Support & FAQs

Before You Buy

Which home routers are compatible with Starling Home Hub?

Starling Home Hub is compatible with practically all modern home Internet routers, including HomeKit Secure Routers like the Eero. The only router we are aware of that has compatibility issues is the Arris RAC2V1A.



Does Starling Home Hub work with Ring, SmartThings, or other non-Nest products?

No. Starling Home Hub works only with Nest and HomeKit.



Does Starling Home Hub work with Nest Accounts and Google Accounts?

Yes. Starling Home Hub works both with Nest Accounts (for Nest customers signing up before August 2019) and Google Accounts. We support Two-Factor Authentication for both Google Accounts and Nest Accounts.



Do you ship internationally? Does Starling Home Hub work outside the US?

Yes, and yes! While we're based in the US, we have happy customers around the world. Starling Home Hub includes a micro-USB power supply with a North American style plug (for US, Canada, Mexico and Japan), but it supports worldwide voltages (100-240V) and can be used in any country with a travel adapter. Or, simply use your own micro-USB power supply. We'll ship anywhere in the world, but be aware that you may be responsible for import fees, duties and/or taxes (for example, VAT in the EU/UK) when you receive Starling Home Hub. We only collect sales tax for shipments to California. We use DHL Express for international shipments, with transit times to most countries of 2 - 4 days.



Can I trust that Starling Home Hub is fully secure and respects my privacy?

Starling's top priority is ensuring the security of your home. What could be more important? So, we put security and privacy first when we designed Starling Home Hub. Starling does not have a cloud service, and no home data, usernames, or passwords are ever shared with us. Starling Home Hub accesses the Internet only to connect to Google/Nest's service, and to receive firmware updates. Starling uses industry-leading Greenbone OpenVAS testing technology to make sure that Starling Home Hub provides enterprise-grade IoT device security in your home, and is not vulnerable to any published CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures).



Which Apple and Nest products does Starling Home Hub work with (HomeKit/AirPlay)?

Starling Home Hub adds to HomeKit all models of Nest Thermostat, Nest Temperature Sensor, Nest Protect, Nest Cam Indoor/Outdoor/IQ, Nest Hello, Nest × Yale Lock, and Nest Secure (Guard and Detect). We also support Dropcam and the Google Nest Hub Max's built-in camera. Starling Home Hub adds to AirPlay (not HomeKit) all models of Nest Audio, Nest Mini, Google Nest Hub and Google Nest Hub Max. We also support the older Google Home Mini and Google Home Hub products. Starling Home Hub does not currently support AirPlay 2, although we plan to add this in a future firmware update. Starling Home Hub works with any Mac, iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch sold in the past 5 years. We also support any Apple TV running tvOS 14 or later for viewing Nest cameras.



Does Starling Home Hub work with Power-over-Ethernet (PoE)?

Starling Home Hub does not support PoE natively. If you wish to power Starling Home Hub using a PoE connection, you can use any PoE micro-USB power splitter. We recommend the UCTRONICS PoE Splitter, available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/UCTRONICS-PoE-Splitter-Gigabit-Raspberry/dp/B07CNKX14C



Does Starling Home Hub support HomeKit Secure Video? AirPlay 2?

Not at this time, although we are aiming to add support for both via a future software update. So, to view recorded Nest camera video from the past, you'll still need to use the Nest app. All other camera functions can be controlled from HomeKit. Nest speakers also won't be visible in HomeKit. Instead, they will function like any other standard speaker or headset for the purposes of audio streaming from any iOS device.



Is Starling Home Hub approved by Apple or Google/Nest?

No. Starling Home Hub exists because Google/Nest does not offer an approved way to connect Nest devices to Apple HomeKit. Starling Home Hub is not affiliated with or approved by Apple or Google/Nest in any way.



I have more than one home. Do I need more than one Starling Home Hub?

HomeKit cannot place devices from a single bridge (like Starling Home Hub) into multiple homes. So, while a single Starling Home Hub can connect Nest devices from more than one Nest Home into a single HomeKit Home, if you want to bring devices from more than one Nest Home into more than one HomeKit Home, you will need one Starling Home Hub for each home.



Using Your Hub

Which home routers are compatible with Starling Home Hub?

Starling Home Hub is compatible with practically all modern home Internet routers, including HomeKit Secure Routers like the Eero. The only router we are aware of that has compatibility issues is the Arris RAC2V1A.



Does Starling Home Hub work with Ring, SmartThings, or other non-Nest products?

No. Starling Home Hub works only with Nest and HomeKit.



Does Starling Home Hub work with Nest Accounts and Google Accounts?

Yes. Starling Home Hub works both with Nest Accounts (for Nest customers signing up before August 2019) and Google Accounts. We support Two-Factor Authentication for both Google Accounts and Nest Accounts.



Do you ship internationally? Does Starling Home Hub work outside the US?

Yes, and yes! While we're based in the US, we have happy customers around the world. Starling Home Hub includes a micro-USB power supply with a North American style plug (for US, Canada, Mexico and Japan), but it supports worldwide voltages (100-240V) and can be used in any country with a travel adapter. Or, simply use your own micro-USB power supply. We'll ship anywhere in the world, but be aware that you may be responsible for import fees, duties and/or taxes (for example, VAT in the EU/UK) when you receive Starling Home Hub. We only collect sales tax for shipments to California. We use DHL Express for international shipments, with transit times to most countries of 2 - 4 days.



Can I trust that Starling Home Hub is fully secure and respects my privacy?

Starling's top priority is ensuring the security of your home. What could be more important? So, we put security and privacy first when we designed Starling Home Hub. Starling does not have a cloud service, and no home data, usernames, or passwords are ever shared with us. Starling Home Hub accesses the Internet only to connect to Google/Nest's service, and to receive firmware updates. Starling uses industry-leading Greenbone OpenVAS testing technology to make sure that Starling Home Hub provides enterprise-grade IoT device security in your home, and is not vulnerable to any published CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures).



Which Apple and Nest products does Starling Home Hub work with (HomeKit/AirPlay)?

Starling Home Hub adds to HomeKit all models of Nest Thermostat, Nest Temperature Sensor, Nest Protect, Nest Cam Indoor/Outdoor/IQ, Nest Hello, Nest × Yale Lock, and Nest Secure (Guard and Detect). We also support Dropcam and the Google Nest Hub Max's built-in camera. Starling Home Hub adds to AirPlay (not HomeKit) all models of Nest Audio, Nest Mini, Google Nest Hub and Google Nest Hub Max. We also support the older Google Home Mini and Google Home Hub products. Starling Home Hub does not currently support AirPlay 2, although we plan to add this in a future firmware update. Starling Home Hub works with any Mac, iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch sold in the past 5 years. We also support any Apple TV running tvOS 14 or later for viewing Nest cameras.



Does Starling Home Hub work with Power-over-Ethernet (PoE)?

Starling Home Hub does not support PoE natively. If you wish to power Starling Home Hub using a PoE connection, you can use any PoE micro-USB power splitter. We recommend the UCTRONICS PoE Splitter, available from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/UCTRONICS-PoE-Splitter-Gigabit-Raspberry/dp/B07CNKX14C



Does Starling Home Hub support HomeKit Secure Video? AirPlay 2?

Not at this time, although we are aiming to add support for both via a future software update. So, to view recorded Nest camera video from the past, you'll still need to use the Nest app. All other camera functions can be controlled from HomeKit. Nest speakers also won't be visible in HomeKit. Instead, they will function like any other standard speaker or headset for the purposes of audio streaming from any iOS device.



Is Starling Home Hub approved by Apple or Google/Nest?

No. Starling Home Hub exists because Google/Nest does not offer an approved way to connect Nest devices to Apple HomeKit. Starling Home Hub is not affiliated with or approved by Apple or Google/Nest in any way.



I have more than one home. Do I need more than one Starling Home Hub?

HomeKit cannot place devices from a single bridge (like Starling Home Hub) into multiple homes. So, while a single Starling Home Hub can connect Nest devices from more than one Nest Home into a single HomeKit Home, if you want to bring devices from more than one Nest Home into more than one HomeKit Home, you will need one Starling Home Hub for each home.



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