Is a Hue Bridge Required? Do I Need a Hue Bridge? Guide

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Gained early experience with automation technology in the private and industrial sector, can turn his living room into a movie theater with one voice command and is the owner of this website. He is happy to share his accumulated experience with every new article.

These Lamps Can be Used Without Bridge

Meanwhile, many Hue lamps can be used without a bridge. However, you should make sure that the exact model has Bluetooth. The new generations usually have this function.

Especially in online stores outside the official Hue store, however, older generations are still sold. Here you should read exactly in the description whether the lamp is Bluetooth-enabled.

You can also recognize the Bluetooth lamps from Philips Hue by a blue Bluetooth symbol on the packaging. This is usually located at the top right on the front of the packaging. However, product photos in online stores can sometimes only be exemplary and do not represent a guarantee.

How To set up a Hue System Without a Bridge

If you want to use a Hue system without a bridge, there are a few things to keep in mind during installation and commissioning. This is different from the one with a bridge.

However, the first two steps are the same as for the installation with bridge. First you have to screw the bulb into the socket. If you don’t want to install a bulb, but a stripe or a floor lamp, you have to plug the included power supply into the socket, so that the lamp has a power supply.

In a conventional installation, the second step is to switch the light switch to the “on” position. From now on, you don’t have to do anything to the lamp itself. All further steps are carried out with the cell phone or a tablet via an app.

This app is called Philips Hue Bluetooth and is available for both Android and iOS. You should not confuse this app with the “normal” Hue app, as this can only be used with a bridge.

After you have installed the app, you have to create your own user account. Among other things, your email address is required for this. Within the app, you will be guided step by step through the settings until you can finally add your first lamps.

To add it, you need to enable Bluetooth on your phone. You can do this in the system settings. The lamp should then appear directly there.

A direct connection with the cell phone is not possible. Most of the time, a message is displayed when a connection attempt is made, stating that a connection is only possible via another app.

If you then go back to the Hue app, the lamp will appear there. There you can change the name directly. You should also do this, because a later assignment of several lamps is quite complex.

Tip: Since no rooms or groups can be created in the Hue system without a bridge, you should ideally include the location directly in the name. A lamp in the living room would then be called “Living room lamp”, for example.

Now your Hue lamp is successfully integrated into the Hue app and ready to use.

If the Hue lamp does not show up in the Hue app, it may help to turn your Bluetooth off and on again. Also, your phone should be right next to the lamp so that the Bluetooth signal is as strong as possible.

The Philips Hue Bluetooth App

Similar to the Hue system with bridge, the Bluetooth system’s app is the linchpin in operation.

The app is well structured and very clear and easy to understand, even for beginners and less tech-savvy people. Depending on the model of the installed lamps, the brightness and color of the lamp can be set there.

With the so-called White and Color lamps, you can choose from 16 million different colors. The brightness of all lamps can also be adjusted continuously and very finely.

Also very practical are the scenes that can be configured and started via the app. This allows you to select the right light depending on the time of day and mood and create a unique atmosphere.

Advantages of a Hue System Without Bridge

The biggest advantage of a Hue system without a bridge is that it is extremely easy to install and operate.

The acquisition costs can thus be reduced somewhat, at least for beginners. In addition, Hue lamps can be controlled via Bluetooth even if there is no or no stable Internet. The bridge is dependent on an Internet connection and cannot be operated without it.

The Disadvantages of a Hue System Without a Bridge

Unfortunately, a Hue system without a bridge also comes with some disadvantages. As already mentioned, the range of functions is significantly smaller than with a conventional system.

The Maximum Number of Lamps that can be Coupled

If you use a Hue bridge, you can pair up to 50 lamps with one bridge. This should be sufficient for most users. However, if more lamps are needed, a second bridge can be integrated into the app.

This can then be used to control another 50 lamps. The advantage here is that this all works from one app. The maximum number of insertable lamps is thus almost infinite.

If the lamps are controlled directly via Bluetooth, a maximum of approx. 10 lamps can be controlled and managed via an app. The actual maximum number of lamps depends on the performance of the cell phone or tablet.

However, more than 10 lamps are usually not possible. Often there are even fewer. In addition, you cannot control multiple systems via one app as you can when using a bridge.

Although it would be possible to operate several systems in parallel via several terminals, this is not really practical or even smart.

The Range

With the help of a bridge, the Hue lamps can be controlled regardless of the range. Only an Internet connection is necessary to establish a connection with the lamps.

This allows all lamps to be controlled from the entire house. In addition, the bridge builds a ZigBee network. Such a network has a mesh function. But what is a mesh function?

In a mesh network, the signal, i.e. the ZigBee signal in a Hue system, is amplified by each lamp or device. The basic range of ZigBee is already significantly greater than that of Bluetooth.

But if you integrate several devices into the system, the range can be extended further and further. Each device acts as a “repeater” and extends the signal.

This is particularly practical for lighting in large houses with several floors and in the garden. There, up to 100 meters have to be bridged in some cases. This would not be possible with Bluetooth.

With the ability to enable remote access, Hue lamps can be controlled on the go.

This is especially useful if, for example, you are driving to work and notice that lamps are still on in the house. You can then easily switch off the lamps from work.

With a Bluetooth connection, the range is technically limited. Often, the signal becomes so weak after only 10 to 15 meters that no connection can be established with the lamps.

Walls and/or other interfering signals have a very large influence on the actual range. Thick concrete walls have the property of almost completely stopping a Bluetooth signal.

So if you want to control a lamp from another room and there is a thick wall between you and the room, the control will probably not be possible.

The quality or version of your phone or tablet also affects the range. Newer models are equipped with better modules that can establish a wider and, above all, more stable connection.

Sorting and Organization of Lamps

For simple and clear operation via app, the lamps should be able to be divided into different rooms and groups. Not only can entire rooms be controlled at once, but grouping also makes voice control much easier.

Thus, the living room, where several different Hue lamps have been installed, can be controlled with a voice command. If no Hue bridge is used, individual rooms and groups cannot be created.

Voice Control

Even though Bluetooth lamps from Philips Hue can be controlled with the Amazon voice assistant called Alexa, for example, there are limitations here as well if you don’t use an Echo or Google Home voice assistant.

These two voice assistants are currently the only ones on the market that can control Bluetooth lamps. Both Microsoft Cortana and the much better-known voice assistant Siri cannot control Bluetooth lamps from Hue without a bridge.

Further Automation Functions

A smart lighting system thrives on the fact that a wide variety of sensors can be coupled and automations can be created. Especially the latter is not possible without a Hue bridge.

When using a bridge, timers and schedules can be set directly via the app. Among other things, data such as sunsets or similar can also be accessed.

Also very popular is the function that automatically turns off the light when you fall asleep and turns it on automatically when you wake up. This significantly increases the comfort of use.

Compatible Accessories from Philips Hue

In addition to numerous lamps and bulbs, Philips Hue also produces a number of accessories. With the accessories you can control your Hue system even more intuitively and easily.

Very popular, for example, is the motion detector*. It is available for both indoor and outdoor use. It can be placed and used everywhere very inconspicuously.

The app can be used to set how sensitive motion detection should be and at what light intensity the motion detector should be inactive. It is also possible to determine at what time the light should be switched on and how. There is currently no motion detector for the Bluetooth system.

Switches that can be used to control lamps directly without an app are also very popular. Examples include the wall switch module, which can be mounted behind a light switch, and the Smart Button, which is extremely small yet offers numerous functions.

However, you do not have to completely do without accessories for the Bluetooth system from Philips Hue. The so-called Hue Dimmer Switch can be paired directly with the lamps, so that no bridge is necessary.

With the Hue Dimmer Switch* you can turn your lamps on and off, dim them and activate certain scenes.

Unfortunately, there are currently no other accessories for the Philips Hue Bluetooth system. Even the external switches called “Friends of Hue” can only be used with the bridge.

Philips Hue Entertainment

With the help of a bridge, you can, for example, synchronize your lamps with your TV, adjust them to music or create lighting effects. All these functions are not must-haves and are probably not used on a daily basis. Nevertheless, they expand the possible range of functions.

Compatibility with other Systems

In a smart home, all technical devices are interconnected and can ideally be controlled centrally. For this purpose, an external system is usually operated, which has access to all other systems.

The Philips Hue system can also be integrated into other smart home systems. However, this always requires the use of the bridge.

Connecting to other systems is especially handy when you want to create automations or routines with devices from different manufacturers. Philips Hue only offers lighting products.

If, for example, you want to link a window or door contact with the lighting so that it is switched on or off in response to certain actions, this is only possible with an external system.

An alarm system is also a popular way to expand the functionality of the Hue lamps in the smart home. Basically, the purposes of the Hue lamps become almost limitless through an integration into an external smart home system. The Hue Bridge therefore opens up numerous possibilities.

To a limited extent, however, it is also possible to integrate the Hue lamps into an external smart home system without a bridge. With the help of an Echo device that is compatible with the Bluetooth lamps, the individual devices can be accessed with a specific system.

However, this is extremely cumbersome, error-prone and still does not solve the problem that accessories are not compatible with the system at all or only to a very limited extent. The lower range will also cause circumstances with Bluetooth lamps.

Since the bridge communicates with the individual devices via ZigBee, it can also be used to integrate devices from other manufacturers into the system. These sometimes have a different range of functions or are cheaper. This is not possible with the Bluetooth system, since no ZigBee is used.

Conclusion

With the Bluetooth system, the manufacturer wants to make it even easier for interested parties to get started with the Hue system.

The new generations of Hue lamps have a Bluetooth module in addition to the ZigBee module, which could connect to a bridge. Thus, these lamps can be controlled directly via Bluetooth.

The manufacturer thus enables a very easy and comfortable entry into the ecosystem. Therefore, this solution is primarily intended and suitable for beginners or people who want to try out the system.

Even though the range of functions is rather small compared to the system with the bridge, the basic functions are available. These functions are definitely sufficient for getting to know and trying them out.

Nevertheless, if you like the principle of Philips Hue, you will quickly realize that the advantages of a bridge are so great that switching to it makes perfect sense. Fortunately, the switch is possible at any time, since all Bluetooth lamps can also be paired with the bridge.

The initial question of whether a Hue bridge is necessarily needed can therefore be answered in such a way that a bridge is no longer technically necessary. However, if you want to use the complete range of functions and have the option to expand the system, you will not get around a bridge.

Attention: When installing electronic equipment, please be sure to observe the manufacturer’s safety instructions. You have to take care of your own safety. The information on this site only helps you to learn.
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