Monitoring person presence

[Łukasz997 117]

Good morning,

I'm in search of a method to check if given family member is at home (I want to know if the Home is empty to engage some processes).

I think that one of the solutions is to obtain the list of devices logged in home network. My wifi haven't api rest (Assus Zen Wifi ET12) - so this is not the way.
There's a library to communicate with Assus via HTTPS, but it's in python and large - like using the sledgehammer to crack a nut.

I think that many before want to know if the home is empty - in fact this is my problem. Can you advise something?
Thanks in advance.

 

[SmartHomeEddy 1,007]

I know there was some development on Discord between Sankotronic and Brors to use the network scan of the HC3 itself. 

[Sankotronic 2,370]

Network scan is not reliable, specially with Apple iPhone.

 

What I use is Geofency mobile app installed on our iPhones and it uses webhooks to activate buttons on VD. This solution is very reliable, but it requires user ISP to at least open one port for communication from outside the local network and adding port forwarding in router setting. Also, if ISP is changing user's WLAN IP address every 24 hours then NO-IP with dynamic host name is required (not free).

 

I also as a backup use Netatmo welcome cameras mobile app, which has its own geofecing that sets user as away if it leaves home. Problem is that user is set back home only and after is seen by one of the cameras. This is not so good for activating burglar alarm since user must first enter home to be seen by camera before alarm is disarmed (need then to setup delay)

 

[Brors94 115]

3 hours ago, Łukasz997 said:

Good morning,

I'm in search of a method to check if given family member is at home (I want to know if the Home is empty to engage some processes).

I think that one of the solutions is to obtain the list of devices logged in home network. My wifi haven't api rest (Assus Zen Wifi ET12) - so this is not the way.
There's a library to communicate with Assus via HTTPS, but it's in python and large - like using the sledgehammer to crack a nut.

I think that many before want to know if the home is empty - in fact this is my problem. Can you advise something?
Thanks in advance.

 

 

Or do you have motion/presence sensor all over the house? 🤔 
That could also be a solution, But the sensor cant be just "motion" and have to have some kind of presence detection to  


As @Sankotronic says the network scan isnt reliable
But I know an integreation with Unifi controller that works okey on detection of devices on the wifi. But as you said you have a asus router so might not be a solution for you to? 

 

and a third way, get an home assistant green and look into esp home with bluetooth proxy  I am looking into this to get room and house detection of spesific persons But havent got the hang of it yet And the quickapp @jgab have made for HASS makes it easy to get devices from HASS into hc3 to make automations of them  
 

 

 

 

 

[Łukasz997 117]

Thank you for the advices!

I seek for something reliable, but also simple, not engaging much effort, complication, resources...

And, according to this - I've just found the macaddresses of logged-to-wifi users the most reliable and simple way: we all have wifi enabled all the time, login is automatic and require person to be at home! 

Am I wrong?

If not, maybe the best idea is to buy OTHER wifi access-point which provide api via http (UNIFI? - which model?). It will be used only for presence detecting, nothing more.

Yes, I have motion sensors, but I think this is not a reliable way, even "wrapped" with some logic (because of non-moving person, sitting and reading etc). Home Assistant + integration - too complex just for logged in list...

 

Alternatively - as I found I can log in to my assus via ssh - but is it possible to do from quickapp (is it possible to implement "ssh client" on HC3)?

 

Edited February 18, 2025 by Łukasz997

[Brors94 115]

7 minutes ago, Łukasz997 said:

Thank you for the advices!

I seek for something reliable, but also simple, not engaging much effort, complication, resources...

And, according to this - I've just found the macaddresses of logged-to-wifi users the most reliable and simple way: we all have wifi enabled all the time, login is automatic and require person to be at home! 

Am I wrong?

If not, maybe the best idea is to buy OTHER wifi access-point which provide api via http (UNIFI? - which model?). It will be used only for presence detecting, nothing more.

Yes, I have motion sensors, but I think this is not a reliable way, even "wrapped" with some logic (because of non-moving person, sitting and reading etc). Home Assistant + integration - too complex just for logged in list...

 

Alternatively - as I found I can log in to my assus via ssh - but is it possible to do from quickapp?

 

 

yea, the standard motion sensors isnt good enuf. But some 230v  Passive infrared sensor (motion) and presence sensor are very good. And would have been reliable if you have them in all rooms
 

the unifi QA is working good But needs the device to have static IP.

and dont know how to do the ssh thing you ask for 😅 

 

 

[Łukasz997 117]

I forgot one little thing, that phone can't be logged in to more than one access point. And assus make a mesh in my - quite large - house. So - unifi can't be used here.

Thank you - I will be searching an alternate way.

[viperlodz 46]

For many years, I have been using several solutions:

1. BLE Device – You need to carry a small BLE device with you. The receiver is connected to a smart implant, providing presence information. You can add multiple users. It works well, but you must always have the BLE device with you.

2. Android Phones & MAC Address Detection – I have been using this solution in my house for eight years with HC2. It works fine with Android but does not perform well with iPhones.

3. Presence Sensors (e.g., MCO HOME OS11) – I have installed these in every room of two houses. They work perfectly, but they only detect whether someone is in the room, not who it is.

4. Smartphone Application & WiFi Connection – A smartphone app can send presence information to HC2/HC3 when it connects to a specific WiFi network. For Android, Tasker can be used. This method works very well but requires extensive configuration on each phone.

5. Unifi Devices – You need a Unifi router, and it's best to use a complete Unifi ecosystem. I am currently working on designing a QA system that will determine the exact room you are in. Unifi provides a lot of detailed signal information.

[Brors94 115]

6 hours ago, viperlodz said:

For many years, I have been using several solutions:

1. BLE Device – You need to carry a small BLE device with you. The receiver is connected to a smart implant, providing presence information. You can add multiple users. It works well, but you must always have the BLE device with you.

2. Android Phones & MAC Address Detection – I have been using this solution in my house for eight years with HC2. It works fine with Android but does not perform well with iPhones.

3. Presence Sensors (e.g., MCO HOME OS11) – I have installed these in every room of two houses. They work perfectly, but they only detect whether someone is in the room, not who it is.

4. Smartphone Application & WiFi Connection – A smartphone app can send presence information to HC2/HC3 when it connects to a specific WiFi network. For Android, Tasker can be used. This method works very well but requires extensive configuration on each phone.

5. Unifi Devices – You need a Unifi router, and it's best to use a complete Unifi ecosystem. I am currently working on designing a QA system that will determine the exact room you are in. Unifi provides a lot of detailed signal information.

 

 

5. Would love to see this when it is done!  

[cag014 731]

To my opinion the most reliable solution is to use Alexa.  Works perfect.

You also can use Yubii app geofence option, but there are a lot of delays. (may be this is a good Oppurtunite for Fibaro team to fix it)

 

There are also a lot of other smart home applications that can be used also.

If you have Android phone, you can use built-in routines and smart things to control devices.

 

[Łukasz997 117]

Thank you for so many suggestions.

Putting all together - here's my opinion: simplest for me it to integrate via Apple shortcuts and IFTTT (we all have iphones). But necessary webhook is not free - paying $50 a year (x3 persons) just to know if somebody's at home? Absolutely NO! Also - I don't like to be dependent on such service.
After all - the best solution (cheapest and give some interesting opportunities) seems to me  this which I throw away at the beginning - mentioned by 

Please login or register to see this link.

use of green home assistant + Jan Gabrielsson integration.
One remark about geofence - I've used it for "I'm home action"; Yubii and IFTTT (free) - both solutions has similar time lag, I can't say that IFTTT is better.

 

 

[Łukasz997 117]

Update: I found very simple method available to iphone, however it needs to have IFTTT basic account (free).

 

The idea is (1) to create an automation in iOS shortcuts. It's possible to make an automation triggered on both situation: iphone is just connecting to certain wifi, and separate - when the connection is just lost (arriving, leaving). The action undertaken after condition was met:  execute IFTTT named applet of your choice,

(2) Then there's an applet possible in IFTTT triggered when automation starts in iphone (in other words: can be seen and executed by shortcuts). Next, IFTTT has ability to connect the HC3 and do what I want on the central.

 

Tested, working OK.

Edited February 20, 2025 by Łukasz997

[marek-lepi 0]

The Android update is out, so hopefully it’ll work now!