Tailwind is compatible with Apple HomeKit - meaning that you can set up Tailwind in the Apple Home app and use Siri to open and close your garage door. You can also use Siri Shortcuts, but we recommend just setting up Apple Home as Siri works much better that way - no custom phrase required.
When you set up your Tailwind controller our system will send you a HomeKit welcome email with your HomeKit setup code as well as instructions for doing a HomeKit reset if needed.
The HomeKit setup code can also be found in the Tailwind app by tapping the "Devices" tab at the bottom of the screen and then tapping on your device to get to the device settings screen. That screen will show the HomeKit setup code for that device.
If you want to use a Shortcut:
Note that you can record any phrase you want for each shortcut, and you need to create a separate shortcut (and phrase) for open and close commands. In addition please be aware that iOS is going to route your verbal command to Apple Home (not Shortcuts) if it detects anything resembling "open", "close", "unlock", "lock" because it thinks you're trying to control a smart home device.
So if you want garage door 2 to open using a Shortcut it's not going to work if you name the shortcut "Open garage door 2". That command will get routed to Apple Home, not Shortcuts. However, if you named it something like "Hey this Tailwind thing is pretty cool", you can do that. The phrase is completely customizable for each door and each command (open or close). This is especially useful for the open commands because it's inherently more secure. Nobody can steal your phone and say "Hey Siri open garage door".
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One of the recent problem with this setup on IOS is that Apple sees the Door as a security risk, ie opening without the phone being unlocked is not allowed.
I've worked around this (and accepted the risk that someone can use my phone locked to open the garage door, more about that later)
Instead I use an automation to open the door on a action that is not a security risk. In my case I have a bunch of smart lights in the house, so I dedicated one in the garage, and when it is turned on the door opens and when it is turned off the door closes.
So same things as above, you can use that action as the trigger and the phone can remain unlocked. You could do the same with an Apple Home smart power point, or if you have home assistant, a virtual powerpoint.
End result, IOS doesn't care if the item turns on or off, but because the item is in the house, it doesn't see the link to the automation, which opens the door.
Now I can drive into my street and by the time the car arrives at the garage, the door is open, and as I get out of the car and walk away, the bluetooth disconnects and turns off the light (and shuts the door)
Alot of mucking about still, but well worth it imho.
Hey Kris, thanks for adding your tips on setting this up with Homekit. I'm running into a bit of a challenge and hope you don't mind answering a few questions. 1st, your most recent post references the lightbulb in the garage as the trigger - does that mean you don't need all the other stuff in your previous post? 2nd. If you DO still need it, I'm having a problem. I downloaded your shortcuts and tried to run Set Car BT State - True but get an error message that says "The operation couldn''t be completed. (com.apple.reminderkit error -1.). I did create a reminder call Reference but nothing is in it. Would appreciate some further guidance!
John,
From memory, you may need to add the state first time. BUT... I have eliminated all of that now, It was only ever there to ensure I didn't open the door just walking home or taking my other car
With the light setup, I can just say Open sesame and the door opens and Close Sesame makes it close.
The trick being that Apple homekit will automate the opening and closing on the local change, not looking at how the local change was made.
The big problem is Homekit not allowing you to automate reducing the security of your home... probably the right thing to do for most people.... So the light is the workaround. It could be anything, a powerpoint, a light. The light is handy as I make it green and now I know someone is coming into the house (wife/kids) when I am in the office out the back of the house.
I have attached the reminder state as its in my phone now. In case you have to create it by hand. (you shouldn't) Do you have the Memory app by Wonky Logic? I just ran my test short cuts, Get state and Set state false, set state true and they all still work. Without the Memory app, you won't be doing anything in the reminder
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