ESPHome Scene and Smart Plug Control in HA

End Goal: Use the Inteset INT422-4 Universal Remote and ESP 32S to activate scenes for a group of Phillips Hue Bulbs and toggle a Matter smart plug for a lamp.

The remote will also control a Samsung Smart TV, but this is within the remote’s native capabilities.
The ESPHome aspect begins with scene control and toggling the Matter smart plug.

The Inteset remote has the ability to learn buttons from other remotes. So I used an old Sony remote to program the bottom 8 buttons with IR codes the Samsung TV ignores.
I have used an IR receiver with ESPHome 32S to document the Sony IR codes for these 8 buttons.
Pressing one of these 8 buttons should activate one of these scenes within HA (i.e. scene.den_concentrate, scene.den_energize, etc) or the smart plug (switch.den_lamp_plug).

I have done so much reading and researching in the previous days, I feel that I am on information overload.
The ESPHome documentation uses many ellipses to signify a variety of options and I’m simply having difficulty tying all of the information together.
And all examples I have been able to locate involve executing tasks via GPIO pins or IR Transmitter, not simple communication within HA.
I simply need ESPHome to activate a scene or toggle a smart plug, depending on which Sony IR code is received (with or without MQTT).

Yes, I realize there are easier ways to accomplish this with zigbee buttons or Siri, but my father has lived with me after the loss of my mother in February and this project is for him.
While many of you must consider the “spouse approval factor,” I have to deal with “grumpy old man” factor.
The fewer devices he needs to reach for, the better.

The easiest way to integrate an IR remote is probably to add a Broadlink RM4C mini IR receiver to your setup rather than trying to DIY.

Thank you, but this doesn’t help me begin to wrap my head around ESPHome and learn things to create a foundation for possibly creating more complex projects in the future.

To paraphrase JFK…we don’t do things because they are easy, we do things because they are hard.
And is part of the reason I joined the U.S. Marine Corps vs. another branch of military service. :wink:

Imagine a zigbee map with lines of twisted and intertwined wet noodles…that is kinda where I am at with understanding ESPHome (a jumbled mess of information).

Many projects do things in HA and send IR codes, I simply want to do the opposite.
I already have the 8 Sony IR codes and there is a future Part 2 of this project requires understanding how to this part.

Fair enough, no need to bring the power of the US army in the discussion :sweat_smile:

I now understand that the journey is more important than the goal, here…

Unfortunately, on this journey I currently have a broken bicycle with one pedal and teeth missing from the sprocket. :laughing:

I hope someone will post a project they did, then I can work backwards to see what I am not seeing to help me tie everything together.