but talking with a couple of them, they're already pretty keen, and it seems like the affordability which would have been the prohibiting factor isn't an issue here.

So, who else is giving them a whirl? :D
Chilling_Silence (9)
1347311 2013-07-02 23:19:00 Awesome!

Mine should be here today. :D
wratterus (105)
1347312 2013-07-02 23:50:00 All the instructions will explain the App set up. I was exactly the same though! It took me 3 days before I gave up and picked up the instructions and then kicked myself for how easy it was. I resigned to the thought that I could have got it if I just stuck it out for another few minutes. haha

You'll get it, I won't spoil the ending for you ;-)
stevo018 (17117)
1347313 2013-07-03 02:06:00 Mine should be here today. :D

Cool mate, what did you order? White?

Keen to hear how you go with it too :D
Chilling_Silence (9)
1347314 2013-07-03 02:35:00 Starter pack and a colour bulb too. Will post back once I've had a play. wratterus (105)
1347315 2013-07-03 03:15:00 I didn't bother reading the guides or anything . . .

Now I've still not been able to get the app on my Cellphone to work which was odd . I assigned it a static DHCP lease, rebooted it, confirmed it was coming up on the new IP by firing up the WebUI, but for some reason my cellphone just doesn't wanna work .

RTFIM :) that is all .

I know the feels though - psh reading instructions are for the unintelligent . . . and woman . . . and males who are alone with no one to know they've done so!
lordnoddy (3645)
1347316 2013-07-03 09:15:00 I know the feels though - psh reading instructions are for the unintelligent... and woman... :stare: Jen (38)
1347317 2013-07-03 21:03:00 Mine arrived yesterday. Got the Home Starter pack and I am highly impressed. They appear to be exactly as described. I am certainly well past the demographic who are suposed to find this sort of thing second nature but it was real easy to get them going although I had to relearn RTFIM. I will get the app on my phone sorted today. Stevo18 is a pleasure to deal with, most helpful and does what he says when he says he will. CliveM (6007)
1347318 2013-07-03 21:08:00 :stare:

I take Lordnoddy's post as a dig at overconfident males rather than a slur against females. :)
CliveM (6007)
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