Verdict
The TP - Link Tapo H100 Smart Hub with Chime is cheap , summary and well-heeled to set up . While most bulbs and sassy plug in the Tapo ecosystem do n’t need a hub , this optional one lets you add broken - power net of Things ( IoT ) products including smart light switches , doorbells , and door and motion sensing element . More than that , it increases the scope for automation in your Tapo system , for example by using shift and sensor to trigger other actions . It ’s a gravid product , but if you ’re planning a particular scenario , contain you ca n’t write more money by buying the H100 or the similar H200 hub in a pile .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
One of the things I ’ve always liked about TP - Link ’s Tapo and Kasa smart ecosystems is that neither needed a hub , reducing their hassle and initial outlay . However , without one , Tapo could n’t endure depleted - office wireless devices , confine the chain of mountains of sensors and other equipment TP - Link could offer .
Now the company has launched two wise hub . The Tapo H100 Smart Hub with bell ( retrospect here ) acts as a bridge between depressed - power Tapo devices and other items in the range .
The H200 Smart Hub with chime is a little bigger , and adds a pumped-up Ethernet connective and MicroSD card one-armed bandit that can provide reposition for selected Tapo security measure tv camera .
Design and features
The H100 is only the size of a small powerfulness adapter , and it secure straight into a briny socket . Give it a moment to part up , then you could use the ‘ Add ’ push button in the Tapo app to discover and add together it – you ’ll be move to apply any usable microcode updates , too .
On its own the H100 is evenhandedly useless , other than summate a speaker unit that can be spark by other Tapo devices . The hub ’s main purpose , however , is to link battery - powered Tapo equipment to your wireless meshing , and therefore the wide Tapo ecosystem . TP - Link is releasing more low power IoT twist , but at the meter of writing the list included the S200B button , S200D dimmer switch , S210 and S220 light switch , T310 and T315 humidity sensing element , T110 doorway detector and T100 motion detector . Here I ’m brush up the H100 with the T100 motion sensor – I ’ve reviewed theS220 light switchseparately .
Once the H100 is configured , it ’s bare to add any other devices that require it . To add the TP - Link Tapo T100 Smart Motion Sensor , for example , you off its electric battery isolate tab , then just add from the app like you would any other Tapo product . TP - Link says the T100 is sensitive across a 120 ° angle at up to seven metres . It ’s mount via a ball - articulation that lets you fine - tune the direction it ’s point in .
Depending on the devices you ’re using with it , the H100 makes a range of scenario possible . For deterrent example , you’re able to practice the S200B Smart Button to turn over on a light , or use the T110 Smart Contact ( door ) sensor to trigger the hub to play an alarum or doorbell sound . One problem with the latter scenario is that the verbalizer is n’t especially loud – it ’s improbable to scare off any burglars , and you might not even hear it if it ’s tucked away .
I deploy the T100 gesture sensing element in the cap corner of our downstairs hallway , with the theme that I ’d utilise the detector and hub to turn three Tapo smart bulbs on when movement was detected . Depending on the prison term of day I wanted different deportment : light on bright and immediately during bedtime hour , and a more relaxed and warm light in the evenings and mornings .
I used the Smart page in the Tapo app to configure multiple automation view , each of which is switched on and off depending on the time of Clarence Day . In retrospect , I overcomplicated thing , but the essential behaviours I wanted work absolutely . The sensor has three sensitivity level – on the default , midway one it reliably detected human effort without being triggered by my guy .
ab initio , the Tapo app warned me that the T100 sensor was being activated multiple times a day , and that this might lead to a shorter stamp battery life . But despite being in one of the busiest part of our house , it was still work nine months after I first installed it . The sensor gets its power from a powerful , replaceable CR2450 lithium electric cell that TP - Link says will last for two years – it ’s a shame there ’s no rechargeable battery , though .
Performance
The TP - Link Tapo H100 Smart Hub with chime ties up a single office socket , but it ’s heavyset enough that it wo n’t get in the way of neighbouring ones . It barely practice any power , falling below the minimal one Watt that my mains meter can detect .
Although the H100 and T100 use low-down - big businessman wireless communications , their range appear to be at least as good as you ’d anticipate from a standard 2.4GHz Wi - Fi connexion . That ’s mostly because they only need a depressed bandwidth , and because they apply lower frequency tuner in the 868/922 MHz range , which is less affected by obstructions . I tried move the hub and sensor to the two extremes of my house , with the signaling impeded by a concrete flooring . They still communicated without any problem .
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Should you buy it?
The TP - Link Tapo Smart Hub with chime is an inexpensive and honest way to bring low power gadget documentation to the Tapo ecosystem
You ’ll only need it if you want to use certain Tapo detector or replacement
Final Thoughts
You do n’t need the H100 hub to use Tapo impertinent bulbs or chic plugs . But it ’s a must if you require to employ the dilate range of low - tycoon light switch and sensors . If you are planning to automate thing , though , it ’s important to check the full Tapo range – TP - Link sell several sensing element and hub big money , which be less than buying their contents separately .
It ’s also worth indicate out that the new Tapo D230S1 Smart Battery Video Doorbell comes with the H200 hub , in which case you would n’t also need the H100 . If you do n’t have any Tapo devices already , you may be better off running automation with Amazon Alexa , or using a rival system of rules that supports a wider chain of mountains of devices , such asSamsung SmartThings .
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Unlike other sites , we test every smart nursing home product we review thoroughly over an extended time period of clip . We use diligence standard test to compare feature properly . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , live with money to review a product .
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FAQs
They both let you add low - office Tapo internet of thing machine to your home . The H200 support Tapo security cameras , and come with a MicroSD card one-armed bandit and a pumped-up Ethernet port , but the H100 does not .
Strictly speaking you do n’t – much of the Tapo range bring without it . However , if you want to use the Tapo range of IoT switches and sensors , you ’ll need the H100 or H200 hub .
