TaHoma Classic By Somfy 4+

So far the system is pretty good. Had some challenges setting it up due to language issues. Be good if Somfy could have upfront access to choose the language instead of it being hidden away in some random settings menu that is impossible to find when you don’t speak German (default language for Switzerland -:)). However, once setup and installed all devices IO and RTS is actually really intuitive and quite simple. One annoying aspect is the way the app refreshes itself every time you start up - cosmetic but could be better managed. So far so good and a pretty good a reasonably priced home automation system.

This is a tricky one in that the app itself seems OK if not feature packed. But when paired with the Somfy Sonesse 30 Wirefree RTS motor system serious problems emerge.

Firstly, the configuration of the blind motor, such as setting movement limits, is done on the motor itself. The configuration is done using a remote control and is buggy. There is no feedback on the app itself to indicate each stage has been completed properly. Instead, the blind ‘jogs’ up and down (sometimes) but not always as the instructions suggest. It is confusing at best.

Trained installers presumably know how to work around these issues, but why are they there in the first place?

Secondly, once installed the Sonesse 30 Wirefree RTS motor system has two trailing wires hanging down from each blind (One for the antenna and one for the charging plug) it looks terrible and fouls the blind in operation. Somfy says they have to be there, but of course they could be concealed harnessed if the design had been properly thought through. Worse the wires are not shown in any of their marketing material as far as I can tell.

Beware what you get is not what you see!

I regret buying the blinds with the Somfy hard and software and feel I have wasted over £1,500 on a half-cooked design with TaHoma interface.

Update - all sorted and been running flawlessly for the past few years

Beware of buying this if you intend to move. I registered in UK then moved to Spain. The time zone doesn’t work correctly for schedules so I was advised to register the box to Spain. They can’t just move you - UK had to delete me from their system - including all my routines and schedules. But now Spain Somfy says my box PIN is invalid, and that it hasn’t been released correctly. No one seems to know how to fix this so I’m left with a box I can’t login to and all my related automation broken 😠