Review: Sonoff 433 RF WiFi bridge
The good folk at Sonoff have sent me yet another gadget to review. This is a slightly curious device - an IP to 433MHz remote. This allows a smartphone to control smarthome gadgets which usually require an RF remote control.
It costs £8 plus postage direct from Itead.
This is similar to an Infrared device I reviewed a few years ago.
It's a cute little box, small and light enough to hide away anywhere. Even under use, it doesn't get hot.
Note - it only connects to 2.4GHz WiFi. That's standard for these cheap gadgets.
Powered by the ubiquitous micro-USB, it comes with a short cable, but no plug socket. I assume you have plenty at home.
Blinken lights! Little status LEDs so you know what's going on.
Software
You need to use the eWeLink app. Like lots of smarthome apps from China, it isn't the prettiest - but it works. The translations on the app and the user guide would benefit from a more professional approach, but it is adequate.
The app is quick to respond - but I found that it would occasionally log me out, and I'd have to re-enter my password to continue.
It also supports Amazon Alexa! Incredible for a device this cheap. As I mentioned in my previous review, setting up the eWeLink Alexa skill is a bit cumbersome - but it works!
Buttons!
You also get a keyfob with four buttons on it.
It is an RF remote which you can pair with the box. Kinda neat if you don't want to unlock your phone to activate something.
Usage
It works - but there's a catch - how many 433MHz devices do you have? I had to dig out some old demo kit in order to play with this gadget. If you've got compatible devices, this is a useful gizmo - but most modern devices have WiFi built in, so it may be worth upgrading older devices if you can.
If you have devices which need 433MHz controls, this is a ridiculously cheap way to add them to your home network. The Alexa control is the icing on the cake.
Teardown
It isn't a review if you don't get to see the guts :-)
The retail model I've got has populated debug headers and an internal on/off switch.
Nice and neat design. I'm told that it should be fairly easy to flash and dump the firmware. For those who care about such things, the main chip is the ESP8285.
Get It
- You can find out more information on Sonoff's website
- Full specification - including schematic - is on the Itead Wiki
- Finally, you can buy it for £8 (US$10) from Itead directly
Alex says:
Terence Eden says:
If you have more than that, you should be able to use multiple bridges.
MI says:
But for others, like RF Alarm, RF Curtain Switch, they are counted as one RF Remote.
Any idea why there's a limit to the number of items it can control? Does the device "learn" from other RF transmitters, and only have 16 memory slots? I was hoping it would be like a wi-fi version of the RFXtrx433, which will send any message you program it to, at any time.
On that subject, if it does learn, is there an option for repeat signals (i.e. keeping your finger on the remote)?
Thirdly, what's the additional keyfob for? Given this device is a transmitter, I don't get the point of this!
I use LightwaveRF devices with the RFXtrx433. And I use the openHAB binding to tie it all together. It's a really nice, cheap, and flexible way of retro-fitting dimmer switches to the home. Well, LWRF used to be cheap (20 quid for a double dimmer), not sure if it's still rock-bottom low price like that. Wouldn't choose this method if wiring a building from scratch, but it's a good low-investment way of getting smart dimming into the home.
Justin says:
Terence Eden says:
Andrei Panferov says:
@edent says:
Robin says:
@edent says:
david says:
How else would you control a curtain if you didn`t transmit a signal ?
Great device, I have 4 and am getting 2 more, but I want to now transmit signals to control other devices which
accept ( receive ) 433 Mhz RF signals.
Thanks
Kevin says:
@edent says:
rondoc says:
Graham Horn says:
Justin says:
i.e. Given that RF transmitting switches/fobs etc are so incredibly cheap, and the batteries last forever, a way to bridge RF switch/button pushes (from any 433MHz tx) into Google Home or proper HA commands would allow wall switches and portable remotes anywhere and everywhere they might be useful.
I thought that’s what I was going to get with my Sonoff bridge, but unfortunately it wants to receive instructions from Google Home, not provide them to Google. Alexa, Philips, or anything else as far as I can make out.
Mike says:
Juan Carlos Martinez says:
Juan Carlos Martinez says:
JC
Juan Carlos Martinez says:
Graham Horn says:
Greg says:
Jojo Ferrer says:
What I like abut their product is that most of their devices can be controlled thru LAN if your connection goes offline and most of their plugs operate this way as well as their slamphers. I also like their 4CH and smart switches (in which I own both) especially their RF version in which you can control it by RF remote fob.
Rick says:
I have a bunch of wifi “SmartLife” devices.
Some are switches, some are bulbs, some are outlets.
I have a bunch of automations in SmartLife and Alexa integration.
I’d like to add some 433 remote controls.
Will this allow SmartLife to see the “bridge”?
Will it somehow make a 433 remote appear as a wifi SmartLife remote?
Does it work in “reverse” and allow SmartLife to control 433 devices?
@edent says:
This blog post is 4 years old, and I don't have any 433 devices to test it with. But it is a cheap bit of kit, so perhaps worth you buying & blogging about it?