SmartWings Shades Matter Over Ethernet and PoE

[carealtor]

Has anyone else seen the new SmartWings motors that are Matter Over Ethernet and PoE?  Is eisy's Matter going to be able to control these?

I was just about to start running 16/2 to a few of my windows.  Even bought a 500ft roll of cable and a power supply.  Then I ran across the announcement from SmartWings.  This will probably change all of my plans.

[mozman]

I just bought a single SmartWings shade as a test.  It's great! I bought one with the Z-Wave motor, and my eISY can control it.  Indeed, the SmartWings motor (and the eISY controller) can precisely open the shade to, for example, 75% open.  (The eISY treats the shade like a light - you can set the "brightness" to any level fro 0 to 100%.) 

I don't have any experience with the Matter version of SmartWings.  FYI, the Z-Wave motor is a bit cheaper than the Matter version.

If you're running wire, this doesn't apply to you, but I installed the battery version of the Z-Wave motor and I also bought their solar panel.  Even though my window never gets direct sunlight, the solar panel is able to charge the motor battery about 1% per day, more than enough to cover the couple of times a day I move the shade up or down.

SmartWings also sells a 12V distribution amp, so you could also get their 12V hardwire motor versions and use the 16/2 wire you have.

[firstone]

On 1/31/2025 at 12:25 AM, carealtor said:

I was just about to start running 16/2 to a few of my windows.  Even bought a 500ft roll of cable and a power supply.  Then I ran across the announcement from SmartWings.  This will probably change all of my plans.

You'd lock yourself to only vendors supporting POE. I don't know if it's good idea. Seem like easier to run an outlet from nearby outlet that running ethernet to each window and using wireless z-wave or whatever protocol.

Edited February 21 by firstone

[dwengrovitz]

I've been using multiple SmartWings motorized shades with Matter (but no POE) for over a year now. Initially, they worked well with the SmartWings remote but control via Matter was kind of hit or miss. I use Amazon Alexa as the main environment to control my Matter devices. The shades would pair fine via the Alexa app but would frequently lose connection and automations were not that reliable. Early on, I questioned my decision to go with Matter versus something like ZWave, but the hope was that things would get better as Matter matured. 

Fortunately, things have improved over time. I still get drop-outs occasionally but the connections are better and more reliable than they used to be. The code in the shades hasn't changed, so I suspect improvements have happened elsewhere (like the Alexa app and my home network). The UI in the Alexa app is pretty weak, but I share the Matter connections to Home Assistant and the UI there is much better. It provides a nice simple compact status and control interface with the added benefit of being able to show battery levels for the shades. 

I think Matter still has a ways to go, but I'm happy with the SmartWings shades overall. The price was reasonable. They function well with the remote (worst case), and automations (such as lowering automatically in the late afternoon when the sun is coming through the window) happen reliably enough that I don't think about the automation at all - it just becomes an invisible convenience. 

Edited February 22 by dwengrovitz

[carealtor]

20 hours ago, firstone said:

Seem like easier to run an outlet from nearby outlet that running ethernet to each window and using wireless z-wave or whatever protocol.

In my case, "easy" has nothing to do with it.  Installing shades or anything else in my home comes down to doing it the way I want it, regardless of how "easy" it is.  My wife says I'm "stubborn".  🤔

Quote

You'd lock yourself to only vendors supporting POE. I don't know if it's good idea.

Are you talking about swapping out the shades down the road with another brand/vendor?  I don't see the problem.  Obviously any battery powered shades could be installed.  And as far as the hardwire, the cat5e cabling could easily be used to supply 12V, or whatever, if desired.

[firstone]

I'm thinking of maybe some brand that will require 120v. 

But yes, if you only need 5 or 12v, you can pass it over ethernet cable.

[CoolToys]

I have battery powered greywinds blinds.  These were "easy" to install, but not eisy controllable. They work great with Alexa, Apple Home and uh the HA green, but for whatever reason the eisy sees them and I get "main" or "unavailable" for all of the devices.  I can control them via alexa with the eisy, but the entire idea of the eisy is autonomous operation of my home.  

Thanks for the information on smart wings, I think I will buy one and see if it is worth the swap out.  

Greywinds are battery operated and the battery level is monitored by the HA so it alerts me to plug them in at 25% which is about every 90 days.  Any idea on the smart wings battery life for the wireless versions?  I have the HA as a test tool, I like the eisy better overall and have years invested learning it.  Nevermind that I am too lazy to program the HA from scratch.

[CoolToys]

Greywinds and Smartwings blinds can use usb-c connectors.  I would think that wire is easier to hide that 120v or Cat5 like wire.  I have one of the solar panels just to see how they look/work.  It works, but a bit too big to hide.