How to use location tracking only to detect HOME /AWAY states, without knowing the exact location?

Mobile Apps Home Assistant Companion for Android
1

I would like to use Home Assistant official Android app location tracking feature to detect HOME /AWAY states. But there is a problem: some family members want privacy. Is there a way to use location tracker to detect if a person is at home, without knowing her exact location?

I thought that the “zone based tracking” setting does what I need, but it seems it doesn’t: after activating it, I still can see person’s location in the map.

2 Likes
2

You could detect if the person’s phone was connected to your local wifi network.

3

You are right. But it’s less reliable, because sometimes we deactivate WiFi, and it’s constantly making queries to the router.

4

BLE beacon?

5

I prefer the WiFi solution, it’s easier. Just asking if it’s possible with Android app location tracking. If it’s not, then I’ll use WiFi.

6

The app is GPS based, though you could try denying it access to the GPS and see if it works :man_shrugging:

Otherwise, use Bluetooth. I combine Bluetooth, WiFi, a door sensor, and a little logic to do reliable home/away tracking.

1 Like
7

Thank you for all your answers!

8

Could you share your logic? It is interesting to see and maybe implement

9

You’ll probably regret asking, but here it is :stuck_out_tongue:

The writeup there covers everything (at least I think it does), including all the integrations, devices, software, etc.

1 Like
10

Oh, thats a lot of stuff! :slight_smile:

11

I’m planning to buy a Orange pi zero plus and dedicate it to presence detection. I’m gonna make a program ( mostly script ) that check for the device on the network and if the device is off for like 10 minutes it send the status to home assistant ( same for bluetooth ) I would like to make a little web interface too for changing mac and bluetooth Mac dress if I change my phone. then on home assistant I will make rule that said if BOTH wifi and bluetooth are of I’m not there but as soon as wifi or bluetooth is on I’m there

12

Sounds like a group :wink:

13

Yes exactly ! AHAH

14

You could of course just group a WiFi and Bluetooth tracker, then use a binary sensor template with a delay in the off of 10 minutes.

15

Hoping all the knowledge here and effort will be added in an easy to use package in 6 months :stuck_out_tongue:

16

A package would require editing to update the various trackers. We’re talking about a single group, and a single binary sensor. That’s “somewhat” overkill for a package :wink:

group:
  human_tom:
    name: Tom
    entities:
    - device_tracker.tom_bluetooth
    - device_tracker.tom_wifi

and

binary_sensor:
  - platform: template
    sensors:
      tom_home:
        friendly_name: "Tom is home"
        value_template: >-
          {{ is_state('group.human_tom', 'home') }}
        delay_off: '00:05:00'

Package that logic up if it suits you.

17

I mean the proccess of setting up the bluetooth beacon,

Will look into it more when I move out in 6 months time but as things move so quickly we could be looking at diffrent method by then

18

Yeah, I am looking for the same thing, one would think that is how “zone based tracking” should work, but it doesn’t. I want the user (off the app) to have control over their own privacy. Turning off GPS makes tracking work worse, and I don’t see why the app cant just send the away/home-status without the exact position.

19

I opened this as a bug for the companion app, as this behavior seems both misleading and way too privacy invading. Give the issue a thumbs up on GitHub if you agree: