I think MQTT is my Solution.....

300BlkPlinker
Posts: 33
Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2014 11:58 am

I think MQTT is my Solution.....

Post by 300BlkPlinker »

I have my Indigo server with Insteon and Z-Wave in my house. I also have a well network connected Barn and Stable via network fiber. Running Z-wave devices in Barn (closer to house than stable) with poor results. I'm currently using multiple Zooz Extenders so they are seen in the Device list, just don't respond to commands consistently. I am assuming MQTT setup in the barn (and stable) can expand my reach of z-wave devices over my network. I set up a pi(running Ubuntu) with MQTT and Mosquitto, attached Zooz ZST39LR. I can use MQTT explorer on another Mac and pub to pi with this tool fine. Installed MQTT Connector & Shims. The new connector shows green in Device list so that all appears to have gone to plan. I'm stumped on next steps. How do I take potentially a dozen z-wave devices in Barn and talk back via Z-Wave(pi with ZST39LR) across network to Mac Mini running Indigo in house? Do I have to set up some connection for every Z-Wave device in Barn (and in future Stable with another ZST39LR/pi device)? I feel like I'm over thinking this. Please help me with next step.
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FlyingDiver
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Joined: Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:36 am
Location: Southwest Florida, USA

Re: I think MQTT is my Solution.....

Post by FlyingDiver »

Honestly, I would run Home Assistant on an rPi in the Barn, with Z-wave. Then use Home Assistant Agent to bring those devices into Indigo. Much easier to use than MQTT.
joe (aka FlyingDiver)
my plugins: http://forums.indigodomo.com/viewforum.php?f=177
300BlkPlinker
Posts: 33
Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2014 11:58 am

Re: I think MQTT is my Solution.....

Post by 300BlkPlinker »

Well that suggestion coming from the person that created the MQTT plugins say a lot. Time to learn Home Assistant since I have been able to solve my needs with Indigo up to this point. Appreciate the feedback and direction.
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FlyingDiver
Posts: 7830
Joined: Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:36 am
Location: Southwest Florida, USA

Re: I think MQTT is my Solution.....

Post by FlyingDiver »

MQTT is great for IoT devices that support MQTT as their primary interface. But using it as middleware between systems that aren't native MQTT is a lot more work than some of the alternatives. Setting up HA on an rPi is really easy, you can flash the HA image onto the SD card, plug it in, and immediately connect to the web interface. Then use the HA tools to install and configure Z-Wave.

Then use my Home Assistant Agent plugin to configure Indigo devices that are "agents" for the HA entities.
joe (aka FlyingDiver)
my plugins: http://forums.indigodomo.com/viewforum.php?f=177
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