Starting off with home assistant

[carnagelan]

Hi All
I am starting to play around with home assistant. At the moment i have got no smart devices but im going to order Sonoff minis for my lights.

I have a media pc running kodi. Is it possible i can view the kodi media library via the Home Assistant app and when i click play, the movie will play on the media center pc?

 

[Tinuva]

Doing what you want, don't think so.

If you want to know what IS possible with the default integration:
See the docs: https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/kodi/

Now there is a service call where you can send a json object to start playing stuff, but it doesn't allow you to browse the library. You would need another addon or something (not sure if there is one available or not) that can perhaps view the library for you and then use this default integration to then start playing whatever you selected.

 

[AlphaJohn]

I have a media pc running kodi. Is it possible i can view the kodi media library via the Home Assistant app and when i click play, the movie will play on the media center pc?

Home assistant only allows you to control media that is playing right now (Pause/stop and so on)and it uses kodi's build WebUI for that. What I did is add a double click function to it that opens the Kodi page.

To activate in Kodi WebUI goto Settings → Services → Control → Allow remote control via HTTP

 

[carnagelan]

Thanks guys. I just realised rain doesnt allow port forwading. So im going to leave Home Ass for now

 

[AlphaJohn]

Thanks guys. I just realised rain doesnt allow port forwading. So im going to leave Home Ass for now

If you wanna access away from home, simply install ZeroTier on your phone + HassIO and PC. then you can access the app from anywhere, even another PC with ZeroTier across the globe. No need to port forward

PS your Kodi box will also need to join the Virtual lan if you wanna access that 2.

ZeroTier is the reason I can see if my door are close all the way from work

 

[carnagelan]

If you wanna access away from home, simply install ZeroTier on your phone + HassIO and PC. then you can access the app from anywhere, even another PC with ZeroTier across the globe. No need to port forward

PS your Kodi box will also need to join the Virtual lan if you wanna access that 2.

ZeroTier is the reason I can see if my door are close all the way from work

Thanks man. I will give it a go. Im using a dedicated linux vm for my home assistant. Seems a bit complicated to install but i should come right

 

[AlphaJohn]

Thanks man. I will give it a go. Im using a dedicated linux vm for my home assistant. Seems a bit complicated to install but i should come right

Lot easier than you think,
1: Log into https://my.zerotier.com/ create a private network
2: Then in Home assistant dash just go to HassIO store(Under Superviser), look for ZeroTier in the bottom, click install and add your network id in config tab, and start it...
3: Back in my.zerotier.com give it permission to join the network.
4: Install Zerotier on you PC or Phone app from play store and repeat step 3 for each device...

They will all be able to see each other asif they on a local lan doesnt matter where they are, as long as they have internet access and port 9993 UDP can connect out to the internet.

 

[carnagelan]

Thanks man

Lot easier than you think,
1: Log into https://my.zerotier.com/ create a private network
2: Then in Home assistant dash just go to HassIO store(Under Superviser), look for ZeroTier in the bottom, click install and add your network id in config tab, and start it...
3: Back in my.zerotier.com give it permission to join the network.
4: Install Zerotier on you PC or Phone app from play store and repeat step 3 for each device...

They will all be able to see each other asif they on a local lan doesnt matter where they are, as long as they have internet access and port 9993 UDP can connect out to the internet.

 

[carnagelan]

Thanks bud.
Im going to install home assistant on the linux machine tomorrow instead of using Virtual box and will test it out. Is there a place locally(gauteng) that i can purchase sonoff devices as a walk in shop. Some where with decent prices.

I want to purchase my first light switch(double switch) to test. I first need to figure out how to test for a neutual

 

[AlphaJohn]

Thanks bud.
Im going to install home assistant on the linux machine tomorrow instead of using Virtual box and will test it out.

Dont think you can install it natively on a Linux box? Never tried it... I do have it running in Virtual Box on Windows as a dev environment load of easy guides to follow example youtube or https://peyanski.com/home-assistant-on-windows-using-virtualbox/ or even https://www.dropbox.com/s/kwb9b3ji01leg96/Installing_HASSOS_on_VirtualBox.pdf?dl=0

How to install sonoff support

Is there a place locally(gauteng) that i can purchase sonoff devices as a walk in shop. Some where with decent prices.

I want to purchase my first light switch(double switch) to test. I first need to figure out how to test for a neutual

Dont know about walking into a shop... but I do know https://www.robofactory.co.za/ has best pricing and i normally get next day delivery from them.
https://www.geewiz.co.za/search?controller=search&s=sonoff also stock Sonoff's and allow for collections so you can try them as well

 

[carnagelan]

Dont think you can install it natively on a Linux box? Never tried it... I do have it running in Virtual Box on Windows as a dev environment load of easy guides to follow example youtube or https://peyanski.com/home-assistant-on-windows-using-virtualbox/ or even https://www.dropbox.com/s/kwb9b3ji01leg96/Installing_HASSOS_on_VirtualBox.pdf?dl=0

How to install sonoff support



Dont know about walking into a shop... but I do know https://www.robofactory.co.za/ has best pricing and i normally get next day delivery from them.
https://www.geewiz.co.za/search?controller=search&s=sonoff also stock Sonoff's and allow for collections so you can try them as well

I read a tutorial and it can be installed on linux. Its a complicated way but will work.

I have a linux machine with 2gb ram. This machine is for the home assistant and my kodi. It runs slow with home assistant as i use the virtual vdi from home assistants website running in virtual box. I dont have bucks for a new pc. Its a dual core and 2gb ddr2 which is fine for kodi and should be for home assistant. Ill check that website out and thank you.

 

[AlphaJohn]

Going to Hi-jack the thread as the heading is perfect for info:

Door sensor 101

If you running Home Assistant (Or google home that matter) I would recommend not to get Sonoff DW1 RF or DW2 Wifi Door/Window contacts... (Learned from XP)

Sonoff DW1 (433 mhz) Is binary contact so fine for alarm but useless to see if something is open/close
Sonoff DW2 Wifi Shows contact Open/close status but only in eWelink no integration also no luck in hacking (So far)

Sonoff DW2 (433 mhz) Shows state but I could not find one.

This left me with 3 options.

Go zigbee. I dont have anything Zigbee based so entrance cost will need to be taken into account.
Go to the competition..

or

Sonoff Basic + solder iron = can be hacked to work as a normal basic + have added door/window sensor. See video

Now have a door Open/Close sensor + and can still use my Floor light as normal.

 

[ebendl]

Going to Hi-jack the thread as the heading is perfect for info:

Door sensor 101

If you running Home Assistant (Or google home that matter) I would recommend not to get Sonoff DW1 RF or DW2 Wifi Door/Window contacts... (Learned from XP)

Sonoff DW1 (433 mhz) Is binary contact so fine for alarm but useless to see if something is open/close
Sonoff DW2 Wifi Shows contact Open/close status but only in eWelink no integration also no luck in hacking (So far)

Sonoff DW2 (433 mhz) Shows state but I could not find one.

This left me with 3 options.

Go zigbee. I dont have anything Zigbee based so entrance cost will need to be taken into account.
Go to the competition..

or

Sonoff Basic + solder iron = can be hacked to work as a normal basic + have added door/window sensor. See video

Now have a door Open/Close sensor + and can still use my Floor light as normal.

I found other 433 MHz door contacts that transmit a code on open and another on close. I'll see if I can find them again (bought them on Banggood and I think Dr Zzzs referred to them originally). Tasmota on the RF bridge + HomeAssistant can be configured to then show the last state.

The Xiaomi / Sonoff Zigbee door sensors are tiny and fairly reliable. Sonoff Zigbee Bridge flashed with Tasmota is a relatively cheap way to go Zigbee.

I've also done the Sonoff Basic + reed switch + solder iron to see if my sliding gate is open or not. It worked well up untill the rain started, now I think I probably need a pull-up resistor (it correctly senses the gate is closed but as soon as it opens the IO pin floats and starts flipping between "open" and "closed").

 

[ebendl]

Thanks bud.
Im going to install home assistant on the linux machine tomorrow instead of using Virtual box and will test it out. Is there a place locally(gauteng) that i can purchase sonoff devices as a walk in shop. Some where with decent prices.

I want to purchase my first light switch(double switch) to test. I first need to figure out how to test for a neutual

Communica in Samrand / Pretoria Central. Double-check on their website / phone them for stock.

I am running Home Assistant in Supervised mode / Docker on my Ubuntu machine. Not officially supported but running great.

In terms of remote access, you can also subscribe Home Assistant Cloud through Nabu Casa (the parent company that pays employees to develop Home Assistant). They generate a unique URL that you can then use to access your instance remotely.

It works good and the $5 goes towards feeding the core developers

 

[w1tw0lf]

I read a tutorial and it can be installed on linux. Its a complicated way but will work.

I have a linux machine with 2gb ram. This machine is for the home assistant and my kodi. It runs slow with home assistant as i use the virtual vdi from home assistants website running in virtual box. I dont have bucks for a new pc. Its a dual core and 2gb ddr2 which is fine for kodi and should be for home assistant. Ill check that website out and thank you.

Have a look here if you haven't started yet, I followed this and was a breeze getting up and running

Installing Home Assistant Supervised using Debian 12

Installing Home Assistant Supervised using Debian 12 🛑 Before proceeding, please read the following information 🛑 It is being made increasing difficult to run a Supervised installation, by choosing to do so you understand the guidelines linked in the next paragraph. If you are new to Home...

community.home-assistant.io

 

[crashy]

Sonoff DW2 Wifi Shows contact Open/close status but only in eWelink no integration also no luck in hacking (So far)

I am wanting to get some of these to put around my doors / windows in mass to check if they're open or closed (and trigger the alarm in NodeRed). Are you saying here that you weren't able to get it integrated into HA?

 

[AlphaJohn]

I am wanting to get some of these to put around my doors / windows in mass to check if they're open or closed (and trigger the alarm in NodeRed). Are you saying here that you weren't able to get it integrated into HA?

Since that post AlexIT did update the software, so it now shows status but you have to activate cloud & Local option in config yaml

Still no local only option to see the state.

 

[crashy]

Still no local only option to see the state.

Erg, that sucks. Well thanks for doing the RnD on that so that I don't have to suffer with it. Seems like ESP and Reed Sensor is more of an option

 

[AlphaJohn]

Erg, that sucks. Well thanks for doing the RnD on that so that I don't have to suffer with it. Seems like ESP and Reed Sensor is more of an option

Thats basically the Sonoff basic hack that I found to be the best but ja... maybe in future updates.

 

[spencerw67]

I've done the rounds with Sonoff DW1 RF, DW2 RF and DW2 WiFi. The latter working now (after latest firmware upgrade) with eWeLink, but still a problem in HA. I've finally found a working sensor with Eachen DW2 RF that has both on & off states which I've linked to my Sonoff RF bridge. One bridge will only handle 2 sensors (on & off x 2). This is where I got them: https://eiferer.co.za/collections/e...-2-codes-433mhz-rf-dw2?variant=31541279096880