VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO 4+

Excellent control over the windows

We’ve just had 3 Velux Integra windows installed and soon the electric black out blinds too. I knew I didn’t want to have to use 6 remotes for the windows so bought the active kit.
The setup of the windows in the app is flawed. It detected the window but wouldn’t let me click it simply giving me skip or retry. So I exited the app and upon restarting it is said let’s finish setting up. I had to do this 3 times as I’ve 3 windows!
Same when it got to the naming bit close app re open it and it says let’s carry on.
Had it not been for that I would have given it 5 stars.
I’m enjoying asking Siri on my watch to open and close my windows now.

Fairly good but significant room for improvement

We have seven Integra windows, with matching Velux blinds, that were installed in 2013.

I am reasonably happy with the app for the basics. However I can only give it thee stars at this time because of the following issues (not in any particular order):

When a window ‘decides’ that it is raining, the app will not open the window past the air vent position. I have to use the KLR200 override option to open it to the limited position. The app looks like it should be able to open it further but it just won’t react.

The app should also allow the user to decide if they want to override the limited position as well as today it hasn’t been raining for over two hours but, as it would appear the sensor is still damp, we cannot air the room when we want to. Surely in any case, if we want to take the risk of opening the window in the rain then that’s entirely up to us. If we had manual windows then we would have that choice!! The app could even send push reminders that it ‘thinks’ that it is raining suggesting that they are closed.

No landscape option for iPad.

Occasionally get an error when opening ’Schedule & Automations’

No grouping functionality, unlike on the KLR200’s.

Possible improvements...

I can see this being really useful, however it would be even better if I could link it into some of the HomeKit automation action such that HomeKit could set the secure mode once everyone has left the house rather than relying on the last person to leave to hit a button. The reverse is also true when someone arrives home allowing the windows to open to regulate temperature...

Additional time slots for when the active control can operate may help and the ability to set it up differently depending on day of the week (generally I want a different pattern on a weekend when I am likely to be in more) but I think these features wouldn’t be especially important if the system knew when someone was in the house (based on device location) without the need to activate a controller.

Developer Response ,

Hi and thank you for your review.
Your suggestions have been reported to the development team so that they can take them into account for future updates.
Allowing different operating hours for ACTIVE control, between weekdays and weekends, is definitely planned for. This should be available soon.