Somfy RTS blinds via Alexa

Setup, Configuration and Use Items & Sitemaps
1

Raspberry Pi 3, Openhab2 with RFXTRX

Hi folks

Feel stupid for asking this, but I’ve already gotten 2 separate blinds to work via the RFXCOM device, I can see them in the Control node of the PaperUI and both blinds accept and execute the various commands.

All I’m really after now is to be able to say, “Alexa, Blind 1 down” and the corresponding blind goes down all the way(and vice-versa). I believe I need to add something in my .items file for this to happen.

It’s this part I’m tripping up on. I should point out I’ve already gotten other zwave and Hue lights working fine via openhab and Alexa. Anyone have any ideas?

Thank you

2

You need to add a tag to the item. But Alexa doesn’t recognise blinds… Yet
So use a Dimmer item instead of a roller shutter and tread the blind light a dimmer light.
You will need to say: Blind1 OFF or Blind1 to 0…

3

Sorry to bring this back up but i cannot seem to get this to work with Alexa

I’m guessing it’s just an error in my items file. Here’s an explanation;

When i send the “Up” or “Down” command via the Control Node in PaperUI, the below is logged;

Item 'rfxcom_rfy_988dddc6_shutter' received command UP

Item 'rfxcom_rfy_988dddc6_shutter' received command DOWN

The physical blind responds as it should, it goes up or down depending on the command sent.

I then tried to create a Dimmer entry in my items file to mimic the above

Dimmer Blind1 "Blind 1" ["Lighting"] {channel="rfxcom:rfy:988dddc6:shutter:control"}

If i then save this and add it in my Alexa app, it comes in just fine, as a light switch, which i would expect it to do. If i now say “Alexa, turn Blind 1 on” (or off), the command does indeed come through and is logged;

2018-10-19 16:08:25.979 [vent.ItemStateChangedEvent] - Blind1 changed from NULL to 0

2018-10-19 16:08:30.149 [ome.event.ItemCommandEvent] - Item 'Blind1' received command ON

2018-10-19 16:08:30.164 [vent.ItemStateChangedEvent] - Blind1 changed from 0 to 100

2018-10-19 16:08:36.555 [ome.event.ItemCommandEvent] - Item 'Blind1' received command 100

But nothing actually happens, the blind does not respond. Any ideas please?

Thank you

4

Finally got this to work. The items are fine. Just had to create a rule as shown below. Now, Openhabian “translates” my spoken command to Alexa to sending an up/down command to the Somfy blinds (only Down rule included for brevity)

rule "Down Stairs Voice Control"
when
    Item Down_Stairs_Blind received command
then
    logInfo("Down_Stairs_Blind", "Downstairs Blind Voice Control")
    if (receivedCommand == ON)
    {
      sendCommand(rfxcom_rfy_988dddc6_shutter, UP)
logInfo("Down_Stairs_Blind", "Downstairs Blind going up")
    }
    else
    {
      sendCommand(rfxcom_rfy_988dddc6_shutter, DOWN)
logInfo("Down_Stairs_Blind", "Downstairs Blind going down")
    }
end