From 0 to IR remote using ESP-360-REMOTE

Pre-requisites

• A working instance of Home assistant
• A computer (Linux) with docker installed

Run the ESP-home container

• Run the following command in a terminal to launch ESPHome:

sudo docker run -ti \
    --rm \
    --volume config:/config \
    --volume /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro \
    --privileged \
    --network "host" \
    --env "USERNAME=test" \
    --env "PASSWORD=test" \
    ghcr.io/esphome/esphome:2024.12.2

Start esphome for initial configuration

• Connect ESP-360-Remote on your computer via USB

• Connect to http://127.0.0.1:6052, using a Chrome-based browser (required for the device to be recognized)

• If you want to start from 0, e.g you must reinit the encryption key:

  • Delete the current device
  • Then click add new device and select the port on which the device is connected on your computer
  • The device will be reinstalled. It might take a few moments.

• Click on edit and copy the esphome.api.encryption.key value.

• Paste the following content inside the configuration file currently being edited:

esphome:
  name: esp360-default-1
  friendly_name: ESP360-default-1

esp32:
  board: esp32dev
  framework:
    type: arduino

# Enable logging
logger:

api:
  encryption:
    key: "*** TO REPLACE ***"
  actions:
    - action: send_ir_raw
      variables:
        command: int[]
      then:
        - remote_transmitter.transmit_raw:
            transmitter_id: IR_TX
            code: !lambda 'return command;'
    - action: send_rf_raw
      variables:
        protocol_number: int
        raw_data: string
      then:
        - remote_transmitter.transmit_rc_switch_raw:
            transmitter_id: RF_TX
            protocol: !lambda 'return  esphome::remote_base::RC_SWITCH_PROTOCOLS[protocol_number];'
            code: !lambda 'return raw_data;'

ota:
  platform: esphome
  password: ""

wifi:
  ssid: "*** TO REPLACE ***"
  password: "*** TO REPLACE ***"

  #HotSpot when it can't connect to WiFi
  ap:
    ssid: "Esp360Remote"
    password: "Esp360Remote"

captive_portal:

#i2c bus definition
i2c:
  sda: 21
  scl: 22
  scan: true
  id: bus_a

# Offsets have been added to the measurements taken.
# These are necessary due to the heat generated by the PCB, the second layer of the board, and the case.
# This way, sufficiently accurate values are obtained for automations
sensor:
  - platform: shtcx
    temperature:
      name: "Temperature"
      filters:
        - median:
            window_size: 5
            send_every: 1
        - offset: -3.7
    humidity:
      name: "Humidity"
      filters:
        - median:
            window_size: 5
            send_every: 1
        - offset: +19.1
    address: 0x70
    update_interval: 300s
  - platform: bh1750
    name: "BH1750 Illuminance"
    filters:
      - multiply: 5
    address: 0x23
    update_interval: 1s

#Setting up IR and RF receivers
remote_receiver:
  - id: RF_RX
    pin:
      number: GPIO5
      inverted: True
    dump:
      - rc_switch
    tolerance: 35%
    filter: 200us
    idle: 4ms
    buffer_size: 10kb
    on_rc_switch:
      - homeassistant.event:
          event: esphome.rf_code_received
          data:
            protocol: !lambda 'return x.protocol;'
            code: !lambda 'return x.code;'
  - id: IR_RX
    pin:
      number: GPIO19
      inverted: True
    dump: all
    on_raw:
       - homeassistant.event:
          event: esphome.ir_raw_code_received
          data:
            code: !lambda '
            reverse(x.begin(), x.end());
            std::string str = "";
            for (auto it = x.begin(); it != x.end(); ++it)
            {
              str += to_string(*it);
              str += ",";
              if (it != x.end() - 1) str += " ";
            }
            if (str.size() > 0)  str.erase( str.end() - 2);
            return esphome::to_string("[" + str + "]");'
    on_pronto:
       - homeassistant.event:
          event: esphome.ir_pronto_code_received
          data:
            code: !lambda 'return x.data;'
    on_lg:
       - homeassistant.event:
          event: esphome.ir_lg_code_received
          data:
            data: !lambda 'return x.data;'
            nbits: !lambda 'return x.nbits;'
    on_panasonic:
       - homeassistant.event:
           event: esphome.ir_panasonic_code_received
           data:
            address: !lambda 'return x.address;'
            command: !lambda 'return x.command;'

#Setting up IR and RF transmitters
remote_transmitter:
  - id: RF_TX
    pin: GPIO18
    carrier_duty_percent: 100%
  - id: IR_TX
    pin: GPIO13
    carrier_duty_percent: 50%


web_server:
  port: 80

# Status LED
switch:
  - platform: gpio
    pin: 12
    name: "Status Led"
    restore_mode: ALWAYS_ON

• Edit the following fields:
  • Set the esphome.api.encryption.key value to the one you copied
  • Set the wifi.ssid and wifi.password values to the ones of your wifi network
• Then click the install button
• Then "Plug into this computer" to set up the already plugged device
• The installation will take a few moments.

Connect the device to Home-Assistant

• Find the device IP on your network (via your router)

• Connect to it by typing its IP address in a browser

• You should be greeted with the ESP home page

• In Home-Assistant -> Settings -> Devices & Services, add the ESP-Home integration:

  • Set the device IP on your network, leave the default port (6053), and submit
  • Then set the key to the esphome.api.encryption.key value you previously copied
  • And you should be set

Adding new IR devices

• Connect to your device by typing its IP address in a browser
• You should get a log window on the right
• Point the remote you want to emulate towards ESP-360-REMOTE
• Click the button you want to emulate and quickly check the logs
• You should see entries such as:

...
Received NEC: address=0x7F80, command=0xFA05 command_repeats=1
...
Received Samsung: data=0xE0E040BF, nbits=32
...

• To emulate these actions, you will need to add actions corresponding to the device in the api.actions section of the previously edited yaml file, e.g. for the previous actions:

api:
  # ...
  actions:
    # ...
    - action: send_hdmi_switch_1
      then:
        - remote_transmitter.transmit_nec:
            transmitter_id: IR_TX
            address: 0x7F80
            command: 0xFA05

    # ...

    - action: send_tv_power
      then:
        - remote_transmitter.transmit_samsung:
            transmitter_id: IR_TX
            data: 0xE0E040BF

    # ...

• Then click the install button
• Then "Plug into this computer" to set up the already plugged device
• The installation will take a few moments, and the device will be ready to use the new commands in Home-Assistant

Add a button card in Home Assistant

In Home-Assistant:

• Add button card
• Clear out entity if filled
• Set name field
• In 'Tap behavior', select 'Perform action'
• In 'Action', search and select the action you added (should start with esphome)