Wiser 2nd Generation HubR Review

What’s new?

• Wider device support beyond heating
• Matter support

What’s the difference between the first and second generation hub? The biggest benefit of the new generation is the wealth of clever devices that you can connect and control from one place. The first generation concerned itself with your heating and hot water. The second generation has expanded to other highly useful devices that detect smoke, intruders, motion, and even water leaks. 

That makes the Wiser 2nd Generation HubR a more complete device, with everything integrated through one app.

Also, the Wiser 2nd Generation HubR is also Matter compatible, with the hub able to bridge devices into a Matter ecosystem, such as Apple Home, Amazon Alexa or Homey. Matter gives direct control, without the cloud, so it’s more stable and faster.

That’s quite the upgrade, and if you want to use your Wiser devices with the smart home system of your choice, this is probably the standout feature.

Upgrading

If you’re starting from scratch, you can just skip this section. If you’ve got the existing Wiser hub, then read on.

First, you’ll be pleased to know that the existing devices you have, primarily smart thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) and room thermostats, are all compatible with the new hub, as these devices use Zigbee.

That’s good from a price perspective. When Tado X was introduced, it was a completely new system, separate from the original, so you had to start from scratch.

The bad news is that there’s no migration tool. If you’re like me and you’re updating your network from the first to the second generation, then you’ll have to delete everything via the app first. You will lose your heating schedule, so if you’ve got a complicated one, make a note of it somewhere. 

Once you’ve deleted the devices from the app, you’ll then need to delete your account from app via the account page. The next step is to factory reset your existing hub by pressing and holding the Setup button until the two green lights turn off. 

Once completely reset, simply follow the instructions to install the new hub and accessories. Luckily, it’s an easy process using the little QR codes found on the back of each device. The video guide is useful here. 

Installation

• Three hubs to choose from
• Possible for a competetent DIYer

My house runs on a combi boiler that operates both the hot water and central heating on the same channel, so I just need the single-channel version of the Wiser 2nd Generation HubR. If you have a system with a hot water tank, you need the two-channel version. For large homes there’s a three-channel version, with two channels of heating and one hot water control.

The one- and two-channel versions cost the same, but the three-channel version is a little more expensive. You can buy the hub by itself or in a range of starter kits, depending on what you want.

In all cases, the hub is the brains of the operation. It talks to the boiler and your phone so that you can control your heating and other connected devices from just about anywhere. Whether you’re lying in bed at home, or halfway across the world on holiday, you’re in control. 

I was happy to find that installing this system was straightforward. 

The HubR needs to be connected to the wall close to your boiler. Wiring it in is a DIY job if you’re confident with your home electrics. However, unless you’re completely certain, get it installed by a professional electrician. 

The instructions that come with the hub are well written with clear diagrams. There are excellent videos online too. 

You’ll need to turn off the electrics, undo the wires from the existing wall plate, make a note of where each wire goes, then attach the new wall plate in its place with the correct wiring. Note, the HubR, like its predecessor, supports simple on/off controls and also OpenTherm, which allows the heating system to adjust flow temperature based on demand.

Once the hub is firmly attached to your wall, follow the steps on the app to install the new hub and accessories. It involves scanning the QR codes found on each accessory then clicking little buttons on the back to add them to your network. 

After a couple of false starts, I got everything added to the hub and assigned to different rooms without much issue. 

Features and performance

• Wide range of sensors that can inter-operate
• Same core heating controls

As a wider smart home system, the Wiser 2nd Generation HubR is both designed to offer more outside of general heating, but also many of the devices work together inside the Wiser app to give you more control.

The app allows granular control over your heating and home security. You can set different temperatures and schedules for each room and even individual radiators. If you want, you can also create “moments” and automations that combine information from multiple sensors, using “if”, “when”, and “then” controls for almost all the sensors. If you know what you’re doing, it’s an incredibly powerful tool. 

On the downside, the app can feel cluttered once lots of sensors have been added. And it can take a while to get to know all the features. If you’re looking for simplicity, then this might not be the best app for you. 

Smart TRVs and Room Thermostat

So long as you have the right type of radiator, you can upgrade to a smart Thermostatic Radiator Valve (TRV). This transforms a simple home heating system into something much more intelligent. With smart TRVs installed, you can heat just the room you’re in or use their internal thermometer to fine-tune the temperature in different zones of your home. 

Installing one of Wiser’s handsome anthracite grey (but also available in white) TRVs is simple. Insert batteries, screw it onto the radiator valve, and follow the steps on the app.

There are also Room Thermostat, which come in anthracite grey and white, depending on your home décor. The only bit of Wiser kit with a screen, this little thermostat can either be attached to the wall or stood up with a little kickstand. The display tells you the current temperature and relative humidity, and you can control the heating with the plus and minus symbols from here. 

These are the same sensors that were sold previously, and our original Wiser review has more on how the heating system works.

Temperature and Humidity Sensor

The first of a new range of devices, the Temperature and Humidity Sensor is a smaller, cheaper, screen-free alternative to the Room Thermostat. It’s useful if you find that your TRVs are reading the wrong temperature, such as if one’s behind furniture, and you’re not worried about having on-device control.

It can be useful elsewhere. If, like me, you have become invested in the humidity levels in your home, this is a fantastic little device to add to your smart home system. A small and unobtrusive sensor, it’s not much bigger than a matchbox, but it’s a clever way to extend your smart home sensor capabilities. 

Case in point: I already have several smart Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) as well as the main thermostat recording the temperature in different rooms. However, there are rooms like the downstairs bathroom that are not monitored. 

The tiny radiator in there will not accept a smart TRV, so adding one of these little sensors in there will pick up where the existing system could not. 

So, if you have a spot in your house that you would like to monitor, this extends the sensor range to wherever you need it. 

Humidity is an important thing to monitor in any home. Health problems related to things like damp, mould and mildew are well documented, so it’s a welcome addition to Wiser’s sensor array. 

Window and Door Sensor

A multi-purpose device, the Window and Door Sensor can send notifications via the app when a window or door is opened. The two-part sensor, similar to one on an alarm system, is easy to install with 3M adhesive pads, and comes into its own as part of the heating system.

Using the app I could set the heating in a room to turn off when the sensor was opened, saving money. Other heating systems, such as Tado X, have an algorithmic open window detection feature, which watches for fast temperature drops, but a sensor like this is more responsive.

Motion Detector

An unobtrusive little white circle about the size of a beer mat, this sensor looks for motion. By digging into the settings, you can play with the sensitivity and even alter the light levels to suit the room. I installed mine onto my conservatory via another large 3M adhesive patch, but it comes with wall plugs and screws for a more permanent fix if you want.  

It’s potentially useful for turning on a smart plug or Wiser LED Dimmer, but I’d recommend a fuller smart lighting system, such as Philips Hue. If you want a sensor for presence detection, the Aqara Presence Multi-Sensor FP300 is better.

Water Leakage Sensor

Like a rain sensor found on the top of a robot lawnmower, the Water Leakage Sensor uses a pair of probes to detect moisture. Placing the sensor in a leak-prone area with the probes facing down, it will alert you should water be detected.  

It doesn’t need to be plugged in either. The sensor takes three AAA batteries that will power it for up to five years.

As a simple add-on it’s a useful tool, but it can’t actually do anything about the leak. If you want to automatically turn your water off in the event of a problem, then you’ll need something like the Aqara Valve Controller T1. As this controller is Matter compatible, too (via an Aqara Hub), you could control it through the Wiser Water Leakage Sensor.

Smoke Alarm

A fundamental element of home security, you need to have smoke alarms in your home. This battery-powered device uses photoelectric sensors to detect smoke in the air and a thermostat to monitor sudden a sudden rise in temperature. 

You can also link up to 40 smoke alarms together to increase the range of the network and even use them without the hub. If activated by smoke, the alarm sounds and sends a notification to your phone. 

Installing the smoke alarm on the wall is not as easy as it should be though. The instructions for attaching the wall plate could be clearer, and you need to fiddle about with a small screwdriver to release the smoke alarm from the wall.

It’s also not suitable for installation in a kitchen, where a heat alarm is needed. For a full home system, the X-Sense system is a better bet.

Should you buy it?