There are multiple products on this listing, and the reviews are a bit unclear as to which product is being talked about. So, the product I have is the "DreamView T1 H6199". Most specifically, this is NOT the v3 model with dual cameras. "People" say that the v3 product is a step backwards.
The product firmware updated at first boot, and is running 1.10.05. This is installed in a 75" TCL TV, purchased a year ago.
All that said...
This is MUCH cooler than I was even hoping for. There are multiple modes with this controller, most folks are here because of the TV application which is what I'll focus on below.
Setup is straightforward, but can be complicated by the TV being wall mounted, or heavy, or just cumbersome. I was able to use the adhesive on the strip itself (3M), and didn't need to use the (included) clips.
The strip is *not* just a 4-pin LED strip. It's heavy, wrapped in a diffuser case, and segmented. There are two short segments, and two long. When you stick on the strip, start in a lower corner, then go up and around. It doesn't matter which corner, you can set that in software. The short segments fit the sides, the long ones go across. This is an excellent touch, dealing with a single solid strip is a real pain.
The camera - people love to complain about that camera thing on top of the TV! Guess what? You can install it on the bottom. You set the camera position in the software. Works great. 🙃
Defining the screen to the camera will take a bit of thinking. The process makes sense, but their explanation is 'hard'. Short form... install everything; fire it up; head to calibration; ignore the "orange squares" (which I didn't receive, but you don't really need).
Then, OPPOSITE of what they say, dim the room and find something bright on the TV. The calibration interface will show you a still image of what the camera sees. You'll define each corner of the TV screen as shown in the image, then the top middle. With the room dark, and the TV bright, the image will be fairly clear in the interface. Drag each of the dots to each of the corners, then set the extra middle dot to the top-middle of the screen. Hit the REFRESH button to check your work.
It's VERY important that you set the dots to the screen, not just the whole frame of the interface.
*** REMEMBER - if you mounted the camera at the bottom of the TV, the image will be upside down. When you set that "top" dot, it'll look backwards in the interface. Flipping your phone upside isn't cheating. Lol
From there, be sure that the software is on TV mode, and give it a run! Remember that you can adjust brightness, saturation, and color balance. Don't leave them at defaults! You won't like the results.
Past that - The controller has different modes, including scene, color wash, and a music mode... There's a lot here! Different effects for the modes! DIY options!
A point about "off" - a couple of folks have talked about the unit not really turning off-off, there's always a glow. The firmware I'm running supports a feature where you can set a true OFF. It's triggered by (their words) "the hue not changing for a period of time", and it works GREAT. This is smarter than just looking for a static screen, it really is the hue. For example, the Roku screensaver scrolls, but the hue is generally the same. This controller will catch that and turn OFF. It'll come back on automatically when the screen (hue!) changes.
No need for weird power configurations. This does the job just fine.
In use - man, it's cool. The effect is much more pleasing than I thought it would be. I made the statement to someone the other day "if I turn it off, I don't like it". It's on all the time now, turning it off makes me see the white wall. Ewww.
Keep in mind this isn't extending your screen, it's flooding the wall with relative color. There are 16 segments in the cable, so 16 control zones. With the diffuser casing, this does the job really well.
Recommend. Remember, this is NOT the v3 model.
| Color | Multicolor |
|---|---|
| Brand | Govee |
| Indoor/Outdoor Usage | Indoor |
| Special Feature | Timer,App Control |
| Light Source Type | LED |
| Power Source | DC |
| Light Color | Multicolor |
| Theme | Movie |
| Style | Modern |
| Material | Plastic |
| Controller Type | App Control |
| Connectivity Protocol | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Number of Light Sources | 150 |
| Voltage | 12 Volts |
| Wattage | 24 watts |
| Included Components | 16.4ft TV LED Backlights included, Adapter included, Control box included, 1080p camera included |
| Item Weight | 1.59 Pounds |
| Control Method | Voice |
| Wireless Communication Technology | Wi-Fi |
| Manufacturer | Govee |
| Part Number | H61991D4 |
| Item Weight | 1.59 pounds |
| Package Dimensions | 8.63 x 7.8 x 2.91 inches |
| Item model number | H6199 |
| Special Features | Timer,App Control |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
