Thanks for your words. Meanwhile, I ordered an IO-based roller-shutter, which will be installed in some weeks.
My problem is that - as you also mentioned - the local API capability is available ‘only’ on the Tahoma box, which is totally unnecessarily expensive if I do not want to use it for any other than the roller-shutter. The Connectivity kid could be enough, but currently (and maybe never will) not supported with local API. Locally controlled smart home ‘appliances’/devices offer the best security which should be absolutely one of the main goals of the manufacturers also. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
I will start with the Connectivity kit through the cloud, and hope for local API late. If will not be available that’s how I went, but it’s sure that Somfy will not my favourite brand
Hello @rstrouse,
what’s the difference to the RFLiNK? (Apart from the different handling.)
Both systems can send and receive RTS signals (i.e. also handle other remote controls) and can be integrated into HomeAssistant…
What differences I have noticed so far:
The time calculation takes place in the ESP32 project, which allows a more accurate timing.
With the ESP32, unfortunately, a WLAN is constantly active although this is only needed for configuration.
I searched for a few days looking for a solution and did come across RFLiNK among a sea of potential solutions. In the end, I had specific goals I wanted to accomplish and RFLiNK seemed to have a broad focus on solutions that I wasn’t looking for and few answers with regard to my specific goals. I really needed this to be a violin and not a fiddle… I have boxes of fiddles.
The AP mode is only active for configuration of the ESP32 and is only used for onboarding the device into your network. Once that has been accomplished, the AP is turned off. Frankly, the hardest part of getting this up and running is installing the initial firmware onto the ESP but once that is done it is an act of button mashing.
I have been thinking about the My position for a while now. I have worked out an effective solution to capturing this data so it does know where the shade landed after a My button incident. I will be pushing it to the repo after it gets a bit of polish.
The My positions need to be set from the software for that function to have any value. The Somfy method can be a bit like doing a rain dance and over the years that My button really feels like somebody else’s button. Is it just me or was this a half-measure solution to not being able to set the physical position of the shade.
My initial goals after simply gaining control of the shade listed by importance were:
Local control only. No more cloud solutions.
All configuration performed using a user interface so I don’t have to run around searching for how I initially got it to work. I knew that when my friends saw it I was on the hook for their homes as well. I have delivered 3 of them so far and didn’t have to set it all up for them.
The ability to use the existing remotes. While I hate having to search for them, they are nice to be able to pick up when they are just laying there.
Accurately hit a target position and know where they are by simply looking at my phone. Action was sparked when my neighbor’s shades got torn up during a recent wind storm while he was in Europe.
Make only components that I would leave with the house if I leave the house.
Home Assistant isn’t my first home automation platform and likely won’t be my last given my track record. So the functionality must not tie me to a platform.
I am with you regarding WiFi devices. I avoid them at all costs and if the current supply of Pi devices wasn’t so precious, this probably would have been a node project on a Pi connected to a POE cable. That being said I have found the ESP WiFi to be very reliable and good for connection below -90db. This device is also not a traffic monster and only sends info over its sockets when there is a change.
With the My button my implementation is similar but when you set it from the software it reprograms the motor to use the My position and if it detects a My jog it picks up this position as the My position. The remotes do not have any intelligence to them for setting this position it is timed by the motor and would get out-of-sync.
The range on a Telis remote is abysmal but with a CC1101 I have experienced a reliable TX range from my office 200 feet away through 2 stucco walls and an RX range of just over half that when listening to the remotes. Good enough to pop it into the cabinet in the outdoor kitchen. There are some tuning options in the software to optimize the radio.
If you want you can simply open an issue on the github repo. Eventually, I will get around to setting up the discussions section if folks show an interest. Btw there is a HACS integration that does discovery and it will show up as a device in your network section through upnp.
Sorry for that question again, but I never used an ESP.
There are many devices available with LAN w/o PoE.
For example the Olimex ESP32-POE or the wESP32.
At your wiki for creating a Simple ESPSomfy RTS device you write “ESP32S WROOM” and “E07-M110D-SMA”.
I could only find an “ESP32 WROOM” (without “S”). Is this a typo? (Probalby ESP32-S3-WROOM-2?)
I also couldn’t find “E07-M110D-SMA” in Google. (No results.) Typo?
The blue ones you suggested and which I find (TI-CC1100 or RF1100SE) have only 10dBm and in your wiki under Configuring the Software you wrote that your transceiver have 12dBm…
(Probably this is a problem because I’m from Europe?)
Sry for the dummy questions, but I like to try your project and for me it is not clear how I get such hardware from which you have included the compiled binaries in the project so that I can upload those directly without having to compile them.
(Probably use a Hardware with LAN?)
Here the RFLiNK project is easier
Yes the E07-M110D-SMA should be E07-M1101D-SMA. That is a typo. There is an S2 and S3 series for the ESP32 I used an S3 series module. Here is an example but there are tons of suppliers for these. I can typically order them in the morning and by the afternoon they are at my front door. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08246MCL5?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
Alright so I knuckled down and added support for multiple LAN and POE ESP32 devices. Including all the ones you listed above. You will find recommendations for the pin assignments in the wiki and a couple of settings to select the target board in the WiFi connection screen.
I used this method today and pretty happy with the results, thanks for the tip!
The hardware build was very easy, but the software seems a bit trickier, HA using ZHA detects the relay board as Tuya T0004 and it works, but the switches latch. Are you perhaps aware how I might set/emulate them as momentary?
This seems like a no-brainer to me… local control with support from a third-party… which integrates easily with HA (and Hubitat which I also care about).
Just because I don’t see it recommended here:
Somfy also sells a ~realtively~ cheap Somfy 1870755 Connectivity Kit that apparently works with the Overkiz integration. It’s 60€ and should be a complete solution, for those who don’t want to tinker.
