Chromecast integration

[beninsteon]

36 minutes ago, asbril said:

Last step

Click on nodeservers --> add nodeserver then assign AVRemote and HarmonyHub to "slots" on the ISY (I'd use 1 and 2).

Note that to use polyglot with the HarmonyHub you need to install "beta" firmware on the hub (it's not really beta; there's a large discussion about this but you're fine to install). Here's the instructions from Logitech:

https://community.logitech.com/s/question/0D55A00008D4bZ4SAJ/harmony-hub-firmware-update-fixes-vulnerabilities

Otherwise, Harmony Hub and AVRemote do not need any additional configuration. They will automatically find the hubs and Chromecast devices on your network and add to your isy admin console.

[asbril]

2 minutes ago, beninsteon said:

Click on nodeservers --> add nodeserver then assign AVRemote and HarmonyHub to "slots" on the ISY (I'd use 1 and 2).

Note that to use polyglot with the HarmonyHub you need to install "beta" firmware on the hub (it's not really beta; there's a large discussion about this but you're fine to install). Here's the instructions from Logitech:

https://community.logitech.com/s/question/0D55A00008D4bZ4SAJ/harmony-hub-firmware-update-fixes-vulnerabilities

Otherwise, Harmony Hub and AVRemote do not need any additional configuration. They will automatically find the hubs and Chromecast devices on your network.

I feel to ignorant but don't understand what to enter under Base URL, Host Name etc. Should I use Port 3000, what timeout, which ISY user (there is only me) ?

 

[beninsteon]

There should be no need to touch anything in these settings. Polyglot should populate all of it automatically when you add other nodeserver to an isy slot.

[asbril]

27 minutes ago, beninsteon said:

There should be no need to touch anything in these settings. Polyglot should populate all of it automatically. 

Still not there.... When I look at my Nest Node Server (Polyglot Cloud) info was indeed entered automatically but that is not the case with AVRemote, HarmonyHub (I did the update as you suggested) and Holidays Node Servers. However, after entering in Node Server list 3,4,5 they do appear in Polyglot Dashboard.

As you can see in the ISY Node Server tab, these are not listed directly but under Configure....

.

[beninsteon]

Remove the node servers from polyglot, restart polyglot, make sure any added nodes are removed from isy admin console, re add nodeservers to polyglot

Also, you need to restart the admin console after you install a node server

[asbril]

 

 

Ben

I think that I got it. I had forgotten to click on Add Node Server in Polyglot web page. Now I have to learn how to make a program to play a radio station at a set time on Chromecast.

Many, many thanks for your guidance.

[beninsteon]

@asbril, great! Hope you enjoy it.

By the looks of it, you need to restart your admin console for the install to complete. You will get additional info on the devices when that is done (photo).

To play a internet radio station, playlist, you'll need to add it in the polyglot interface.

In polyglot dashboard, click details for AVRemote, then click confiiguration. In that page, you'll see a button that says "+ Add chromecast play lists". Click that and provide the details for the internet radio station. Note - "Type" refers to MIME type (i.e. format of the stream [FLAC/MP3/AAC, etc]. For example, to play Radio Paradise AAC, I have the following info:

name: RPAAC
URL: http://stream-dc1.radioparadise.com/aac-320
Type: audio/x-aac

Then click Save Changes. If you don't do this, it won't come up on ISY admin console. Restart the admin console, then you will be able to select the stream either under the device list for manual selection, or in programs.

Enjoy!

Ben

[asbril]

1 hour ago, beninsteon said:

in polyglot dashboard, click details for AVRemote, then click confiiguration. In that page, you'll see a button that says "+ Add chromecast play lists". Click that and provide the details for the internet radio station. Note - "Type" refers to MIME type (i.e. format of the stream [FLAC/MP3/AAC, etc]. For example, to play Radio Paradise AAC, I have the following info:

name: RPAAC
URL: http://stream-dc1.radioparadise.com/aac-320
Type: audio/x-aac

Then click Save Changes.

I have done this about 10 times,  exactly (I think) following your steps but no luck, restarting the AC every time. I even copied your station RPAAC exactly as you have it, but when clicking on Save Changes nothing happens and nothing shows up in the AC.

[beninsteon]

31 minutes ago, asbril said:

but when clicking on Save Changes nothing happens

This is a polyglot bug. Are you using chrome? Try a different browser like internet explorer or clear your cache. It will work then.

[asbril]

56 minutes ago, beninsteon said:

This is a polyglot bug. Are you using chrome? Try a different browser like internet explorer or clear your cache. It will work then.

Wow..... I just succeeded using Edge browser. You are fantastic Ben.

[beninsteon]

Glad to hear you've got it working! Enjoy. AVRemote rarely crashes (mine's been running around 3 weeks now). If you find your Chromecast devices aren't responding to isy commands try rebooting your pi (in putty type the command "sudo reboot now"). I'd also suggest backing up your pi SD card so in case it gets corrupted (eg an unexpected power outage) you can restore easily. There are lots of guides online as to how to backup pi SD.

[asbril]

2 hours ago, beninsteon said:

Glad to hear you've got it working! Enjoy. AVRemote rarely crashes (mine's been running around 3 weeks now). If you find your Chromecast devices aren't responding to isy commands try rebooting your pi (in putty type the command "sudo reboot now"). I'd also suggest backing up your pi SD card so in case it gets corrupted (eg an unexpected power outage) you can restore easily. There are lots of guides online as to how to backup pi SD.

Thanks Ben,

I did the backup as you suggested.

The setup works great. I have two chromecasts connected each to their own amplifier, covering areas of my home. I now have setup my favorite radio stations to play at selected times. The biggest advantage, hopefully, will be that I will have almost ongoing streams as before the streams stopped randomly. Now I have the ISY program send play the station of choice every two hours, and I can increase frequency if random stream interruption still bother me. Once again a great thanks for your help.

[beninsteon]

4 hours ago, asbril said:

Thanks Ben,

I did the backup as you suggested.

The setup works great. I have two chromecasts connected each to their own amplifier, covering areas of my home. I now have setup my favorite radio stations to play at selected times. The biggest advantage, hopefully, will be that I will have almost ongoing streams as before the streams stopped randomly. Now I have the ISY program send play the station of choice every two hours, and I can increase frequency if random stream interruption still bother me. Once again a great thanks for your help.

No problem. If I could make a suggestion. Sending a play command every two hours may not address your issue of the stream dropping out. If the stream drops randomly 1 minute after you resend play command it would take about 2h before it restarted "automatically".

Since AVRemote offers not only control of the Chromecast devices (eg, start stream, play/pause/stop, etc) but also monitoring of devices, you should write a program that automatically restarts the stream if playstate is not "playing", "buffering", or "paused". Eg:

If time is between x and y,

And (Chromecast-salon status is not playing or paused or buffering)

Then playlist stationX

Else nothing

I'd also suggest writing a program that turns your amp on if the Chromecast is playing and turns it off otherwise.

Just my 2c.

Ben

[asbril]

41 minutes ago, beninsteon said:

I'd also suggest writing a program that turns your amp on if the Chromecast is playing and turns it off otherwise.

Thanks Ben, I already have programs for my amplifiers during the night. I will write the other programs as you suggest.

[asbril]

2 hours ago, beninsteon said:

If time is between x and y,

And (Chromecast-salon status is not playing or paused or buffering)

Then playlist stationX

Else nothing

I created program

IF time is between X and Y

and Chromecast salon is not playing

THEN Playlist Station X

It is not possible to condition in same program 'not playing', 'paused' and 'buffering' ?????, assuming that if I include OR Paused OR Buffering, then the Time (between X and Y) becomes OR as well, or am I wrong ? 

[beninsteon]

 

3 hours ago, asbril said:

It is not possible to condition in same program 'not playing', 'paused' and 'buffering' ?

Correct. My apologies. Here's how I'd do it:

test - [ID 007B][Parent 0001]

If
        From     9:00:00AM
        To       9:00:00PM (same day)
    And (
             'Speakers / Chromecast Devices / Living room speakers' Status is unknown
          Or 'Speakers / Chromecast Devices / Living room speakers' Status is idle
          Or 'Speakers / Chromecast Devices / Living room speakers' Current App is None
        )
 
Then
        Set 'Speakers / Chromecast Devices / Living room speakers' Play List rpaac1
 
Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

Only problem here is that between those hours the chromecast will always be playing, so the only way to stop the music would be to turn off the amp. You could use a variable to disable this program if you want to manually stop playing.

[asbril]

22 minutes ago, beninsteon said:

 

Correct. My apologies. Here's how I'd do it:

test - [ID 007B][Parent 0001]

If
        From     9:00:00AM
        To       9:00:00PM (same day)
    And (
             'Speakers / Chromecast Devices / Living room speakers' Status is unknown
          Or 'Speakers / Chromecast Devices / Living room speakers' Status is idle
          Or 'Speakers / Chromecast Devices / Living room speakers' Current App is None
        )
 
Then
        Set 'Speakers / Chromecast Devices / Living room speakers' Play List rpaac1
 
Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

Only problem here is that between those hours the chromecast will always be playing, so the only way to stop the music would be to turn off the amp. You could use a variable to disable this program if you want to manually stop playing.

Thanks again Ben...... I had never noticed the  "  Add and (....) . ?  It can be such a logical part of a program and now first time I noticed this in 4 years.

[beninsteon]

1 hour ago, asbril said:

and (....)

VERY helpful operator for programs!

[adamthp]

I am trying to enable Chromecast support in AVRemote. When I try to set the parameter to true it switches back to false almost immediately. Even if I can get true to stick the second I try to re-discover it switches back to false. Am I missing a step here? 

Thanks