How to Automate Your TV for Cheap
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- Automate your TV with your smart home without spending too much! Set up your TV to automatically pause if the doorbell is pressed. Or your lights can turn up if you pause your movie. In this video, I share several TV automation ideas like this and show you how to set them up using Harmony Hub.
LINKS (affiliate):
Harmony Hub: amzn.to/2IWVbVr
Harmony Hub refurbished: amzn.to/33z1CpE
Govee light strips under couch: amzn.to/2ljVFMv
LIFX bulb: amzn.to/2IVogR0
Hue: amzn.to/31ktH2v
Ring 2 doorbell: amzn.to/2VJNnf2
Echo Dot: amzn.to/32vyQq1
Google Home Mini: bestbuy.7tiv.n...
More info about how to set everything up:
The article explaining how to update Harmony firmware. I haven’t tested this since I have Mac OS Catalina. www.theverge.c...
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Disclaimer: Smart Home Solver was sent Govee light strips for an unbiased review. Harmony Hub, Ring 2, and other products were purchased with our own money. As always, our opinions are 100% our own and not influenced.
It still amazes me that I can say one phrase and my TV will start automatically selecting things and all the lights in my house change. I don’t think that will ever get old.
Never gets old! I have similar things going on. In my 'great room' the "showtime" command triggers my home cinema equipment. I have a projector and motorized screen that comes down from the ceiling. I made several 35 second music theme clips (timed to the screen going down/up) and have random theme music playing as the screen comes down. (like a 20th century fox theme extended version I made, star wars, imperial march, 2001, marvel theme, etc). It was a nightmare to set this up, but It puts the nerdiest grin on my face every time!! Next I think I'm going to have it play the IMAX theater intro video after the screen comes down. This stuff is too fun.
Haha that's awesome! That's a good idea to play music while things get set up too. I might have to use that idea in my house. Thanks for sharing!
@@SmartHomeSolver What are your thoughts on the new FireTV Infrared blaster addon releasing Dec 11th? Ordered one as a cheap alternative to the harmony hub.
Question/Recommendation...I am building a new home and trying to plan smart home skills. I am installing an NVR w/ POE cameras (Lorex). If this is possible, I'd love thoughts, or maybe even a video, on how to automate (or semi-automate) turning the TV on and/or pausing what I'm watching and switching HDMI input when something occurs (i.e. doorbell, front porch motion, etc). The NVR does have Alexa and Google integration and I think can use Chromecast, but it isn't live. If I use a direct connected HDMI to the NVR, it would be live.
@Smart Home Solver Love your videos, by the way.
Echo dot talking to google home priceless !!!
Me just realizing you don't say "Hey Google" in your video out of courtesy for Google Home owners. thats so nice, thank you
Bought my Harmony a few months ago. Long story short: It’s a pain in the ass to work with but it’s a dream when it’s all set up.
I agree!
Well said
Won't a broadlink device work for all of this?
I agree, Mine i can be a pain to set up as well but love it when it works.
Great video by the wat.
Leon Vollebregt I have a broadlink RM mini as well as a Harmony Hub and I find the harmony to be more versatile and compatible with more devices.
I got a Harmony hub last Christmas and love it. I have an 8-button controller in the small hall between the living room and kitchen. With that I can turn on/off all the lights and start a movie or the radio with 1 press. I got the companion remote with mine which is great. No more multiple remotes for the bluray, fireTV, TV, soundbar, and the OTA box. I was even able to use an old soundbar in the living room as a radio cause it had an FM tuner too.
The Harmony Hub was one of my first smart home devices (years ago) and is still very relevant.
A single TV and setup is pretty easy, you should discuss setting up about multiple harmony hubs on multiple tvs in different rooms. It can use Alexa or Google to determine what room you are in, so you can handle this in multiple rooms since most people have multiple tvs in their house. Multiple hubs was way more challenging then just one tv and setup. :D
And I really love the way you made Alexander talk to google
4:09 very creative!
Genius..love it...but whats best is you show and share youur ideas and set up..thank you for that..!
I have harmony hubs with various style remotes and I wouldn't change a thing. I've spent dozens of hours setting it up, but the universal remote system we purchased with the house requires $100+ charges per visit from an authorized retailer to make any changes to that remote. I'll still with the DIY method and save myself thousands of dollars doing it in my free time.
I love your videos! I'm always getting great ideas from them. Thanks man.
That’s great to hear! I appreciate it!
The harmony hub is amazing when you get it working
I got the Harmony hub with the remote and I love it. I setup an automation with SmartThings for my lights, TV and Apple TV to turn on and start Hulu when I open my apartment door.
Whats an alternative for the harmony hub? I would like to change my TV input automatically using a home automation also turn on and off the TV.
Which app did you use with the smart outlet that knows when the tv is on?
Hi, smart home solver, I have something to share. 1: I find a smart way to turn off a routine. We all know that the only way to turn off a routine is to manually switch off the routine on Alexa app. That's bad. Some time we do not want a specific routine to run. Especially some auto turn on routine. The solution is, do not use Alexa app to trigger the routine, use smartthing app if possible. Because smartthing app has the option for all and any condition when making a automation. Also, smarrtthing can make virtual switch. If we take advantage of these two things, then we can do something like this as following; if virtual switch on and motion detect , then trigger x (setting an and automation) 2: switch sensor can do way more such as arrival sensor, use whatever the app we can think like ifttt, Alexa using the location trigger, if leave x area, turn off, enter then on. Last, what do you do to make light turn off automatically? I don't like to "no detect motion" as trigger . Because it only focus on motion. When you sitting still on bed, you don't.want to turn off the light, the light turn off; also, you want to turn off the light when you move the light turn on. My solution is to use Tasker by Android, this is a little bit complex. Any way, what do you think
Subscribing not only for the content but for the fact that you were watching arrested development!
Thanks Shanuelle! There's always money in the banana stand!
4:20 pretty soon, his smart assistants will band up, starting a smart home of their own using him as their assistant ^^
4:07 this is just genius
Hi, could you tell me how to make ESPHome send three numbers (channels) to the TV, please?
I've been looking for days on this and haven't found anything.
Thanks.
Hey, which voice assistant do you use the most? Nest mini or Echo dot 3?
Tryin to do so,etching that should be so simple, but I can’t find it. I have a 4K Fire at stick and I want to setup a routine to turn the tv “off”. I found how to add the Fire TV to a routine to turn the TV on, but not off. Any way to do that?
I had a harmony remote in the early 2000, it was a real pain to program and make it run correctly. I thought, when buying the harmony hub this year, that Logitech would have evolved since. Well no, it is still a pain to configure, the website dedicated to the configuration is so slow you'd think they are still in the 90's. Once programmed, 5 time on 10, the harmony hub doesn't even remember if your TV is on or off. Don't even dare to use another remote to turn off a device, it would then mess the harmony flows when using back the harmony remote or a voice command. I can't wait to see devices being able to communicate directly with Google or Alexa, Logitech products like Harmony Hub are expensive and not up to what they're intended to be.
Btw (by the way) can you do a video on broadlink Paul Hibbert say it's nicer we want to see a review.
I love your videos 💓
I use my ps4 to watch netflix. Do you think a harmony hub could controll a playstation too
I use the Harmony hub for switching inputs since I so many devices attached to my Denon amp and TV
I'm just blown away by these lol. May I ask which smart outlet you use, to run automation dependings on energy usage? Thanks! :D
SmartThings outlet. They make a WiFi version that’s really affordable.
Hey buddy! I like your channel very much. I think it is one of the best tech/automation channels on RUclips. If I`m not mistaken, I saw some time ago that it was possible to control Chromecast with an Echo Dot, saying something like: Alexa, tell Chromecast to show Pacific Rim from NETFLIX...I`m not sure if there is a non-official skill that was developed by some user to do that or if you need to use IFTTT or TASKER or both + something else to do that...I don't know if it's worth the challenge, but I'm pretty sure that only you can solve it and then make a video about it. Best regards from Brazil. I hope to hear from you soon @Smart Home Solver
Quick question: will this work on my CRT tv, if not, can anyone recommend me some devices good for CRT TV AUTOMATION, thanks
I have an LG flatron CRT TV
If I have I already have smart TV with the Google Assistant already built in although it's very very sketchy, would this still be something to look into possibly to integrate with the rest of my smart home?
Just started trying automation on my TVs. Works for one not the other. Both are Sony. This might help control the tv a XBR-75X940D in the living room. I’m trying to get down to as few devices as possible so I’m starting to run most apps through the tv itself. What’s your take on that? Do you think both assistants really are needed?
"Alexa, Ask Plex what's new". "Alexa ask Plex to play Top Gun 2020" (joking). I too have automated lights (Phillips Hue) but never thought much of getting them to dim / change colour when I start a movie!. I did figure out how to build a "skill" for Echo : "Alexa, Thanks for dinner" her reply : Emma, (my teenager) show your parents some gratitude for the food you just ate, the roof over your head by moving your behind to the kitchen and do the dishes". Trust me that never get's old ;)
Hey! I have a Harmony Hub and an Android TV. I would like to do setup with a motion sensor, so it turns on the TV when I walk to the room. Any ideas on how to do that? I looked on IFTTT and so on, an I wasn't able to find anything. :(
0:54 is that piccadilly circus in central london?
I have a nest doorbell camera. Can this be setup to display video on TV when the doorbell is pushed?
I would love to get this automation working for my home.
How did you manage to get Apple TV to get input from the Hub? I cannot find a way the ”add keyboard” to appletv 4K
Awesome
I use my broadlink to control since it is mhch cheaper and does the nexessary commands i need. Like turning on AC at certain temp. Turn devices in with timer. And so forth.
Can you please show us how to make the lights "ambient aware" ? As in the RGB lights will sync with the content on the screen. I know Philips Hue have Philips Hue Sync but only for PC. Are there other brands out there that do the same thing?
If I have an echo show 2nd gen already, do I need another hub to do this?
This "Smart Outlet" of which you speak, do you have a link that one could follow in order to purchase one?
Which smart plug does he use and how does he set it up to automatically know when the tv is on
and trigger other devices such as the lights
How does it Work that the TV pause when someone rings the ring?
Would all this work with a Roku TV or should I get a fire stick still
Can I do all that with the smart things hub instead of the harmony hub?
Harmony Hub V’s Broadlink RM Pro? We don’t have Google assist it’s just Alexa throughout so which would you say is the preferred choice to control the TV’ blueray etc? Also for some reason I cannot get my fire tv stick 4K to load up on voice command, if I try it used to load the shut down but now nothing happens. “Alexa,show the front door” & nothing happens, if I manually load the fire stick via the remote then ask it loads up. Any ideas?
I noticed the same thing lately when I tried to get the Ring doorbell to show up on the Fire TV Stick using an echo dot it wasn't working. I had to use the Fire TV Stick remote. If you have a harmony hub it will be able to control the Fire TV just like in the video using Alexa.
In pretty new to the while smart home world. Are you using smartThings with harmony hub?
Try remotsy device is more cheap that harmony, you can create routines or control a tv and other products. Even some AC units
Few questions: running a script on the harmony hub to launch specific apps from Apple TV by moving the cursor? Doesn’t that depends on what was the last state when the activity is shut down? Any video to explain exactly what you do that would be great. Second question, can you review the hue play sync box and how to set it up specially when you have harmony hub, Apple TV, Xbox, etc.. and do you lose any video quality? I know it supports 4K but what about atoms or HDR, etc.. thank you and keep up the good work
You can have it press the “home” button to reset the state before running the cursor buttons. Yeah I think the hue play sync could be a good thing to review. I’ll see what I can do. Thanks!
Hey can you plz link the video on how to use the Smart plug to monitor energy usage and run automations. Thank you :)
How do you get the pause activity to show up in routines?
How has someone not make it so when the door bell is pressed it shows the live vid on the TV yet??
Also trying to work out a way to have this on a spare tablet too
What smart outlet are you using to detect if the TV is On or OFF? I have a satellite speaker that I want to turn on and off when it detects the TV is on or off. Thanks!
I'm using the SmartThings outlet with the SmartThings hub. That's a good idea to use it for a satellite speaker!
I wish Harmony would do RF (433mhz). I know that Broadlink does, but I hear it's interface and learnability is not as good as Harmony... But other than that, I am dead set on outfitting my apartment with Harmony to controll ALL the things :). By the way, does anyone know if I can control an IR device with the hub AND the remote? I.e. My alarm clock uses an IR remote and I want to tell Alexa to turn it off, making Harmony blast IR at it. But when setting an alarm, I need to use a remote. So can I use the Harmony remote too, although the device is registered with the Hub?
Hey Reed, do you have any videos or instructions on howe to set up Alexa routines based on power usage ging through smart plugs?
Thanks Dave UK
I don’t. I’ll have to look into that.
i love my harmony until it doesnt want to select the inputs for the activities i pick.
Any tips on getting the Harmony Hub to definitively turn all devices off? Seems to get confused if something it turned on another way or manually
In the video it’s said “turn off all activities” (just before the 5 min mark) but never seen that option anywhere
Sorry I should have explained this better in the video. In the Google Assistant Routine I have it turn off all the Harmony Activities because I might not know which one is currently on. Here is a screenshot of it imgur.com/a/tOZIYSJ
Hi, I know that you already mentioned in one of your videos the smart outlet that you are using in your tv. But I don’t remember which one or in which video. Can you refresh my memory?
Thanks and thanks a lot for your videos
Thanks! Yeah no problem, it's the SmartThings outlet. It's really easy to add automations with it.
Smart Home Solver thanks a lot. I will try to :)
to see ring doorbell in your tv, you must have the fire tv?
Try Geeklink Thinker....
Great setup. :)
Im trying to copy your lights on / lights off feature when pausing / resuming a movie. Im using an echo dot instead of google home device. I created a routine as well and added my hue light bulbs to it without a problem.
But i cant find a way to add the pause command from my harmony hub. All i see are my harmony scenes (tv, blu ray, ...), but no possibility to execute a single command (like pause or resume).
Can you give me a hint how you achieved that?
Thanks. Yes it's going to be different in the Alexa routine because you can't give a single command. You can create two Harmony activities, one to pause and one to play. Call them in the Alexa routine under the "scene" section when creating the routine.
@@SmartHomeSolver Ah ok. Thanks for the quick response. I will give it a try. ;)
Works it on samsung tv? Please
I want to automate my tv with switchbot's hub mini and ST motion sensor. I will have to use ifttt to make all the complex automations. Help! Lol
How did you make notification to alexa that someone at front door?
How I wish you can create an AUTOMATION what's app group where we can be sharing ideas 🙏🙏
I’m new to this whole hub thing. How does the harmony hub compare to the other hubs that are out there?
Hi Timothy. The Harmony hub is specific to a universal remote with integration to some smart lighting systems (like Philips Hue - which requires its own hub) I know the whole "hub" thing is quite confusing, as most product brands require their own hub to control their own specific devices. Harmony does not have many competitors for this type of hub. They are one of the best universal remotes and the hub allows you to use that power to integrate devices. There are a few hubs that specifically try to communicate to other hubs so you only have to deal with one hub to control all your devices (ex: Samsung Smartthings hub or the Wink hub). The Harmony hub is one of the best for turning your "dumb" Audio/Video components "smart" and to be able to automated them with other hubs and smart devices. Hope this helped .
You can check out a video I did showing how the Harmony hub integrates with the SmartThings hub ruclips.net/video/IUJQmvN6kk8/видео.html that will help give you a better idea.
If you using android TV you should be using the ADB no need for harmony hub then
You'd be much better with a NVR and have a constant feed for all camera's. Example it automatically changes to another HDMI source with the camera showing.
How is your google assistant mounted in the kitchen by the outlet ?
That’s an echo dot but I have also mounted the google home mini the same way. Check out the video I did about it. ruclips.net/video/ZKoku6KFA1o/видео.html
Harmony can automatically turn on your PlayStation with a pdp device designed for this. I have it but can't remember the name of the device.
For the TV to show the camera, of you had a Nest Doorbell this would work with Android TV/Shield TV
Oh cool. Will show up automatically too?
the adding steps on the harmony is not reliable for me
Have you tried 2 TVs with harmony hub? I have 2 hubs but can’t work the TVs separately. In My living room tv I do everything you do on your video and I like it but I want to do the same in my master room tv
I only have tried one hub. I remember hearing about this and I thought I might have seen some solution to this on some forms recently. If I find anything I will let you know.
I have 3-4 hubs with the same number of remotes to operate different viewing areas of my house. They all have their own remote and work without issue. I can also switch hubs in the smartphone app to control any of them with my phone.
Brian Crounse Hi Brian do you mind tell me how you did it? Thanks
@@johnnygoni7402 in the Harmony smartphone app, you can add another hub to your account and you would set that one up the same way. The remote then pairs with that hub and follows the setup from that hub. I don't recall anything special I did. What issues are you having?
Brian Crounse Both of your hubs are under the same account?
Is there a way to bring up a Ring camera on the TV through an Xbox One?
tech_gear nope, just the fire tv
Its not possible to add harmony to Google if language is set to Norwegian. 😖But still worth it since it works so well with smartthings and even by itself.
would this work with Alexa instead of Google as well ?
You can control the harmony hub with Alexa. You could do everything but it will just be different to set up.
If this is a cheaper way of doing it then what is the more expensive way ? lol i probably am better off just guessing at that one. This way seems expensive enough what with the Ring doorbell and the lighting etc.
Yeah the Ring doorbell is a nice extra but the rest of the stuff is about $100. You can definitely spend a lot more doing similar automations.
How long did you take to set it up?
Not sure about total time spent because I had set up some stuff a while ago. Setting everything up with the Harmony hub could take an hour if you are adding a bunch of devices. That's just the initial set up though and adding some automatons on top of it wouldn't take that long.
Scary dude at 00:25 ha!
How have you been able to have pause TV recognised in the routines on google?
I just say a phrase like “pause show” and then in the google routine I have it run a command “pause tv” which calls the harmony hub to pause so I can bundle other things to happen at the same time. I could just say “hey google pause tv” and the tv would just pause using the harmony hub.
I see. With Alexa, I dont believe she can run Harmony Commands in routines, only run Scenes which run Activities. Unless someone can tell me otherwise.
Wish I could fully set my automation I work days and wife works nights so stuff is always on
(Preface: I am Canadian) With covid is swing....and PRO sports starting up in ( Parrot voice) PLAYOFFS!!! [*Referrence to that football coach sound clip] well Hockey and NBA. But really HOCKEY.
Here is my Challenge:
How using Alexa or GH and back lights on a TV can you make it. So then when your watching your team play. And they score. That your back lights flash red like a goal lamp? In near real time. Much like one of those budweiser goal lamps.
And Go!
Seriously....GO!
You're not even opening up your emergency smart home manual.
And.....GO!
My Google Assistant keeps kicking my devices off. Saying they're offline And I have a hell of a time trying to get them back together to start working again. There's no way I would try to start working with the Harmony hub I'd be pulling my hair out
I would turn everything off...you lost me at hey google.lol. Good video!
"for cheap"
- Harmony hub: 130€
- Fire Tv Stick: 40€
- Ring doorbell: 160€
You need to spend at least 170€ or more for this all to work, not including the doorbell or all the lights and plugs you'd need lol.
If you have a samsung smart tv, you can see if the tv is on or off without that smart plug
A TV in general is one of the worst investments in a house. In the last years they have changed from bulb to LED, LED to Plasma, Plasma to OLED, stupid to intelligent but no clear standard(?) and never receive updates. Normal screen to HD, HD to UHD, analog to digital, and we can go on and on.
I only invest in a good monitor with good resolution for the coming years and leave all the rest to add-on devices and streaming.
So in short, never buy a TV again. Let every function(smart dongle, speakers, remote controls etc) be independant and upgradable!
Broadlink is much cheaper and easier to set
"Why not make my life easier and let the machine do it?" That is the reason why people are so fat and ill. Don't get me wrong. I like making my house more automatic too but eventually it will backfire at me somehow.
get a nest doorbell, problem solved
@11 11 you can call up the nest hello doorbell video via google home to a tv with chromecast