Is it possible to locally bind a controller to a device i.e. dimmer switch to a light bulb. I wish to use the native functionality of the controllers rather than relying on scenes. That is far easier and more responsive
I can do this in Hue, Z2MQTT, Tasmota on ZBridge, SmartLife (some devices ) but cant find a way to link the controller to a device on IHost
It’s called binding and it must support an interface to a wireless Zigbee home automation network to allow devices to be used without a system specific gateway. Not all devices support this, it basically comes down to the Zigbee implementation of the device itself. In other words, in order for this feature to work, the device has to support it. Mostly devices from the same manufacturer are capable to bind. Unfortunately, eWeLink platform do not offer any tools to manage Zigbee devices. Therefore binding is not possible this way.
Hey,
Zigbee Light Link is not supported yet, and it needs support from the device side too.
I have just found something, completely by accident !
I have many Ikea bilbs and dimmer switches. I have been able to add these to IHost for some time now. The bulbs were supported from day one but the dimers are quite recent. I have had to code dimmer actions in NodeRed, which is a bit of pain and provides a sub optimal use experience as dimming is stepped rather than smooth.
What I have found is that having bound a bulb and a dimmer to IHost I can then pair the dimmer directly to the bulb too without it disconnecting from IHost. I just use proxity pairing i.e. hold the link button on the dimmer when it is close to the bulb. I now have many bulbs being operated by IHost centrally but also directly via a single dimmer too 
The direct control is very quick and dimming nice and smooth.
I factory reset the dimmer and repeated the exercise as I wanted to change which bulbs it controls. I was surprised to find that the local bindings remained in place even after resetting the dimmer. It was only after resetting the bulb the local binding to the dimmer was forgotten and the connection broken.
I have had a few issues with latest release of IHost software. This solution not only gives more flexible control it also mitigates any issues with IHost as the dimmers work even if IHost is switched off
This may well be device specific. Ikea do support this but don’t mention it in their instructions. That how I used to use them prior to IHost (I actually used a Hue bridge, not Ikea bridge )
For me its just given my old Ikea kit a whole new lease of life in teh IHost platform
Sounds cool. Which dimmer model is this that you are using?
Tradfri on/off ( the original small square dimmer switches)
I have just tried to link it to Tradfri wireless control driver, that didnt work. Odd as they are both from the same range. The bulbs that do work so far are also from the Tradfri range
I have just tested with the IHost down, and yes I could still control them so definatly local direct control
I have a couple of STYRBAR dimmer units too. I will give them a go sometime
I also accidently managed to a tuya bulb to work too ( thats the problem if you have lots of devices and press buttons to “touch link” ), so its not just a Ikea thing but obviously needs something in the way the bulbs work to be sucessful