Raspberry Pi Homebridge Setup

Raspberry Pi Homebridge Setup.md

Based on the Raspberry Pi instructions here

First install dependencies:

Switch to newer GCC as default:

sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/gcc gcc /usr/bin/gcc-4.9 60 --slave /usr/bin/g++ g++ /usr/bin/g++-4.9

Install LibAvahi-dev:

sudo apt-get install libavahi-compat-libdnssd-dev

Install Homebridge itself

sudo npm install -g --unsafe-perm homebridge node-gyp

Install common dependency for bluetooth plugins

sudo apt-get install bluetooth bluez libbluetooth-dev libudev-dev
npm install -g noble

We also need to grant Node permission to control Bluetooth LE advertising without sudo:

sudo setcap cap_net_raw+eip $(eval readlink -f `which node`)

Or when using the python version, grant bluepy-helper permission:

cd /usr/local/lib/python3.4/dist-packages/bluepy
cd /srv/homeassistant/lib/python3.4/site-packages/bluepy
sudo setcap 'cap_net_raw,cap_net_admin+eip' bluepy-helper

Install Superlights package

npm install -g homebridge-superlights

Install Bluetooth package and dependencies (TODO: WIP)

npm install -g homebridge-bluetooth

Reverse-engineering bluetooth messages to lightbulb

First, use the official application to control the bulb while examining the characteristics in a tool such as:

• Gatt-IP
• LightBlue
• nRF Connect

Note down the readable characteristics before/after changing a value. Repeat until a single characteristic is identified for the desired property.

$ sudo hcitool lescan
LE Scan ...
68:9E:19:05:2D:2D (unknown)
68:9E:19:05:2D:2D (unknown)
51:57:2F:16:E9:35 (unknown)
51:57:2F:16:E9:35 (unknown)

Pick out bluetooth address of bulb

$ sudo gatttool -I
> connect 68:9E:19:05:2D:2D
> primary
attr handle: 0x0001, end grp handle: 0x000b uuid: 00001800-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb
attr handle: 0x000c, end grp handle: 0x000f uuid: 00001801-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb
attr handle: 0x0010, end grp handle: 0x0022 uuid: 0000180a-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb
attr handle: 0x0023, end grp handle: 0xffff uuid: 0000ffb0-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb
Notification handle = 0x002e value: 21 04 98 1e 37 00 72

> characteristics
[snip]
handle: 0x0024, char properties: 0x0e, char value handle: 0x0025, uuid: 0000ffb1-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb
handle: 0x0026, char properties: 0x1e, char value handle: 0x0027, uuid: 0000ffb2-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb
[...]

Now:

• Look for the uuid matching line from spreadsheet
• Get char value handle for that characteristic (0x0027)

> char-write-cmd 0x0027 d0ff0000
> disconnect
$ exit

Set up Homebridge config files

mkdir ~/.homebridge
cp /opt/nodejs/lib/node_modules/homebridge/config_sample.json ~/.homebridge

Create an example config file

The homebridge-bluetooth repository contains some examples which show how to configure Bluetooth accessories. A simple example for an RGB LED strip is:

{
  "bridge": {
    "name": "Raspberry Pi Zero",
    "username": "CC:22:3D:E3:CE:30",
    "port": 51826,
    "pin": "012-34-567"
  },
  "description": "Raspberry Pi Zero Homebridge",

  "platforms": [
    {
      "platform": "Bluetooth",
      "accessories": [
        {
          "name": "Desk Arduino",
          "name_note": "Arduino on the desk connected to the RGB light strip",
          "address": "12:34:56:78:90:AB",
          "services": [
            {
              "name": "Desk Lights",
              "name_note": "RGB light strip along the back of the desk, providing monitor backlighting",
              "type": "Lightbulb",
              "UUID": "A7B10010-EEEE-5377-FF6C-D104768A1214",

              "characteristics": [
                {
                  "type": "On",
                  "UUID": "57E54BF1-8574-47BE-9C1D-A0DBFC8FA183"
                }, {
                  "type": "Brightness",
                  "UUID": "57E54BF2-8574-47BE-9C1D-A0DBFC8FA183"
                }, {
                  "type": "Saturation",
                  "UUID": "857E54BF3-8574-47BE-9C1D-A0DBFC8FA183"
                }, {
                  "type": "Hue",
                  "UUID": "857E54BF4-8574-47BE-9C1D-A0DBFC8FA183"
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Setting Homebridge to run at startup

All the above should be tested by manually starting homebridge until the desired config is reached. Once configured, see here or here.