HomeKit Integration in a Multi-Dwelling Unit (MDU) Setup
Some residents have asked about the possibility of integrating Apple HomeKit with their smart home system. While this is a great question, it does present challenges due to the nature of the Multiple Dwelling Unit (MDU) setup. Here’s a detailed explanation:
Localised Devices in Your Apartment
In your apartment, the only device located locally is the tablet, which operates on Android rather than Apple. For HomeKit integration, an Apple device would need to be installed on the landlord's network. However, this would result in the Apple device being shared across all apartments/units, which is not ideal for privacy or security.
The System Design and Limitations
The current setup at all MDU's uses a centralised miniserver that belongs to the landlord and is not localised to individual apartments. This design allows features like access control and other small local connections to function seamlessly. If the miniserver were localised to each apartment, these features would be lost.
Apple’s HomeKit requires a localised approach, which makes it difficult to implement in this type of shared environment. While a device like the 1Home server might provide a solution, further investigation is needed to determine if it would work within the constraints of the current setup. Specifically, it would need to be confirmed whether the 1Home server must reside on the same local network (LAN) as the miniserver.
Alternative Solutions
If HomeKit integration proves unfeasible, other options like Alexa integration are available and can work remotely without the need for additional devices on the local network. If any IOT products like Alex, Google Home or Apple are integrated, we firmly recommend creating a user specifically for the feature rather than using your main admin user).
Next Steps
We are currently exploring potential solutions and may consult further with Loxone technical support and third-party providers like 1Home. If you have any further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
JSJ Support Team
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