Somfy RS485 via Global Cache Itach

[UKCamaroSS 2]

Hi,

 

Wonder if someone can help - I'm new to Fibaro and Home Automation in general.

I have some Somfy RTS motorised blinds, which I would like to control via Fibaro and Somfy's own RS485 transmitter. According to Somfy, to move my blind on Channel 3 up, I need to enter the following:

7F F2 FA FE FF FF FD FF FF FC FE 0A 5C

 

The question is, how do I construct in the Fibaro, within the virtual device, to control the blinds - I have entered the string below, but this does not work.

Somfy's program to provide the correct string data is where I get the string from, so I'm sure the data itself is correct - do I need something like "0x0D0x0A" at the end?

 

 

 

Thanks,

 

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[tinman 1,070]

ehm, the somfy RS485 transmitter does not have anything else than RS485, so how you connected it to Fibaro? Did you used any RS485 LAN converter?

[UKCamaroSS 2]

ehm, the somfy RS485 transmitter does not have anything else than RS485, so how you connected it to Fibaro? Did you used any RS485 LAN converter?

I've connected it using Global Cache itach wifi with the itach rs485 serial cable;

www.globalcache.com/files/docs/ds_flc_serial.pdf

[UKCamaroSS 2]

Quick update - I now have Somfy RTS 485 is now working, via Fibaro, with the itach wifi rs485 cable as the link

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[Brick 13]

Does your setup pass the information about blinds status to HC2 or is it a one-way communication?

[UKCamaroSS 2]

Its one way only - the RTS 485 unit only enables one way, despite the controller being used (Control4, Fibaro etc).

 

Somfy do have a ZigBee and a Zwave interface, which does enable two way communication, but I believe they are only available in the US currently, and you need one per motor - they are known as the ZDMI (part number 1870171) and the ZBDMI (part number 1870220).

 

I think the best way to get two way comms is to use hard wired motors, hooked up to Fibaro modules, which is an option I should have looked into before buying the RTS blind version.

[fergalmccarthy 5]

What type of blinds are they ? I'm using Somfy via RFXCOM, but also have that transmitter sitting in a box. I did however manage to use an Aeon Labs recessed sensor and inserted it into the bottom of the blind where the weight bar is, its not perfect but based on the Aeon Labs being open / closed i'm able to determine if the blind is open or closed to some extent.

[Brick 13]

Its one way only - the RTS 485 unit only enables one way, despite the controller being used (Control4, Fibaro etc).

 

Somfy do have a ZigBee and a Zwave interface, which does enable two way communication, but I believe they are only available in the US currently, and you need one per motor - they are known as the ZDMI (part number 1870171) and the ZBDMI (part number 1870220).

 

I think the best way to get two way comms is to use hard wired motors, hooked up to Fibaro modules, which is an option I should have looked into before buying the RTS blind version.

Yes, Somfy has developed their own domotic platform "Tahoma" but according to what they told me some time ago, the standard radio protocols are only available for the US market.

I agree, the best option would have been choosing wired motors, but by the time I purchased Somfy motors Fibaro did not even exist...

[UKCamaroSS 2]

What type of blinds are they ? I'm using Somfy via RFXCOM, but also have that transmitter sitting in a box. I did however manage to use an Aeon Labs recessed sensor and inserted it into the bottom of the blind where the weight bar is, its not perfect but based on the Aeon Labs being open / closed i'm able to determine if the blind is open or closed to some extent.

Are you using rfxcom with Fibaro?

 

My blinds are Somfy Sonesse 40 RTS.

[fergalmccarthy 5]

No sorry, i had to abandon HC2, partly for reasons like this, perfect USB ports wasted meaning running a second controller to accomplish this. My rfxcom is connected to a Mac Mini, i'll say no more but I also have used the somfy transmitter connected to Pi running a small webserver that just runs python scripts to execute blind actions and this could be easily integrated in HC.