Most homes starting with a WiFi lock, video doorbell and smart thermostat do not need a hub. You need one when you add Zigbee, Z-Wave or Thread devices, want devices to work locally without the internet, or want everything in one app. A hub-capable speaker or display costs about $60 to $250. If the internet drops, remote access and cloud alerts stop, but a keypad lock and a stored thermostat schedule normally keep working.
PCBy the Pixl Canada install team. Calculated October 27, 2026. 7 min read.
- Hub, border router or no hub: a decision table
- What each device does when the internet fails
- Backup power runtime for router and hub
- Network checks before you add devices
- WiFi-only devices (most locks, doorbells and thermostats) work without a hub.
- Zigbee, Z-Wave and Thread devices need a hub or Thread border router.
- Local control keeps lights, plugs and sensors working through an internet outage, but remote access still needs the internet.
- A small UPS keeps a router and hub running for a few hours when the power fails.
Do you need a smart home hub?
| Your devices | Hub needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WiFi lock, doorbell, thermostat, camera | No | Each device uses its own app. Test WiFi at each spot |
| Bluetooth lock | No | Remote access needs a bridge or WiFi model |
| Zigbee or Z-Wave devices | Yes | A dedicated hub or a speaker or display that includes the radio |
| Thread devices | Yes, a Thread border router | Many speakers, displays, streamers and routers include one |
| Matter devices over WiFi | A Matter controller | Apple says iOS 18 can add Matter accessories without a hub, and recommends one. Google says a Matter-enabled hub is needed |
| Local automations when the internet is down | Yes | The hub runs rules at home instead of in the cloud |
For the standards behind this table see Matter and Thread explained.
What kinds of hub are there?
| Type | Examples of what it is | Market cost (CAD) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speaker or display | Smart speaker, smart display, TV streamer that lists Thread and Matter | $60 to $250 | Most homes |
| Dedicated hub | A hub with Zigbee, Z-Wave or Thread radios | $60 to $150 | Many sensors |
| Apple home hub | Apple TV 4K or HomePod models | Check current retail | iPhone households |
| Router or mesh node | Some routers include a Thread border router | Part of the WiFi system | Fewer boxes |
Pick the hub that matches your phone and your devices. See Google Home vs Alexa vs Apple Home vs SmartThings.
What works when the internet fails?
Your WiFi can be up while your internet connection is down. Devices that rely on the maker’s cloud lose remote control and alerts. Devices with local control keep their at-home functions. These are typical behaviours, so check your product’s datasheet.
| Device | Still works | Stops working |
|---|---|---|
| Smart lock | Key, keypad codes, and Bluetooth near the door | Remote unlock, guest code changes, alerts |
| Video doorbell | The button and a wired mechanical chime if you have one | Push alerts, live view and cloud recording. Local storage models may keep recording |
| Smart thermostat | Heating and cooling, and usually a stored schedule | Remote changes, weather features |
| WiFi camera | Recording to a memory card or local recorder, if fitted | Cloud clips, remote viewing |
| Matter and Thread plugs, lights, sensors | Local automations through the hub, if the hub runs rules locally | Remote access, voice commands that use the cloud |
| WiFi plugs and bulbs (cloud only) | Their physical switch, if any | App control, schedules held in the cloud |
For cameras that keep recording without internet see security cameras without internet in Canada.
What happens when the power fails?
If the power fails, your router, modem or fibre box and hub stop, and then nothing connects. A small battery backup (UPS) can keep them going. Runtime is the usable battery energy divided by the load. If your internet provider’s network is down too, a UPS will not restore the internet.
| Load | Watts | 50 Wh usable | 100 Wh usable | 150 Wh usable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Router and modem or fibre box | 18 W | 2.8 h | 5.6 h | 8.3 h |
| Router, modem and hub | 22 W | 2.3 h | 4.5 h | 6.8 h |
| Two mesh nodes, modem and hub | 28 W | 1.8 h | 3.6 h | 5.4 h |
Wattages assume a router at 10 W, a modem or fibre box at 8 W, a hub at 4 W and a mesh node at 8 W. Check the labels on your own equipment.
What should you check on your network first?
- Signal where the device goes. The front door, garage and basement are the weak spots. See the dead-zone checklist.
- 2.4 GHz. Many smart devices connect only on 2.4 GHz. Check the datasheet.
- IPv6. Google says IPv6 must be enabled before you add Matter devices.
- Mesh or extender. A mesh system usually works better than an extender. See mesh WiFi vs extender.
- Router placement. Central, off the floor, away from the microwave and metal.
If WiFi is the weak point, our home WiFi installation page covers configuring a router or mesh. Pixl does not run new network cable inside walls.
You are deciding whether to buy a hub with your first devices, or you want to know how your setup behaves in an outage.
You already run a hub and want to rebuild it. Matter bridging details are in the Matter guide linked above.
Smart home hub: frequently asked questions
Do I need a smart home hub for a smart lock?
Not for a WiFi or Bluetooth lock. A Z-Wave, Zigbee or Thread lock needs a hub or border router.
What is a Thread border router?
A device that links the Thread network to your WiFi or Ethernet network. Many hub-capable speakers, displays and some routers include one.
Does a smart home work without internet?
Partly. Local control, keypads, keys and stored schedules normally keep working. Remote access, cloud alerts and cloud recording do not. Check each device’s datasheet.
Is a hub better than WiFi devices?
They solve different problems. A hub adds local control and support for low-power devices. WiFi devices are simpler to start.
How long will a router run on a battery backup?
A router, modem and hub that draw about 22 W run about 4.5 hours on 100 Wh of usable battery energy, as a planning estimate.
Can Pixl install or configure my hub?
We install locks, doorbells, thermostats and cameras and set up WiFi and apps. Send a photo of your setup and what you want connected, and we tell you what we handle. Quotes are fixed from photos, and you pay after the job.
Not sure what your home needs?
Send photos of your router, door and wiring. Fixed quote from photos before booking. Pay after the job.
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Sources and method. Hub and Matter statements come from Apple Support (iOS 18 and Matter accessories without a hub), Google Home help (Matter-enabled hub, IPv6, local control) and the Thread Group (Thread properties), checked October 27, 2026. Outage behaviour is typical, not guaranteed, and varies by model. Backup runtime was calculated with Python as usable energy in Wh divided by load in W: for example, 100 Wh divided by 22 W = 4.5 hours. Assumed loads are router 10 W, modem or fibre box 8 W, hub 4 W, mesh node 8 W. Hub costs are rounded market estimates in CAD, not Pixl prices. Check your product’s datasheet.
About Pixl Canada. Pixl Canada is an installation company based in Edmonton, Alberta, serving cities across Canada with TV mounting, security cameras, appliance installation and smart home setup. Call or text (587) 899-7495. Open Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and Sunday 9am to 7pm.