In my other post, I mentioned using ESP32-POE as a hard-wired alternative to the standard Wifi-based ESP8266 and ESP32.
I’ve been getting more and more 433MHz devices at home, so wanted to set up a 433MHz gateway to handle sending / receiving codes via RF. I ended up implementing this using the Olimex ESP32-POE, along with a 433MHz receiver (RXB6) and 433MHz transmitter (STX882).
My overall goal was to use this 433MHz gateway within HA to send RF codes to our fireplace, as well as receive codes from various button switches scattered around the house. I bought a bunch of different button switches from here:
Part of the fun was decoding the RF codes sent by these various button switches. I used Universal Radio Hacker, which is a great piece of software, along with a cheap USB dongle connected to my Windows 10 laptop.
Thanks to ESPHome, I was able to implement a single button press (i.e. click), as well as longer button press (i.e. hold), for each button. One example of using this is controlling music in one of our rooms. A single button press starts playing music (using Squeezebox), or skips to the next song (if already playing). A long press (i.e. hold) stops playback. My wife and son love these buttons since they are so simple to use and convenient to mount wherever a simple action is required. Of couse, these actions are also available via the usual mechanisms (i.e. HA frontend, Google Assistant, etc.)
In any case, below is the YAML from my ESPHome setup. I’ve only included one of these button switches (rounded one with a single button), to keep it simple. I’ve also included the fireplace (Mertik Maxitrol) as well as one of our doorbells (Arlec).
esphome:
name: esp32_poe_2
platform: ESP32
board: esp32-poe
ethernet:
type: LAN8720
mdc_pin: GPIO23
mdio_pin: GPIO18
clk_mode: GPIO17_OUT
phy_addr: 0
power_pin: GPIO12
logger:
api:
ota:
remote_transmitter:
pin: GPIO32
carrier_duty_percent: 100%
remote_receiver:
pin:
number: GPIO33
inverted: True
mode: INPUT_PULLUP
filter: 200us # default = 10us
idle: 4ms # default = 10ms
on_rc_switch:
binary_sensor:
# Arlec Doorbell
- platform: remote_receiver
name: Arlec Doorbell
raw:
code: [ -1080, 1080, -360, 1080, -360, 1080, -360, 1080, -360, 360, -1080, 360, -1080, 1080, -360, 360, -1080, 360, -1080, 1080, -360, 1080, -360, 360, -1080, 360, -1080, 360, -1080, 360, -1080, 360, -1080, 360, -1080 ]
filters:
- delayed_off: 1000ms
# Fireplace
- platform: remote_receiver
name: Fireplace On
rc_switch_raw:
code: '1010011110011'
protocol:
pulse_length: 380
sync: [45, 1]
zero: [1, 2]
one: [2, 1]
inverted: true
filters:
- delayed_off: 1000ms
- platform: remote_receiver
name: Fireplace Off
rc_switch_raw:
code: '1010011110111'
protocol:
pulse_length: 380
sync: [45, 1]
zero: [1, 2]
one: [2, 1]
inverted: true
filters:
- delayed_off: 1000ms
- platform: remote_receiver
name: Flame Up
rc_switch_raw:
code: '1010011111011'
protocol:
pulse_length: 380
sync: [45, 1]
zero: [1, 2]
one: [2, 1]
inverted: true
filters:
- delayed_off: 1000ms
- platform: remote_receiver
name: Flame Down
rc_switch_raw:
code: '1010011111101'
protocol:
pulse_length: 380
sync: [45, 1]
zero: [1, 2]
one: [2, 1]
inverted: true
filters:
- delayed_off: 1000ms
# Round 1 Key Button
- platform: remote_receiver
id: round_1_key_button
name: Round 1 Key Button
rc_switch_raw:
code: '110011010000010110101000'
protocol:
pulse_length: 300
inverted: true
filters:
- delayed_off: 100ms
on_click:
- min_length: 50ms
max_length: 350ms
then:
- homeassistant.event:
event: esphome.button_pressed
data:
entity_id: binary_sensor.round_1_key_button
button_press_type: 'single'
- min_length: 350ms
max_length: 5s
then:
- logger.log: 'Hold'
- homeassistant.event:
event: esphome.button_pressed
data:
entity_id: binary_sensor.round_1_key_button
button_press_type: 'hold'
switch:
# Arlec Doorbell
- platform: template
name: Arlec Doorbell Switch
icon: "mdi:bell"
id: arlec_doorbell_switch
turn_on_action:
- remote_transmitter.transmit_raw:
carrier_frequency: 433MHz
code: [ 1080, -1080, 360, -1080, 360, -1080, 360, -1080, 360, -360, 1080, -360, 1080, -1080, 360, -360, 1080, -360, 1080, -1080, 360, -1080, 360, -360, 1080, -360, 1080, -360, 1080, -360, 1080, -360, 1080, -360, 1080 ]
repeat:
times: 60
wait_time: 5ms
- platform: template
name: Arlec Doorbell
icon: "mdi:bell"
turn_on_action:
- switch.turn_on: arlec_doorbell_switch
- delay: 500ms
- switch.turn_off: arlec_doorbell_switch
# Fireplace
- platform: template
name: Fireplace
icon: "mdi:fireplace"
optimistic: true
assumed_state: true
turn_on_action:
# - remote_transmitter.transmit_raw:
# carrier_frequency: 433MHz
# code: [ 380, -380, 380, -760, 760, -380, 380, -760, 380, -760, 760, -380, 760, -380, 760, -380, 760, -380, 380, -760, 380, -760, 760, -380, 760, -17200 ]
# repeat:
# times: 120
- remote_transmitter.transmit_rc_switch_raw:
code: '1010011110011'
protocol:
pulse_length: 380
sync: [1, 45]
zero: [1, 2]
one: [2, 1]
repeat:
times: 120
wait_time: 10ms
turn_off_action:
# - remote_transmitter.transmit_raw:
# carrier_frequency: 433MHz
# code: [ 380, -380, 380, -760, 760, -380, 380, -760, 380, -760, 760, -380, 760, -380, 760, -380, 760, -380, 380, -760, 760, -380, 760, -380, 760, -17200 ]
# repeat:
# times: 60
- remote_transmitter.transmit_rc_switch_raw:
code: '1010011110111'
protocol:
pulse_length: 380
sync: [1, 45]
zero: [1, 2]
one: [2, 1]
repeat:
times: 60
wait_time: 10ms
- platform: template
name: Flame
icon: "mdi:fire"
optimistic: true
assumed_state: true
turn_on_action:
# - remote_transmitter.transmit_raw:
# carrier_frequency: 433MHz
# code: [ 380, -380, 380, -760, 760, -380, 380, -760, 380, -760, 760, -380, 760, -380, 760, -380, 760, -380, 380, -380, 380, -760, 760, -380, 760, -17200 ]
# repeat:
# times: 60
- remote_transmitter.transmit_rc_switch_raw:
code: '1010011111011'
protocol:
pulse_length: 380
sync: [1, 45]
zero: [1, 2]
one: [2, 1]
repeat:
times: 60
wait_time: 10ms
turn_off_action:
# - remote_transmitter.transmit_raw:
# carrier_frequency: 433MHz
# code: [ 380, -380, 380, -760, 760, -380, 380, -760, 380, -760, 760, -380, 760, -380, 760, -380, 760, -380, 760, -380, 760, -380, 380, -760, 760, -17200 ]
# repeat:
# times: 60
- remote_transmitter.transmit_rc_switch_raw:
code: '1010011111101'
protocol:
pulse_length: 380
sync: [1, 45]
zero: [1, 2]
one: [2, 1]
repeat:
times: 60
wait_time: 10ms
# Round 1 Key Button
- platform: template
name: Round 1 Key Button Switch
icon: "mdi:remote"
id: round_1_key_button_switch
turn_on_action:
- remote_transmitter.transmit_rc_switch_raw:
code: '110011010000010110101000'
protocol:
pulse_length: 300
repeat:
times: 5
wait_time: 9ms
- platform: template
name: Round 1 Key Button
icon: "mdi:remote"
turn_on_action:
- switch.turn_on: round_1_key_button_switch
- delay: 250ms
- switch.turn_off: round_1_key_button_switch
You can see above how the button is implemented as both a binary sensor (via the remote receiver) and a switch (via the remote transmitter). Exposing the button as s switch is overkill, but it means that I can basically simulate pressing the real button by controlling the switch within HA, since the gateway can send the exact codes as sent by the button switches.
Here are some photos showing the ESP32-POE and the custom enclosure I designed in TinkerCad. I drilled a few holes in the lid to allow the antennae to protrude. There is a separate compartment for the RF transmitter, and also one for the RF receiver. The lid snaps onto the box nicely.
Overall, it works really well. I’m impressed with how reliable the ESP32-POE is and the fact that it just works out of the box with ESPHome. Along the way, I’ve also learnt a lot about decoding 433MHz protocols.
