Hive Thermostat for Heating and Hot Water Control (Conventional Boiler) without Hive Hub, White

Finally, a Smart Thermostat that actually works.
Okay, it’s a risk leaving a 5-star review on a Thermostat, especially for me as my experiences with various Smart Thermostats have been unsuccessful for many reasons.I’ve tried most; Honeywell, Salus Controls, Horstmann (Secure Controls) and Tado. All of them have issues ranging from simple things like ridiculously loud relays thru boiler short-cycling problems to regular dropping of the product off the network leaving the system on without knowing it. Quite frankly, any Smart System not Smart enough to stay connected, or to run-on without any checks by the system on a local basis is simply not fit for purpose. It’s a glorified switch, nothing more, any addition to this has to be backed up with fail-safes, or your Smart Thermostat could end up costing you a lot more in fuel that a simple timer system.I fitted a Multi-Zone system myself. I used only the instructions included and for the most part it went well. I had to get over the gap left by the removal of an old three-channel Horstmann Controller, and that took almost all of the 4 hours it took me!I used this two-channel Thermostat/Receiver in combination with a Hive Mini Combi Boiler Thermostat. This gave me control over the three channels I have; Hot Water, Zone 1 (Downstairs Radiators) and Zone 2 (Upstairs Radiators).Fitting the Thermostats themselves was easy as I used the backplate to cover the gap the old wired Thermostats left. If you have a standard UK electrical boxes you’re on a winner, just remember to bridge the two switch wires (Live to Common) so they are effective on all the time as you no longer need this circuit.Fitting the Receiver(s) is mechanically easy enough. If you have a Controller with a standard 6 connections, you might be in luck as this is likely to be a swap-out job. If not, you simply need to identify the permanent Live and Neutral wires, then identify the feed wires to the boiler or its electrically operated valves.If, like me you are going Multi-Zone, you will likely need to link to the second Receiver, either by simply linking across, or with the help of Wago connector blocks. Again, you just need to identify the Zone 2 wire to the valve, and that’s it.One omission from the instructions for Multi-Zone with mains energised valves is the need to link the Live terminal to the Common terminal on the Backplate, or it just won’t work. This omission has been the same for the last 4 years, I have no idea why it’s not been added to the instructions, so this might be useful info for some.Then it’s just a case of linking everything together starting with downloading the app, connecting the Hub (allow 20 minutes for the firmware update) and then connecting the Receivers one at a time. Once done you connect the Thermostats, which you can then rename in the app.One small issue is there is no setting for temperature offset. Hive insist their Thermostats are spot on, but this doesn’t allow for local issues, in my case one of the Thermostats is on a dry-wall that backs on to the Airing Cupboard/Hot Press, so it reads high by around a degree and a half. All you can do is adjust the temperature the heating comes on by up to compensate. It’s a shame Hive don’t allow for situations lie this when most other manufacturers do.The screens on the Thermostats are quality. The main difference between the standard thermostat and the Mini version is the ability to set schedules on the big one, but not the Mini, but frankly it’s easier to do on the app anyway. Of course if you are going offline (no hub) then you will benefit from this more expensive version.At last I seem to have reliable control over my heating after trialling, and failing with other brands. Hive has the backing of British Gas, and so likely has the bucks to back up the product with a decent research and development budget, whereas others either seem to be made by a bunch of university graduate coders with no real idea of all the different heating systems their system may come across, or a heating company who have employed a coder or two in China, once, and fail to keep up to date with technology progression. Hive on the other hand seem to have all that sorted, a fact reflected in their high scores here on Amazon and on TrustPilot. Yes, they have complaints, but I will say this much; the chances are these people did not follow the instructions, as the order in which everything is done is important.For me, I am just happy the system works, and if my internet does drop out, Hive reverts to a locally stored schedule. Okay, I can’t do anything about that remotely, but at least it doesn’t end up dumber than a basic timer system, which some of the other brands do.My advice, if you’re in the market for Smart heating controls, this really is the best of the bunch, trust me, I’ve tried most of the others!

Excellent product. Works well and looks smart.
Looks very nice in the wall, although not often used because most heating is in a schedule and if altered would do so from the app.But be sure to position well in the house to ensure accurate temperature sensing.The hive range as a whole is excellent.

Looks great
Looks greatVery easy to setup, took me less than 10 minutes.Receiver fitted on to the same connection plate as our old Danfoss controller.

Good replacement for my old timer and thermostat.
It was with some trepidation that this replaced my old units when my boiler was replaced. It has been excellent. My phone controls it with no problems (one can even wake up in the morning and turn the heating up before getting out of bed. The portability of the unit means it can be moved around to improve performance. It does use a battery and it might have been worth offering a mains alternative.