{"id":117,"date":"2021-10-25T14:40:12","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T13:40:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smarthomewinner.com\/?p=117"},"modified":"2022-05-16T15:50:15","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T14:50:15","slug":"philips-hues-max-range","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smarthomewinner.com\/philips-hues-max-range\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Max Range of Philips Hue\u2019s Network?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Philips Hue is among the most popular brand of smart light in the world, and for good reason. It’s responsive, easy to set up, and comes with a ton of color options\u201416 million, to be exact! Plus, they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from fixtures to accessories<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like most smart devices, Philips Hue lights must be connected to an external device for hands-off operation. But what is the max range of Philips Hue\u2019s network? It’ll be quite inconvenient to buy the lights only to face connectivity issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Philips<\/a>, the Hue Bridge works as long as the device is close to the router (since it needs to be plugged in via Ethernet)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what if you have a large house? Alternatively, what if you don’t have a Wi-Fi connection to begin with? We\u2019ll answer these questions and more in this Philip Hue guide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do Philips Hue Smart Lights Work? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"A
A Philips Hue White Ambiance candle bulb<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Philips Hue smart LED lights can be controlled manually or remotely. Recent generations also has two methods of connectivity: Bluetooth and ZigBee<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You probably already know what Bluetooth<\/a> is. Simply connect the lights<\/a> to your phone or your tablet via Bluetooth and control them directly with the Philips Hue Bluetooth app. The app allows you to fully organize and customize your Hue lights and accessories with little effort (the accessories include a dimmer switch and motion sensor<\/a>). Best of all, it’s free. It doesn’t require a monthly subscription to unlock its neat perks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hue\u2019s ZigBee<\/a> is a wireless communication technology that follows the same concept of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, except it’s specially designed to control the lights of your home. Unfortunately, you can only access ZigBee through the companion device called the Hue Bridge<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philip’s smart bulbs<\/a> have built-in Zigbee radios, as does the Hue Bridge<\/a>. The Bridge doesn’t work on its own, so it needs to be plugged into a home router via Ethernet Cable. The router acts like a Zigbee-to-Wi-Fi translator<\/strong>, allowing you to control the lights of your home through the Philips Hue app. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The Philips Hue app showing various lights and how they can be controlled<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You need a stable Wi-Fi connection for the Bridge to work. It must be connected to your router at all times. This might be an issue for individuals without an internet connection in some parts of the house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hue Bridge vs. Bluetooth: Which Connection Is Best for You? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before Philips Hue introduced Bluetooth connectivity<\/a> in 2019, the smart system relied on an external hub called the Hue Bridge. The Hue Bridge is sold separately for around $50<\/a> and connects to your router via the Ethernet cable, where you can then control through the Philips Hue app. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, you don’t need a Hue Bridge to control your Hue smart lights. However, the device does increase not only your range but the product’s functionality and features<\/a>. Let\u2019s look at the difference between the two connection methods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philips Hue Bridge \u2014 Advantages and Disadvantages <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"A
A Philips Hue bridge mounted next to a network switch<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Hue Bridge uses a wireless technology called ZigBee<\/a>. ZigBee links Philips smart devices like lights, locks, cameras, and plugs to your home network using one convenient tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you connect your lights to the Bridge, each bulb acts as an extender. This increases the range across your home and reduces the risk of signal dropouts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the best things about the Bridge is the fact that you can control your home’s lighting anywhere in the world. As long as the Bridge is connected to a stable Wi-Fi connection, you can turn your lights on and off whenever and wherever you want through the app. This is extremely useful for keeping intruders out while you’re away for business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the Bridge, you can connect up to 50 different smart lights in one application. You can even add non-Philips lights like INNR<\/a>, Ikea TR\u00c5DFRI<\/a>, Sengled<\/a>, and others to the hub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have over 50 lights, you’ll have to purchase another Hue Bridge or connect the rest with Bluetooth. But you’ll have to download a separate application for Bluetooth-controlled lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pros <\/h4>\n\n\n\n