This is the support page for my new IR Remote app.
Concept
The idea is quite simple: Create IR remotes in homey to automate and control the devices that are normally controlled via IR remotes. You can either use ProntoHex Codes or learn the individual buttons with an ESPHome IR Transceiver.
Pitfalls
Homey and the bridge have only an IR Blaster. Which means: They can only send IR commands. None of both have an IR Receiver. Which means you can not use them to learn new IR codes. The only way is ProntoHex.
I will later edit this post to add instructions for an ESPHome based IR Transceiver which will fill this gap.
It does have an IR receiver. You can find it in Developer Tools in the RF menu (not the IR menu). You can record raw timings for IR there
Not on my Homey 2023
I’m interested in the app if I can deploy a more powerful blaster than the one in my Switchbot hub which is hit and miss and insists on leaving at least 5 seconds between blasts.
Andy
Strange. They have removed it in the Pro 2023 then, since I use a Homey Pro 2019 and it does show up there. I’ve used it to develop my 2 IR apps as well
maybe the 2019 version had an IR receiver while in the later revisions it was removed to save costs?
That’s exactly my usecase since I also have a switchbot hub.
It’s hasn’t (ever) been available for Pro 202x models.
The 2016-2019 models indeed do have an IR receiver.
Might be. Instead they added a IR signal database at last, and much later the possibility to use pronto hex codes.
The signal recorder never was usable for users anyway. Only if you were able to write an app and add these signals to it.
I bought a Broadlink RM mini3 as soon as I discovered this, imho, false advertisement about Homey 2016-2019 feature to learn IR signals.
I am making progress it seems! I found a way to dynamically send IR codes via Homey Pro or Bridge (select per device) and it seems to work already. I am currently creating a IR Transceiver code for ESPHome so that I can use that for learning codes in a practical way. Looks like this is going to be a first test version very soon.
First version to test.
Setup
If you want to use ProntoHex codes you can skip to the usage part.
If you want to use the learning feature you have to setup a mqtt server.
Personally I use this app:
If you have set up a mqtt server already you can go to the settings of the app and enter the login details to connect to mqtt there. As homey pro after 2023 does not have an IR-Receiver for learning the codes you need a little hack job to get around that. This is where the little ESP8285 Board comes in handy. You flash the firmware I provided below and you are good to go.
Usage
- Add a new device and select the Universal Remote app.
- Follow the steps to create a new Remote device.
- If you want to use the remote on a Homey Bridge go to the advanced settings of the new remote and select unter Antenna the device from where IR should be sent.
- Use the Repair flow on remote device to create buttons.
- Each button gets its own pronto hex code.
- To learn a new button you need to set up an compatible board with an IR receiver.
IR Receiver diy
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ftedv-de/de.ftedv.irremote/refs/heads/main/esp8285_firmware/homey-ir-blaster-firmware.yaml
This is the hardware: ESP8285 ESP-01M IR transceiver Wifi wireless module | WiFi remote control switch, digital infrared transceiver sensor, development learning board : Amazon.de: Business, Industry & Science
Added a new version. Updated IR Code learning and improved multi sequence codes.
New Update: Sending IR Commands via ESPHome IR Blaster. Advanced Settings in Remote were updated so that you can select the ESPHome IR Blaster as send target. Please do not forget to configure the MQTT topic for sending. Firmware for ESPHome device was also updated so make sure to stay in sync.
