I have a Virgin TV 360 mini box that's connected to my bedroom TV. As I've got a bed with a TV lift in the base, and used a smart implant to add that to Hubitat a few years ago, I'm going to do a rule to raise the TV at a particular time in the morning if a virtual switch has been turned on. That bit is easy and the TV powers on automatically when raised. The problem is that the stupid eco save the planet bollocks on the Virgin TV box means that it cannot be left on - standby time is a maximum of 24 hours. This TV box is not used that much so there's a good chance the TV will raise with 'no input signal' displayed. I'll then have to roll onto my side, stretch nearly 2 feet to pick up the remote - not ideal! Joking aside, I wear ear plugs to sleep so unless the TV comes on I'll be pushing out the zzz's until lunch time (more likely my wife will slap me awake)
It's a long shot but wondering if anyone is aware of a way of turning the box on from standby, by some network command or other means. The 'Virgin TV Go' app connects to the box and can turn it on. I can't use CEC/HDMI Control as the boxes HDMI output goes through a splitter. I could do it with a Harmony Hub but don't want to mess around getting a second Hub for that.
I think the obvious solution is an IR blaster. There is a community driver for Broadlink that is all local wifi. I have two RM4 Minis on Hubitat. Same for Bond devices, and there is even a community driver for the Zigbee IR devices.
Unless your Box uses RF instead of IR, in which case you could get a Broadlink RM Pro, that also learns and repeats RF signals.
You just learn the codes, and then you send the Hubitat device a command to send a code, which you just give a name.
Double up on your virtual switch rule, and raise the TV and also send the command needed at the same time (or with a delay, if you have to wait for the TV to raise first).
I assume the hub you have is not located where you can use it for this. I used a Harmony hub for awhile to turn a AC unit in my shop on and off. So there is a integration for the harmony hub. I don't think adding it in to HE would effect anything else you might use it for.
I have since switched to a Broadlink. It works great and is all local.
I've seen Broadlink mentioned numerous times on the forum but didn't realise that it could work tHe way you mention (issuing a command from Hubitat to instruct the IR emitter to send a signal). The Zigbee IR sounds interesting, do you have a name or model?
.
Correct, I have a hub in my living room that is used to control my main TV, Apple TV 4K, Denon AV Receiver and the main Virgin Media set top box. I'm using the Harmony driver to power everything down when I leave home or hit the goodnight button. This other box I'm trying to control is in an upstairs cupboard .
Thank you both for responding. I'll research the IR option and see where it leads...
It looks like I can get a Broadlink RM4 mini for under £20 in the UK so that's possibly the best option.
I'll only need to get the IR commands for on/off to work but that could be a pain as the original remote only uses a power on/off toggle. Without a dedicated IR code known for 'on' there could be a situation where things get out of sync (the set top box is already on and my rule unwittingly turns it off)
That is what I do with IR controlled devices. I make a virtual switch for the device, which when flipped on or off sends the ir command for on or off, and then I check the power meter to be sure it turned on or off. If someone turns the device on or off directly, I sense it with the power meter change, and I flip the virtual switch to match the state based on power used.
Yes, you set them up with the Broadlink Phone cloud app to connect them to your wifi. Then there is a setting you must change in the phone app setting that unlocks it for local wifi control. Then install the community Broadlink integration, using the IP that the phone app shows was assigned to the device. Makes them totally local devices.
I've never used Bond, but I know it is similar.
I have one battery powered Zigbee IR, and one plug in. I got them from Ali Express.
I see prices have gone up since I ordered them before the tariffs (Ali Express puts them in the price now)
Thanks again. I got the first part of my TV Bed Wake Up working so just need to get a Broadlink ordered and possibly a power monitoring outlet.
I've set up the following rule and it works great. Tapping the variable connector on one of my HD+ dashboard brings up the time selection wheels and I set the wake up time. At 1 AM my rule is triggered only if the variable time is not midnight. The rule waits until the variable time and lifts the bed TV, then importantly sets variable time back to midnight, ensuring that the rule will only trigger if I set a wake up time on the dashboard before going to bed each night.
