Hi all, I wanted to share my recent experience integrating my BenQ W1070+ projector with my smart home setup using openHAB. It’s been a fascinating journey, and I’d love to hear if anyone else has tackled similar challenges!
I’ve been using a Harmony Hub to control my projector, soundbar, and various HDMI sources. While the one-way IR communication works fine, I stumbled upon the BenQ binding for openHAB and was intrigued by the possibility of lamp timer monitoring and source selection. Plus, it offers a bidirectional interface, which is a huge plus!
To connect my projector to the network, I built a simple WLAN to RS232 bridge using an ESP8266 module. The cost was under €5, and I didn’t even need to solder or program it—just a quick setup with some online guides. The binding works as expected, but there’s one hiccup: the IR receiver seems to switch off when the projector is in standby mode. This means the Harmony Hub can’t turn it back on, which is a bit of a nuisance.
I’ve tried creating a rule to detect when the projector is needed and switch it on via RS232, but it feels like an unnecessary workaround. I’m wondering if there’s a more universal way to send serial commands, especially to activate the IR port. The commands I’ve found so far are:
Write Remote Receiver-front *rr=f#
Write Remote Receiver-rear *rr=r#
Read Remote Receiver Status *rr=?#
Has anyone else encountered this issue or found a solution? I’d love to hear if there’s a smarter way to handle this without adding extra steps. If not, I might need to dive deeper into the binding or look for alternative methods to keep everything seamless.
On a positive note, the ESP8266 setup has been a game-changer for me, and I’m excited to explore more integrations. If anyone has tips or experiences to share, I’d be grateful to hear them!
Cheers,
Chris
P.S. Sorry for any typos—I’m still getting the hang of this!