Bond adds smarts and to your remote-controlled ceiling fan

A ceiling fan might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to the smart home, but there are perks to an automated fan. Adding voice controls, schedules and even IFTTT recipes to a ceiling fan creates a more convenient smart home and a more comfortable living environment. The problem? Smart fans are expensive. Both Hunter and Big Ass Fans offer Alexa and Nest compatible models, starting at $300 and $550 respectively. That’s where Olibra’s Bond device comes in. This $99 disc smartens your remote-controlled ceiling fan. With the ability to control up to six fans with one unit, the Bond is a useful, cost-effective way to pick up the slack where your fans or finances left off.

The Bond device is the flagship product for its parent company, Olibra. The Bond smartens ceiling fans by acquiring the signal from the device’s original infrared (IR) or radio frequency (RF) remote. Ceiling fan remote controls come in both IR or RF varieties, but most are RF. If you do have an IR remote control, you’ll need to be sure the Bond is placed so it has a clear line of sight to the fan. I didn’t find that to be an issue, since the Bond is a relatively small, black device that fits on most tables and shelves. My disappointment here is the device’s color. It would be nice if the Bond came in options like white or gray, since it will be sitting out in the open.

The Bond works with Amazon Alexa devices and the Google Home ($30 at Best Buy), so you can ask your voice assistant of choice to control your smartened ceiling fan. The Bond app is available for iOS and Android devices, but the Bond itself doesn’t work with HomeKit or Siri.

Download the app and create an account to get started. Follow in-app instructions to connect the Bond to your Wi-Fi. Next, you’ll pair your device’s original remote with the Bond by pairing through the Bond app with step-by-step instructions. The Bond’s LED light ring uses different color indicators for each step. From there, the app asks you to identify which function of the remote you are pairing and allows you to test the new function in the app. Once you’ve repeated this process for each function of your original remote, you’re all set.