I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of seamlessly integrating my Android TV with Home Assistant. After some research and experimentation, I managed to achieve this using MQTT and Tasker! Here’s how I did it:
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Setup MQTT Broker: I use Mosquitto running on my Raspberry Pi. Setting up the MQTT broker was straightforward, and there are plenty of guides available if you’re new to this.
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Install Necessary Apps: I downloaded Tasker and the MQTT Client app on my phone. These apps are essential for sending and receiving MQTT messages to control my Android TV.
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Configure MQTT Client: After installing MQTT Client on my Android TV, I configured it to connect to my MQTT broker. This involved entering the broker’s IP address and port number.
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Tasker Profiles: I created two Tasker profiles. The first profile listens for MQTT messages and runs specific applications on my Android TV. The second profile sends the name of the currently running application back to Home Assistant.
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Integration with Home Assistant: I added an MQTT sensor to my Home Assistant configuration to monitor the application running on my Android TV. This allows me to see what’s playing and control it from within Home Assistant.
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Testing: Everything worked perfectly on the first try! I can now start Netflix or any other app directly from Home Assistant, and it automatically updates with the current app running.
This integration has significantly enhanced my smart home setup. I’m thrilled with how Tasker and MQTT have bridged the gap between my Android TV and Home Assistant. If you’re looking to achieve similar functionality, I highly recommend exploring MQTT and Tasker!