How to actually use the 2026.5 RF integration?

Configuration
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I read about the 2026.5 RF integration but I have a hard time understanding how it works.

I will start with what I have. I have several RF433 buttons that send a signal. This signal is received by a Sonoff RF bridge. I monitor changes to the entity derived from that bridge and my automations look like

if rf_entity changes and rf_entity === AF3RFD then toggle lamp_bedroom

The actual automation is more complex because the RF bridge entity's state is a combination of an ID specific to a RF433 device (AF3RFD above) and some other information.

The core point from the above is that there is no entity pointing to a specific switch. Only the actions of this switch are indirectly acted upon.

Comes 2026.5 and the RF integration that hints at (maybe) entitites representinc actual RF433 devices (?).

Question 1: is this the case (= will dumb RF433 devices have entities)?

The documentation then goes into supported hubs (on which I define the above device entities?). I immediately ordered the RF transmitter mentioned there (it is on its way) and will attempt to build the ESPHome device (though there is no documentation as far as I could read).

Question 2: is there documentation to build the device mentioned on 2026.5: We're on the same frequency now 📡 - Home Assistant?

Question 3: is my RF bridge now legacy?

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First, the Radio Frequency integration is a "building block" integration. So, on its own, it doesn't do a whole lot out of the box. Instead, it provides a foundation for other integrations to create the devices and entities.

Based on the intro paragraph of the docs and the example config it looks like the RF integration/rf proxies are for transmission only, not reception... so you can keep the bridge for your buttons. But the CC1101 is a transceiver, so you should be able to use it instead of or in addition to the Sonoff bridge.

You would follow the setup for the CC1101 component, which includes both transmission and reception. Then add the Radio Frequency component as is shown in the example config for the M5 Stack device linked above. That gives HA RF integrations a target.

1 Like
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Also see the parallel Reddit thread, specifically this comment

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Thank you for the answer. Since this is strictly from transmitting (~emitting) then this will not chnage anything for me.