SmartHome Automation Success Story: Goodnight Routine Setup

General
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I wanted to share my experience setting up a ‘Goodnight’ automation routine in my smart home. It’s been a game-changer for me, especially since I’m part of an on-call rotation for work. Here’s how I did it:

The Problem:
I often forget to disable my phone’s silence mode, which has led to missed calls during my on-call shifts. I wanted a way to automate the setup so I wouldn’t have to think about it every night.

The Solution:
I decided to use Home Assistant (HA) combined with Tasker on my Android phone. Here’s a breakdown of the steps:

  1. Calendar Integration:

    • I created an all-day calendar event in Google Calendar titled “ONCALL”. This event runs from Friday 8 am until the following Friday at 8 am. I’ve scheduled all my on-call events for the year in this calendar.

  2. HA Sensor Setup:

    • I set up a sensor in HA to detect the “ONCALL” event in my Google Calendar. This sensor turns ON when the event is active.

  3. Automation Flow:

    • Every night, I run a ‘Goodnight’ script which turns off all the lights and switches. As part of this script, it also turns ON an input_boolean called “oncall_mode” for 1 minute.

  4. Push Notification:

    • When the input_boolean turns ON, HA sends a PushBullet notification to my phone with the message: “Keith, you are on call tonight. Setup call forward”.

  5. Tasker Automation:

    • Tasker on my phone monitors for this specific PushBullet notification. When it receives the message, it automatically dials the Verizon call forward number to direct calls to my landline.

  6. Morning Routine:

    • To ensure call forwarding is turned off in the morning, HA sends another PushBullet notification at 8 am on days I’m on call. Tasker then dials the number to disable call forwarding.

Why This Works:

  • Hands-off Operation: Once set up, this routine runs automatically without needing manual intervention.
  • Integration: Combining HA with Tasker allows for powerful automation that wouldn’t be possible with either system alone.
  • Customization: The use of Google Calendar makes it easy to manage my on-call schedule throughout the year.

Tips for Others:

  • Start Small: Begin with a simple automation and gradually add complexity as you become more comfortable.
  • Test Thoroughly: Make sure each part of your automation works as expected before relying on it.
  • Backup Plan: Have a manual override in case something goes wrong.

I hope this helps someone looking to streamline their smart home setup! Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for improvement. :blush: