Great price for the white bulb starter kit. The kit comes with 2 white bulbs, dimmer switch and the hub required to connect it all.
Get your smart home started with the Philips Hue White Ambiance Starter Kit, which includes two bulbs that can be programmed and controlled from your phone.
Automate your lights for every situation
Pick between energising daylight and warm white light, as well as 16 million colour options in the Hue app. Switch to any colour in seconds and change the ambience of the room for any occasions.
Whether you need bright light to focus on work or darker tones for watching a film, the Hue E27 Bulbs are perfect for letting you set the scene. Choose the ‘Relax' setting for a soothing glow that lets you wind down after a hectic day, or match a colour to your mood for any day.
The Dimmer Switch included in the Starter Kit adds additional functionality, allowing you to dim and control your lights without any wiring needed. The dimmer mounts in moments to the wall, and can even be taken out of the mount and used as a remote control.
Wireless connections
Linking up to 50 bulbs to your smartphone or tablet, the Hue Bridge is the central hub that connects everything together wirelessly. Working on the ZigBee network, the Hue Starter Kit ensures a safe and reliable connection for the lights, which also allows for software and firmware updates.
Gradually change your lights over time for a natural wake up call, gradual shift into the evening or bright welcome home. The lights can be set to come on and off gradually at pre-set times, so you can choose to be woken up by warm light slowly turning on, for a more natural feel as you wake up.
Remote controls
Control your lights remotely no matter where you are. Check if every light is switched off when you're not home, switch them on to give the impression that someone is home while you're away or programme your lights to turn on just before you arrive.
Access your lights through a web browser and control them no matter where you are, with only an internet connection required. Expand your smart home as and when you choose, with a variety of dimmers and bulbs that can be added to create a larger setup.
21 comments
itsvimal
3 Oct 17#1
:thumbsup:
Stealth_Fox
3 Oct 17#2
Bargain. Not available for delivery though. Wish they did a bayonet fitting kit; with an adaptor they're a little long.
This is normal retail price- 59.99 for bridge and bulb and 19.99 for switch
Can’t see he bargain... or am I blind?
GaiusB to hr08
3 Oct 17#5
I think that is the set where you get just the white bulbs and with no dimmer switch, as you say. These are the ambience bulbs which are £25 each individually. I have this set and have been really pleased so far. The different shades of white are most pleasing - did I actually just say that?!
haritori
3 Oct 17#6
These are the bulbs you want if your going to go full on HUE,
I have got Colours, Ambience and White.
Colour - Gimmicky, they have very little real world application, save for maybe dimming to a low blue to watch movies etc...
Whites - They are like normal dimmable bulbs, warm white and work well in areas like halls where you want a light on/off or dimmed, say as a night light.. I use these with a motion sensor so the halls light up as you walk through them, timed for 1 minute to dim to lowest setting then 1 minute more to turn off, after 1am I have them come on only as nightlights on motion.
I also have them in the kids rooms, so the lamps are on from dusk till bedtime, the main light will turn on with one press and will then turn off automatically after 15 minutes, the lamps I also have on wemo switches so the sockets turn off a little after bedtime, so if the kids turn the lamps back on etc they shut down when they are supposed to be asleep..
Ambience - Now these are the best, you can dim and change white balance, using the switches you can assign a bright cool white light for when you need it really light the room up or a subtle warm white for relaxing and watching TV, they are great in lamps too.. I have them in the living room mainly, I programmed the dimmer switch to multiple presses resulting in different scenes, ie: 1st press Bright White both lights and both lamps, 2nd press only lamps on a lower warm white setting, 3rd press all lights and lamps on low warm etc..
Of course it all works with Alexa too or on Apple Home..
Ideally you want a mix of all of them, pick the right bulb for the right area, but Ambience bulbs IMO are the best all rounders to price ratio.
I would recommend iConnectHue too its great for automating your Hue Lights and Accersories.
fozey
3 Oct 17#8
What can these do that Yeelight cannot ?
bellboys to fozey
4 Oct 17#12
Simple answer is empty your wallet a heck of a lot faster. :thinking:
Bomazu
3 Oct 17#9
Why would I get these over the colour changing bluetooth bulbs you can buy on eBay and Amazon for a tenner a go?
BraddersJ to Bomazu
3 Oct 17#10
Because the quality (colour accuracy as well as reliability) and brightness of those eBay bulbs are nothing compared to Philips LEDs. I put emphasis on colour accuracy as I imagine (although I don't know for sure) that those cheapy bulbs only know one 'white' = a very pale blue. Which might be fine for most, but that isn't a very comfortable light.
I probably sound crazy, right?
Waldolf to BraddersJ
4 Oct 17#11
Great if you are single and live alone then? :thinking:
BraddersJ to Waldolf
4 Oct 17#20
Pretty sure you can set em up with more than one phone
Waldolf to Bomazu
4 Oct 17#13
Because you might have more than one light bulb in your home
xmikebx to Bomazu
4 Oct 17#14
Changing the colour of a bulb is gimmicky and pointless. Being able to do it sat on a beach at the other side of the world (whilst checking on your IP camera to make sure it definitely is working) takes it to a whole new level of pointlessness... (that's just an illustrative example, I've not actually done that) I don't think you can do that with Bluetooth :nerd:
gungesh
4 Oct 17#15
Better to buy the new Alexa which comes with a free bulb and an in built bridge so you just need to buy any additional bulbs as required.
spiderontheweb to gungesh
4 Oct 17#17
Hi Gungesh, I'm interested in the Hue system. Are you saying you don't need the Hue Bridge with the new Echo?
haritori to spiderontheweb
4 Oct 17#18
You don't no.. but id recommend getting one anyway incase..
spiderontheweb to haritori
4 Oct 17#19
Thanks Haritori, I just read up, light scenes etc wouldn't work without a hub.
Philips has spoken out on the unveiling of the Amazon Echo Plus, saying that it welcomes this device:
"We welcome initiatives to help people get started with their smart home," said Sridhar Kumaraswamy, business leader home systems, Philips Lighting.
"Connected lighting is a simple but powerful way to transform any space in the home, and voice command is an intuitive way to control it. Offering the two together makes it easier than ever before to switch on to smarter living."
However, the experience you get from the Echo Plus isn't the full experience that Philips Hue offers, which the company is quick to point out. Adding the Hue Bridge will unlock the full potential that the system offers, including compatibility with many more sensors, the ability to automate and set scenes, as well as get system updates over the air and future features.
So while the new Echo Plus is going to give you a lot more direct control over your smart home devices (along with the skills that Alexa offered before), it's not going to be an absolute solution, meaning you should always look at what you're missing out on. As with the case of Philips Hue, it's likely that there's more fun to be had.
spliffhead
4 Oct 17#16
If you are buying into Hue don't forget to check Maplin for their 3 for 2 offer on at the mo.
format
5 Oct 17#21
i'm most interested in the smart lighting thing but a lot of my houses light fittings have 2/3 bulbs, which would be a chore to change to single bulb fitting but extremely expensive to fill with smart bulbs - anyone know a good middleground so i can use good hue bulbs for some rooms and more simplistic on/off & motion detect for the others ? i've seen this off amazon that seems to sit behind lightswitch and serve as a wireless cut-out if all i want is on or off but controllable by app/alexa
Opening post
Get your smart home started with the Philips Hue White Ambiance Starter Kit, which includes two bulbs that can be programmed and controlled from your phone.
Automate your lights for every situation
Pick between energising daylight and warm white light, as well as 16 million colour options in the Hue app. Switch to any colour in seconds and change the ambience of the room for any occasions.
Whether you need bright light to focus on work or darker tones for watching a film, the Hue E27 Bulbs are perfect for letting you set the scene. Choose the ‘Relax' setting for a soothing glow that lets you wind down after a hectic day, or match a colour to your mood for any day.
The Dimmer Switch included in the Starter Kit adds additional functionality, allowing you to dim and control your lights without any wiring needed. The dimmer mounts in moments to the wall, and can even be taken out of the mount and used as a remote control.
Wireless connections
Linking up to 50 bulbs to your smartphone or tablet, the Hue Bridge is the central hub that connects everything together wirelessly. Working on the ZigBee network, the Hue Starter Kit ensures a safe and reliable connection for the lights, which also allows for software and firmware updates.
Gradually change your lights over time for a natural wake up call, gradual shift into the evening or bright welcome home. The lights can be set to come on and off gradually at pre-set times, so you can choose to be woken up by warm light slowly turning on, for a more natural feel as you wake up.
Remote controls
Control your lights remotely no matter where you are. Check if every light is switched off when you're not home, switch them on to give the impression that someone is home while you're away or programme your lights to turn on just before you arrive.
Access your lights through a web browser and control them no matter where you are, with only an internet connection required. Expand your smart home as and when you choose, with a variety of dimmers and bulbs that can be added to create a larger setup.
21 comments
Can’t see he bargain... or am I blind?
I have got Colours, Ambience and White.
Colour - Gimmicky, they have very little real world application, save for maybe dimming to a low blue to watch movies etc...
Whites - They are like normal dimmable bulbs, warm white and work well in areas like halls where you want a light on/off or dimmed, say as a night light.. I use these with a motion sensor so the halls light up as you walk through them, timed for 1 minute to dim to lowest setting then 1 minute more to turn off, after 1am I have them come on only as nightlights on motion.
I also have them in the kids rooms, so the lamps are on from dusk till bedtime, the main light will turn on with one press and will then turn off automatically after 15 minutes, the lamps I also have on wemo switches so the sockets turn off a little after bedtime, so if the kids turn the lamps back on etc they shut down when they are supposed to be asleep..
Ambience - Now these are the best, you can dim and change white balance, using the switches you can assign a bright cool white light for when you need it really light the room up or a subtle warm white for relaxing and watching TV, they are great in lamps too.. I have them in the living room mainly, I programmed the dimmer switch to multiple presses resulting in different scenes, ie: 1st press Bright White both lights and both lamps, 2nd press only lamps on a lower warm white setting, 3rd press all lights and lamps on low warm etc..
Of course it all works with Alexa too or on Apple Home..
Ideally you want a mix of all of them, pick the right bulb for the right area, but Ambience bulbs IMO are the best all rounders to price ratio.
I would recommend iConnectHue too its great for automating your Hue Lights and Accersories.
I put emphasis on colour accuracy as I imagine (although I don't know for sure) that those cheapy bulbs only know one 'white' = a very pale blue. Which might be fine for most, but that isn't a very comfortable light.
I probably sound crazy, right?
(that's just an illustrative example, I've not actually done that)
I don't think you can do that with Bluetooth :nerd:
Philips has spoken out on the unveiling of the Amazon Echo Plus, saying that it welcomes this device:
"We welcome initiatives to help people get started with their smart home," said Sridhar Kumaraswamy, business leader home systems, Philips Lighting.
"Connected lighting is a simple but powerful way to transform any space in the home, and voice command is an intuitive way to control it. Offering the two together makes it easier than ever before to switch on to smarter living."
However, the experience you get from the Echo Plus isn't the full experience that Philips Hue offers, which the company is quick to point out. Adding the Hue Bridge will unlock the full potential that the system offers, including compatibility with many more sensors, the ability to automate and set scenes, as well as get system updates over the air and future features.
So while the new Echo Plus is going to give you a lot more direct control over your smart home devices (along with the skills that Alexa offered before), it's not going to be an absolute solution, meaning you should always look at what you're missing out on. As with the case of Philips Hue, it's likely that there's more fun to be had.