Hi everyone, I’m really excited to share my latest project and see if I can get some feedback or suggestions from the community. I’ve been diving into the world of home automation, and one of my favorite areas is integrating my home theater setup with smart devices.
I recently came across the Bitwise Controls BC4X1 remote control, and I have to say, the graphical layout and customization options are amazing. However, I’ve always been a fan of Home Assistant for its robust device connectivity and automation capabilities. The idea of combining these two has been on my mind, and I thought I’d document my journey here.
The Goal
My aim is to use the Bitwise remote to send hex codes or string commands to Home Assistant, which would then trigger specific automations. The plan is to send two types of commands: one to specify the device I want to control and another for the actual command. For example, I could send a hex code to turn on my projector or adjust the volume on my soundbar.
Current Setup
I’ve already set up the serial communication between the Bitwise remote and my Raspberry Pi. Here’s what my configuration.yaml looks like:
yaml
sensor:
- platform: serial
serial_port: /dev/ttyUSB0
name: bitwise1
baudrate: 19200
bytesize: 8
parity: N
stopbits: 1
xonxoff: false
rtscts: false
dsrdtr: false
I’m using a baud rate of 19200 with N/8/1 settings, and I’ve configured the terminator as “0D”. The next step is to figure out how to set up the template to accept these hex codes and trigger the right automations.
Questions and Thoughts
- Command Structure: Should I stick with sending two separate hex codes (device ID and command) or use a string separated by a delimiter like
/or - Triggering Automations: How can I ensure that Home Assistant recognizes these incoming commands and executes the corresponding actions?
- Future Enhancements: I’d love to expand this to include more devices and perhaps even create a custom UI for easier control.
Why This Matters to Me
This integration would not only enhance my home theater experience but also serve as a great learning opportunity. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the community approaches similar projects and if there are any best practices or tips I can incorporate.
If anyone has experience with serial communication in Home Assistant or has successfully integrated a custom remote control, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Let’s brainstorm together and make this project a success. 
