Product Features | Thread

Discover your Thread Network

Feb 15, 2021 - by slavikus - Comments
 
 

Routers, endpoints, nodes, partitions – this article is somewhat of a more technical description of Thread, the future-proof smart home networking technology that enables a new generation in your HomeKit-enabled smart home.

Make the most of Thread

First, if you haven't already installed the Eve app, you may want do so now. We recently added a feature conveniently named "Thread Network" in the Settings section, which can survey your home's Thread network setup and display a whole slew of information: Which accessories are connected to which other accessories? How is the network laid out? What connection quality does each Router have?

 

Surveying your Thread network works best when you have at least one Eve accessory that can act as a Router (more on that later) and when your iPhone or iPad is on the same local network as your HomePod mini. 

 

We are actively working on improving the Thread Network view with each new release of the Eve app, and after reading this post, you will certainly be able to understand better what that is all about. And while these are just first steps in that direction, the Eve app delivers still much more than any other tool out there due to the capabilities and integration of the state-of-the-art Eve accessories.

 

Our goal here is to help you build smarter homes and make your daily life a little bit more convenient. Of course all while preserving your privacy, which continues to be one of our key pillars for everything we design and produce – absolutely no information about your network ever leaves your local devices.

How did we get here?

Before digging into what Thread is, let us briefly explore the history of the topic. The two original, native connectivity options for HomeKit-enabled accessories are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy.

 

Both technologies have tradeoffs: While Wi-Fi usually offers a greater range and quicker response times, these advantages go hand in hand with a very high energy demand, making it unsuitable for battery-powered devices and a bad choice even for mains-powered accessories that would waste a significant amount of energy by using this technology. And as the number of Wi-Fi devices increases in a home, some internet routers are starting to struggle with so many devices or may even run out of allocated IP address range for the home network. In contrast, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is completely decoupled from the home network strain and highly energy efficient. Yet due to the protocol's constraints, Bluetooth connectivity is less responsive in larger setups and usually delivers a smaller range due to the low energy footprint. 

 

Focusing exclusively on HomeKit-enabled accessories using native connectivity options, Eve naturally embraced both options, carefully choosing the appropriate technology for each accessory's use case. To mitigate some of the disadvantages of Bluetooth connectivity, Eve Extend was introduced to combine the advantages of  both technologies for more demanding setups.

 

There is definitely awareness for all of these technological challenges across the industry, which sparked the development and broad support for Thread as the next-generation networking platform tailored to be used in the smart home, including Apple's strong commitment and inclusion as a pillar of HomeKit-enabled accessories. 

 

 

Join us in being an early adopter

Why is Eve a first-mover on Thread you may ask? We are thrilled about all the advantages it has to offer. First, it is a peer-to-peer mesh network, which means the devices do not need a direct connection to a central hub to communicate with each other. Second, it is designed to be a self-maintaining and self-healing network, so even if some devices come and go, the connection will still be kept alive and the network will automatically reconfigure itself as needed. Third, it is designed from the ground up with the smart home in mind, which means a special focus is made on the battery life and power consumption for the devices that do not have a permanent power supply. 

 

With Eve Door & Window, we are the first company to get a battery-powered HomeKit over Thread accessory in the hands of everyone. And this is just the beginning: we are in the process of updating our portfolio of Bluetooth-enabled accessories to include Thread connectivity in each product's new generation. So naturally, we've gathered a lot of knowledge around Thread, which we are eager to share. Enough introductory words, let's dive in! 

Thread networking deep-dive 

As stated earlier, Thread is a mesh network. Which means, the devices on the network can talk to each other independently of some bridge or central hub. Even more so, they can relay messages to other devices by passing them through so they reach some device otherwise inaccessible due to the range, walls, or other factors. And the network can organize itself independently if some devices disconnect from the network.

 

Thread Roles

 

The Thread network consists of two types of roles: Routers and Endpoints. And this role is not fixed – if a device is capable of routing, it can be either, depending on the current network situation and demands. Each device on a Thread network is called a node

 

Let us dig deeper. Router nodes are meant to route information packets around the network. A Router node may have some Endpoints, too – the Router is considered a Parent. Mains-powered Thread accessories that are always on, such as Eve Energy, can act as Routers within your Thread network and relay data packets.

Endpoint nodes (also known as End Devices or Children) are the ones that are attached to a particular Router node and are not participating in the packet routing, but they still can send and receive. A Router-capable device can act as an Endpoint, but the devices that are meant to be Endpoint-only (also called Minimal Thread Devices), such as battery powered ones, cannot be a Router

 

Each Router node has a connection to every other Router node; each Endpoint node only maintains a connection to its parent Router node

The Thread network also has a so-called Leader node, which is responsible for promoting other capable Endpoint nodes to Router nodes and back. This is not something built-in, static or even especially important – any Router node is capable of being a Leader and these get elected in a somewhat random manner based on the current network conditions. 

 

There is also a separate entity which is essential for Thread: A so-called Border Router. This is a Thread Router node that is also connected to  your home network and that knows how to route information packets between the Thread network and the rest of your local network. Without the Border Router, your home accessories will not form a Thread network because they'd be unable to communicate with other devices outside of your Thread network, such as your iPhone. Instead, they will revert to their default Bluetooth connection (yes, all Thread-enabled accessories have dual connectivity – Thread and Bluetooth). Currently, the one and only Border Router for HomeKit over Thread is HomePod mini.

Joining the network

 

When a Thread-capable accessory is powered on after its setup, it will quickly check whether there is a Thread network available. If it is, the accessory will join the network with the valid network identifier and credentials provided by the Border Router. Upon joining, any Thread device becomes an Endpoint of one of the existing Routers. If it is capable of being the Router itself (in Thread terminology, this is called a Full Thread Device), it may be told by the Leader Node to upgrade itself to a Router, depending on the number of Router nodes already present in the network. If less than 16 Routers are in the network, the device will be designated as a Router. If there are already 16 Routers in the network, Thread will automatically optimize all roles for optimal coverage. A maximum of 32 Routers will ultimately form the Thread mesh network.

 

If the accessory is not capable of routing, it remains being an Endpoint. Still, it may change the Router node it connects to (its Parent) later, based on the connection quality that is being surveyed automatically across the Thread network. 

 

Endpoint Characteristics

 

For Endpoint nodes, there is also a distinction in form of so-called Sleep Interval. Each Endpoint, depending on its physical characteristics, may be a Sleepy Endpoint or a Regular Endpoint. The idea is simple: if an accessory must by design conserve energy, it may choose to sleep for certain amount of time and then ask its Router whether there is anything of interest (similar to you having to click on the "Check Mail" button back in the days when it was not automatic). For example, Eve Door & Window has a sleep interval set to 5000 milliseconds, which means it wakes itself up every 5 seconds and asks whether there is something new for it to digest. Of course, it can wake up more often to transmit something important from its side – for example, when the door is opened. This sleep mechanism significantly helps preserving battery life. 

 

Partitions

 

What happens if you have a large house and there are problems with some accessories being unable to hold a reliable connection? If you have more than one Border Router-capable device (or, in other words, more than one HomePod mini), they may form two independent Thread networks that would still be technically cover your single home. Such independent networks are called Partitions. If the connectivity gets better, the disjointed Partitions will re-unite again and form a single network Partition, with all but one Border Routers stepping down to a regular node role.

Grow your network

 

What about the number of devices that any single Thread network Partition can handle? It will always have one Leader node, and up to 32 Router nodes. Each Router node may have up to 511 Endpoints. So, as you can see, the total capacity of the network is quite huge and should cover most modern use cases. 

 

Stay tuned

With all this knowledge in mind, we hope you enjoy building your Thread network and watching it grow. In the Eve app, head to "Thread Network" in the Settings section to get a look behind the curtain of your Thread network and all the different roles and connections of your Thread-enabled accessories.

 

We'll be adding more explainers, guides as well as articles on Eve app updates that deliver new or improved Thread functionality. The Eve Blog is the go-to place for information on HomeKit over Thread, so stay tuned! 

 

Discover here if your Eve accessory supports Thread

277 Comments
Hallo Manfred! Ist neben anderen Thread-fähigen Geräten auch ein Eve Energy (EU) dabei, werden HomePod mini in 'Unbekannter Raum' angezeigt und zwar als 'Router'. Die Benennung in der App Home hat leider keine Auswirkung auf die Namensgebung von Thread, darauf haben wir keinen Einfluss. Wenn Du das Thread Netzwerk in Eve öffnest, warte bitte je nach Zahl der Thread-fähigen Geräte etwas, bis alle Daten abgefragt sind. Viele Grüße, Volker
Reply
Apr 7, 2021
Mikael
Would be nice to see a FW update bringing Thread support to the Water Guard since this is connected to main power all the time. Is this planned as well? Bringing support to the Aqua and not the Water Guard seems kind of weird otherwise...
Reply
Feb 18, 2021
Hello Mikael!
The current generation of Eve Water Guard is not ready for Thread. We will be releasing new hardware generations of many Eve devices with Thread support later this year, but unfortunately can't give any further details on when this will be the case for Eve Water Guard at this time. Best regards, volker
Reply
Feb 19, 2021
Arjan Koole
No if ONLY Apple would release that HomePod mini here in NL.

Had I known I would have postponed those 5 eve lightswitches last year. 🤣
Reply
Feb 17, 2021
Nick
Hi, I have 13 Eve Thermo (latest version) 15 Eve Door and Window Sensors (latest version) 1 UK Eve Energy Plug and two homepod minis. I don't see my homepods in the thread Network.

Question 1, how do I get my homepod minis to show in the Thread Network?
Question 2, is there a target date for a firmware release for the Eve Thermo to support Thread?
Question 3, is there a target date for a firmware release for the UK Eve Energy to support Thread.

Many thanks, and kind regards

Nick
Reply
Feb 17, 2021
Hello Nick! As stated in the blog post a Thread accessory that can act as a router is needed. The Eve Energy (UK) won't get a firmware update, the chipset on the accessory won't work, it needs a new model. I don't have any information on the upcoming Firmware for Eve Thermo (2020), sorry. Best regards, Volker
Reply
Feb 18, 2021
Mike
Danke für den Artikel, bei mir wird in der Thread-Network Ansicht unter "Unbekannter Raum" mehre Router angezeigt (zB Router 60, Router A8) aber kein Klartext Name, obwohl alle Eve Geräte einen Namen haben, genauso wie meine 3 HomePod Mini devices.
Reply
Feb 17, 2021
Hallo Mike! Die HomePod mini werden als Router angezeigt, alles gut. Mehr Informationen bekommen wir nicht aus dem System. Viele Grüße, Volker
Reply
Feb 18, 2021
Marcus Heinzen
Leider tut sich der Fortschritt dank Thread-Technologie noch etwas schwer.
Von 18 EVE DOOR&WINDOW-Sensoren (Firmware 2.1 (2044)) sind, trotz diverser Thread-Empfänger über das ganze Haus verteilt, 11 nicht erreichbar :-(
[Infrastruktur: zweigeschossiges freistehendes Einfamilienhaus mit ca. 80 qm pro Etage - 3 HomePod-Mini (1x EG, 2x OG) - 4 HomePod (2x EG, 2x OG) - 2 AppleTV (1x EG, 1x OG)]
Gesamtübersicht siehe Screenshot unter: bit.ly/2Zo8Pc5 und bit.ly/3asdz71
Die DOOR&WINDOW-Sensoren verlieren ohne erkennbaren Grund den Kontakt und blinken auch nicht mehr beim Öffnen und Schließen der Fenster. Die Batterien sind voll (Betrieb bisher nur ca. 3 Monate - auch wenn ein Sensor behauptet seine Batterie sei leer, auch das ist eine Besonderheit, die von Zeit zu Zeit bei den Sensoren auftaucht. Nachgemessen sind alle Batterien gleich voll und nach dem Neueinsetzen verschwindet diese Meldung auch) und die Funktion der Sensoren kann durch kurzzeitige Stromunterbrechung erneut hergestellt werden …
... bis sie ohne Grund erneut die Verbindung verlieren.
Thread hat bei uns bisher zu mehr Problemen mit den Sensoren geführt als wir in der Zeit vor Thread je hatten.
Reply
Feb 17, 2021
Hallo Marcus! Bei der Zahl der HomePod mini müssten die Geräte erreichbar sein. Sie haben keine Eve Energy (EU, 2020) dabei? Viele Grüße, Volker
Reply
Feb 18, 2021
Manu
Hallo,
ich überlege meinen Gerätepark Thread Fähig zu machen, sobald ein Thread fähiger Apple TV auf den Markt kommt.
Wird es eine Aktion von Eve geben, bie den Umtausch der Eve Geräte "belohnt", also "alt gegen neu" .
Wenn ja, müssen die alt- Geräte Mindestanforderungen erfllen?
Wird die Aktion zeitlich befristet sein?
Reply
Feb 17, 2021
Hallo Manu,
es wird leider keine Tausch-Aktionen geben, sorry. Viele Grüße, Volker
Reply
Feb 18, 2021
Hallo Volker,
ich habe im ganzen Haus Lichtschalter durch den Eve Light Switch ersetzt. Die Schalter funktionieren gut, auch wenn es gefühlte Schaltverzögerungen gibt. Ich habe gehört, dass es demnächst den Eve Switch mit Thread geben soll und ich überlege, ob ich umstellen soll. Meine Frage: Reicht es später aus nur das Schaltmodul (der Controller mit den Beinchen) auszutauschen, oder muss ich wieder einen Elektriker bemühen, der alle Schalter ausbaut und neue einbaut?
Gruß Detlef
Reply
Apr 1, 2021
Hallo Detlef, die Geräte müssen dann leider komplett ersetzt werden, sorry. Viele Grüße, Volker
Reply
Apr 2, 2021
Thorsten
Das liest sich gut und ich werde wohl mit meinem Kauf noch etwas warten. Da ich mir jetzt gerade das Gerät "Eve Door & Window " zulegen wollte, würde mich sehr interessieren ab wann man und wo ich mit der neusten Hardwareversion rechnen kann? Ich kann die leider nirgends finden
Reply
Feb 17, 2021
Hallo Thorsten! Es gibt das Eve Door & Window als Thread-fähige Version, https://www.evehome.com/de/identify-your-eve-accessory
Viele Grüße, Volker
Reply
Feb 18, 2021
Fabian
Sehr guter Beitrag! Gibt es denn schon Infos, wann das Thread Update für die Eve Thermos kommt?
Ich bin vor ca. einem Monat aus dem Grund von Tado zu Eve gewechselt und warte nun.. :)
Reply
Feb 17, 2021
Hallo Fabian! dazu haben wir leider noch keine Information, ich warte selbst. Viele Grüße, Volker
Reply
Feb 18, 2021
joerch7
Hallo
top Erläuterung zur Thread Funktion!
In der ersten Märzwoche kommt der HomePod Mini, dann lege ich auch mit Thread los,
bin schon gespannt...
Gruß Jörg
Reply
Feb 17, 2021
J. Scott Anderson
It would be very useful if your website clearly marked which of your products support Thread today and which will support it in the future – either by firmware update or by a new model.
Reply
Feb 17, 2021
Hello Scott! As of today Eve Energy (EU, 2020) and Eve Door & Window (2020) already use Thread. Eve Aqua (2020) and Eve Thermo (2020) are ready for Thread, they need a firmware update. The rest needs a model update. Please check our listing here: https://www.evehome.com/de/identify-your-eve-accessory
Best regards, Volker
Reply
Feb 17, 2021
curious
What about non-HomeKit Thread devices? Do they form an entire parallel Thread network? Or is there a way Thread can build up a mesh of devices that are agnostic to HomeKit so they at least build a strong mesh, and just use the appropriate Border Router to get out?
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Feb 16, 2021
Hello! The accessories not using Thread use either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi - in both cases no Thread network. Best regards, Volker
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Feb 17, 2021
I meant non-Eve non-HomeKit devices, but that support Thread. For example, Google has devices that support thread. Obviously they do not and will not support HomeKit.
So if I have Google Thread devices, is there an entire parallel Thread network in my house?
Or do the two Thread networks help extend one another, and just use the HomePod Mini as the router for the Eve HomeKit Thread devices?
Reply
Feb 22, 2021
Hello! They just don't know of each other, sorry. So far both exist parallel. Best regards, Volker
Reply
Feb 23, 2021
Jef V.
This is one interesting article! I don’t have any eve products but seeing you guys are posting stuff like this makes me curious. Going to order me some sensors and sockets to play around with.
Reply
Feb 16, 2021
Hello Jev! As of today only Eve Energy (EU) and Eve Door & Windows support Thread, both models 2020. The hardware in Eve Thermo (2020) and Eve Aqua (2020) is ready to go just needs a firmware update. Please check our listing here: https://www.evehome.com/de/identify-your-eve-accessory
Best regards, Volker
Reply
Feb 17, 2021
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