Rf integration

hope this is the correct category…

new to HA not new to embedded development…
Id like to ask what is the predominate way to integrate various RF remote controls into HA…
I have the random rf remote that controls various fan/light or such devices.
In the past Id use some sort of mcu and connect each button to a port configured as a N channel open drain, or put a buffer or optical isolator in between then build some sort of networking protocol between the device and the automation system…

But things have evolved, there must be a better way with an all inclusive RF bridge?

Please advice.

Broadlink RM3/4 or Sonoff RF bridge with Tasmota or ESPhome.

1 Like

And that will be able to emulate the commands of the remote i have already?

Broadlink RM3/4 or Sonoff RF bridge with Tasmota or ESPhome.

Sounds a bit loaded, any link to where i could learn about it?

Well, maybe!
A RF remote use a certain frequency and not all is that well supported.
433MHz is pretty well covered, 868/900MHz is harder and 2.4GHz is even hard yet.
You should be able to see the frequency on the device or through the FCC application number on it.

Also some remotes use rolling codes as a security feature, which means the code for a button press will change each time it is pressed. Both the sender and receiver have the same algorithm to calculate the next value for a button press, so in order to get those to work you need the algorithm and that requires an electronic wizard to extract.

Broadlink RM4 Pro: Universal Remote RM4 pro – Broadlink Global Store

Sonoff RF Bridge R2: SONOFF RFBridgeR2 - SONOFF Official
ESPHome for flashing the Sonoff RF Bridge: RF Bridge Component — ESPHome

Good info thanks.

Well it would be nice but im not in a place where there the FCC is a thing… though seeing how i have another cheap Asian device which is 433 and easily affected by the remote that i want to emulate, it leads me to believe its 433.

Seems i can get either of your recommendations bridge but the RM4 is 4x more expensive, is it worth it?

You might not be in US, but if it has a FCC tag, then you can still use it to look up the frequency.

no such luck so far…
So how about those bridges, either you like more for the money?

I personally use the Sonoff ones.
They are pretty cheap and easy to flash with a custom firmware.

1 Like