Somfy Blinds & Fibaro - Which Option ?

[andyp 6]

I've been looking at controlling my wireless comfy blinds by fibaro and I see there is no direct option. Reading the various posts there seem to be two main options:

 

1. Buy and integrate a Homewizard Hub

2. Buy a Raspberry Pi and RFXCOM RFXtrx433E 

 

What experience do members have and whats the pluses and minuses of the two options. Or is there a better option.

 

My blinds are battery not mains so a fibre blind control is not an option

 

Any guidance much appreciated.

 

 

Edited June 23, 2017 by andyp
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[Wimjanse 15]

Hi,

 

I now have two years experience, contolling 15 Somfy blinds with a Raspberry/RFXComm through a virtual device setup on my HC2, never had a problem with this. The RFXComm is quite a powerfull transmitter. 

I did study the Homewizard solution, but read on the internet a lot of people having problems with this unit transmission power, even installing additional antennas on the Homewizard, hence my decision to go for the Raspberry.

 

In addition, the RasPi/RFX solution is much cheaper.

 

 

Edited June 23, 2017 by Wimjanse

[darren-mc 11]

I went the Res/RFX route and never had a problem. Just wish I could work how to use the "My Stop" feature from Fibaro

[Wimjanse 15]

Hi @darren-mc

 

Just thinking a bit on your remark on "My Stop".

Can't you not simply time the seconds between start of blind lowering and the My-Stop position.

 

Then, in the VD, program a MyStop button, that triggers the lowering of the blind, and then triggers a stop after the required interval.

 

[Sirhideo 9]

Hi @Wimjanse How is the RF coverage? I am studying somfy+dominicz+RFXtrx433E solution but worrying about if 1 transmitter can cover my whole house, many brick walls around.

[Wimjanse 15]

Hi @Sirhideo

1 transmitter works for me, coverage is pretty good. Largest distance I cover is to the backend of the garden, controlling a sunscreen with Somfy. This is approx. 15 through one concrete wall and through high-efficiency glass-window with metallic coating. Never had any issues.

You could probably start with one and test. In case this will give problems, you can always add a second. But as I said, not necessary for me, I'm quite pleased with the somfy+domoticz+RFXtrx433E+RasPi solution with just one transmitter.

 

 

[Sirhideo 9]

hi @Wimjanse, many thanks for your quick reply, mind telling me which somfy RTS model you have chosen?

[Wimjanse 15]

Hi @Sirhideo

Not sure what you mean with your question, as far as I know, there is just one Somfy RTS protocol (although it comes with various sorts of hand-transmitters).

Somfy does have motors with another protocol, being IOcontrol, those motors will not work with the RFXtrx433 transmitter, but all RTS based motors should.

[Sirhideo 9]

Hi @Wimjanse There are way too many series from Somfy official web and I think I get confused.  Looks like Sonensse RTS 40 is the way to go.

[Wimjanse 15]

Hi @Sirhideo

Yes, I had a quick look at the Somfy website. The Sonensse RTS40 is compatible with RTS control, so should be controllable with the RFXtrx433e.

Good luck

Wim

[Sirhideo 9]

Hi @Wimjanse, just negotiated with Somfy and have ordered 2 motors for testing.  For the first time setup do I need to use its remote to pair the motor and setup the up down limit before touching domoticz+rfxtrx? If so, is it ok to buy just 1 somfy remote, pair each motor 1 at a time is enough since it will be automatically operate via HC2 VD anyway?

[Wimjanse 15]

Hi @Sirhideo

Good that Somfy allows you a test. Yes, you just need one remote. With the small button on the back of the remote, you put the screen in "learn-mode" (screen moves 5-10 cm up/down), after which you can give the signal with the Domoticz/RFXtrx.

Thereafter, it is indeed the VD that will control the screens.

Note that with the remote signal, ALL your screen go to learn mode. 

Last month I added a sixth pair of screen, for which I had to disconnect all other screens first before putting the new screen in lear mode. 

 

[Sirhideo 9]

Hi @Wimjanse, let's finger crossed.  Thank you very much indeed.  I am sure I will trouble you again when I am in the step of VD creation... lol

[Wimjanse 15]

Hi @Sirhideo

No problem, glad to help. Good luck with the setup. 

[Sirhideo 9]

On 11/28/2017 at 3:38 PM, Sirhideo said:

Hi @Wimjanse, just negotiated with Somfy and have ordered 2 motors for testing.  For the first time setup do I need to use its remote to pair the motor and setup the up down limit before touching domoticz+rfxtrx? If so, is it ok to buy just 1 somfy remote, pair each motor 1 at a time is enough since it will be automatically operate via HC2 VD anyway?

 hi @Wimjanse, sorry to bother you again.  Now I have the RTS motors here but the rfxtrx is still on its way to Hong Kong.  Since the motor does not have the screen and is not physically mounted, I cannot setup the limit switch by now. 

 

I'm gonna finish this project with the below tasks order and would like to seek your opinion if this is correct.

 

1) Power up the motor 1 by 1

2) Pair motor with remote 1 by 1 (assign remote channel, I have a 5 channel remote).  Each motor go should up/down a few centimeters.  I do hope to use traditional remote to control blinds in case HA is dead (recently too many http 503 occured on my hc2)

3) When Rfxtrx arrived, add the motor 1 by 1 again according to your pdf, change motor to learn-mode again with remote -> add light-device -> rfy protocol -> switch-type=blind -> assign code.

4) physically mount the motors on windows

5) Again, turn on motor to learn-mode 1 by 1, and now setup the limit switch with the paired remote control.

6) create VD

 

I am concerning about step 5), because this is done after rfxtrx inclusion process. When up/stop/down VD is created, does the button operate base on the limit switch I lately setup?  With FGRM-222 there is a calibration process but I don't see this is necessary on rfxtrx?

 

Thank you!

Edited December 11, 2017 by Sirhideo

[Wimjanse 15]

Hi @Sirhideo

 

You are correct with your procedure, in fact, this was the same as I did.

 

I bought my Somfy screen a few years before I got the HC2, so the screen were installed and limit switches were set all with the remote controllors.

Later, when I got the HC2, I only had to put the screens ( 1 by 1 ) in learn mode again and make contact with the RFX/Domoticz. In fact, when doing this, you don't have to set the limit switches again (your point 5), the screens kept the settings as put earlier, only could now by controlled by an additional controller, being the HC2/RasPi/Domoticz/RFX.

 

So at present, I still can use the remotes (just to be on the safe side, like you said) and use the HC2 to control the screens.

 

Good luck.

 

[Sirhideo 9]

Thank you very much @Wimjanse, is there a way to retrieve the current status of the blind from domoticz?  Right now my "old" blinds are using Fibaro Roller shutter, I can see value 0 = close and 99 = open, so that I put logic on a scene something like if value = 0 then open else close as a on/off switch.

 

If there is no such thing then probably a globalvar for each motor is needed.

Edited December 11, 2017 by Sirhideo

[Wimjanse 15]

@Sirhideo, you cannot get the actual position back. This is not due to Domoticz, but this is inherent to the RTS protocol. The other protocol thet Somfy is using (ioControl) does gave a status signal back, but unfortunately no one has cracked this protocol as yet. So yes, you can indeed use a global var to monitor the status.

 

I had a problem once when using the VD remote, that one of my screens was not gone up, which I only saw when I arrived home. So I modified my VD, it now just sends the signal for a second time after 2 seconds.

[Sirhideo 9]

@Wimjanseall blinds are added onto rfxtrx and they are all working great at domoticz side, however I got an some issue on HC2..

 

For VD I follow your pdf and created Up / Down / Stop button, IP address and port is correct, The button is lua. There is no response when I click any of the button, nothing appears in debug window

 

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I am trying to control idx 4 for example

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According to a previous post

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if I directly go with browser I can control idx 4 with respose below.

 

{
   "status" : "OK",
   "title" : "SwitchLight"
}

 

Only not for VD so I'm exporting my VD to you as well and hope you can help me..

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Edited February 8, 2018 by Sirhideo

[Sirhideo 9]

For some reason lua does not work.  But I can use string to control domoticz via string:

 

GET /json.htm?type=command&param=switchlight&idx=4&switchcmd=Off HTTP/1.10x0D0x0A0x0D0x0A

 

But how can I set global variable by using string?

Edited February 8, 2018 by Sirhideo