Looking for a MQTT to IR device

Ive ordered an RM Mini, that seemed the easiest solution. I wasn’t too keen on soldering wires and having breadboard like devices in my home automation system.

@dastrix80 It would be worth testing your TV’s USB outputs. From experience I know that in order to save power on standby the USB ports on many TVs shut down after some time. It is probably not something that is explained in the TV’s user manual.
If you want the TV’s USB to power the IR emitter, the USB must be capable of permanent power even in standby. There could be an energy saving mode that could be turned off in the settings menu.
Another option which should be quite easy to integrate with openHAB are the iTach and Flex modules from Global Cache - they are very small and available with PoE which can be useful and saves space behind the TV.
I have been shot down on these forums for proposing valid products that to some may seem too expensive, too professional and not “hacky” enough for openHABers. The Global Cache will work though.

Most TV remotes start with 3V and it goes downhill from there!

Thanks @Stephen_IE_NZ do you know the Flex cost roughly? Ive bought the RM mini already though

Ill check my USB ports tonight :slight_smile: good idea!

Hi Kris,

I don’t have a price to hand - it would depend where in the world you are I expect.

Cheers, Stephen

No worries. Ill try the RM Mini first and see how that goes :slight_smile: Thanks for the suggestion

I’ve used a wemos D1 mini with a trimmed down prototype board with resistors and IR send and receive LEDs. Wemos D1 mini is microusb.

I think at the time I was using openmqttgateway but when I try again I’ll use tasmota. My concern was more having a finished product and not some diy looking thing.

Let us know how the broadlink mini goes, it was on my list to try aswell

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RM is great!

i have it runing for almost two years i think… and no issues , this is also somthing to take in account
not sure if i have solderd IR to some node MCU it will work like this

also remmber RM will be stornger , has the design includes a number of leds to transmit

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Good to know @Gad_Ofir .

Do you run a special firmware on it?

i run cato RM binding on it do a serach you will find a big post reg it

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Rm mini received. Got it up and working in 1hr and already its controlling my gas heater nicely. Just waiting for my fibaro motion sensor to turn up so I can begin some rule based automation based on temp.

The Cato binding and the android http bridge app works well.

I now need to try and recess this in my ceiling and power it permanently so it’s practically invisible.

Great unit.

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glad you find it useful , its half of my house :slight_smile:

TVs, AC,AVR,CABLE box , some LEDs, we all need IR device and RM really good option

i have now boouget sonoff POWs and connceted the TVs so now OH knows when the TV/AC is on or off
even if turn it on from the remote

another idea i am using , you can buy IR reapeter and use on RM at one place and send to devices not in the room

Does anyone know why this occurs? At the bottom of the site map you see Test Area

You can see the item name then what button you press in the mapping. Is this because in the items file the RM mini is a String? Should it be a switch?

What the item definition int he sitemap?

As below Vincent


String Heater "Heater" { channel="broadlink:rm3:78-0f-77-18-43-03:command" }
String Aircon "Aircon" { channel="broadlink:rm3:78-0f-77-18-43-03:command" }
String TV     "TV"     { channel="broadlink:rm3:78-0f-77-18-43-03:command" }
kris@OpenHAB:/etc/openhab2/items$

No in the sitemap, please

Frame label="Test Area" {
        Switch item=Heater label="Heater" mappings=[HeaterOn="ON", HeaterOff="OFF", HeaterUp="+", HeaterDown="-"] icon="climate"
        Switch item=Aircon label="Air Con" mappings=[AirconOn="ON/OFF", TempUp="+", TempDown="-", FanUp="Fan Up", FanDown="Fan Down"] icon="climate"
        Switch item=TV label="TV" mappings=[TVOnOff="ON/OFF", TVInput="Input", TVNetflix="Netflix", TVYoutube="Youtube", TVChannelUp="CH +", TVChannelDow                                                                    n="CH -", TVVolumeUp="Vol +", TVVolumeDown="Vol -", TVMute="Mute", TVUp="UP", TVDown="Down", TVLeft="Left", TVRight="Right", TVOK="OK", TVExit="Exit"] icon="cinemascreen"                                                                 
}
}

Try

label="Heater []"
label="Air Con []"
label="TV mappings []"

Looks like that fixed it! Whats that about :slight_smile:

The item is a string so will display the state by default
If you format it to [] ie. not format then nothing will be displayed

I only found out about that trick yesterday AFTER you posted and I though that would apply to you

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