RF controlled switch/socket/bulb brands known to work for IOT

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › RF controlled switch/socket/bulb brands known to work for IOT

mdf

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#248074 9-Mar-2019 16:42

I'm having issues getting RF controls into any sort of home automation.

My ultimate goal is to add some smarts to a pretty dumb central heating and ventilation system. That is quite a lofty goal so I started by setting my sights lower and am currently trying to switch a Jaycar RF powerboard off and on. I have tried quite a few things now:

Broadlink RM Pro
Ebay superheterodyne RF module 433 Mhz receiver and transmitter kit with Raspberry Pi (rpi-rf python module)
Same kit with Arduino
OpenThings RF Toy

None of the above can even see any RF signals, much less decode them or transmit them. Initially I had put it down to various combinations of "not knowing what I'm doing (hardware)", "not knowing what I'm doing (software)", "not knowing what I'm doing (soldering)", "losing the ebay lottery" and "disruption of the natural laws of physics in a 1m bubble surrounding me".

It has finally dawned on me to wonder if the powerboard is the problem (see above re "not knowing what I'm doing"), though in my defence it does have "433.92 MHz" written on the remote.

Can anyone recommend a simple (ideally cheap) RF-controlled switch/socket/bulb/generic thing etc. that you know can successfully be controlled using some kind of RF IOT/home automation device. Local would be good (I'm in Wellington). I don't really care what it is, just something that should be able to be controlled/switched on/off with some of the kit I've already bought.

davidcole

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#2194599 9-Mar-2019 16:58

Why not ignore the rf part and turn the ventilation system off at its power source? Or do you need more than just on off?

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richms

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#2194610 9-Mar-2019 17:01

Sonoff make an RF unit and that can then be controlled thru the ewelink app and alexa once you learn the RF from old insecure clonable remotes. That may control the jaycar powerstrip.

If you pop the remote or the powerstrip open and see if there is a chip in it that may help with controlability. Some of the RF remote chips have options for different timing which you have to have the ardino sketches setup for, also not all of the 433mhz radios will decode all the protocols because of the filter in them for keeping the threshold being too fast for a slow bitrate remote and viceversa.

Richard rich.ms

mdf

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#2194633 9-Mar-2019 17:24

davidcole: Why not ignore the rf part and turn the ventilation system off at its power source? Or do you need more than just on off?

The ventilation system things is still a bit at the planning stage, but will probably be more complicated. Right now, it's set up with three zones with variable temperatures, fan speeds and modes. I figure if I can spoof the remote signals, I can save myself some grief later. But am open that I might need to try and hack into the zone dampers (which do have a separate, standard-looking cable (cat 4 I suspect). All the other stuff is horribly proprietary.

BTW:- I've been reading your blogs/posts about MQTT - super helpful for a separate project. If you're in Wellington and do consultancy work, I'd be happy to oursource the whole thing to you!

davidcole

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#2194636 9-Mar-2019 17:32

Yeah I did wonder. I control a radiator system with a zwave relay. But they’re pretty simple, essentially on/off.

Figured ventilation might go into standby modes.

Wonder if it’s got a similar protocol to heat pumps etc? Might be able to wire up a esp8266 to it. As per @ajobbins is doing.

As for the other bit, come along to the next one of these if you can: https://www.meetup.com/Wellington-Home-Automation-Hackers/

There’s a bunch of people from all different skill levels and interest.

mdf

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#2195027 10-Mar-2019 12:27

davidcole: <snip>

As for the other bit, come along to the next one of these if you can: https://www.meetup.com/Wellington-Home-Automation-Hackers/

There’s a bunch of people from all different skill levels and interest.

Cheers for that. I've signed up for the meetup and will keep a look out.