Was I Wrong About The Sonoff NSPanel Pro?!
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- čas přidán 25. 06. 2024
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A little over 6 months ago, Sonoff released a pro version of their NSPanel... called the NSPanel Pro. Unlike it's predecessor which received pretty much good or great reviews across the board, the NSPanel Pro came out to some pretty unfavourable reviews, including from me who was pretty critical of it at the time. I don't normally revisit devices but this one had such a backlog of promised features that I just had too so we can actually find out if I got it wrong or not.
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________________________ - Věda a technologie
Have you been using an NSPanel Pro in your Smart Home? What do you think about it now compared to before? Genuinely interested to hear if your opinion has changed since it first released!
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Is there anything similar you would recommend?
Do you have a DE Amazon link+discount code?
Hey, can we have your latest review on it, now that there have been several updates, does this changes your view now?
What's the latest status on this? Did it improve as much as the last time? I'm still on the fence for it ...
Love the editing & humor. Great video content-wise as well, thank you!
I have two NSPanel Pro, uninstalled all Ewelink apps and other unwanted system apps from the Pro. Side loaded Google playstore on both the Pros and installed HA, Tasker and other Auto Apps plugins that i use to trigger other automations. I also flashed the zigbee chip with a router FW and extended my zigbee network. These now works perfect as 4 inches tablet on the wall. Its now completely running as a local device.
How did you flash the zigbee chip?
Noice!!!!
which android version?
Please link a tutorial
How???
As one of the ones who were asking for a re-review, thanks for taking another look!
I have no words! You're simply the best! Thank you this great video!
Thanks! Very useful video 👌🙏
To anyone interested in one of these, Shelly showed off its own version of the original NSPanel at CES about a month ago.
It had a whole bunch of improvements AND it should get home assistant support in short order.
Yes I am looking forward to this one. Shelly is known to work good with HA, hopefully this will be the case.
I've never heard of Shelly is that wall panel something that can be used in the USA?
@@VampireOnline Search for them, they have some really nice kit, that's entirely local.
The wall panel is only for the EU, but a lot of other things they have also come in a US version.
does the Shelly one do an intercom function?
@@dane6497
They didn't mention an intercom function.
I have a few of these around my home. Their support for adb over wifi is fantastic and setting these things up with fully kiosk mode browser easy.
I use mine as a little tablet on the wall, in a standard light switch socket. Much simpler and cleaner than the alternatives of somehow sticking a table in a box on the a wall.
Having just bought some of the standard NS Panels and flashed with ESPhome your video title had me worried I'd bought the wrong ones, glad to see my option is still good. Cheers for the video
Haha nice, enjoy!
Sycn to home assistant lol
😂😂
Please wait the device is sycn to home assistant
I even Googled to see it was a thing 😅
looks good!!! It actually got some of the updates it was promised :)
I got the NSPanel when it came out and I still think it's a better solution as long as you're willing to flash it. I love the physical buttons and I don't need a full HA on my wall so it's nice to have only the relevant controls in the particular room in which it's deployed. Android tablets are too cheap for me to understand where this fits.
I think I'd agree, original NSPanel is more useful with the physical switches
Thank you for the useful video. Subscribed
I'm deciding literally three days from now about if i want it in my new flat. And here you are with another video about it
Is it any good as central point for smaller flats?
Reading the minds 🔮
Love your Mighty Car Mods shirt!!
I have had two non-pro NSPanels for a few months now. I finally updated the custom screen driver (nspanel-lovelace-ui) this week. It had some backwards incompatible configuration changes (which is the reason I didn't update sooner), but the new layout gave me the ability to configure something I like a lot more. I also added a (competely local) beep and a (partially HA controlled) icon to give feedback for long pressing and double clicking. Oh, and I configured a new automation that I can trigger from the panel.
So not quite the product you were asking about, but I am liking it a lot more now than even a week ago.
I do think the originals are more versatile!
@@EverythingSmartHome definitely. It still puzzles me the pro has no relay(s). No buttons is somewhat more understandable, but still weird. And then there's still the custom software angle which still throws off the whole comparison
So even the previous one is customizable to be used iwth Hass? Where I can find resources on how to integrate with homeassistan?
@@LucaCorsini google for nspanel lovelace ui, it's a bit of a hassle to install, but certainly very useful
@@LucaCorsini czcams.com/video/jpSTA_ILB8g/video.html
Nice to see the MCM shirt mate! ✌️
CHOPPED ✌️
What is the box that you use to give this power when holding the switch? I'm thinking of making cube boxes around the home with aqara panels and I need to power it without being in the wall
Just a standard UK backbox with a bit of flex through it for plugging into a socket. Great if you are a reviewer as makes it easy for switching out smart switches really quickly!
I have a couple of iPhone 6S’s just sitting around. Been thinking of making them into panels next to my light switches in the bedrooms. Make a different dashboard on HA for them
Been curious, would these work with any form of smart lights? Like the recessed lights even if they aren't zigbee compatible? Thinking of getting some smart recessed lights so been curious if something like this could be used to dim or control them if those are connected to wifi.
Hi, Can I connect the Sonoff Zigbee bridge 3.0 to the NSPanel Pro or is the bridge a redundant device now. I have a fairly large home with concrete walls so was thinking to extend Zigbee signals. Thanks!
Can this (now) be used local-only with Home Assistant as (mostly) a button panel to trigger scenes, automations, etc?
Wondering if any of these panels could be used as an interface for home assistant voice assistant...
I like the idea of this in new construction, but if the house is already built, I'm a little less impressed. It looks like the user has to wire their own AC line to the wall point they are going to mount this at, (or hire an electrician to do that.) unless it is going in replacing a wall switch, in wich case I would think that the default act for touching the panel should be to toggle the state of whatever light switch(s) would have been toggled.
I tend to think that 32 end devices attached to the panel is a rather tight limit. Considering that the old X10 system allowed up to 16 devices per 'house' this may be a nice step up, especially as that included 8 devices that were not lights/ appliances, However I do tend to think that any such limit is demonstrating an obliviusness to what the future may require. I can easily envision a bedroom today using over 25 'smart' devices that need to be controlled or monitored. I wouldn't want to deploy this and only find out next year that another dozen devices that my SO considers mandatory, need to be added. Granted that might be a code update away, or perhaps it's a hardware replacement away. I'd rather a solution like this being deployed today actually have that in mind out of the box, rather than as a, well, we didn't think that the future would include anything newer than this... Might just be me.
the complaints asside, I do see a lot of potential in this. I would much rather that any solution like this have a lot more than controlling a room in mind. I'd like to distribute Home Assistant accross multiple hosts that back each other up, take over automations for devices 'near' them in some way, and if they know that a device is normally covered by a device in a maintenance mode (rebooting, powered down, being replaced or upgraded) that the automations it nomrally would handle get handled by one of the other devices in some sort of a distributed way. it might also help if one 'host' is getting bogged down with speech to text processing, or something.
I appreciate the MCM shirt very much! ❤️
Gotta represent! ✌️
Are there any Android / security updates for the device? On launch it was running an already obsolete Android version and at that time, I couldn't find anything about these updates.
What are the alternatives to this panel for use with HA around the house?
Useful follow-up review, thankyou! Many other devices from Sonoff seem good and the company should be applauded for delivering some promised updates, but I don't find the Sonoff NSPanel Pro compelling. For the price and features relating to Home Assistant, it looks easier to use an old/secondhand Android tablet. Just install a wall-mounting kit. Am I missing something?
How did you update the nspanel pro after you enabled developer mode. i also enabled developer mode but i dont get any update notifications so my panel is stuck at FW 1.40 i didnt change or delete anything only enabled dev mode and installed the same launcher you use.
At the time you reviewed it 6 months ago, it really wasn't ready for production at all. Even now it may still not be perfect, but has been dramatically improved. No reviewers were wrong at the time of release a few months ago, it is just SonOff got such a big backlash from reviewers they really had to improve the firmware so now it is not so much half baked as three quarter baked now.
Months on (again) how is everyone using this panel with their HA platform? Have you flashed it with something like ESPhome, or have you left it with its original Android FW and are simple navigating to HA using the inbuilt web browser. If you are using the second approach, what is the HA web browser GUI experience like? Thanks!
Can this replace a switch on the wall or do you have this in addition to a switch?
Sonoff released Ihost local hub any chance of you getting hands on a review unit ?
I bought the older NSPanel instead, and I have been very happy with it. I’m keeping my eye on the “Pro” for when it becomes useful in Home Assistant to the same or better level than the one I have now. “Sycn” isn’t enough: it needs to be fully “intergated”. 😊
A good choice I think!
If you ever test the new shelly plus smoke, then beware that it is very basic, there is no way to start the alarm from other smoke alarms, no ways to test it remote, no ways to mute while cooking remote. It goes completely offline from your network until it detects smoke....
I'm in the process of returning mine
Where can we buy your super room sensors?
I need a Home Assistent central control center. Can i use this product?
Long story short: Its a small tablet with GPIOs.
I still prefer the normal NSPanel or maybe one of the Lanbons.
If you're not using it for the hub (which you can definitely find better options for), I can't think of any benefit for this over a small tablet with your own dashboard loaded.
And don't find the info . Is the NS Panel (pro or not) support non zigBee bulbs?
If it is a tuya device, can you just link it to HA with tuya local?
Love the MCM shirts 💪🏻
✌️✌️
can you use this panel with a KNX system ?
I love your MCM shirt!!
✌️✌️
It would be great if there was a possibility of 24VDC power supply
I have a Cat5 bus only for switchers . Made for another system
I will find out this Thursday if it is worth it :)
Gotta love sycn with HA!
$89 seems like an amazing price for something like this... Just needs to be thread compatible.
Is there a better alternative?
I was thinking about getting one for curtain control.
but after this video I might be better off getting a tablet to use as a dashboard
Marty & Moog love the shirt
I have the tuya version modified with fully kiosk browser and home assistant, for 100 usd. I'm not sure there exists a better option, but it's definitely better than the 50usd esp32 touchscreen guys that are out there. As far as a product that isn't just buying phones or tablets and 3d priting mounts I'd love an actual recommendation
Where did you get the modify version? Did you modify it yourself?
Did someone get fully kiosk browser installed and running?
Product Management 101: Don't ever put dates onto a public website for unreleased features. Ever.
I'm writing that down...🤣
so you're just trying to say that we should nail a Fire Tablet on the wall instead of the nspanel pro? :D
Got both the NSPanel and Pro, using Lovelace UI on the NSPanel and side loaded HA onto the Pro. Haven't worked out a way to "kiosk" the HA app on the Pro. If there's a solution to that, it might make the Pro leave my bench and find it's way onto a wall.
Can you not use FullyKioskBrowser app on it?
Yeah did you try loading the fully kiosk app on it same as the HA app?
@@EverythingSmartHome it's my understanding (unless I read it wrong), that the fully kiosk works on a browser that loads the HA UI, which sort of negates the use of the companion app, Not sure if the browser would be more performant than a native app.
Which android version is it running?
"I won't gasp in horror" is a pretty ringing endorsement. 😂
😂
I have the original NSPanel and find the two switches make it close to a normal wall switch.
If I needed that sort of functionality, I can get nice mobiles for under $100.
How is it? I'm tempted for just the normal one with home assistant.
@@TomWakeford one of the best toys, for HA. Apparently the white one is a better switch mechanism.
Lewis, could it be used as alarm panel for Alarmo
If you can leave it on the home assistant page. You could create a dashboard just for Alarmo/NSPanel. Just a thought.
Yeah absolutely you could like Cory says!
the touch input lag looks rough, this is a good step in the right direction but it feels like this tech is not yet there. too much cost cutting to be something i put on my wall. if there was something like this that was actually responsive and had a proper ARM cpu and proper screen it would be so nice. I would pay double or triple for that. At that point though, might as well just grab an actual tablet.
Is your t-shirt also a statement of opinion towards the lightswitch?
Haha. TPLink switches are the way to go imo
👀😂
Before even getting a min into the vid, I'd wondered if the MCM shirt was foreshadowing for the content to come 🤭
👀😂
Sorry, I don't really see the point of these if you have a Home Assistant setup already running. Is there anything this can do that a 7 inch android tablet couldn't do with a better screen? And this thing is stuck to your wall or on a stand.
What we really need is an updated version of the old Nexus 7 with a stand (with pogo pins to keep it charged). You could then leave one of these in each room you want local controls in, or I am sure someone could build an automation that would change your HA Dashboard to fit the room as you move the tablet from room to room.
well....home assistant sycn was pretty essential, helps the immune system.
Its a shame, it looks good but as you point out its just not there yet. They would have been better off allowing us to mess with it more 😅
I was a pre-order client, and must say that your "harsh" initial review is still nice er than mine would have been!
Even with updates, here in the US, it is little better than a digital clock.
Current temp often requires a restart to update, and weather forecast is only in Celsius, which is tough for us Americans to process.
I have yet to get it all to integrate with Alexa for any video camera integration, let alone use it as a beneficial tool in Home Assistant.
Pure waste of money
Damn, sucks to hear that
FYI, the UK pronunciation of 'router' sounds better to these American ears than how it is said here! Also, was hoping this looked a little better as I am wanting to add some panels around the house (mostly for easy security camera stream viewing) and light duty work like the thermostat and a few lights that are not yet automated.
Rauter v. rooter doesn't phase me, but what's a "thimb"?
Haha usually I get comments telling me I'm saying it wrong all the time so I was just taking a little jab 😂
You don't have thimbs!?
@@d00dEEE ....they are at the end of your thingers
The UK actually uses both pronunciations, but for different things!
The computer device finds the correct route (“root”) for traffic. A thing which routes is a router.
The power tool cuts routs (“raut”) in material. A thing which routs is a router.
“Router” and “router” are two different words, with different meanings and different pronunciations. They just happen to be spelled the same.
Throwing some shade at poor proofreading, I laughed at the "Sycn to Home Assistant"
🤣🤣
The fact that it's not 120Hz is a no from me. I might as well build my own.
Is that a mighty car mods tshirt? =D
Sure is! ✌️
Looks like a decent device, but I do not want a touchscreen on the walls for home automation. A touchscreen can do more than a keypad, but it isn't better. Pawing at a touchscreen to get something done is not a good interface. It is also entirely missing the point that the home should be _automated_. A 4 button keypad is enough for most rooms because it only needs to cover functionality that can't automated: lights in bedrooms (where occupancy doesn't dictate on/off), music, ceiling fan, and possibly a second lighting area (eg a terrace). Everything else does not need buttons on the wall and definitely not a tablet. I don't want to look at data or cameras or anything else through a tiny wall NSPanel/tablet. If I have the need to look at a screen, it can be a cell phone or computer, but that is only acceptable for the rare need, not for typical usage. I could make an exception to have one central tablet for those needs, but I personally prefer a cell phone or computer.
Remember, we're coming from wall switches. The evolution is a keypad, not a tablet. A keypad passes the grandma test, showing the usability is good. A tablet is more about showing how fancy your stuff is than it is about usability.
All that said, the intercom does add useful a feature. In the future, as OpenAI Whisper improves, it could be useful for voice commands -- except you are at the mercy of Sonoff.
Feel like the Kickstarter was SOLD to another company, and they decided to drop extra/future they weren’t interested in make happen or learn - sell it as-is
I just can't see people using this instead of their phone. For me it's phone for the main control and then maybe some thermostat or light switch (considering no detection available). Look at the lag of that.
I would buy the Android panels from Alibaba. They come wall mounted in a wall box, can be powered by 24v, 240v, POE, etc... and have standard Android so no hacking just quick and easy to get going
I bet power usage is much higher though
@@sulylunat I just checked the specs:
Alibaba panel: 10W max
NSPanel Pro: 5W max
I havent run a meter on the alibaba panel to see what the average or standby is
Is that something like the T6E?
I think it's basically the same device as the NSpanelPro
Yeah that's right, there have been quite a few of the same devices as they are Tuya originally
What is a model with POE?
no you werent wrong, when it was released it was a hot mess...but thanks to Blackadder and simialr, its come a long way in quite a short time...that said I had to return my last one as the light bleed was awful
Mine has a bit of bleed now you mention it!
@@EverythingSmartHome apologies. Sometimes you don’t see it till someone mentions it. That was the benefit of ordering from Amazon albeit it a bit more expensive
Bloody well right
Nothing that has been updated is dead on amazing it's basically an alpha panel that has now been updated to a beta panel. You were 100% correct before in the original video and now in the updated video. Maybe 6 months from now you can do another updated video and this thing will come out of beta. Oh and cost $80 instead of $120
for the same price I can get a fire 7 tablet and print a wallmout for it, definitely better value and gives you way more flexibility...
I would tend to agree
This video is well timed, I watched your earlier reviews this morning and was about to write this product off.
Edit: Thinking about it a bit more, I still think this device misses the Mark. It still takes up a light socket but isn't a direct swap for a traditional light switch, meaning a relay and alot of messing with wiring would be required.
Haha nice, hope it helps!
Too bad that's you did not tackle ESPHome for NSPanel community software. It's a lot more promising in my opinion. So buy it as hardware and overwrite software.
Noone seem to notice the honda in the bin tshirt😂
This is a hard NO without local API.
mmm I still think is better to get an iPad or an Android tablet with a wall mount and use it instead of this.
Agreed with you on this. I do not see the point of this NSPanel.
For software compatibility and usages. Yes. But it often looks very ugly. This has a more “professional” look to it
Better in some ways, but if there are any such tablets below $100 I haven't seen them on offer.
the fact that Sonoff disables future updates when you enable ADB is just stupid.
the fact that this is a Tuya device, also stupid.
the fact that we cannot use this as a zigbee router (extender) through Home Assistant ... also stupid.
the fact that no-one can replace a wall switch with this device.... tragic.
they keep saying that it can work with Home Assistant through their addon.... it works 1 out of 10 times.
Zigbee weirdness and not acting as a router is a total dealbreaker.
My opinion , nobody will stand from coach and go to this tiny screen to control the smart appliances. Google nest and alexa does the control jop much easier. I have the old version , NSpanel just using to see the time, wearher and indoor temp. I am not using control functions. This device would be good looking on wall not more.
I’d prefer a tablet on my wall running HA. It’s cheaper and customizable.
Oh, EWeLink is a problem. Not work well in HA. Every time lost connection.
Indeed and full android!
For 120$ you can just simply buy a amazon tablet.
Hhmmmmm. Tuya rebrand means we may likely see an HA branded version coming our way….
I don't think those could be further from each other 😜
With the new Blackymas/NSPanel_HA_Blueprint these honestly just junk. Even if you side load HA plan on alot of time to get a good UI. I now have two in a box collecting dust since the non-pro has relay control and works "good enough" actually "way awesome" with little coding. All easily configured with the blueprint once you have the ns panel flashed with esp home. Also with backup direct relay control I am not sure way someone would get the ns panel pro vs just installing a small more powerful and cheaper tablet. Why does everyone try to re-invent HA vs just selling the hardware and making it 100% compatible with app already loaded. I am sure 80% of the people installing this stuff dont want locked into a vendor and already use HA. Sonoff is like a newer UDI.
Mighty Car Mods ;)
✌️
EPPanel Pro-2000 when?
😂
Fun fact, americans say both router and rooter, super irrelevant but i think one may just be a regional dialect in the states
Sticking a 8 inch android tablet over a 3 gang switch box would be better 😂
Why?
You get just as far with HA and a used mobile or pad.
Oy! Why not just use an old tablet instead?
And never buy Sonoff Motion sensor SNZB-03, never! What you can buy is the Door Window Sensor SNZB-04.
product management ought to know better than let marketing publish the roadmap 🤦♂
ROUTE - ER! ROUTE-ER! 😤 'MERICAAA! 2 thimbs up.
👍 < my two thimbs > 👍