Hi all, I have HAOS running as a VM, and two USB adapters passed through, one for Matter, one for Zigbee. Now I realise I don't have bluetooth capabilities. Looking into what I'd need to get this, and was considering an ESP32 BLE proxy, but then I wasn't sure if I need something bluetooth capable in the first place as a USB device for the proxy to work with? So basically, trying to find out what I need to get started, if it's a USB device, then I need to find something available in Australia, if it doesn't, and it can be an ESP32 board, then do I need anything more than just the board and a USB cable to power it from a powerpoint somewhere, and configure it through ESPHome to be a BLE proxy, and communicate back to HA through wifi?
#Minimum required hardware for bluetooth
zinc ember
rare moat
You don't need anything other than the bluetooth proxies. Important to note: if you already have esphome with esp32(s) you can extend your code to additionally work as a bluetooth proxy. You don't have to create dedicated devices.
zinc ember
Thanks, good to know. Sadly, while I have ESP devices, they are running custom firmware for SOMFY RTS and I don't know if I can change it to enable bluetooth proxy functionality. If I could that would be preferable as I have 3 of them, otherwise a new ESP or two around the house to act as proxies wouldn't be too bad. I'd have to make sure I make them a pretty case or my wife will object to them 😄 Thankyou!
rare moat
I've flashed esphome on some sonoff mini r4 relays. Those now live behind our light switches, killing two birds with one stone:
- making the switches smart
- acting as bluetooth proxies
zinc ember
That's also a good idea! I haven't done many of my switches as most of my house doesn't have neutral wires run to the switches. The ones that I have done are running these switches
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B078LVQ8XC?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
rare moat
Ahh you'd need a neutral wire for that 😞
zinc ember
yes, I haven't decided if I run some neutral -less switches for the other lights, or if I use something like the shelly mini or sonoff mini versions that don't need a neutral.... but I'd probably need neutral wire to get these to act as a proxy, or zigbee router, or other such type device?