AqaraRoller Shade Driver E1, Requires Aqara HUB, Smart Blind Motor with Schedule and Voice Control, Rechargeable with Long Battery Life, Compatible with HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT

I bought one of these to automate the existing roller blind in a bedroom. The unit feels sturdy and build quality is good. Really easy to fix to the wall and connect up the bead cord. It was straighforward to set the top and bottom positions (hold the up and down buttons together to put in "learning mode"; then move the blinds to the correct position and quick press the up five times to store the top, press the down button five times to store the bottom position). I don't have an Aquara hub but I was able to pair the device with my Home Assistant hub (Sonoff/Tasmota) first time. After that I raise and close the blinds with Alexa, Google, Home Assistant or manually. Alexa raises the blinds automatically in the morning while playing "Here Comes the Sun". Cheesey and fantastic. I bought two more to automate blinds in my home office. The fact that they are battery operated and can be rechaged with a USB charger is a real plus - no unsightly wires being run to the window. Only downside is the price and lack of availability from the Aquara Amazon store. However Aquara were quick to respond to my queries about when stock would be available again.

Works very well. Stuck it to the tiled wall at the base of the kitchen window using the sticky pad it came with and it's rock solid. It's a bit noisy but that's more about the chain mechanism and it running slower than if you grabbed it yourself. Sounds like it's always about to give up the ghost but it's been working fine for weeks with routines set to raise/lower the kitchen blind at sunrise/sunset. It's only failed once but that was something at the Aqara end as Alexa suddenly couldn't find it (Google still worked interestingly). I had to relink the Aqara skill and add it back but that wouldn't find the device until the next day. Since then it's been fine. This has happened with Aqara devices before according to the web.Alexa and Google both work successfully with the usual quirks - Alexa provides a percentage slider for it and Google doesn't provide anything but will work with voice commands.Battery life so far is good (currently at 88% after a month). You have to buy their E1 hub (which you can use with other Aqara bits) for it but other than that I couldn't really be happier for what is a retrofit solution. Will definitely be buying more.

Installed 2 of these last week and so far really impressed. Product was well boxed and feels good quality. Installation was easy, first I fully charged the batteries then it took around 5 minutes to fit each one into place.Setting-up: move the blind into a half open position1. Press and hold both the 'up' and 'down' buttons for 3 seconds to reset position parameters2. Press the 'up' button until blind is in the preferred fully open position then press the 'up' button again to stop movement3. Quick press the 'up' button 5 times to set fully open position4. Press the 'down' button to move the blind into the fully closed position5. Quick press the 'down' button 5 time to set fully closed positionIntegration into Home Assistant was a breeze...1. Press and hold the reset button, located on the bottom of the unit, for 5 seconds2. Enable 'permit join' in Zigbee2MqttThe only issue I have found is that current position of the blind is not passed to Home Assistant, but this was easily resolved by publishing MQTT get commands.A week later and so far both blinds have worked perfectly, batteries are still on 99% and I have ordered more.

Installation was a breeze, thanks to the clear and concise instructions provided in the packaging. Connecting the roller shade driver to the Aqara Hub was straightforward, and the entire setup process took just a few minutes. I appreciated the compatibility with various roller shades, making it a versatile solution for different window treatments.The integration with the Aqara app is seamless, allowing me to control my roller shades effortlessly from anywhere in my home or even remotely when I'm away. The app provides a user-friendly interface with customizable settings, including scheduling and automation options. I can now program my blinds to open and close at specific times, creating an energy-efficient and secure home environment.The motor operates quietly and smoothly, without any disruptive noise during movement. The ability to adjust the blinds to different positions provides flexibility in managing natural light and privacy throughout the day. Additionally, the Aqara Roller Shade Driver E1 is compatible with popular smart home platforms, including Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa, expanding its integration capabilities even further.One standout feature is the energy efficiency aspect. The motor is designed to be power-efficient, and I've noticed a positive impact on my overall energy consumption since incorporating the Aqara Roller Shade Driver into my smart home.In conclusion, the Aqara Roller Shade Driver E1 has exceeded my expectations. It's a reliable and well-designed smart blind motor that seamlessly integrates into my smart home ecosystem. If you're looking to enhance the automation and convenience of your living space, this product is a fantastic addition. Highly recommended!