Recommendation for gateway?

[IngmarStein]

Are there any recommended gateway devices other than unused phones or tablets? Has anyone tried https://casambi.com/ecosystem/lithernet-casambi-gateway/ or knows other solutions?

[awahlig]

From what I understand reading the description, the Lithernet Gateway provides access to Casambi over several IP-based protocols. I'm not sure that it can also work as an Internet Gateway which is what this plugin needs. Note that it's possible that those protocols could be used for HomeKit integration but that's outside of scope of the Casambi API and this plugin.

There's this, however: https://casambi.com/ecosystem/holders-ble-gateway/

Personally I have only tested Android and iOS devices running the app.

I agree that a dedicated gateway device would be preferred. Most of the problems reported by users turn out to be issues with the gateway and difficulties in making the app run constantly in the background.

[IngmarStein]

Yeah, I saw the Holders product, but it's a) prohibitively expensive and not widely available (I found one shop which sells it for 580 €) b) potentially insecure: "The BLE-Gateway runs on Android version 6, which is no longer supported by Android. Therefore, users are advised to consider any security implications when hosting this device within their network." (from https://www.holderstechnology.com/wireless-lighting-control/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/01/BLE-GATEWAY-Datasheet.pdf).

I think a combination of Gateway and free API would make for a workable permanent solution. Even better would be a local bridge which translates HomeKit <-> Casambi which wouldn't require internet access, but it seems unwanted by Casambi.

[gbbr]

I'm looking forward to using this plugin! It's been a pain trying to get Hue & all my other Homekit systems to work nicely together via Siri. This would be a blessing! I'm in the process of setting things up: Homebridge, e-mailed Casambi to get API key (hopefully the prices in the future won't be crazy 🤞🏻).

Since the last comment on this issue, does anyone know of any good gateway to use at home?

[gbbr]

It seems it is possible to install Android on a Raspberry PI. This would potentially allow installing the Casambi app and running it as a Gateway. Has anyone tried this?

[nkapila6]

I'm gonna try this, should be pretty easy to do. Will report back with results.

[nkapila6]

Totally forgot to update this!

This works well on a RPi4. I used Emteria's Android build so you can remotely look login into the RPi4 too.

However, I face problems with the RPi4 BT antenna. It's very finicky. I don't think this is OS related but more on a hardware level since I'm using it with an external case... let me experiment more.

Another option would be to buy a USB-BT antenna and then somehow tell Android to use this external antenna instead of the in-built one.

[bandidobrent]

I have the same issue using an RPi 5 to run the Emteria build as well. The BT connection is easily disrupted and I lose connection to Casambi all the time.

I'm considering running an Android VM through Proxmox as a possible option for a gateway solution. Has any one else tried this yet?

[nkapila6]

Did you try this @bandidobrent? Or any enhancements on the Pi to have better control on BT?

[bandidobrent]

@nkapila6 I am still in the process of setting up the proxmox rig (been sidetracked as of late.) Hopefully in the next few days I will get a chance to run some tests and see what I can make work

[nkapila6]

Look forward to hear back soon 😊