Mitsubishi Wi-Fi Control WPS workaround, and first impressions

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Paul1977

5058 posts

Uber Geek

#1810232 1-Jul-2017 19:12

UPDATE 2:
I had reported that there was no delay operating the heat pump over the local network.
This is true for most functions, but for some reason their is a delay when changing air flow direction settings. Quite strange, on/off, mode, fan speed all have no delay - but airflow direction does.

rogercruse

644 posts

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#1819192 10-Jul-2017 21:25

Sounddude:

@Talkiet

Should have a look at this https://www.tado.com/en/

Looks like it will do the trick

Just ordered the Tado Smart AC Control unit as it says it works with many of the other devices that I've already got - my heat-pumps (Daikin); my home automation (Smartthings); my weather station (Netatmo), etc. Plus everything can be controlled via my android phone.

phrozenpenguin

842 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1819222 10-Jul-2017 21:58

rogercruse:

Sounddude:

@Talkiet

Should have a look at this https://www.tado.com/en/

Looks like it will do the trick

Just ordered the Tado Smart AC Control unit as it says it works with many of the other devices that I've already got - my heat-pumps (Daikin); my home automation (Smartthings); my weather station (Netatmo), etc. Plus everything can be controlled via my android phone.

Please keep us posted - interested to hear how you get on.

Paul1977

5058 posts

Uber Geek

#1824288 18-Jul-2017 11:35

UPDATE 3:

After having had this for a few weeks now I am quite happy with it for the $195 price tag.

Not every setting is available in the app compared to the remote, but the ones that aren't are the sort of settings you would very seldom change once they have been initially set (i-See sensor mode etc).

What can be controlled on app: on/off, mode (auto, heat, dry, fan, cool), fan speed (manually set or auto), airflow direction (manually set or auto).

You can also set various rules such as a full 7 day timer, but also 'heat/cool room if drops below/above X degrees'. The temperature based rules can also be set to only run within certain time windows on certain days. I'm only using standard timers, as I don't know how accurate the thermostats on them are for the temperature based rules (my understanding is it uses the heat pumps own internal thermostat, I don't believe the wifi adapter has it's own).

The WPS work around during initial setup was only a minor inconvenience which was outweighed by how easy everything else was and the fact that it just works.

rogercruse

644 posts

Ultimate Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#1834561 31-Jul-2017 22:21

@phrozenpenguin:

rogercruse:

Sounddude:

@Talkiet

Should have a look at this https://www.tado.com/en/

Looks like it will do the trick

Just ordered the Tado Smart AC Control unit as it says it works with many of the other devices that I've already got - my heat-pumps (Daikin); my home automation (Smartthings); my weather station (Netatmo), etc. Plus everything can be controlled via my android phone.

Please keep us posted - interested to hear how you get on.

My Tado Smart AC Control unit arrrived the day before we disappeared for a week of winter sunshine (Samoa) and I decided to wait until we returned before opening the box.

After seven days of 30 degree heat, it was nice to return home to Auckland and see frost on the grass in the morning.

Anyway, enough of our holidays, back to the Tado setup...

Firstly, the setup process, asks you install the phone app and then to start the sync process by powering up the device and searching for a new wifi SSID that begins with TadoNNNN (where NNNN is the number). While the cable supplied has a standard USB head at one end and the micro-USB at the other, the supplied charger has an adapter for the UK and another for Europe but it has nothing for New Zealand in the box. So, I used a spare phone charger. The setup instructions ask you the connect to the TadoNNNN network and then provide your proper wifi settings. It then connects to your wifi and decided to download a fresh install setup.

The paperwork reckons that this fresh install may take up to an hour.... It felt much longer and I then double checked the install instructions in case I have skipped a step.

So, please don't ignore this message...

The device eventually asks you to choose your temperature option (F or C) and other questions about your existing AC unit - make; type of display, etc.

I did notice that the capture range (the distance from your AC wall unit) isn't a good as the existing control unit. So, I powered my Tado device using a battery pack as I could move it around the room to find the best position.

The next stage of the install process does take some time as it asks you to verify which signals it can duplicate and which it can't... my Daikin AC unit had up to 45 signals and each has to be checked to optimise the processing. Each of the 45 signals needs to be processed by the Tado unit... so this probably took about fifteen minutes - averaging three signals a minute.

The unit setup is now complete. But I decided to setup the scheduling process and this also takes time.

I now need to monitor how effective the Tado unit is in controlling the temperate using my Netatmo unit...

...Please ask any questions about the install process as I've possibly made it sound too easy / too complicated...

phrozenpenguin

842 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1849936 21-Aug-2017 17:43

Thanks for the update - sounds like the install process was a bit tedious!

kryptonjohn

2523 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1851692 24-Aug-2017 09:17

Wiggum:

Sounddude:

Talkiet:

But yeah, wifi control of home heating seems to be a total minefield of bad and proprietary solutions - at least in NZ, and none of the good options (like Nest) work with heatpumps here... (Or at least that's what the suppliers swear is true)

@Talkiet

Should have a look at this https://www.tado.com/en/

Looks like it will do the trick

I am experimenting currently with a raspberry pi openHAB install. Have not yet got it to work with my Mitsubishi heatpump, still trying. But when I do I think I will get rid of the wifi controller completely. Its still early days. Hopefully I figure it out soon.

How will your pi/HAB setup control the heat pump without the wifi controller? The only options are IR and wifi, right?

I have a Mitsi heat pump and can't control it with a Harmony Hub - the IR code sequences are too long and complicated for it to cope with.

Alternative is one of these: http://www.activeautomation.co.nz/z-wave-to-ac-ir-extender ... am thinking about it...

Cheers

JohnO

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

kryptonjohn

2523 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1851727 24-Aug-2017 09:46

Just ordered a Broadlink RM Mini 3 off Bangood for NZ$20 - will see if that can be made to work. Apparently now has Alexa skill compatibility, not sure yet about controlling it with Vera home automation hub...

[edit typo]

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