In this article, we are going to explore how you can connect your Philips Hue Bridge in your homes without a router with workaround methods that work. For those in the know, the Phillips Hue Bridge is one of the coolest and most innovative smart home devices out there.
In terms of giving the user an advanced and comprehensive level of control over their smart home functions, there are very few better options out there.
This little device is able to manage the controls for up to 50 individual lights. Even better than that, you can choose to operate these controls with just your voice. It really is the stuff of the future!
However, when it comes to devices such as these, it is easy to be blinded by the smoke and mirrors of their gimmicks. But, in this case, the Phillips Hue Bridge stands up to all scrutiny.
It is reasonably priced, for starters. In addition, it is also relatively easy to set up once you aren’t attempting to do anything too complicated with it.
Really, all you generally need to do is plug it in, connect it to the net, and then set it up with the dedicated Hue App. After this, the process of setting up your functions, timers, custom scenes, routines, etc., is pretty straightforward.
That being said, not everyone’s experience of setting up their Phillips Hue Bridge is quite that simple. Having trawled the net looking at the boards and forums, it would seem that a lot of you want to set it up without a router and are having some difficulty doing so.
Well, don’t worry. We are here to help. The good news is that the process is actually quite easy once you know how to. So, if this is the information you have been looking for, you have come to the right place.
How To Connect Phillips Hue Bridge Without Router
There is no question that the Phillips Hue Bridge works just fine when connected up to your router. After all, this is exactly how it was designed to function.
But, some of you have been wanting to set up your Phillips Hue Bridge without a router and have been wondering how to do it.
Well, to begin with, we do have some good news. You absolutely can do it.
The bad news is that it might not be that good of an idea. The reason for this is that there are some risks involved in doing it this way. So, this will explain why information on this topic is hard to find at the best of times.
The trouble is that the Phillips Hue Bridge doesn’t come with built-in Wi-Fi capabilities. Despite that, there is always a workaround or two that can be explored if you want to.
Of the two methods that we are aware of, one is relatively safe but will cost you a bit of money. The other option is far riskier but won’t cost you anywhere near as much.
To get the point across that this isn’t necessarily the best course of action, we will begin with the riskier of the two methods. That way, you will have a better idea of why we wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. So, let’s get into it.Â
Method 1
Okay, so let’s get right into why this isn’t a great idea, particularly if you are a novice when it comes to electronics.
Though most people will not know this and will never need to know this, there is a hidden Wi-Fi transmitter inside of your Phillips Hue Bridge. The unfortunate thing about this is that it is disabled.
So, naturally, it can’t work in this state. This means that you will have to go in and manually enable it again.
- To remedy this, you need to open up the device and then solder in a 1×6 header to J6.
- In addition to this, you will then have to plug in a board connector to the pins.
- After this, you will have to overwrite a few bits and pieces on the Hue Bridge.Â
As you can see, this isn’t exactly the most simple of tasks. As such, we can’t possibly recommend it unless you have a working knowledge of how boards work and some experience soldering.
If you do decide to take this risk, know that will definitely be voiding any warranty you may have had remaining. There’s also a strong chance that you could damage the device irreparably if you don’t know what you are doing.
That being said, in the interests of science and knowledge, you can read more about it by following this link.
Method 2
Of the two methods that we are aware of, this one is by far the better of the two. So, in a way, we have saved the best for last.
For this tip, the major requirement is that you be willing to fork out a little extra cash in lieu of taking a risk. As such, it all hinges on you buying a Wireless Range Extender/Access Point.
Yes, these do cost money, but they are far from being extortionate considering their capabilities. That, and it is just much easier, safer, and more reliable a method for doing the same job as that method above.Â
- To get things started, all you need to do is install the wireless access point using Ethernet ports.
- After this, connect the device with your hotspot using the bridge mode.
That’s it. See? It is much easier and carries no risk.Â
The Last Word
Above, we have shown you two different methods to connect your Phillips Hue Bridge without using a router. Though the choice is up to you, we would highly recommend going for the second method unless you have some expertise with electronics.
As a final note, we are always aware that there is a possibility that someone out there has figured out a better way of doing this. If you have come across another method that works, we would love to hear about it in the comments section below. Thanks!