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[APP] Motion Blinds

Apps
#1

DISCOVER MOTION BLINDS
MOTION Blinds is a groundbreaking window covering automation solution that makes motorized blinds available to everyone. The blinds are super easy to install and can be operated from anywhere, in any way. Discover the endless options to find the solution that fits your requirements.

SMART WINDOW COVERINGS
Smart window coverings automatically adapt to your daily rhythm and to natural elements, such as temperature and daylight. Even when you are away from home. This makes your smart home safer, more comfortable and more energy efficient. Discover the endless possibilities of MOTION Blinds.

USAGE
To connect your MOTION devices to Homey, you must have a WIFI bridge in your home network that can control up to 30 different blinds. The bridge is configured with the blinds you need by using the official MOTION Blinds app. Homey communicates with one or more of these bridges to control the devices connected to them. You can also link the blinds to a remote. Note that remotes are a useful addition to MOTION devices but cannot be added directly to the bridge or Homey. The remote controls the blind directly, and the blind reports what is happening back to the bridge and Homey.

In order for Homey to be allowed to send commands to the bridge, it needs a key. The key can be configured in the Homey MOTION app settings. You will find instructions there on how to obtain the key.

AVAILABILITY
ROBB Smarrt is a quality home brand of ROBBshop.nl. It features various MOTION Blinds products, among which is a MOTION motor that can be applied to almost any existing rollerblind. Simply remove the original chain control, insert the rechargeable motor in the original rollerblind tube and mount the blind using the provided materials. The end result is almost impossible to differentiate from a normal, non-motorized rollerblind.

What you need to get started is the Rollerblind motor, the Wifi bridge and optionally the Remote.

CODE
The app code can be found on GitHub.
This app is also available in the Community Store.
It was made in my spare time, sponsored by ROBBShop.
If you like the app, consider buying me a beer: Donate.

3 Likes
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#2

RELEASE NOTES

Version 1.0.10

  • Fixed a (rare) crash while adding membership to Socket.

Version 1.0.9

  • Support for periodical state refresh (currently 4x a day)
  • Made driver more generic
  • Optional setting for bridge IP address.

Version 1.0.8

  • Fixed battery percentages.

Version 1.0.7

  • Added extra logging and error handling
  • Added debug option to only use multicast.

Version 1.0.6

  • Added flow conditions for fully open/close positions
  • Blocking alarm no longer activates zone activity
  • Hints for block/unblock flow cards.

Version 1.0.5

  • Bolder icon lines in style with new Homey design.

Version 1.0.4

  • Removed faulty formatting on flow cards and applied branding.

Version 1.0.3

  • Implemented debug setting that logs all messages
  • A blocked blind will now allow to go to the open position from the slider as well
  • Small textual changes.

Version 1.0.2

  • Added advanced device setting for window sensor that blocks the curtain from closing, including flow cards
  • Added advanced device setting for maximum traveltime
  • Added advanced device setting if a blind is part of a remote group to reduce system load and increase performance.

Version 1.0.1

  • Support for venetian blinds (tilt)
  • Support for curtains
  • Automatic selection of capabilities
  • Tile now shows open/closed status when possible
  • Added signal strength capability
  • Better synchronisation between up/down and slider
  • Fixed state changes to curtain slider when triggered from a flow.

Version 1.0.0

  • Initial release.
#3

Know the problem that you can’t roll down a rollerblind when the window is open, because the window opens inward? Be sure to check the advanced device settings in the app. With this and some simple extra flows you can prevent the blinds from rolling down when a window contact sensor is armed. And the best thing is, it also works when the device is directly controlled through the app or Google Home! See post #4 for instructions.

#4

To implement the feature from post #3 to block a blind from opening when the window is open, adjust the advanced settings of the blind:

image
image1093×458 86.1 KB

Then make flows like this to copy the alarm state of your window to the blind:

In the web app it will look like this when the blind is blocked from operation: image

#9

TODO

  • Support for Top Down Bottom Up blinds. Implemented a proof of concept and currently testing it on two beautiful units I received from Coulisse. :smiley: The version is available for testing in the Homey app store.
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#10

I installed 3 Motion blinds last Monday. They work correctly with the Motion app, and I can see them in the Homey app but I cannot seem to control them from the Homey app. Any suggestions?

Regards,
Daan

#11

First of all, you should make sure you entered the Key in the settings page of the app (how to get it is found there as well). Did you enter that key? You should see the stars in the field when you open the settings. If not, maybe you forgot to press the save button.

If the key is properly set, and it still does not work: in the latest version of the app is a setting for the IP address of the brigde. That should not be required, but for some the IP autodiscovery does not work. If that is the case here, you should fill out this fields as well. That should fix it. If it does, make sure you assign a static IP Address to the bridge, so it will keep working long term.

If you already set it, you could try leaving it blank as well. maybe there was an error in the ip you entered.

If either of those do not work, turn on the debug flag in the settings, restart the app, try to control a blind, wait at least a minute after that, and then send a diagnostics report from the gear icon on the top right and post the id you get back in this topic.

#12

Hi Edwin, many many thanks for the quick reply and the spot on solution. After entering the key and pressing the save settings button it works seamlessly!

Regards,
Daan

1 Like
#13

Glad to be of help. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

#14

I have troubles connecting the bridge to my WiFi. I use the setup in the app, the bridge gets connected to the WiFi. In my router I see a new device appearing. The bridge shows a blue light but still the app counts down to 0 and shows an error.

Tried it both in android and IOS no luck what so ever. Any suggestions?

#15

Got the bridge online after 50 attempts. No clue what I did…

Working with the remote and bridge now but homey can’t find it. Ip is set correctly and also filled in the key.

#16

I was just typing a response to the previous post, but that is now obsolete. I think I can help you further from here. Were you able to connect the blinds to the bridge, and are you able to control the blinds normally from the Motion Blinds app now? That is a prerequisite for my app to be able to see the blinds.

First I would ask you to clear the IP field in the Homey app, it should not be required if all is well. If that doesn’t work, go to the settings of the app, turn on the debug option and restart the app. Wait at least a minute before you try to pair again. If that does not work, create a diagnostics report from the gear menu in the top right and post the ID you get here.

#17

Edwin, thanks for the reply. But outing my problems here seems to do magic.

And a restart of homey maybe :slightly_smiling_face:

In other words, it works in homey as well now.

#18

Glad to hear. It does seem like the connection of the brighe to wifi may be weak. There’s a signal strength symbol in the Motion app to show you it the bridge has weak wifi. As long as it works I would leave it as is, but if you get in trouble again that is where I’d start. And feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Have fun with the app and the blinds!

PS. If you did turn on the debug option in the app, you should turn it off again. It will generate a lot of logging that isn’t of any use if all is well.

#19

WiFi is very strong actually, the bridge is only 2m away from an accespoint.

All working for now :slight_smile:

Debugging is still off, just started to get things working before I saw your message about that

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#20

BTW: As stated, things should work for most people without filling in the IP. But if you do fill in the IP, you should make sure the IP address if the bridge is set to fixed in your router. Otherwise it might change over time, breaking the connection.
If the IP is not filled, the app should be able to detect IP changes by itself.

#21

I’ll give it a try to remove it in the app. But usually I give all my smarthome devices a fixed IP just to be sure.

#22

Version 1.0.10 is now live, fixing a rare crash in the initialisation.

#23

Hi Edwin

Question. Do you have any problems regarding the gateway connecting to wifi again after being unplugged?
Sometimes my gateway will enter setup mode after being unpowered. This way it forgets the wifi connection and connected blinds.
What are you thoughts about this?

Tip: Hornbach is also selling the Motion blinds products for a cheaper price.
https://www.hornbach.nl/shop/zoekresultaten/assortiment/motion

#24

Unfortunately, Hornbach is not supporting this developer to create this app or any other app and is only focussing at creating a turn-over.
Robbshop on the other hand is actively supporting multiple apps for Homey, among others this one.

Or would you rather prefer a payed app store?

Just my 2 cents.

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