It started with wanting to control lights from my phone. It turned into automating most of my apartment. Here’s what I’m running and how it works.
Devices
- Amazon Alexa — in every room, handles voice control for most devices
- Home Assistant — running in a VM on my Dell server, handles complex automations and scripts
- Broadlink RM4 Pro — RF/IR bridge for roller blinds and non-smart appliances
- Philips Hue & Govee — mood lighting, synced to specific routines
- Roborock vacuum, Resideo thermostat, and AC units
- Smart roller blinds — controlled via Broadlink RF
Cameras and a Yale smart lock are next on the list.
How Alexa and Home Assistant Work Together
Alexa handles most of the voice layer, but Home Assistant is where the logic lives. Automations run based on GPS location, outside weather, and custom scripts. When I leave, motion sensors activate and all roller blinds close. When I get back, the blinds open, temperature adjusts based on outside conditions, and night lights turn on along the path through the apartment.
Automations
Morning and Night Routines
Good Morning opens the blinds to a set level to bring in natural light. Good Night shuts off all lights, closes the blinds, and sets everything up for sleep. Both run on schedule and don’t require any manual input.
Movie and Gaming Time
Movie Time: living room blinds close, TV turns on to Netflix, soundbar switches to cinema mode, AC turns on in summer, ambient lighting around the TV adjusts.
Gaming Time: same setup, but the TV input switches to PlayStation 5 and the lighting shifts accordingly.
Security
Motion sensors activate when I leave. If anything unusual happens — significant temperature change, unexpected motion — I get a notification through both Alexa and Home Assistant.
Integrating Broadlink RM4 Pro with Alexa
Step 1: Set Up the RM4 Pro
Download the Broadlink app, connect the device to your Wi-Fi, and register it in the app.
Step 2: Learn RF Signals
In the app, go to Add Remote → RF Appliance. Put it in learning mode, press the button on your original remote, and save the code. Test it before moving on.
Step 3: Connect to Alexa
Enable the Broadlink skill in the Alexa app, link your Broadlink account, and let Alexa discover the devices. After that, voice commands like “Alexa, close the blinds” work out of the box.
Running Linux Scripts from Home Assistant
The trickiest part was getting Home Assistant to execute shell commands over SSH based on my GPS location. I use this to control server fan speeds remotely — slower when I’m home, faster when I’m away.
/root/homeassistant/configuration.yaml:
#!/bin/bash# Adjust server fan speed based on external temperatureshell_command: set_fans_home: 'ssh -i /config/ssh/id_rsa -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no root@10.10.10.10 /usr/bin/ipmitool -I lanplus -H 10.10.10.200 -U root -P SuperSecretPassword raw 0x30 0x30 0x02 0xff 0x14' set_fans_away: 'ssh -i /config/ssh/id_rsa -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no root@10.10.10.10 /usr/bin/ipmitool -I lanplus -H 10.10.10.200 -U root -P SuperSecretPassword raw 0x30 0x30 0x02 0xff 0x28'