FAQ

1. What songs are pre-loaded on the Apollo H-3?

The H-3 comes with six holiday songs across the three buttons on the ornament. Press a button to play its first song. Double press it or hold it for about a second to play its second song. Button 1 (top) plays Frosty the Snowman and Blue Christmas, button 2 (middle) plays Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Do You Want to Build a Snowman, and button 3 (bottom) plays Jingle Bells and Barbie Girl. Each song is paired with its own LED effect.

2. Can I customize the songs and LED effects?

Yes! While the H-3 ships pre-loaded with six songs and light effects, you can integrate it with Home Assistant and ESPHome to further customize songs, LED patterns, and more. You can also use the buzzer to play any song in Home Assistant!

3. Is the Apollo H-3 "smart" right out of the box?

The H-3 is pre-flashed with a simple firmware that operates independently, so you can play songs with the buttons without any additional setup. For a full "smart" experience, reflash the H-3 to the smart firmware then join it to Home Assistant, where you can program custom automations, change songs, and adjust LED effects.

4. How do I activate the pre-loaded songs?

Make sure the switch on the back is set to On, then press one of the three buttons on the front of the snowman. If the ornament is asleep, the same press wakes it and plays the song. A double press only works while the ornament is awake, so if it's asleep, hold the button for about a second to play the second song.

5. What does purchasing the Apollo H-3 support?

100% of the profit from the H-3 goes to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This is our way of giving back as a thank you for the support we receive from our customers, friends, and family. You can learn more about our year and the charities.

6. Can the Apollo H-3 be used as a standard holiday ornament?

Absolutely! The H-3 is designed to look festive on any holiday setup, whether you choose to use the pre-loaded music and lights or integrate it as part of a smart home.

7. How do I set up the Apollo H-3 with Home Assistant?

Put the ornament in boot mode, then reflash it with the smart firmware. It shows up in Home Assistant as an ESPHome device once it joins your Wi-Fi.

8. Does the ornament require any additional power source?

The H-3 runs on two AA batteries, so you can hang it wherever you like. We suggest non-rechargeable AAs. It can also be powered by the USB-C port. Please use all battery safety precautions, and we suggest removing the batteries if you store the ornament for long periods of time.

9. Can I gift the Apollo H-3 to friends or family?

Yes, the H-3 makes a wonderful gift! It's unique, festive, and supports a good cause, making it a great option for holiday gifting.

10. My H-3 is draining battery too fast, how do I fix this?

On the smart firmware, make sure the "Prevent Sleep" switch is off on the device page in Home Assistant. With it on, the ornament stays awake instead of sleeping between button presses.

11. Where can I find more information about the Apollo H-3 and similar products?

For more details, setups, guides, and other products please email us at support@apolloautomation.com