I try to make my home as smart as possible, and I have Alexa devices and smart lights in just about every room, but one set of appliances has been left out. Until now. The folks at Bond sent me their Bond Bridge ($99) to review. It bridges the gap, no pun intended, between Alexa-type voice assistants and traditional RF-controlled devices like ceiling fans and electric fireplaces. In the future, it should work with air conditioners, window shades and similar devices.
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The unit itself has a compact, unobtrusive design, not unlike an Amazon Echo Dot, and a really long (about 10 feet) microUSB cable, so you can place it anywhere you need to. This is important because one Bond Bridge could work for multiple devices as long as it's placed within range. I set up a Bond Bridge in my youngest daughter's bedroom and it was able to control the ceiling fan for her and the one in my other daughter's bedroom. It's not cheap, but if you can spread out the cost over multiple RF devices, it becomes quite reasonable.
Pros
- Works with RF-based ceiling fans and fireplaces now and more devices in the future
- Integrates with Alexa using Alexa skill
- Compact, unobtrusive design
- Long microUSB cable and A/C adapter included
- One Bond Bridge can interface with multiple RF devices
Cons
- Expensive but only one may be needed
Final Verdict
The Bond Bridge brings traditional RF devices into the age of the smart home.
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* This article was originally published here
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