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Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

arstechnica.com

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Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#71

Post by potatolicious »

untog wrote: post #14
rdegges wrote: post #3

OnHub is one of the best routers I've ever owned. I've been buying custom router hardware for years -- I even went as far as building my own OpenBSD / PFsense router way back when, but nothing I've ever built (or bought!) has given me the same reliability / stability / speed as the OnHub. I'm seriously impressed with it. Also: the OnHub management app for mobile is AMAZING. It is so cool. Awesome product. Really grea…

Curious: what do you do with the management app? I have an Apple Airport thing and had a similar experience - years of buying cheap routers then suddenly I had one that "just works". To the point that I haven't had to open/use the administration panel in an absolute age.

The management app is a pretty neat way to set up a router - it certainly beats futzing around with a shitty HTML UI.

Other than that I've found it useful for testing WiFi signal strength - in old brick buildings you can get unintuitive dead spots, and the app lets you put your phone somewhere and test signal quality.

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#72

Post by AdmiralAsshat »

cmrdporcupine wrote: post #15
untog wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Curious: what do you do with the management app? I have an Apple Airport thing and had a similar experience - years of buying cheap routers then suddenly I had one that "just works". To the point that I haven't had to open/use the administration panel in an absolute age.

The app also gives you insights into what's happening with your OnHub -- per device traffic sums, speed tests, alerts, etc. And we're constantly improving it. IMHO that's the real win with the OnHub; the router itself is constantly upgraded with up to date firmware with security updates and new features. And the mobile app that administrates it is constantly getting new features. Maybe I should transfer to marketing.

So, at the risk of sounding hostile, the article notes the following:

Eight months later, the OnHub still doesn't support IPv6, and the USB port still can't be used for network storage. Bluetooth, Thread, and Weave support are all still dormant.

IFTTT support is great, but shouldn't the priority for a $200 router be in delivering features that were promised from the get-go?

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#73

Post by rdegges »

untog wrote: post #14
rdegges wrote: post #3

OnHub is one of the best routers I've ever owned. I've been buying custom router hardware for years -- I even went as far as building my own OpenBSD / PFsense router way back when, but nothing I've ever built (or bought!) has given me the same reliability / stability / speed as the OnHub. I'm seriously impressed with it. Also: the OnHub management app for mobile is AMAZING. It is so cool. Awesome product. Really grea…

Curious: what do you do with the management app? I have an Apple Airport thing and had a similar experience - years of buying cheap routers then suddenly I had one that "just works". To the point that I haven't had to open/use the administration panel in an absolute age.

I use it for a bunch of stuff: to share access to my guest network with visitors: you can basically click the 'share' button and send an SMS / hangout / * message to someone with your network SSID / password for quick access.

I also use it to monitor my connection: do speed tests directly from the router (even remotely!).

And finally: monitoring network usage, stats, etc. It's a beautifully designed, fluid, fast, and just all around amazing app!

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#74

Post by rdegges »

cmrdporcupine wrote: post #10
rdegges wrote: post #3

OnHub is one of the best routers I've ever owned. I've been buying custom router hardware for years -- I even went as far as building my own OpenBSD / PFsense router way back when, but nothing I've ever built (or bought!) has given me the same reliability / stability / speed as the OnHub. I'm seriously impressed with it. Also: the OnHub management app for mobile is AMAZING. It is so cool. Awesome product. Really grea…

Thanks. I work on the iOS mobile app, it's nice to hear positive feedback. Out of curiosity, are you using Android or iOS?

Using the Android app on my Nexus 6p. Absolutely love it.

Please pass along kudos to the Android / onHub teams!

<33

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#75

Post by exhilaration »

dannyr wrote: post #61
seanp2k2 wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly Google's rep for discontinuing support for stuff is why I'm not interested in such a connected device. Will it continue getting updates after Google drops it in 0-5 years? Who knows. Will the open-source community be able to put OpenWRT on it or something to give it life after it can no longer receive firmware updates? Not sure. I do know that my current Ubiquiti and Apple network infrastructure devices will…

You're not over Google Reader yet?

Well that and the Nest Smart Home hub they decided to kill off a few weeks ago:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11423411

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11435245

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#76

Post by x1798DE »

kyrra wrote: post #29
ProAm wrote: post #4

Until they discontinue support and turn the service off in a 18 months. It's hard to put any faith in google products anymore, especially with the new alphabet revenue strategy put into place.

The opinions stated here are my own, not necessarily those of Google. If you are referring to Revolv, Nest/Revolv stopped selling the device the day Nest acquired them (Oct 2014), and they are also issuing refunds to anyone that contacts them[0]. The other major hardware cancel I know about was the Nexus Q which Google also provided a full refund for anyone that contacts them. Sure, Google could cancel it, but they s…

I feel like being forced to sell Google back my device lest they remotely brick it is not exactly a happy ending.

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#77

Post by sethrin »

matt_wulfeck wrote: post #43
dan_quixote wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Single data point on custom router build reliability: I've been using IPFire/pfSense on a little passively cooled Celeron box for a couple years. It reliably hits the theoretical gigabit limit ~800Mb/s and has never once failed even while running intrusion detection. Coupled with a ~$150 wireless router-turned-access point, I have never had a single reliability issue.

Have you ever measured combined power usage of your two devices?

In what circumstances do you foresee the power usage of networking equipment as having more than a notional impact on one's life? (Serious question)

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#78

Post by jMyles »

olegious wrote: post #13
jMyles wrote: post #8

This relies on an internet connection, right? So many of these sorts of products do, and it is infuriating. It makes them utterly inapplicable for many environments. I'm building a home in a school bus. There will most certainly be times when I don't have a good (or any) internet connection, but I still want local and customizable automation. My plan is to just roll my own with Raspberry PIs.

I'm willing to bet that you represent a very small segment of the population and are thus not a target for this product. A product can't do everything and be the solution for everyone, each product has a target market and since you're in a niche, most products won't solve your problems.

Sure, a mobile solution like mine is a tiny portion. But there are many other reasons that the internet connectivity requirement might need to be a non-starter. Taken together, I suspect that these are a reasonable large minority; large enough, I imagine, to be a viable target audience.

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#79

Post by wmf »

vox_mollis wrote: post #65
cmrdporcupine wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The app also gives you insights into what's happening with your OnHub -- per device traffic sums, speed tests, alerts, etc. And we're constantly improving it. IMHO that's the real win with the OnHub; the router itself is constantly upgraded with up to date firmware with security updates and new features. And the mobile app that administrates it is constantly getting new features. Maybe I should transfer to marketing.

All due respect, as you don't represent your employer, but a LAN-facing router that is automatically updated by a PRISM partner is an immediate no for those concerned about surveillance (dragnet or targeted) inside the home. Edit: misread the specs, point still stands.

OnHub doesn't have a microphone.

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#80

Post by Zombieball »

umsm wrote: post #32
cmrdporcupine wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The app also gives you insights into what's happening with your OnHub -- per device traffic sums, speed tests, alerts, etc. And we're constantly improving it. IMHO that's the real win with the OnHub; the router itself is constantly upgraded with up to date firmware with security updates and new features. And the mobile app that administrates it is constantly getting new features. Maybe I should transfer to marketing.

I completely agree with untog. Apple's Airport device is so seamless that it's a pleasure to use. What kind of firmware / security updates do you get with OnHub? Aren't firmware updates dangerous if everything is working perfectly (the possibility to introduce issues)?

Until you need to define static routes and realize it's not possible on the Apple routers (happened to me this week).
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