New to HA. Running a Pi 5 and have basic automation configured although I haven’t got into programming beyond the simple selection automation available.
I’m looking to get voice set up. I’ve seen some reasonable videos on setting up the pipe lines, but I’m having problems with what devices to use. It seems that some things were available but are sold out, some are old configurations with options that don’t exist… I’m drowning here.
I do have a Jabra Speak 410. I’ve tried plugging it in to the USB on the Pi, connecting via the bluetooth integration (I can’t find a “scan” option) and also via the USB bluetooth dongle that comes with the Jabra. It doesn’t seem to be detected. Also, Jabra isn’t in the list of brands in order to add a device. So I’m stumped.
My end game will be for two voice assistants. One for me in the home office and one for my Mother in the living room. So I’m open to getting new hardware… but I’m drowning in information from searches and other people’s discussions in forums are assuming knowledge that I haven’t got… so I’m asking here.
Secondly Voice assistant is very much in development, you can get it to work but the reality is it will be a long way short of what you can get with google or Alexa. Nabu casa are developing some bespoke hardware but only some know when this will be available.
Thirdly HA is primarily an automation system and voice at best is just another switch, and not a very good one at that. I would, if starting out and you want to have voice that does not take making your own and constantly changing code to keep up with changes. I would be looking at google or Alexa.
Plenty of help here if you want to DIY something though, just ask.
I’m hoping to do something which is part way home made and part way manufactured, if you know what I mean. I’ve got a partial distrust of cloud and the big guys. I was one of the first buyers of Jolla when they started Sailfish and I’m happy to live without the bells and whistles.
I’m also happy to roll up my sleeves and get stuck in to programming… but there seems to be little around that doesn’t involve having a base knowledge that I don’t have.
It was interesting to see the Atom Echo still around, as all the videos I’ve watched said they were sold out and dead. Although for me, the speaker will be too low quality to play music… but that’s part of the problem, it seems that even relatively new videos/articles are out of date before I even start and I’m not sure where to turn. There are plenty of cool videos with great examples, but nothing on the how-to for someone of my level… or else videos which are broad brush and don’t go into enough detail.
I thought I’d at least get the Jabra 410 working, because then I could concentrate on the voice assist, before moving on to other devices. I’m just having trouble finding those first rungs of the ladder.
If you want to play music via a quality speaker you will be better off separating the audio from voice. Voice can be setup easily using an ESP32, but this is not going to allow media playback. Media playback can be done with voice but that’s another leaning curve again.
What is your primary use for this voice kit?
There are lots of speaker, music media player integrations that can be used, but having something cloud free that you can ask to play something from you music collection is going to be a task. That stuff is way over my knowledge level if it is even possible.
I probably ask my voice assistant to turn something on once a month or so. I find spending time creating ways to run stuff that doesn’t involve shouting across a room and hoping some assistant understands me, not to mention the confusion if someone else talks at the same time or the radio is playing, far more useful.
I am sure someone else can suggest options as i know there are a few ways to do voice, The only way I know is using Esphome.
Primary use will be for Mum to ask for a radio station to play, or to play some music from my server “Play Radio 2” or “Play Shirley Bassey” … and also she isn’t good with interpreting controls so anything beyond simple channel changes (like changing from broadcast to internet stream when the local transmitter fails) like “Switch to Internet” and have an IR blast the necessary codes to the TV for her … as well as the usual switching lights on and off.
I know… I want to go far… and other people have done it… and I know it’s going to be a fair ladder to climb… but I’m having difficulty finding that first rung. At least I’ve got HA running and simple timing … like the hall light coming on at dusk and will go off at dawn… it’s already a help.
Those things are easy to do if you have media players integrated with HA, but asking voice to do it may be a step too far. I guess you could create an automation to play Radio 2, that works by turning a an input boolean on, then use voice to turn the switch on. But if she is not good at controls and stuff, getting her to ask a question that will make this work may be difficult.
I have automatons setup to play radio, on my vintage radios with chromecast audios plugged into them, I can choose the player and the station, but do it all from a dashboard not via voice command.
I would be thinking of different ideas to do this. NFC reader with different cards for each thing, or a simple remote control may work.
I made a remote control like this one from Paul. It works well and saves me shouting randomly.
But creating a voice assistant that can do what you want is beyond my knowledge.
I find buttons, whether on a dashboard or remote far more reliable, and the worst thing is if you go to all that trouble and doesn’t work all the time every time it will soon become a paper weight.
Home Assistant is nowhere near this, nor is it going to be for a long time. Get an Alexa. If you want it to control smart home stuff with it, get a Home Assistant Cloud subscription.
