I think only Samsung got a Infrared TV integration and I started using it in my bedroom. I imagine additional ones will be added down the road, though they do seem to be a bit slow as I anxiously await the next release to see if any have been added.
I am shocked I have not seen Sony or Vizio or other more common solutions.
In the BroadLink app, you can add the devices for the room the device is located pretty easily if they are already an option and I do appreciate the fact that if you have a device that no one has created, the device reads RF and IR so you can point your remote at it and have it listen to learn those buttons.
It would be great to just have those export via the Broadlink Integration but I realize not everyone with IR or RF remotes uses that brand. I do not know who works on that Broadlink integration but that functionality would be very helpful if there was a way to create entities or child devices from that, that would be the ideal solution.
Is there any way of doing this that people know of without getting too complicated?
Be aware that Samsung (may) be putting all their stuff behind a paywall. They have suggested this in recent communication with the public. I wouldn’t count on that either. Smarthings API Fees
That is API over the Internet. I am talking about Infrared and I doubt they are going to start charging universal remote manufacturers access to their codes.
THANK YOU! I just installed it. The only issue is that it does not read my Broadlink devices as IR Receivers, though they have that ability. Could someone recommend me a good ESP32 board and I will just create myself a “learning” receiver/emitter to program in the devices?
You can learn on your Broadlink the traditional way, then pluck those codes and names out of the Broadlink device using HAIR.
Broadlink does not have a way of being an always-on listener for Home Assistant. Nor can HAIR, or any other listening device, capture codes from the air with Broadlink in its current incarnation. That is why HAIR developed a way of plucking them out of the device after they were traditionally learned.
There is work going on to give Broadlink’s a listening window for learning codes right into Home Assistant, but for now, learning happens the traditional way on Broadlink; learned into the device/integration then plucked out by HAIR.
You can always download a code file online and drop it into HAIR, so you don’t have to learn anything if you can find the code file.
Your best bet for an always-on listener would be an ESPHome device.
But just a quick note re your original Q-- Besides Samsung, HA does have a native IR integration for LG TV’s. None others that I know of.
Yeah, the rate of delivery for HA native IR integrations is going to be much slower than in HAIR or Broadlink.
Broadlink has been helpful to me. But HAIR is exactly what I’ve needed. I’ve wanted something like that to manage my IR devices, ever since I started my HA journey 5+ years ago. I am so happy to see it now.
What type of actions are you wanting to automate with HA to your TV? Could a ESPhome based HDMI-CEC trigger do what you want? (tv power/volume/channel/source/etc).
The firmware within Broadlink’s hardware is the limitation. For instance, it cannot send and receive at the same time.
I could see a future where one could arm the Broadlink device and capture any codes right into Home Assistant, but never really an always-on receiver. Your best bet for that is ESPHome.
