for Alexa HA-bridge or controlicz

[modular]

Hi,

i started playing around with Alexa. I was wondering why should someone choose Controlicz or HA-bridge?

for example: I saw you need to put all your devices in a plan for controlicz, but seems that this is not needed for HA-bridge?

[sach]

As far as im aware, ha-bridge only emulates Hue so it can control lights but not thermostats etc.
I used Ha-bridge very early on before they added Domoticz integration and founs adding devices manually a bit of a pain. I still have it running so i can use my harmony remote to control certain lights but i mostly use controlicz now and it works great.

[modular]

As far as im aware, ha-bridge only emulates Hue so it can control lights but not thermostats etc.
I used Ha-bridge very early on before they added Domoticz integration and founs adding devices manually a bit of a pain. I still have it running so i can use my harmony remote to control certain lights but i mostly use controlicz now and it works great.

ah okay i gess i misunderstood the workings of HA-bridge then.

[Luigi87]

I use now Also HA bridge. Due to the reason that Controllicz needs access from outside your network, and opening a port in your modem is a bit of a security risk.
So HA bridge stays inside your WIFI network, so this a bit safer.

Disadvantage of HA bridge is that Alexa doesn’t reach the Lights sometimes. She says xxx is not responding. So the communication between Alexa and HA bridge is not 100%, but 80% of the time it's oke.

[waaren]

I also use HA Bridge and my succes rate is over 98% (The remaining 2% probably because I am not a native English speaker ). WIth HA bridge you can control any device /group or scene defined in domoticz using json calls.
For complicated stuf I use virtual devices which trigger dzVents scripts.

[skybehind]

I use both. Controlticz for just about everything, but I still use HA-Bridge for thermostats. Reason being is from last time I tried it with Controlticz, HA-Bridge gives me more control. Two thermostats (upstairs and downstairs) with Heat and AC, and then setpoint for each (there's actually an auto setting but I don't really use it). So I can say "set upstairs heat to 70) and I have it change to heat setting and setpoint to 70. I can say set "set upstairs air conditioning to 68" and it will change it to AC mode and set the AC setpoint to 68.

In case you're wondering, I have a CT100 thermostat.

Oh, and I have a 100% success rate with both as long as my domoticz is running.

Lastly, and this is recent since I rebuilt my domoticz RPI, I have HA-Bridge running in a docker instance now so it will update whenever I reboot or restart the container. Easy Peasy (lemon squeezy).

[modular]

Well seems that both do(mire or less) the same. Think i will try both a bit and see which one works best for me. Thx for the reply's

[freijn]

I use Controlticz, just lazy and simple. The open port on the internet I have solved by just letting a single ip-adress to access this port. Voila.

[marmo]

Just got an Echo to test voice control of my setup, decided to go for the HA Bridge not to open any port in my router. All went smooth except the discovery, that is simply not happening. Reading the HABridge help it states if I have the Echo Gen 2 there's nothing to do (?) only Gen 1 will find the HA Bridge. Is this the experience for the ones here with an HA Bridge working? Nothing to do if Gen 1? No clue also which one I got, guess Gen 2 as I recently bought it. Thanks.

[CaesarPL]

Are you sure your UPNP address in HABridge configuration is the same as Pi? I had issues during discovery when they were different.

[marmo]

Yep, I'm afraid. Both the fields UPNP IP Address and Domoticz Names and IP Addresses show the same (correct) IP. Do you have an Echo Gen 2 and it was properly discovered? Thanks!

[CaesarPL]

I have Echo Dot, but I doubt there is different approach.

[marmo]

Did you have to add any particular skill to Alexa for it to work? Havent found any mention of that info in the wiki.

[CaesarPL]

No, as I remember. It was just discovered without any issues.

[marmo]

Well, fixed it. For the record:
+ Yes, the port has to be 80. It only worked when I moved HABridge to port 80.
+ As per the FAQ, the Use Link Button has to be enabled
+ Also as per the FAQ, you need to do the trick of running twice the process "Start Discovery" - "click Link". After the second one the device appeared magically.

It works beautifully.

[Hesmink]

I use HA-Bridge, mainly because of not wanting to expose anything to the internet.
HA-Bridge, although limited because it emulates a lighting control system, is easy to setup and configure.
With the current version, Domoticz support is built-in.

I use it to wake up my PC, Start/Stop my Roborock, and control a few lights.

[prijt]

Im pondering if I should buy the original Philips Hue Bridge or to build it using a Raspberry...
Can the original Philips device even be used for Domoticz, and are there any pro's and con's to using the original vs a Raspberry?
Hoping to hear some experiences from fellow Home Automation junkies

[prijt]

Ok, got it working with my Dot3 and HA-bridge version 5.2.2RC2.
Now I still need to figure out how to let Alexa say the temperature of my sensors (I know the HUE protocol itself does not support it). Any hints are welcome...

[prijt]

Well, this temperature things seems a lot of hassle. Tonight I will try this: https://github.com/rimram31/dz_smarthome
No need for HA-bridge to control the devices (incl temperature), by building your own Alexa skill...

[Damsee]

Let us know as we can change the code for that skill to improve it