# Easiest control method for custom device?

**URL:** <https://community.homey.app/t/easiest-control-method-for-custom-device/26634>\
**Category:** Questions & Help\
**Created:** [March 2, 2020, 6:26am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/easiest-control-method-for-custom-device/26634 "2020-03-02T06:26:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![LiamMadyam](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/liammadyam/32/16570_2.png) [@LiamMadyam](https://community.homey.app/u/LiamMadyam)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 6:26am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/easiest-control-method-for-custom-device/26634/1 "2020-03-02T06:26:05Z")

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I want to make a set of dial zone heating pad controllers “smart”. I’m thinking esp8266. They are already more advanced than the normal controllers, so just leaving them “on” and using a wifi plug won’t work. What’s the easiest, [reverse phone lookup](https://reversephonelookup.onl/) least equipment way to control them? Don’t want to do smart things, or openhab/home assistant type setup. Don’t need control [nba reddit](https://curated.onl/nba-reddit/) outside the local wifi. Would like to be able to ask Google Assistant to at least turn it on. Least I’m thinking is maybe it hosts it’s own webserver with a simple interface. Maybe an API that I can integrate with something? Looking for options. Thanks

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**Author:** ![p2baron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/p2baron/32/7948_2.png) [@p2baron](https://community.homey.app/u/p2baron)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 9:36am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/easiest-control-method-for-custom-device/26634/2 "2020-03-02T09:36:32Z")

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In my opinion MQTT is an easy and flexible way to do that.  
I’ve just finished making my [intercom smart](https://github.com/p2baron/IOT-Intercom).

My project uses [Homie-esp8266](https://github.com/homieiot/homie-esp8266) to take care of all the fundamental stuff like managing connections,the configuration portal and MQTT communications.

Voice control can be done by creating a virtual device in Homey (switch) exposing that to Google Assitant.

Other libraries that can the same are WifiManager, ESP8266-IOT, iotWebConfig etc, etc