OpenHAB Integration / Alexa Integration

OpenHAB is a vendor and technology agnostic open source automation software for your home. It allows you to integrate a wide range of devices and technologies, including NextCP/2 media.

NextCP/2 can be integrated into OpenHAB to control media playback, volume, and other features through a unified interface. This integration allows you to use voice commands via Amazon Alexa to control your NextCP/2 instance.

Installation

The easiest way to install OpenHAB is by using a docker image. After installation go to Settings -> Add-on Store -> Bindings and add the http binding. Then continue with the configuration of the Amazon Alexa Smart Home Skill.

Thing Configuration

Configuration steps

• Go to Settings -> Things and add a thing by pressing the plus sign.
• Click on http binding
• Click on HTTP URL Thing
• Set label to ‘NextCP2’, location to ‘server'
• 'base-url’ must point to your NextCP/2 installation : http://192.168.1.5:8085/SimpleDeviceControl. Change host and port according to your configuration.

Power (ON/OFF) Channel Configuration

Go to NextCP/2 window and identify the device you want to control in the “App Settings” and copy the DEVICE_UUID. Go back to OpenHAB window.

Configuration steps

• Click on the new added thing and click on channels.
• Click on add channel.
• Select Switch-Channel.
• Configure the channel by adding a label like “Amplifier Power”.
• Enter for “command url extension” /standby/DEVICE_UUID/%2$s
• Enter for “status url extension” /standby/DEVICE_UUID
• Enter for “ON value” false
• Enter for “OFF value” true
• SAVE
• In the channel overview. Identify the new created channel “Amplifier Power” and click on “Add link to item”
• Click on “create new item”. Choose an identifying name that will be used in Alexa later like “Amplifier”. Click on “link”.

Radio player configuration

Go to NextCP/2 window and identify the device you want to control in the “App Settings” and remember the DEVICE_UUID. Then identify the Radio station by clicking on “Radio” url encode the radio label and remember it. It is sufficient to copy only the first parts of the radio station label, that uniquely identifies the radio station. Go back to OpenHAB window.

Configuration steps

• Click on the new added thing and click on channels.
• Click on add channel.
• Select Player channel.
• Configure the channel by adding a label like “Play Radio FFN”.
• Enter for “mode” WRITE ONLY
• Enter for “playValue” playDefaultRadio/[DEVICE_UDN]/[RADIO_NAME_URL_ENCODED]
• Enter for “pauseValue” pauseRadio/[DEVICE_UDN]
• Enter for “commandExtension” %2$s
• SAVE
• In the channel overview. Identify the new created channel “Play Radio” and click on “Add link to item”
• Click on “create new item”. Choose an identifying name that will be used in Alexa later like “PLAY FFN”. Click on “link”.

OpenHab NextCP/2 Thing configuration

Change the baseURL, DEVICE_UDN and RADIO_NAME according to your setup.

UID: http:url:464b7fb4a0
label: NexctCP/2
thingTypeUID: http:url
configuration:
  authMode: BASIC
  ignoreSSLErrors: false
  baseURL: http://192.168.112.5:8085/SimpleDeviceControl
  delay: 0
  stateMethod: GET
  refresh: 30
  commandMethod: GET
  contentType: application/json
  timeout: 3000
  bufferSize: 2048
location: Server
channels:
  - id: last-failure
    channelTypeUID: http:request-date-time
    label: Last Failure
    configuration: {}
  - id: last-success
    channelTypeUID: http:request-date-time
    label: Last Success
    configuration: {}
  - id: McIntosh_Standby_State
    channelTypeUID: http:switch
    label: McIntosh Standby
    description: ""
    configuration:
      onValue: "false"
      offValue: "true"
      stateExtension: /standby/4c494e4e-3d9b-11e1-b86c-0016e808df4b
      commandExtension: /standby/4c494e4e-3d9b-11e1-b86c-0016e808df4b/%2$s
  - id: Play_Radio_FFN
    channelTypeUID: http:player
    label: Play Radio FFN
    description: ""
    configuration:
      mode: WRITEONLY
      playValue: playDefaultRadio/4c494e4e-3d9b-11e1-b86c-0016e808df4b/103.1%20%7C%20radio%20ffn
      pauseValue: pauseRadio/4c494e4e-3d9b-11e1-b86c-0016e808df4b
      commandExtension: "%2$s"

Item / Alexa integration

Configuration steps

• Click on Settings -> Items
• Select the create Power ON/OFF item.
• Click “Add Metadata”
• Select “Amazon Alexa”

Rules

Rules can be used to further customization. Let’s say if OpenHAB receives the POWER ON command for the amplifier (i.e. from Alexa), it should also play radio energy.

Configuration steps

• Click on Settings -> Rules
• Give a label
• For “When” click “Add Trigger”
• select the “Amplifier Power” item
• For “COMMAND” enter “ON”
• Press save
• For “Then” click “Add Action”
• select the “Play Radio Energy” item
• For “COMMAND” enter “PLAY”
• Press save

Test it

Now, the Amplifier should be visible in Alexa-App. You should be able to say “Alexa, power on Amplifier”. As a result, your device should power on and Radio Energy should be played.