Actually, I have wanted to try out smart home appliances for a while now. However, my current appliances are all fixed and do not have built-in internet connectivity. It would require additional engineering work to convert them into smart devices, which is not easily achievable.
So, I thought, what if I could have a device that connects to Wi-Fi and sends infrared signals to control lights, TV, air conditioning, and so on? I did some research online and found that such devices do exist, and there are quite a few related products available.
This time, I bought the eRemote mini introduced by LinkJapan.
The process is quite simple. After plugging in the device, I downloaded the corresponding app and used the remote control to teach the device the corresponding signals. That's basically it.
Hmm, but after buying it, I realized that this device is a bit too small. Sometimes, if it is too far away, it may not receive the infrared signals. After all, it uses infrared, and signals can be obstructed by obstacles. So, extra caution is needed when choosing the placement.
Since it can be operated directly through the app, I can turn on the air conditioning or lights before coming home, and I can also adjust them directly from my bed when I want to sleep.
But what I really want is for Google Home to take care of all this for me. So, next, I will explain how to integrate it with Google Home.
The method is also simple. In the Google Home app, find the option "eHome" and enter the username and password. The principle is actually quite simple. It sends signals to eHome within the same Wi-Fi LAN, and eHome then sends the corresponding infrared signals. However, currently, only lights can be controlled.
With this setup, when I need to go out, I just need to say to Google Home, "行ってきます" (I'm leaving), and it will automatically turn off the lights. When I come back, I just need to say "ただいま" (I'm back), and it will turn on the lights. I can also say "晩安" (good night) to Google Home to turn off the lights. I can even directly say "電気をつけてください" (Turn on the lights) or "消してください" (Turn off the lights) to operate the appliances.
Afterword
The disadvantage of using infrared is that the signals can be easily interfered with by obstacles. In the place where I currently live, there are partitions, and if the door is closed, the signals cannot be received at all. If stability is really important, using Wi-Fi might be a better choice.