Configuring IKEA Fyrtur ZigBee Blinds with Direct Control

General
1

After struggling with the Tradfri Gateway’s reliability, I decided to switch to direct OpenHAB control for my IKEA Fyrtur blinds. Here’s how I made it work!

Setup Overview:

  • Hardware: IKEA Fyrtur Blinds, Tradfri Signal Repeater, Tradfri Open/Close Remote
  • Controller: Nortek GoControl HUSBZB-1
  • OpenHAB Version: 3.2.0-1

Steps I Took:

  1. Device Binding:

    • Started with the Signal Repeater. It showed up as an ‘Unknown ZigBee Device’ initially but was identified after a few seconds.
    • Added the blinds next. They were a bit tricky but eventually paired successfully.
    • The remote was the most challenging. I had to press the reset button multiple times and place it directly on the repeater for about 10 minutes until it connected.

  2. Console Magic:

    • Collected the IEEE addresses of each device from their Thing pages.
    • Converted these addresses to network node numbers using the zigbee nodes command.
    • Verified the remote’s firmware version to ensure it was compatible with direct control.

  3. Binding the Remote:

    • Used the OpenHAB console to bind the remote directly to the blinds using the zigbee bind command.
    • Tested the setup, and voilà! The remote now controls the blinds without needing OpenHAB in the loop.

Benefits of This Setup:

  • Reliability: No more gateway crashes. The system is more robust now.
  • Direct Control: Even if OpenHAB goes down, the blinds can still be operated manually.
  • Simplicity: No need for complex rules or message parsing on the OpenHAB side.

Challenges Faced:

  • The remote pairing process was frustratingly time-consuming.
  • Initial setup required some command-line comfort, which might be daunting for beginners.

Tips for Others:

  • Ensure all devices are on the latest firmware before attempting direct control.
  • Be patient with the remote pairing. It might take several tries.
  • Familiarize yourself with the OpenHAB console commands for smoother troubleshooting.

If anyone has questions or runs into issues, feel free to ask! I’m happy to help where I can.

Final Thoughts:
This setup has been a game-changer for my smart home. The ability to control the blinds directly from the remote, even without OpenHAB, gives me peace of mind. It’s a great example of how OpenHAB’s flexibility can solve real-world problems!

Happy automating everyone! :rocket: