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Broadlink RM4 Mini Universal Remote Control Hub IR Blaster $25.90 + Delivery ($0 with Prime/ $39 Spend) @ BroadLink Amazon AU

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Just bought an RM4 Pro last week and set it up today. Fantastic little jigger that now lets the wife control the Air Conditioner in ther WFH office via app or via Google Assistant when she's not in the room (needs to preheat the room for clients). Can turn it on and off, set the temperature, fan speed, heat/cool mode etc. Pretty kewl integration at a fraction of the cost of the air conditioners manufacturer solution.

Went to buy another one and saw that the Mini was on special. Figured I didn't really need the RF (yet)… so ordered the mini instead.

Second best price on Amazon according to CCC.

Having trouble getting Smartir to work under Home Assistant so will just use the app until I can sort HA integration out.

Price History at C CamelCamelCamel.

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closed Comments

  • What's the differences between the "Pro" and the "mini" versions?

    • +1

      Pro does 433 RF (in Australia) as well. There's also a Pro version available from AliExpress that does 133 and 433 RF too. And the mini is…well…mini :)

      • Oh, so I should look to get a Pro to control my garage door?

        • +4

          No. You should get a dedicated wifi garage door controller instead as it comes with a magnetic sensor to detect if the door is open or closed.

          Also garage door openers usually are code hopping so 433mhz controller may not work for that

          • @edrift: Your garage door may not operate on 433mhz. as edrift said buy a dedicated device for the garage door.

            • @Joejoeinc: Yep. I found this out after ordering a pro with that in mind. Turns out mine didn't operate on the required frequency. Got a dedicated device instead (like the Meross ones). Works perfect!

        • easiest way for garage door is a relay of some description that bridges the 'open/close' terminals on the back of the motor and then either a tilt, limit, or magnet sensor to check its status. There are plenty that offer this with their own app or via tuya smart life for between $50 and $100. If you go full neckbeard then sonoff sv flashed to esphome in home assistant is $15 but if you don't have the rest already running thats a lot of effort for just a garage door.

          • @NopeNopeNope: Wouldn’t that negate the rolling codes security on garage door openers?

            All the RF relays I use are easily cloned so if I hooked one up to the terminals on the door motor they could easily be sniffed.

            • +1

              @Public21: The device you connect to the terminals doesn’t use RF, it is usually Wifi, so your traffic would still be encrypted over your wifi network.

      • Got a link to the AliExpress one handy?

  • probably a dumb question but would this work for an electric fireplace that has a IR remote control?

    • Yes. If the device accepts IR commands you can use this. Might just have to teach it the codes from the remote.

      • cheers, so i'm guessing to teach it the settings, do i just point and shoot the Broadlink with the fireplace remote?

        • +3

          Yes you just push the buttons on your original remote to teach it the commands.

          • @LowRange: After telling the Broadlink that you're teaching it commands!

  • +10

    For most ACs, you will need to manually learn the codes and create a custom JSON for your AC if SmartIR doesn't have support for your AC built in. It's a very slow process because AC IR codes are discrete codes, meaning they aren't just "Up 1 degree". Every time you press a button on an AC, it's sending the entire operating mode and options to the split system (I.e. "24 degrees, cool mode, level 2 fan, oscillate on). So you end up having to record literally hundreds of codes per AC. If they're all the same brand, they likely all use the same codes however, which makes things much easier.

    SmartIR is definitely worth the effort though. I have a LOT of cooling automations set up with it such as:

    • Automatically cool down the bedroom at 9pm if it's above 24 degrees
    • Automatically turn on the AC for 2 hours when we're sleeping if it's above 25 degrees
    • Automatically cool down the house during summer if there's plenty of excess solar and it's after 3pm
    • Automatically turn off any AC if the door or window to the room has been left open for 10+ minutes

    And that's just the basic ones off the top of my head.

    • Does this do smart IR and if not could you recommend one?

      • I also would like to know this.

      • Yes. It works fine. I would have mentioned if this was incompatible.

    • Finally got Smart IR installed and working in HA. Not actually sure what I did differently. Codes are all there for my Daikins!

    • I love SmartIR with my Broadlink, but haven’t found any repositories of codes for Logitech Harmony. Do you know if there is any equivalent of SmartIR for Harmony codes?

      • +1

        Unfortunately Harmony codes are locked behind Logitech's API. People have been petitioning them to make their database open source now that they are no longer supporting the Harmony brand, but no luck so far.

        I grabbed a Harmony clone off Kickstarter called the Sofabaton X1 but the backend for it and implementation is horrible, and the majority of their IR code database is just plain wrong.

        • Oh dang, I assumed the raw IR codes were saved like the broadlink, but looking at the harmony config file, you’re right, it is just human readable commands. Hopefully they do open source it before they decide to turn off their servers. Thanks for your insights!

  • Did anyone see the Broadlink SCB2 Smart Switch?

    It's $8 with a button and basically does what a shelley switch does.

    This really intrigues me for say garden lights, any used these?

    https://amzn.asia/d/fdKmvac

    • Compact design - BroadLink Smart wifi box to be retrofitted into downlight. Do not use for outdoor

      I think an electrician is needed, but happy to be corrected

    • Oh damn.. wish I knew about this before I got Shelley

      Looks to be way easier wiring…

    • Approved for use in Aus? Just installed Shelly Dimmer 2s in my build and they're really nice. Made sure they had Aussie approval before handing to the electrician. If anything should ever happen to the house because of wiring don't want to give the insurance company yet another out to paying .

      • +1

        Sorry, but of a rant but..

        Seeing as we can't be trusted to do the wiring ourselves and legally have to hand the wiring to a licensed electrician, the onus shouldn't be on us to check if something is approved to the relevant standards. Can't have it both ways expecting us to understand the standards, but not be able to do the work.

        Should be enough that you can show you purchased it in Australia. If insurance wants to weasel out on payment they really need to be going after the the manufacturer/seller.

        • I believe the "safety" requirement was designed to allow the licencee to make money from the purchase of approved products. There is no consideration of the owner trying to purchase items directly because commission won't be going to the business.

        • Yeah, I getcha. It shouldn't rest with the consumer but then the electrician was trying to get me to put in a Clipsal solution and I didn't want him to throw back a "they're not approved in Australia" for my much cheaper and more functional solution with the Shellys so made sure and grabbed and forwarded all the approvals to him.

          I also didn't want to buy something cheap from Aliexpress for the electrician to say "not approved" and not install and waste money that way either. Sadly with the global economy I can buy a cheap and cheery grey marketed solution in Australia, but that doesn't make it approved either.

          Guess you have to manage your own and the electricians risk profile.

    • I bought two of these and returned one because it didn't meet my expectations. Other smart switches can be configured with different default states (e.g. if the power is restored, automatically turn on) but these default to the previous state when power is returns.

  • Is this similar to the sensibo?

    • Yes, but a fraction of the price

    • Similar, yes.

      The Sensibo is easier to set up and use and had no issues finding my model.

      The BroadLink device is 80% as good but a lot cheaper. It’s more of a universal device but might not be as full-featured as Sensibo for AC control.

      Also you can use it for any IR commands, not just one device/your AC.

      The easiest thing to do for the BroadLink is just program a few favourite AC settings as a button each on the app. Each button sends the whole program to the AC with one press.

  • a great little device, the app works fine. It is a bit of a pain to set up in Home assistant though.

  • Only thing for me is when using Google instructions is that the air con units remote goes out of sync.

  • Agree that threw me as well.

  • Bought the one that comes with the sensor cable for temperature and humidity.
    Going to try to use it for Bixby location activation.
    https://www.amazon.com.au/BroadLink-Universal-Temperature-Hu…

  • how do you setup this stupid device, i connected to my router, but the rm4 mini sometimes show and sometimes doesn't and then the app tries to connect but it disappears and i connect manually but then it restarts and says still flashing or off and then restarts the whole bloody process again and it doesn't work at all!!!!!

    • Mm have setup 3 in the last week with no issues. Just followed the bouncing ball in the app. Faulty unit?

    • It only supports 2.4ghz Wi-Fi. If your router has a 5ghz and 2.4ghz SSID with the same name, you won't be able to see it on the 5ghz connection.

      • Thank you, there also can't be any special characters in the password and heaps of other messing around just to get it setup, but it does work once you get there. It could have been much easier with bluetooth or a qr code to scan or a one-click connect.

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