Apple homekit integration!

Hi All,

Quick question, if I setup home bridge, do you have to have the app open to get Siri to do commands? I like my Wiser 2 app, but like the idea of just asking Siri to do certain commands from my home screen on my IPhone.

Regards Matt

 

No Matt, works without app open.

 

IOS11 and TVOS 11 update issues

Hi all,
I have had homebridge-Cbus and cgate running on a Mac mini for several months without a hiccup. Last night Apple update all my Apple TVs and iOS 11 was release.
Since these updates, homekit is unable to see homebridge as an accessory.
I have restarted the homebridge and the cgate, which are both working with out a problem. I have deleted the homekit set up on the iOS device, but can not see it anymore. has anyone else experienced this?

 

I just updated my iPhone SE and iPad Pro 9.7 to iOS11.
Homebridge still works phew.

If you deleted the Home in the phone app you will have to delete Homebridge persist files before you will see the bridge again.

On my raspberry pi
/var/lib/homebridge/persist
Delete the contents of this folder and reboot.
Actually I usually just delete the sub folder contents.

I did not have any problem so far and Homebridge is still working after the update.

Only if that doesn't fix it.
Homekit relies on access to your iCloud account for the Home Hub stuff.
I've somehow messed that up before and got iPhone and iPad Home out of sync.
Had to disable and re enable iCloud on my devices.

 

Updating Appletv and iphone7 - I'll give the bleeding edge a try this morning; will report back...

** UPDATE ** - updated Appletv and all is good so far, now the iphone
** UPDATE ** - updated iphone; could not see old setup. Deleted it, detected it again and re-added to home. I have one dimmer device saying its not supported??. Rebooted the Pi. Everything works but the dimmer device (ensuite lights) is still saying its now unsupported. Cant be bothered deleting lines in config.json and redoing the persist file just for the ensuite lights so I'll wait until I break something else!!

 

A quick update. As per this post https://github.com/nfarina/homebridge
And as identified by Daryl, deleting the persist directory resolved my issue. All is working perfectly again with IOS 11 and TvOS 11 updates.

I did have to recreate the rooms in the home kit app, but I think this is my fault, as I deleted the setup on my iOS, before I deleted the persist folder.

On another note, I noticed some older post of someone trying to run cgate on a mac. I believe they were trying through a virtual machine. I highly recommend running cgate natively on the mac, as it is java. Works perfectly from the command line. I have an "all Mac" environment, no raspberry etc, and I have had it all running with siri for 5 or 6 months now with no problem. Let me know if anyone needs help with the mac setup, its pretty easy.

Now if only Clipsal would make the Wiser 2 (which I use as the CNI) a homekit bridge. This integration makes Cbus so much better.

 

Did the folks with Apple TV check all the devices were signed into iCloud after the update?
Home enabled in iCloud settings both devices?
Also "use this --- as a Home Hub" ?
I don't have one to test.

 

Accessories limit

Running ios 11 and using ipad as home hub working ok with 150 accessories will try and run 250 but read somewhere about HomeKit limit of 100
Regards
Twistz

 

Interesting.
I think I read 100 per bridge.

 

Accessories limit

Just read a post on a work around for 100 limit they created another bridge and ran it as a second service in a different dir using a separate config.json
https://github.com/nfarina/homebridge/issues/1246
Regards
Twistz

 

DarylMc.... Yes, my apple TV and all my iOS devices are logged into iCloud so my apple TV is the hub.

In iOS 11, you can now share the home kit setup with other iOS users and set Automations such as the one I use which is: " Turn on my Arrive Home Scene when I drive up my street but only if it is after dark and my kids are not at home." Very cool.

 

Hi roguetrader
Nice automation.
It's all working with Apple TV now right?

I just mentioned login because a few people had problems right after the update and ended up deleting the Home.

This is just my observation but I reckon if anyone can hold off on the update it won't hurt.
My iPhone has given a lot more grief than usual and the thing I really wanted which was speed limits in Apple maps is not working for me in Brisbane.

As far as iPad as a Home hub and iPhone SE goes I had no problems to move to iOS11 except a reboot on the pi.

 

Hi Twistz and roguetrader
I reckon Homebridge is fantastic for voice control.
Not sure there is any other Siri option just yet.

For advanced scenes, custom mobile interfaces and automation I would take a look at the new Wiser Automation controller.
I'd say it is not proven yet but I think it is highly likely to be a more reliable way to go about things.

 

A little bit of news for those who are also mac centric. Apple have now updated the MacOS to High Sierra today. In their wisdom, they have not included TELNET in the OS.
My prior reboot of my Mac mini, which is running as a server, did a few things as a script (or in the command window) to get this running.
- Run cgate as a java app
- telnet into cgate and load the appropriate project
- run homebridge

My question:
Now that Apple do not support TELNET, does anyone know if i can SSH into cgate, and if so, what is the command/port?

 

I think you can download putty for mac.
Telnet port for CGate is 20023

 

On my raspberry pi CGate runs as a service.
Loads the project at boot and opens the network from settings in /usr/local/bin/cgate/config/C-GateConfig.txt
project.default and project.start

Homebridge runs as a service from reboot too.

You can do that on mac mini too I am sure.

Re telnet on mac.
Maybe it is just disabled by default like on new versions of windows? (edit maybe not)

 

I can now control the java version of cgate from a mac command line without telnet. All working again. This new OS has simplified my automation. Happy again.

Reading some threads on the new Mac OS, telnet has definitely been removed for security reasons (Telnet is obviously old and has no encryption/security). Perhaps Cgate will get an update too.
Thanks for your help Daryl. I really like this Homebridge cgate plugin. Much more robust than I would have anticipated.

 

I had a play with Philips Hue lamps and Homekit app last night.
You can add the Hue bridge as well as Homebridge bridge into the app.
That gets all your Hue lamps on the phone interface alongside your Homebridge devices.

I selected a CBus group address and grouped it in the app, group name Hue to four Hue lamps.
5 items.
In the app Automation section I created 2 new automations.
One when Hue (group) turns on to turn on Hue all lamps to 100%
Another when Hue turns off to turn off all.
So the CBus group address is one of the 5 items in that group.

I set a CBus key input to on/off for that CBus group address and now I have on off control of the Hue lamps from the key switch.

Because one of the group is not a colour lamp Home interface doesn't offer a colour setting on the interface.
Hue app can still do it and Siri voice control works for a range of colours.
Dimming works via Home interface and also voice.

At the moment I just have the Hue's plugged into power.
That's probably pretty good for a bedside lamp and you can set a CBus key input to control it if you like.

Ideally I think they should go on a relay channel.
Definitely don't use a dimmer channel.
Maybe I will try setting up a long press to toggle the relay channel as this could be a handy thing to reset the lamp colour or turn the lights on and off without relying on other gadgets.

Hey don't go out and buy some Hues just on my say so.
I haven't used it long enough to find any faults but if anyone who has some wants to give it a go and discuss would be great.

 

Hue lights

Hi DarylMc i give it a go when I get my new apple tv delivery be good to control hue bed lamps via cbus as well have a couple dlts next to my bed
Regards
Twistz

 

Homebridge

Also connected sonos and my denon amp to homebridge working ok going to try setting up multiple bridges with different application address on raspberry pi mainly for my brothers home he has 250 accessories window,blinds,lights,electric doors,Sonos etc
Regards
Twistz