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.

 

 

[bigDvette]

On 4/3/2025 at 8:33 AM, Guy Lavoie said:

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.

works same with IOS. I can add thread devices and they do hang in UDI and only have on/off.

 

[bgrubb1]

@bigDvette

You added a Matter device with IOS ??  it is working now ???

 

[bigDvette]

Yes,  has been since .18 came out and for clarity you could add matter WiFi devices even earlier than .18 but with .18 you can add thread matter devices albeit they are all just on/off.

Edited April 11 by bigDvette

[bgrubb1]

Still doesn't work on IOS for me.  The developer mode profile error message. Anyone else have success with IOS ? 

[Ristin]

Hasn't work for me yet. Tried a matter plug & light bulb.

[brians]

I can’t even try the app because only matter device I have gives a code in the app. The iOS app only has option to scan with camera.

[Guy Lavoie]

27 minutes ago, brians said:

I can’t even try the app because only matter device I have gives a code in the app. The iOS app only has option to scan with camera.

Do you happen to have a Google Home device, like a mini? If your Matter device is wifi, you can configure it in Google Home, and then use the Google app to create a qr sharing code to add it to the eisy.

[brians]

11 hours ago, Guy Lavoie said:

Do you happen to have a Google Home device, like a mini? If your Matter device is wifi, you can configure it in Google Home, and then use the Google app to create a qr sharing code to add it to the eisy.

No I don’t use google stuff I got rid of it years ago. I don’t think we should have to do workarounds like this - can’t be that difficult to add into the app. But I sorta hearing that iOS app doesn’t work anyways but no official clarification also  

 

[Guy Lavoie]

I have all Alexa devices myself. I got the Google home mini several years ago as a used device for $15, and this is the first time it's come in handy for anything. Most sharing apps (Hue, Alexa) only offer pin codes for sharing.

The UD Matter implementation is still beta and I'm sure the remaining options will get added over time once it works reliably.

[MFBra]

I’m thrilled to hear that Matter is taking off! I’ve got a pretty reliable setup with ISY994, Homebridge, and polyglot. I can control Insteon and Sonoff/tasmota devices seamlessly through Alexa and Siri. Now, I’m eagerly waiting for Matter to come along and overhaul everything. Hopefully, it’ll mean the end of those pesky Insteon devices that keep failing. 

[larryllix]

4 hours ago, MFBra said:

I’m thrilled to hear that Matter is taking off! I’ve got a pretty reliable setup with ISY994, Homebridge, and polyglot. I can control Insteon and Sonoff/tasmota devices seamlessly through Alexa and Siri. Now, I’m eagerly waiting for Matter to come along and overhaul everything. Hopefully, it’ll mean the end of those pesky Insteon devices that keep failing. 

Very strange. I have used about 40 Insteon devices, and other than maybe 2 devices that came bad, I have only 2 devices that have gone bad since 2016.

Some people have bad electrical noise that can get amplified via Insteon devices, or RF noise to interfere with  wireless device comms. I would be looking to resolve those issues. Insteon is much more reliable than WiFi, most of the time in the homes I have owned.

However, Chamberlain garage door openers gave me years of trouble until I found them and filtered their power plugs. I thought it was my 120/240v  Outback inverters and just allowed it for years until my second Chamberlain GDO arrived and pushed my Insteon system over the edge.

[MFBra]

7 hours ago, larryllix said:

Very strange. I have used about 40 Insteon devices, and other than maybe 2 devices that came bad, I have only 2 devices that have gone bad since 2016.

Some people have bad electrical noise that can get amplified via Insteon devices, or RF noise to interfere with  wireless device comms. I would be looking to resolve those issues. Insteon is much more reliable than WiFi, most of the time in the homes I have owned.

However, Chamberlain garage door openers gave me years of trouble until I found them and filtered their power plugs. I thought it was my 120/240v  Outback inverters and just allowed it for years until my second Chamberlain GDO arrived and pushed my Insteon system over the edge.

I completely agree about reliability versus wifi, but I’m not sure if it’s because I live outside the USA. However, I believe it's the same famous capacitors issue from “Insteon Serial Modem” but happening in the dimmers, ON/OFF switches...  I haven’t had any other electrical equipment failures in the past 15 years at the same home, that's why I blame Insteon, maybe wrongly...

Unfortunately, I don’t have the ability to replace the capacitors, and I haven’t found anyone here in São Paulo willing to do it. I received one recommendation, but the guy gave up on it because of other business priorities.

Now I've moved partially to sonoff/tasmotas based on Insteon failure and as soon as I  see matter working I'll got to EISY/Matter and probably replace the remaining Insteon devices. 

The ability to integrate with Alexa and Siri is relevant here due to WAF and kids...

Thanks