Chromecast Radio with station and player selection

upsert · July 16, 2017, 6:28pm

I love this Chromecast Radio integration! Thanks @Bob_NL

I made a radio station list mixing in stations from my RTL-SDR using rtl_fm_streamer for some Internet-free streaming local radio stations.

It would be made even easier if input_select supported a data payload like in the Feature Request linked below. Consider voting on it to greatly simplify this type of scripting.

jnvd3b · July 17, 2017, 5:56pm

Did you put script.radio538 in the group for viewing?

ashfaaaa · July 22, 2017, 10:00am

from where did you get stream links? i want to get some arabic channel.

GigabitGuy · July 24, 2017, 3:21pm

I have actually made a spotify version of this - it works fine - the only problem is that the spotify component have a bad memory when it comes to sources, especially if you use multiple chromecasts - rendering it useless to me at the moment. However if anybody have better luck with spotify i’ll love to share.

UPDATE:
The spotify version can be found here: Spotify Playlist Player

prates · September 21, 2017, 2:14pm

I’m assuming that all these multi speakers solutions requires to keep the speakers powered all the time. I mean, you are not using home assistant to turn on the speaker. Am I right?
I would like to make something similar, but the fact that it will drain power while not in use really annoys me…

BarryHampants · September 21, 2017, 10:42pm

You can, but it will depend on what your speaker setup. With my yamaha AVR I have auto on and off working with squeezebox, chromecasts, mibox and you can use it with any media player that reports its state to hass.

Have a look at the last part of the first post in this thread.

Fearz · September 24, 2017, 6:43pm

Hi,

This is my first ever try with HA, i installed it manually on my RBP3, the aim of this is that I wanted to say hey google good morning, it would dim the lights (already done through smartthings) AND play music on chromecast (I have the 2nd gen chromecast not audio) <- this i got told can only be done with HA

So now i installed it and i used the following in my configurations.yaml:

 radio538:
alias: Play Radio on Chromecast Audio
sequence:
  - service: media_player.volume_set
    data_template:
      entity_id: >
        {% if is_state("input_select.chromecast_radio", "Livingroom") %} media_player.ca_livingroom
        {% elif is_state("input_select.chromecast_radio", "Hall") %} media_player.ca_hall
        {% elif is_state("input_select.chromecast_radio", "Bedroom") %} media_player.bed_room
        {% elif is_state("input_select.chromecast_radio", "Bathroom") %} media_player.ca_bathroom
        {% elif is_state("input_select.chromecast_radio", "Everywhere") %} media_player.home_group
        {% endif %}
      volume_level: '{{  states.input_slider.volume_radio.state  }}' 
  -  service: media_player.play_media
     data_template:
       entity_id: >
        {% if is_state("input_select.chromecast_radio", "Livingroom") %} media_player.ca_livingroom
        {% elif is_state("input_select.chromecast_radio", "Hall") %} media_player.ca_hall
        {% elif is_state("input_select.chromecast_radio", "Bedroom") %} media_player.bed_room
        {% elif is_state("input_select.chromecast_radio", "Bathroom") %} media_player.ca_bathroom
        {% elif is_state("input_select.chromecast_radio", "Everywhere") %} media_player.home_group
        {% endif %}
       media_content_id: >
        {% if is_state("input_select.radio_station", "Radio 538") %} http://vip-icecast.538.lw.triple-it.nl:80/RADIO538_MP3
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "Q-Music") %} http://icecast-qmusic.cdp.triple-it.nl/Qmusic_nl_live_96.mp3
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "3FM") %} http://icecast.omroep.nl/3fm-bb-mp3
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "100% NL") %} http://stream.100p.nl/100pctnl.mp3
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "Veronica") %} http://8543.live.streamtheworld.com/VERONICACMP3
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "Sky Radio") %} http://8623.live.streamtheworld.com:80/SKYRADIOAAC_SC
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "Arrow Classic Rock") %} http://91.221.151.155/listen.mp3
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "Classic FM") %} http://19143.live.streamtheworld.com/CLASSICFM_SC
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "BNR Nieuwsradio") %} http://icecast-bnr.cdp.triple-it.nl/bnr_mp3_96_03
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "Smooth Jazz Tampa") %} http://us3.internet-radio.com:8007/listen.mp3           
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "Classic Rock Florida") %} http://listen.shoutcast.com/Classic-RockFlorida
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "Bob Sinclar Radio") %} http://listen.shoutcast.com/prysmradio09-mp3            
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "Chill Out Zone") %} http://air.chillout.zone:8000/radio           
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "SLAM! Hardstyle") %} http://stream.radiocorp.nl/web11_mp3
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "Sleep Radio") %} http://37.59.28.208:8722/stream
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "Ambient Sleeping Pill") %} http://perseus.shoutca.st:8447/h
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "Radio Art - Sleep") %} http://live.radioart.com/fSleep.mp3
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "Ambi Nature Radio") %} http://94.23.252.14:8067/stream
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "Calm Radio - Sleep") %} http://streams.calmradio.com/api/39/128/stream
        {% elif is_state("input_select.radio_station", "Dinamo.FM Sleep") %} http://channels.dinamo.fm/sleep-aac
        {% endif %}
       media_content_type: 'audio/mp4'

I now get the activate but nothing happens…

I can see my Chromecast widget and my Google home widget as well, the logs shows this:

2017-09-24 18:42:12 INFO (MainThread) [homeassistant.helpers.script] Script Play Radio on Chromecast: Executing step call service
2017-09-24 18:42:12 INFO (MainThread) [homeassistant.core] Bus:Handling <Event call_service[L]: service_call_id=1972524368-57, domain=media_player, service_data=entity_id=, media_content_id=, media_content_type=audio/mp4, service=play_media>
2017-09-24 18:42:12 ERROR (MainThread) [homeassistant.core] Invalid service data for media_player.play_media: Entity ID is an invalid entity id for dictionary value @ data[‘entity_id’]. Got ‘’
2017-09-24 18:42:12 INFO (MainThread) [homeassistant.core] Bus:Handling <Event service_executed[L]: service_call_id=1972524368-57>
2017-09-24 18:42:12 INFO (MainThread) [homeassistant.core] Bus:Handling <Event service_executed[L]: service_call_id=1972524368-55>
2017-09-24 18:42:12 INFO (MainThread) [homeassistant.core] Bus:Handling <Event state_changed[L]: entity_id=script.radio538, old_state=<state script.radio538=off; last_triggered=2017-09-24T20:36:52.562368+02:00, friendly_name=Play Radio on Chromecast @ 2017-09-24T20:34:24.628233+02:00>, new_state=<state script.radio538=off; last_triggered=2017-09-24T20:42:12.046148+02:00, friendly_name=Play Radio on Chromecast @ 2017-09-24T20:34:24.628233+02:00>>

Any help is appreciated

ih8gates · September 25, 2017, 12:45pm

Some things to try:

collapse whitespace. use a - after the > and remove the space after the curly brace that closes the if/elif statement. indentation is significant. the extra space could cause trouble
test everything in the template dev tool, just to make sure that your if/elif returns what you expect it to return.

    entity_id: >-
        {% if is_state("input_select.chromecast_radio", "Livingroom") %}media_player.ca_livingroom
        ...

prates · September 25, 2017, 2:49pm

Very thankful for reaching this topic. I use to play on a speaker connected do the raspberry pi aux port. My custom implementation was:

Changed the script
From: media_content_type: ‘audio/mp4’
To: media_content_type: ‘audio/mp3’

I also created a intent script to start the radio by voice commands (api.ai / actions on google):

ListenToRadio:
speech:
text: >
{%- if OnOff == “on” -%}
You are listening to {{ RadioStation }}
{%- else -%}
Turning off the radio
{%- endif -%}
action:
- service: input_select.select_option
data_template:
entity_id: input_select.chromecast_radio
option: OrangePi
- service: input_select.select_option
data_template:
entity_id: input_select.radio_station
option: >
{%- if OnOff == “on” -%}
{{ RadioStation }}
{%- else -%}
Stop
{%- endif -%}
- service: script.radio_start

Bob_NL · September 25, 2017, 4:41pm

Change the entity_id’s to your media player id’s, I see you are using my exact same names which would be very coincidental

Bob_NL · September 25, 2017, 4:42pm

That’s correct. I’m using a couple of simple ball speakers which hardly use any power but you’re right it is a drain.

Fearz · September 25, 2017, 6:30pm

Ok so now I have this in my config:

script:
radio538:
alias: Play Radio on Chromecast Audio
sequence:
- service: media_player.volume_set
data:
entity_id: media_player.chromecast
volume_level: ‘0.35’
- service: media_player.volume_set
data:
entity_id: media_player.chromecast
volume_level: ‘0.20’
- service: media_player.volume_set
data:
entity_id: media_player.chromecast
volume_level: ‘0.30’
- service: media_player.chromecast
data_template:
entity_id: >
{% if is_state(“input_select.chromecast_radio”, “Livingroom”) %} media_player.chromecast
{% elif is_state(“input_select.chromecast_radio”, “Hall”) %} media_player.chromecast
{% elif is_state(“input_select.chromecast_radio”, “Bedroom”) %} media_player.chromecast
{% elif is_state(“input_select.chromecast_radio”, “Bathroom”) %} media_player.chromecast
{% elif is_state(“input_select.chromecast_radio”, “Everywhere”) %} media_player.chromecast
{% endif %}
media_content_id: >
{% if is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Radio 538”) %} http://vip-icecast.538.lw.triple-it.nl:80/RADIO538_MP3
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Q-Music”) %} http://icecast-qmusic.cdp.triple-it.nl/Qmusic_nl_live_96.mp3
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “3FM”) %} http://icecast.omroep.nl/3fm-bb-mp3
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “100% NL”) %} http://stream.100p.nl/100pctnl.mp3
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Veronica”) %} http://8543.live.streamtheworld.com/VERONICACMP3
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Sky Radio”) %} http://8623.live.streamtheworld.com:80/SKYRADIOAAC_SC
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Arrow Classic Rock”) %} http://91.221.151.155/listen.mp3
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Classic FM”) %} http://19143.live.streamtheworld.com/CLASSICFM_SC
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “BNR Nieuwsradio”) %} http://icecast-bnr.cdp.triple-it.nl/bnr_mp3_96_03
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “SLAM! Hardstyle”) %} http://vip-icecast.538.lw.triple-it.nl/WEB17_MP3
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Sleep Radio”) %} http://37.59.28.208:8722/stream
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Ambient Sleeping Pill”) %} http://perseus.shoutca.st:8447/h
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Radio Art - Sleep”) %} http://live.radioart.com/fSleep.mp3
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Ambi Nature Radio”) %} http://94.23.252.14:8067/stream
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Calm Radio - Sleep”) %} http://streams.calmradio.com/api/39/128/stream
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Dinamo.FM Sleep”) %} http://channels.dinamo.fm/sleep-aac
{% endif %}
media_content_type: ‘audio/mp4’

and now i get this, not sure exactly what to change:

2017-09-25 20:28:33 WARNING (MainThread) [homeassistant.core] Unable to find service media_player/chromecast

Bob_NL · September 25, 2017, 6:44pm

Please use blockquotes or preformatted text when posting code so we can debug. This is unreadable. Thanks.

Fearz · September 25, 2017, 6:51pm

done, apologies

Fearz · September 25, 2017, 7:28pm

I Also never get past the Activate widget…i never seen a drop down menu to choose speakers or stations…
however, if i click activate, the volume slider appears on TV and thats the best it went…

Fearz · September 25, 2017, 9:33pm

Hmmm

I’ve been trying for 15 min. to paste my configurations.yaml in blockquoted or preformatted and it just won’t work!!!

Here it is:
indent preformatted text by 4 spaces

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ cat .homeassistant/configuration.yaml
homeassistant:

Name of the location where Home Assistant is running

name: Home

Location required to calculate the time the sun rises and sets

latitude: 31.2156
longitude: 29.9553

Impacts weather/sunrise data (altitude above sea level in meters)

elevation: 0

metric for Metric, imperial for Imperial

unit_system: metric

Pick yours from here: List of tz database time zones - Wikipedia

time_zone: Africa/Cairo

Customization file

customize: !include customize.yaml

Show links to resources in log and frontend

introduction:

Enables the frontend

frontend:

Enables configuration UI

config:

http:

Uncomment this to add a password (recommended!)

api_password: PASSWORD

Uncomment this if you are using SSL/TLS, running in Docker container, etc.

base_url: example.duckdns.org:8123

Checks for available updates

Note: This component will send some information about your system to

the developers to assist with development of Home Assistant.

For more information, please see:

Explaining the Updater - Home Assistant

updater:

Optional, allows Home Assistant developers to focus on popular components.

include_used_components: true

Discover some devices automatically

discovery:

Allows you to issue voice commands from the frontend in enabled browsers

conversation:

Enables support for tracking state changes over time

history:

View all events in a logbook

logbook:

Track the sun

sun:

Weather prediction

sensor:

platform: yr

Text to speech

tts:

platform: google

group: !include groups.yaml
automation: !include automations.yaml

script: !include scripts.yaml

mqtt:
broker: 192.168.2.228
port: 9001
client_id: mqttc
discovery: true
discovery_prefix: smartthings

light:

platform: mqtt
name: “Far Right Stand”
brightness_command_topic: “smartthings/Far Right Stand/level/set”
brightness_state_topic: “smartthings/Far Right Stand/level”
command_topic: “smartthings/Far Right Stand/switch”
optimistic: false
payload_off: “off”
payload_on: “on”
qos: 0
state_topic: “smartthings/Far Right Stand/switch”
platform: mqtt
name: “Right Stand”
brightness_command_topic: “smartthings/Right Stand/level/set”
brightness_state_topic: “smartthings/Right Stand/level”
command_topic: “smartthings/Right Stand/switch”
optimistic: false
payload_off: “off”
payload_on: “on”
qos: 0
state_topic: “smartthings/Right Stand/switch”

script:
radio538:
alias: Play Radio on Chromecast Audio
sequence:
- service: media_player.volume_set
data:
entity_id: media_player.chromecast
volume_level: ‘0.30’
- service: media_player.play_media
data:
entity_id: media_player.chromecast
media_content_id: >
{% if is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Radio 538”) %} http://vip-icecast.538.lw.triple-it.nl:80/RADIO538_MP3
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Q-Music”) %} http://icecast-qmusic.cdp.triple-it.nl/Qmusic_nl_live_96.mp3
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “3FM”) %} http://icecast.omroep.nl/3fm-bb-mp3
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “100% NL”) %} http://stream.100p.nl/100pctnl.mp3
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Veronica”) %} http://8543.live.streamtheworld.com/VERONICACMP3
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Sky Radio”) %} http://8623.live.streamtheworld.com:80/SKYRADIOAAC_SC
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Arrow Classic Rock”) %} http://91.221.151.155/listen.mp3
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Classic FM”) %} http://19143.live.streamtheworld.com/CLASSICFM_SC
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “BNR Nieuwsradio”) %} http://icecast-bnr.cdp.triple-it.nl/bnr_mp3_96_03
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “SLAM! Hardstyle”) %} http://vip-icecast.538.lw.triple-it.nl/WEB17_MP3
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Sleep Radio”) %} http://37.59.28.208:8722/stream
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Ambient Sleeping Pill”) %} http://perseus.shoutca.st:8447/h
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Radio Art - Sleep”) %} http://live.radioart.com/fSleep.mp3
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Ambi Nature Radio”) %} http://94.23.252.14:8067/stream
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Calm Radio - Sleep”) %} http://streams.calmradio.com/api/39/128/stream
{% elif is_state(“input_select.radio_station”, “Dinamo.FM Sleep”) %} http://channels.dinamo.fm/sleep-aac
{% endif %}
media_content_type: ‘audio/mp4’

ios:

johnnyletrois · September 26, 2017, 2:35am

Thank you so much for posting your code. i was looking for something exactly like this!

For my setup, I have a Monoprice Six Zone controller/amp connected to HomeAssistant. The Monoprice unit has six inputs and six speaker zones. I have one Chromecast connected as an input, and I can output it to all any or all zones. The Monoprice unit doesn’t natively support groups, but I added group support via groups.yaml. It works a treat.

Thanks again!

ih8gates · September 26, 2017, 12:39pm

lolouk44 · October 30, 2017, 4:01pm

@Bob_NL been using your script for a while now, and I love it.
Quick question, are you aware of a way to display custom picture / album art on the ChromeCast entities?
If I play content from Google Music, I normally get the album art so would like to add some art to my radio stations. Thanks

Bob_NL · October 30, 2017, 7:32pm

@lolouk44 glad you like it!

I’m not sure if that’s possible. I was struggling myself with custom icons for every station and I made a feature request topic for this: Templating icons in customize section

Seems like there is not that much interest lol