Have the remote entity start an activity.

[georgejolliffe]

I've been testing with how best to pass my remote 3 into HomeKit so I can use Siri to start/stop activities. The easiest way to do this is by using HomeKit bridge (in accessory mode) to pass in the remote entity (remote.remote_3_remote).

This then exposes itself as a TV in HomeKit with each activity exposed as a 'source input':

If an activity is already running, I can then used this TV in HomeKit to change activities and turn off activities. The trouble is, this entity can't be used to start an activity.

I realise there are other options by exposing switches etc, but none are as clean (for HomeKit) as updating this integration to allow the remote entity to trigger an Activity to start.

Might this be possible?

[TrialMaster]

I use WoL @JackJPowell did mention this is not required when the activities are exposed in HA but they don’t wake the Remote 2 for me.

[georgejolliffe]

Thanks for the comment @TrialMaster but it's not quite what i'm asking in this case...

This Entiry:

Can be used to change activities and turn an activity off but not start an activity. If it supported turing on of an activity it would make exposing the remote to HomeKit much easier which is helpful for me for using Siri.

WoL enchnaces this if the remote is in a sleeping state (though it's not supported on R3 just yet I understand).

[georgejolliffe]

@JackJPowell might this be possible?

[JackJPowell]

I like this idea but I'm not sure how it will work... Turning off activities work because it turns them all off. But for On, how do you specify which one to start?

[TrialMaster]

I can start an Activity via the Controls, switch Activities toggle. Would the 'State attributes' template function achieve the outcome the OP is after in Homekit


?

[georgejolliffe]

If @TrialMaster's comments don't help, even assuming a single default is an improvement in my mind. I feel like that's how it worked with Harmony via HomeBridge i was using before.

Turning on could be locked to the most commonly used activity then switching could happen after.

My 'workflow' is basic because I mostly only use Siri for turning on and off just to save a little time when entering or exiting the room. All controling is done via the remote.

And I of course realise this basic 'on' and 'off' is easy to achieve by passing other entities but this method would be more graceful.

[JackJPowell]

@georgejolliffe, coming in the next release:

ignore my test activity names

[georgejolliffe]

Super nice @JackJPowell

appreciated

[JackJPowell]

https://github.com/JackJPowell/hass-unfoldedcircle/releases/tag/v0.17.0

It's a beta release in HACS but if you have those enabled, give it a shot.

[georgejolliffe]

Works exactly as expected @JackJPowell. Thanks so much.

Now I just need WoWL for the remote 3 :-)