Smart Blind Hubs Australia: Complete Buying and Compatibility Guide
Updated: 6 days ago
A smart blind hub connects compatible motorised blinds to an app and, where supported, to voice assistants and other smart-home platforms. It can add schedules, scenes, away-from-home control and easier whole-home management—but the correct hub is determined by the motor system, not by which app looks best.
For the products Motorise My Blinds sells, the main choice is straightforward: Automate ARC motors use Automate Pulse Pro, while compatible Somfy RTS and Zigbee motors use Somfy TaHoma switch. The hubs are not interchangeable.
The quick answer
Automate ARC motor: choose Automate Pulse Pro.
Somfy RTS motor: choose Somfy TaHoma switch for app, schedule and supported voice control.
Somfy Zigbee motor: choose Somfy TaHoma switch and confirm the exact motor and platform features.
Somfy Wired Technology motor: a hub does not connect directly unless the installation includes a compatible receiver or automation interface.
Only need fixed-time opening and closing: a compatible timer remote may remove the need for a hub.
What a smart blind hub actually adds
Phone and tablet control through the manufacturer’s app.
Control while away from home when the service and internet connection are available.
Named rooms, blinds, groups and scenes.
Time, sunrise or sunset routines where supported.
Voice control through compatible Apple, Google or Amazon platforms.
Links between blinds and other supported smart-home devices.
Status, position or battery feedback when the motor protocol supports it.
A hub does not change the radio technology built into the motor. It cannot make an Automate ARC motor respond to TaHoma, make a Somfy RTS motor respond to Pulse Pro, or turn a wired motor into a radio motor without additional compatible hardware.
Automate Pulse Pro
Pulse Pro is the connected-control hub for compatible Automate ARC motors. It works with the Automate Shades app and can organise blinds into rooms, groups, scenes and timers. The current hub supports up to 30 shades and can connect to a home network using 2.4GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
Matter support allows Pulse Pro to connect with major Matter ecosystems, including Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Samsung SmartThings, when a suitable Matter controller is present. Set the motor limits and confirm normal remote operation before adding the blinds to the hub.
Somfy TaHoma switch
TaHoma switch is Somfy’s current smart-control hub. In Australia it is particularly relevant to compatible RTS and Zigbee 3.0 blinds, although the platform also supports other Somfy and partner products. The TaHoma app provides control at home or away, routines and scenes, while two buttons on the hub can launch selected scenes without opening the app.
RTS and Zigbee remain different. RTS is a one-way radio system, so the app may show the command it sent without receiving the same live position feedback available from compatible Zigbee motors. Zigbee products are two-way devices, but individual product features still vary.
ARC, RTS, Zigbee and wired control
Automate ARC
ARC is Automate’s radio system. Compatible ARC motors can use Push remotes, ARC wall controls and Pulse Pro. Pulse Pro communicates with ARC motors and then bridges them to the app and supported smart-home platforms.
Somfy RTS
RTS is Somfy’s established radio system. A compatible RTS remote can control the motor directly without a hub. TaHoma adds connected control, but RTS remains a one-way motor protocol.
Somfy Zigbee
Zigbee uses a two-way mesh network. Compatible motors can provide position and battery information through TaHoma, but not every Zigbee product offers identical functions or Apple Home compatibility.
Somfy Wired Technology
WT motors are controlled through wiring, switches or automation equipment. They do not pair directly with an RTS or Zigbee hub. A suitable external receiver or third-party integration may be possible, but it must be designed into the installation.
Do you actually need a hub?
No. A compatible remote or wall control operates the motor directly. For simple daily schedules, the Automate Push Pro and Somfy Telis 6 Chronis RTS can automate compatible blinds without Wi-Fi or a smart hub.
A hub becomes worthwhile when you want phone control, voice control, remote access, app-managed schedules, scenes across rooms or integration with other smart-home devices. Many households use both a physical control and a hub.
Buying checklist
Identify the motor brand and exact model.
Confirm whether the motor uses ARC, RTS, Zigbee or wired control.
Test the blind with its existing remote and finish the motor limits.
Decide whether a timer remote already covers the requirement.
Choose Pulse Pro for compatible Automate ARC or TaHoma for compatible Somfy products.
Check the intended voice platform and exact motor compatibility.
Plan hub placement within reliable motor-radio and home-network range.
Keep at least one physical remote or wall control for direct everyday operation.
Continue through the Smart Hubs Explained cluster
Read Do Motorised Blinds Need a Smart Hub? for the timer-versus-hub decision. Use the Pulse Pro versus TaHoma comparison after identifying the motor brand. The remaining guides cover TaHoma setup, TaHoma troubleshooting, voice assistants, Pulse Pro Matter, practical scenes and Connexoon upgrades.
When the Smart Blind Hubs commercial page is ready, it will compare the hub products and send buyers to the compatible Pulse Pro or TaHoma option.
Related Guides
Choose and Compare Smart Blind Hubs
Compare the hub options for compatible Automate and Somfy motors, or learn more about how smart blind control works.
