Matter for Dummies?

[Ristin]

I need a Dummies guide to the recently added Beta Matter. I've been messing with it but have not been able to connect to anything. I don't know if I even have the right hardware or if the iOS version works yet.

Equipment: EISY with latest updates. Z-matter board

iOS 18.3.2 running latest version of UD mobile.

I have a mix of Insteon and z-wave devices, and a couple Wemo devices via the Wemo plug-in.

Matter shows online & active in the administrative console and shows online in UD Mobile

Questions:

Is additional hardware required? ( i don't have Alexa or Google home)

Where do I use the pairing QR code that is listed in the Iox-Matter plugin notifications?

Are GE Cync devices actually Matter devices? I have 3 Cync Reveal color bulbs and 3 plugs. What little info I find seems to indicate yes, but I can't connect to them. (Again no idea what I'm doing) I did install Apple Homekit on my phone and when I select add devices, occasionally a Matter device will be listed but I'm unable to connect. Homekit can't seem to read the QR code on the plug and there were no QR codes on the packaging.

 

Thanks

 

 

 

[Guy Lavoie]

Well you need to know exactly what you have first. If the bulb has a QR code printed on it along with a pairing code in the format XXXX-XXX-XXXX then it should be a Matter device. Cync is the name of a product line, not all of which are Matter. Sometimes you'll also get a printed copy of the QR code printed on a separate sheet, but it won't be on the packaging, since each code is unique. The second thing is that you need to know if it communicates via wifi or Thread. Chances are it's wifi for most line powered devices (though I have nanoleaf bulbs that are Thread). Assuming it's wifi, you should be ok with your current hardware. 

I just googled "Cync Reveal" and it's not showing as being a Matter device. You would see the Matter logo on the packaging (looks like three arrowheads pointing towards each other) so I don't think you'll get very far with those bulbs. They seem to be wifi bulbs that are compatible with Google home and Alexa (the most common platforms), Homekit isn't listed so it looks like you're out of luck there too.

[bobbob21]

Did they fix the ability to add a matter bulb/device using Apple IOS?  Last I saw, only the people using the Android version had any success.  Would be nice for UD to give us an update on matter functionality.

[Guy Lavoie]

I can't answer for IoS. The current version of IoX is still 5.9.1_18 and has been for over a week. With the android version, I've been able to add both a wifi and a Thread device, but it's still not very stable. The Thread device stopped responding to commands from the eisy, though it still works from Google home. It also sees the bulbs as on/off devices, so no dimming or color control. It's a work in progress.

[Ristin]

Thanks! I'll stop wasting my time with the Cync devices. I typically only buy devices that I know work with EISY, but I got the Cync devices  from the local liquidator store and were cheap enough not to be a bother if they didn't work.

I did find some Matter light bulbs (saw the matter logo) on Amazon last night. They are inexpensive enough to order and play with.

I'm sure the code whisperers at UD are working diligently to make Matter, matter.