Violet Smartswitch Lite - reviewed and tested - Sonos and Hue control at the wall (UK/EU)

As above details on the model revision as well as node-red and home-assistant integration.

https://www.thesmarthomebook.com/2022/02/01/violet-smartswitch-lite-home-assistant-node-red-integration/

Very interesting stuff although if honest, a bit over my head. Nevertheless it’s printed out and will be reading though ….. a few times I think :-) 

Although a super happy Sonos user, I also have an interest in Roon ….  as a layer. Could the Violet be used with that system?

Keep us posted with developments with Violet. It’s an excellent partner product with Sonos and Hue and now earning it’s place in our house and will be expanded for sure. I don’t have any social media to link to you but definitely interested in what you are doing on an ongoing basis. 

Many thanks for sharing

Ok so firstly, never heard of Roon but it looks cool. I did a little digging, and found this:

https://github.com/st0g1e/roon-extension-http-api

It looks like you can make http requests into roon, in that case, my Violet integration will work with it, you’ll just need to figure out the actual URL you’re sending to, and what you’re actually asking of it. I like to use node-red to handle the nuts and bolts, but i think it’s possible for you to send a more complicated command (JSON) direct to the roon server.

I’ll continue to post with Sonos related bits, but if you’re interested to learn more on the smarthome stuff, then you can have a look here - we have a group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/386238285944105/

Or of course you can follow the blog 

Hi there and thanks for explaining that. I don’t have facebook, is there another way to read about your work? It is very interesting stuff.

Very exciting stuff even though if honest, a piece over my head. Nevertheless it’s revealed out and might be analyzing though ….. some instances I assume :-) Although a tremendous satisfied Sonos user, I additionally have an hobby in Roon …. as a layer.

the Violet be used with that system? Keep us published with traits with Violet. It’s an tremendous companion product with Sonos and Hue and now incomes it’s region in our residence and might be elevated for sure.

I don’t have any social media to hyperlink to you however sincerely inquisitive about what you're doing on an ongoing basis. It seems like you may make http requests into roon, in that case, my Violet integration will paintings with it, you’ll simply want to determine out the real URL you’re sending to, and what you’re truely asking of it.

I like to apply node-pink to deal with the nuts and bolts, however i assume it’s viable if you want to ship a extra complex command (JSON) direct to the roon server.

Hi there, sorry for the delay, managed to get a bit of travel in! Regarding other ways to read my various ramblings, the only thing I can suggest is possibly the word press app or adding the blog to something like Feedly. As and when I post, both methods should get an alert. Unfortunately, facebook is the main delivery/advertisement at the moment.

@jefferylovett as I mentioned already, I see no reason why the Violet in its current form can not be used with Roon. A quick google, led me to this page: https://yio-remote.github.io/documentation/docs/integrations/roon/

Whilst that particular package looks like it isn’t being currently maintained, it does reveal some http commands there which I believe could be utilised with violet. I don’t have roon so am not able to test this for you at present. I would imagine at some point Violet will come out with something official which would incorporate all the niceties like album art etc as per their sonos integration, but for now I imagine it would be just text based stuff as per my post.

Keep an eye on the VIolet official blog, as I am sure that as they expand their integrations / capacity, they’ll be the first ones to broadcast it. Here’s a link to their blog: https://violet-ultra.co.uk/blog/ 

@jefferylovett 

(Just been thinking) An alternative approach could be to run home-assistant and integrate your roon set up into it. More info here: https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/roon/

Then you could basically use my existing set up but for endpoints, you could direct it to the roon integration in home-assistant (or node-red) via simple service calls.

Just wanted to let people know they're currently beta testing additional integrations now (aside from sonos/hue/custom http):

• Fibaro (HC3/HC3L)

• BluOS

• HDAnywhere

• Rako

• Tado

I'm still loving mine for Sonos control...

Here's my most recent piece I put out, nothing on the new features yet, but will revisit when officially out:

https://www.thesmarthomebook.com/2022/02/01/violet-smartswitch-lite-home-assistant-node-red-integration/

The tado integration has just gone live, for those interested in adding heating control.

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