Thanks. I found the Redeye RE0002 for $35 used on Amazon and ebay so I think I'll pick one up. How did you discover the HTTP commands for controlling the Redeye? Could you share one of your scripts?
Thanks for suggesting the homebridge-cmd plugin. I wrote a node.js script that sends an http post to my stereo and now I can tell Siri to "turn on stereo TV input" or "turn on stereo game input". I also like the homebridge-ssh plugin because you can run unix commands just like homebridge-cmd but it also has an option for what command to run to interrogate the on/off status of an appliance so you can ask siri "is my thing on?" and she will give you the correct answer even if the appliance was manually powered on/off without homebridge.
[doublepost=1458738613][/doublepost]I just moved to a new house so I went all-in on HomeKit appliances. I got most of this stuff for cheap on ebay/Amazon used/open box.
Here are some Siri commands I use
"
open the garage door"
"
is the front door locked?" (siri replies yes/no)
"
turn off upstairs lights" lights are organized by room, rooms in zones
"
turn on the tv"
"turn on stereo game input" (switches HDMI inputs)
"
turn on the coffee maker" (iDevice switch with cheap coffee maker that has a hard power switch)
"
is the coffee maker on?"
"
turn on the teapot" (iDevice switch)
"
list nursery temperature" (ecobee sensor)
"
increase thermostat temperature"
"
turn off main floor" - every appliance (TV/stereo/coffee maker/etc) and light turns off in my kitchen, family room and living room because those rooms are part of my "main floor" HomeKit zone
"
good night girl" - After I read my kid bedtime stories, this HomeKit scene turns off her light bulb and turns on her white noise machine (iDevice Switch), so I don't have to disturb her by getting up then sitting back down again to sing her the goodnight song. The white noise machine has a hard power switch to ensure it is always turns on.
Devices
Philips Hue HomeKit Hub
3 colored bulbs
4 white bulbs
2 light strip+
Ecobee3 thermostat
with 4 room sensors
2
Schlage Sense deadbolts
4
iDevice Switches
coffee maker
tea pot
2 white noise machines
Apple TV 3 for Remote Access.
I have a
Raspberry Pi running homebridge which allows Siri to interace with non-HomeKit devices.
TV power controlled with homebridge-ssh HDMI-CEC commands
Marantz receiver already has an HTTP interface, controlled with homebridge-cmd + node script
Garage door + Chamberlain Internet Gateway contrrolled with homebridge-liftmaster
Thoughts
My favorite HomeKit device is the iDevice Switch because it is only $40, and it can convert any dumb appliance into a smart appliance, has a power usage meter, and a night light that can be any hue/saturation/brightness.
My colored lights automatically turn bright white in the morning, and orange in the evenings. The coffee maker is scheduled to turn on weekday mornings, but on weekends I ask Siri to turn it on whenever I wake up.
Ecobee occupancy sensors can be used as triggers, such as turning off the lights when the room is unoccupied, but the response is too slow (3 minutes) for turning on lights. The Ecobee app can add your indoor temperature to your Apple Watch watchface. A geofence trigger sets my Ecobee to "home" mode when my iPhone arrives home.
If you ask Siri to unlock a door or open the garage door, she asks you to unlock your iPhone first.
Siri on the Apple Watch will unlock/open doors without having to unlock phone which is faster. But otherwise Apple Watch commands are much slower (5 - 10) seconds delayed, while the iPhone responds instantly. But I still highly recommend an Apple Watch for HomeKit control for hands-free/eyes-free control. Hopefully the Apple Watch 2 is faster.
Siri commands also work from my
car's steering wheel button, but if you ask her to open your garage door and your phone is not unlocked maybe for running Google Maps, she will ask you to unlock your phone, so I just ask my Apple Watch to open my garage door instead.
HomeKit service groups should just be called "groups". My kitchen and family are basically one big room. Instead of saying "
set the kitchen lights to 50%", waiting, then saying "
set the family room lights to 50%" I have added my family room and kitchen lights to a HomeKit Service Group called "living space". Now I can say "
set the living space lights to 50%" or "
set the living space lights to direct sunlight" (brightest color).
I can't set a geofence to turn everything off when I leave home because I live with my wife who might be still in the home. So stay single if you want to maximize HomeKit.
I use iDevices (free), Elgate Eve (free) and myHome ($9, supports
iBeacon proximity triggers). I have not decided which app I like the best, they are all good.
In case you weren't already aware, you can create any ridiculous-sounding Siri command you want with HomeKit scene names. "tea earl gray hot" can turn on an iDevice Switch which turns on a teapot, and turns on the kitchen lights.
I have an iBeacon and I tried to setup a trigger in the myHome app to automatically turn on my lights when I enter the room but I have not gotten it to work yet. If anybody else has iBeacon triggers working please share how you did this.
Unfortunately
bluetooth low energy devices, like my Schlage Sense deadbolts,
can not be used as triggers, like turning on my lights when I unlock the door.
Here are the dumb appliances that have hard power switches so they always turn on.
Mr. Coffee SK13
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YI2IG0
HoMedics SS-2000G/F-AMZ White Noise Machine (tape down the button for the mode you prefer)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A2JBMRE
Hamilton Beach Electric Kettle 40894
http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-Stainless-Electric-40894/dp/B002R9KPYI
