ejn1 Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 Hi, I'm going to try and retrofit my HD Silhouette sheer shades to Somfy RTS motors and was reading through the past various posts on topic and just wanted to clarify. With Mylink and the free C4 driver, can I program the basic commands of up/down/stop/tilt? Or do I need to look at purchased drivers to achieve this? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbir Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 With the free C4 driver you can program up/down/stop. Tilting is not supported. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanDad Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 Use a Bond Bridge and the Chowmain driver. You will have a much better chance of a good experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejn1 Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 5 minutes ago, pbir said: With the free C4 driver you can program up/down/stop. Tilting is not supported. Does your driver enable the tilt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejn1 Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 5 minutes ago, OceanDad said: Use a Bond Bridge and the Chowmain driver. You will have a much better chance of a good experience. Thanks, this is on my list also but just trying to make sure, im not buying drivers for functionality that is not really needed by me. I've heard the Mylink may have range challenges but for a single room setup, I'm hoping I wouldnt find any coverage gaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceanDad Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 If you already have the hardware, then give it a go. If you want the best retrofit solution, then the Domosapiens Advanced Blinds Driver is very good in combination with Bond. But then you are spending almost $300 for the Bond Bridge plus the driver. The reason that the Domo driver is good is that it uses a set of built-in timers to give you a form of two-way control (which Somfy doesn't have natively). So you can set percentage open/close etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejn1 Posted August 6, 2021 Author Share Posted August 6, 2021 11 minutes ago, OceanDad said: If you already have the hardware, then give it a go. If you want the best retrofit solution, then the Domosapiens Advanced Blinds Driver is very good in combination with Bond. But then you are spending almost $300 for the Bond Bridge plus the driver. The reason that the Domo driver is good is that it uses a set of built-in timers to give you a form of two-way control (which Somfy doesn't have natively). So you can set percentage open/close etc. Thanks, i havent bought the bridge yet as still trying to figure out the best path. Thanks for the added info! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdougray Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 1 hour ago, ejn1 said: Thanks, i havent bought the bridge yet as still trying to figure out the best path. Thanks for the added info! You get a trial period with both of the paid drivers which can give you time to see which one fits your needs best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanchow Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 Bond Bridge is one of our most popular drivers. Bond Bridge Hardware is cheap at $99 each. Its wifi controlled so you just connect it upto power (via its usb power connector) and can control other 400-500 mhz devices on your network on top of the Somfy RTS blinds (eg ceiling fans, fireplaces, etc). Hardware setup is easy as you just use your mobile phone with the bond app to pair the Somfy remotes ot the Bond Bridge. Takes a few minutes. https://www.amazon.com/Automation-Ceiling-Fireplace-through-Control/dp/B071GVGVVH/ msgreenf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msgreenf Posted August 6, 2021 Share Posted August 6, 2021 10 minutes ago, alanchow said: Bond Bridge is one of our most popular drivers. Bond Bridge Hardware is cheap at $99 each. Its wifi controlled so you just connect it upto power (via its usb power connector) and can control other 400-500 mhz devices on your network on top of the Somfy RTS blinds (eg ceiling fans, fireplaces, etc). Hardware setup is easy as you just use your mobile phone with the bond app to pair the Somfy remotes ot the Bond Bridge. Takes a few minutes. https://www.amazon.com/Automation-Ceiling-Fireplace-through-Control/dp/B071GVGVVH/ And it's a super setup! Easy and works well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejn1 Posted August 7, 2021 Author Share Posted August 7, 2021 Thanks all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejn1 Posted August 7, 2021 Author Share Posted August 7, 2021 1 hour ago, alanchow said: Bond Bridge is one of our most popular drivers. Bond Bridge Hardware is cheap at $99 each. Its wifi controlled so you just connect it upto power (via its usb power connector) and can control other 400-500 mhz devices on your network on top of the Somfy RTS blinds (eg ceiling fans, fireplaces, etc). Hardware setup is easy as you just use your mobile phone with the bond app to pair the Somfy remotes ot the Bond Bridge. Takes a few minutes. https://www.amazon.com/Automation-Ceiling-Fireplace-through-Control/dp/B071GVGVVH/ Alan, On the silhoutte shear shades you achieve the opening of the vane by extending the down direction of the shade beyond the stop point by an inch or so. This is the tilt action I refer to, maybe not the same as with a 2 inch wooden blind definition of tilt? Are you saying the free somfy driver cannot via driver or programming simulate this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyknight Posted August 7, 2021 Share Posted August 7, 2021 If you HAVE the URTSII already, I'd suggest the Domo driver, if you do not, then Bond- and yes the old 'free' driver doesn't do what you're asking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejn1 Posted August 7, 2021 Author Share Posted August 7, 2021 7 hours ago, Cyknight said: If you HAVE the URTSII already, I'd suggest the Domo driver, if you do not, then Bond- and yes the old 'free' driver doesn't do what you're asking for. got it... thanks. I hadn't purchased it yet so think I will try the BOND vs the Mylink per suggestions above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmypop Posted August 28, 2021 Share Posted August 28, 2021 I'm not 100% clear. I have a Somfy RTS shade and I simply want to have C4 raise and lower. It seems Bond is best for that, but do I need the chowmain driver still in order to accomplish raise and lower? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejn1 Posted August 28, 2021 Author Share Posted August 28, 2021 2 hours ago, timmypop said: I'm not 100% clear. I have a Somfy RTS shade and I simply want to have C4 raise and lower. It seems Bond is best for that, but do I need the chowmain driver still in order to accomplish raise and lower? my sense is bond is a more reliable base unit and app from the comments above but if you want C4, you have to pay for the driver. If you get the MySomfy base unit which may not have the range of Bond, then you have the free C4 driver. I only have one room with motorization so I'm still deciding the best route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msgreenf Posted August 28, 2021 Share Posted August 28, 2021 The somfy link part is junk. Bond is way better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejn1 Posted August 28, 2021 Author Share Posted August 28, 2021 2 minutes ago, msgreenf said: The somfy link part is junk. Bond is way better I read it works ok within a one room setting but trust your experience with it. Good news is you can get Bond for about $100 cheaper than the MySomfy link which almost pays for the driver msgreenf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msgreenf Posted August 28, 2021 Share Posted August 28, 2021 Yeah. It's pretty much a wash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggzlot Posted August 28, 2021 Share Posted August 28, 2021 For what it’s worth I got myLink before Bond was an option. After talking to somfys engineers after initial Wi-Fi issues it’s been rock solid and hasn’t fallen offline in 18 months. I have 5 blinds in 2 rooms and I get fine coverage with 1 unit. The paid driver gets you the ability to open/close to various %. msgreenf and ejn1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmypop Posted August 28, 2021 Share Posted August 28, 2021 Thanks everyone. Very helpful. Now I just need to determine if I can program Bond without having my Somfy remote. I lost an SR260 and Somfy remote in our last rain storm. Good times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msgreenf Posted August 28, 2021 Share Posted August 28, 2021 6 minutes ago, timmypop said: Thanks everyone. Very helpful. Now I just need to determine if I can program Bond without having my Somfy remote. I lost an SR260 and Somfy remote in our last rain storm. Good times. no, need the somfy remote Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C4 User Posted December 30, 2021 Share Posted December 30, 2021 @alanchow I am installing patio screens with Somfy motors. From reading this forum, it sounds to me like the preferred integration is to use BOND with the Somfy RTS remote over the Somfy URTSI2 smart home automation device? 1. Is BOND the preferred integration method? 2. Does BOND offer 2-way feedback with C4? So if the Somfy remote is used to move the screens, does C4 know it? 3. Can I control the open/close percent of blinds with BOND? I will have 3 large screens that I will want in sync most of the time, but will also want to be able to control independently at times. Will I be able to do this with Bond? Thank you in advance for your feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanchow Posted December 31, 2021 Share Posted December 31, 2021 On 12/31/2021 at 3:29 AM, C4 User said: @alanchow I am installing patio screens with Somfy motors. From reading this forum, it sounds to me like the preferred integration is to use BOND with the Somfy RTS remote over the Somfy URTSI2 smart home automation device? 1. Is BOND the preferred integration method? 2. Does BOND offer 2-way feedback with C4? So if the Somfy remote is used to move the screens, does C4 know it? 3. Can I control the open/close percent of blinds with BOND? I will have 3 large screens that I will want in sync most of the time, but will also want to be able to control independently at times. Will I be able to do this with Bond? Thank you in advance for your feedback. Does BOND offer 2-way feedback with C4? So if the Somfy remote is used to move the screens, does C4 know it? No Somfy RTS is a one-way system. Nothing will give you bi-directional feedback. I suggest that you do not utilise the original remotes to ensure that it keeps track of state. Can I control the open/close percent of blinds with BOND? If you utilise Bond Pro then you can teach it the time required for it to get from the bottom to the top. It will keep track of its position going forward. I will have 3 large screens that I will want in sync most of the time, but will also want to be able to control independently at times. Will I be able to do this with Bond? Yes you can learn in multiple devices and have Bond control them independently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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