Video How To - Phoney TV

[petewill]

@DrJeff Thanks!

[sundberg84]

Agree with @DrJeff - its really good and easy to understand - great work!

[BulldogLowell]

BIG improvement to the old design using the picture frame, Pete!!!

[petewill]

@sundberg84 & @BulldogLowell Thanks! It was a fun project!

[bjacobse]

Maybe you should add audio as well? so a listening thief understand someone is home and "watching TV" Maybe you can add a squeezebox to play some audio-stream

[petewill]

@bjacobse Good idea. You could do this with Sonos if you're using Vera. Expensive but my wife's favorite part of all this stuff so I think it's worth it. :)

[Dave Dan]

you can also use LMS. Cheaper, open source ... :)

I like this project, thanks for sharing!

[petewill]

@Dave-Dan I have never heard of LMS. I tried to look it up but didn't find it. Do you have a website? I'm already invested in Sonos so I probably can't switch (wife loves it too much) but it's always great to have more knowledge and options. Thanks for sharing!

[Dave Dan]

LMs is Logitech Media Server. It's the same as Sonos (more like 'hand made') based on a Server (LMS) and clients (as Sonos Speakers).

I was looking for a solution to stream music across the house having also the ability to sync specific speakers to sound same time / same music.

Tried some solutions, started to think on Sonos (too expensive for me) so I started to investigate LMS.

The current version is distributed for free here: http://www.mysqueezebox.com/download. You can install this in a Raspberry Pi (I have my server in a RPI 1 and goes pretty fast).

Then the Clients (Speakers) I use PiCorePlayer (https://sites.google.com/site/picoreplayer/home/news) with a HiFi HAT attached to each client (https://www.hifiberry.com/).

There's a plugin for Vera and works super cool with OpenHab.

Let me know if you have questions. I'll be happy to share specifics.

[petewill]

@Dave-Dan That looks cool! I wish I had seen this before I purchased my Sonos speakers... I was searching around but didn't find this. Oh well, hopefully it can help some others who haven't yet taken the plunge.

[Sparkman]

@Dave-Dan @petewill I use LMS as well, but mainly with the "official" hardware players. Still a large used market for those (search ebay for squeezebox). I have first gen Slim Devices players all the way to the latest ones released by Logitech. There's a great plugin for HomeSeer as well. We use them for automated alarm clocks (Squeezebox Radio's mainly), voice announcements, status displays and music of course :D.

Cheers
Al

[chief]

@petewill Have you, or anyone else for that matter, looked at upgrading this code to compile under MySensors ver 2.0? I've setup multiple versions of the library so I can get it compiled under 1.4, but would like to move all my sensors to 2.0, if possible. If not, I'll look at changing the code after I finish with the hardware build.

Thanks for your work on this, and thanks to @BulldogLowell for the great project, been wanting to do a faketv type setup for some time now.

P.S.) your fritzing layout is missing the ground connection on the Pro Mini.

Chief P

[petewill]

@chief I haven't upgraded to 2.0 yet. It's on the list but it will take me quite a while (I have a lot of sensors) so I need a good chunk of time to do it. I'll update the code then but if you get to it first please do share it :)
And, thanks for pointing out the missing ground! Good catch. I'll fix that now.

[jimbolaya]

Could you suggest a replacement transistor. The listed one is now obsolete. Thx.

[Sparkman]

@jimbolaya Something like this should work: http://www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=IPP055N03LGXKSA1-ND.

[jimbolaya]

Thx for the reply @Sparkman. The link you included brings me to a page that lists all their products. Could you please check and repost?

[Sparkman]

@jimbolaya Sorry, link is now fixed.

[jimbolaya]

Much appreciated.

[BulldogLowell]

I had to update my firmware for MySensors version 2.0.0, I thought I would post it in case anyone comes across this post...

/*
 * PhoneyTV v3.2.0
 *
 * This Sketch illuminates 6 sets of LED's in a random fashion as to mimic the
 * light eminating from a television.  It is intended to make an empty home,
 * or an empty section of a home, appear to be occupied by someone watching
 * TV.  As an alternative to a real television left on, this uses less than 1%
 * of the electrical energy.
 *
 * With the use of the MySensors plugin and gateway, PhoneyTV is intended to
 * be used with a controller (e.g. Vera or Raspberry PI).
 *
 * Sketch does not use any delays to create the random blinking as a way to
 * assure that communication back to the gateway is as unaffected as possible.
 *
 * You can adjust the length of the blink interval and its "twitchyness" by
 * modifying the random number generators, if you prefer more/less 'motion' in
 * in your unit.  The lines are highlighted in the code, play around to create the
 * random effect you like.
 *
 * Sketch takes advantage of available PWM on pins 3, 5 & 6 using the white/blue LEDs
 * to allow fluctuations in the intensity of the light, enhancing the PhoneyTV's
 * realistic light effects.
 *
 * Created 12-APR-2014
 * Free for distrubution
 * Credit should be given to MySensors.org for their base code for relay control
 * and for the radio configuration.  Thanks Guys.
 *
 * 29-May-2014
 * Version 2:  Simplified the code, removing all redundant relay setup from original
 * code.  Added an on/off momentary pushputton option to be set up on pin 2.  Inproved
 * the dark dips for longer duration (can be configured) at intervals.
 *
 * 6-Jun-2015
 * Version 3.1
 * Updated for MySensors V1.4.1
 * Contributed by Jim (BulldogLowell@gmail.com) Inspired by Josh >> Deltanu1142@gmail.com
 *
 * Version 3.2.0 updated for MySensors 2.0.0 by Jim (BulldogLowell@gmail.com)
 * How to video: https://youtu.be/p37qnl8Kjfc
 */
// Enable debug prints to serial monitor
#define MY_DEBUG 

// Enable and select radio type attached
#define MY_RADIO_NRF24
//#define MY_RADIO_RFM69

// Enable repeater functionality for this node
//#define MY_REPEATER_FEATURE

#include <SPI.h>
#include <MySensors.h>
#include <Bounce2.h>

#define RADIO_RESET_DELAY_TIME 20

#define DEBUG_ON

#ifdef DEBUG_ON
#define DEBUG_PRINT(x)   Serial.print(x)
#define DEBUG_PRINTLN(x) Serial.println(x)
#define SERIAL_START(x)  Serial.begin(x)
#else
#define DEBUG_PRINT(x)
#define DEBUG_PRINTLN(x)
#define SERIAL_START(x)
#endif

const byte buttonPin = 2;
const byte ledPin3 =  3;      // White using PWM
const byte ledPin4 =  4;      // Red
const byte ledPin5 =  5;      // Blue using PWM
const byte ledPin6 =  6;      // Blue using PWM
const byte ledPin7 =  7;      // Green
const byte ledPin8 =  8;      // White (No PWM)

Bounce debouncer = Bounce();
byte oldValue = 0;
boolean state = false;
boolean oldState = false;
int dipInterval = 10;
unsigned int darkTime = 250;
unsigned long currentDipTime;
unsigned long dipStartTime;
unsigned long currentMillis;
byte ledState = LOW;
unsigned long previousMillis = 0UL;
byte led = 5;
unsigned long interval = 2000UL;
unsigned int twitch = 50;
int dipCount = 0;
int analogLevel = 100;
boolean timeToDip = false;
boolean gotAck=false;
MyMessage msg(1,V_LIGHT);

void before() 
{ 
  state = loadState(1)? 1 : 0;
}


void setup()
{
  SERIAL_START(115200);
  pinMode(ledPin3, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(ledPin4, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(ledPin5, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(ledPin6, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(ledPin7, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(ledPin8, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT_PULLUP);
  //
  debouncer.attach(buttonPin);
  debouncer.interval(50);
  //
  DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("Sensor Presentation Complete"));
}

void presentation()  
{   
  // Send the sketch version information to the gateway and Controller
  sendSketchInfo("PhoneyTV", "1.5");
  present(1, S_LIGHT);
}

void loop()
{
  debouncer.update();
  byte value = debouncer.read();
  if (value != oldValue && value == 0)
  {
  state = !state;
  send(msg.set(state ? 1 : 0));
//  while(!gotAck)
//  {
//    gw.send(msg.set(state), true);
//    gw.wait(RADIO_RESET_DELAY_TIME);
//  }
//  gotAck = false;
  DEBUG_PRINT(F("State Changed to:"));
  DEBUG_PRINTLN(state? F("PhoneyTV ON") : F("PhoneyTV OFF"));
  }
  oldValue = value;
  if (state)
  {
  if (timeToDip == false)
  {
    currentMillis = millis();
    if (currentMillis - previousMillis > interval)
    {
    previousMillis = currentMillis;
    interval = random(750, 4001); //Adjusts the interval for more/less frequent random light changes
    twitch = random(40, 100); // Twitch provides motion effect but can be a bit much if too high
    dipCount++;
    }
    if (currentMillis - previousMillis < twitch)
    {
    led = random(3, 9);
    analogLevel = random(50, 255); // set the range of the 3 pwm leds
    ledState = !ledState;
    switch (led) //for the three PWM pins
    {
      case 3:
      pwmWrite();
      break;
      case 5:
      pwmWrite();
      break;
      case 6:
      pwmWrite();
      break;
      default:
      digitalWrite(led, ledState);
    }
    if (dipCount > dipInterval)
    {
      timeToDip = true;
      dipCount = 0;
      dipStartTime = millis();
      darkTime = random(50, 150);
      dipInterval = random(5, 250); // cycles of flicker
    }
    }
  }
  else
  {
    DEBUG_PRINTLN(F("Dip Time"));
    currentDipTime = millis();
    if (currentDipTime - dipStartTime < darkTime)
    {
    for (int i = 3; i < 9; i++)
    {
      digitalWrite(i, LOW);
    }
    }
    else
    {
    timeToDip = false;
    }
  }
  }
  else
  {
  if (state != oldState)
  {
    for (int i = 3; i < 9; i++)
    {
    digitalWrite(i, LOW);
    }
  }
  }
  oldState = state;
}

void receive(const MyMessage &message) {
  // We only expect one type of message from controller. But we better check anyway.
  if (message.type==V_LIGHT) {
     // Change relay state
     state = message.getBool()? 1 : 0;
     // Store state in eeprom
     saveState(message.sensor, message.getBool());
     // Write some debug info
     Serial.print("Incoming change for sensor:");
     Serial.print(message.sensor);
     Serial.print(", New status: ");
     Serial.println(message.getBool());
   } 
}

void pwmWrite()
{
  if (ledState == HIGH) 
  {
  analogWrite(led, analogLevel);
  }
  else 
  {
  digitalWrite(led, LOW);
  }
}

[tombstone]

another nice video :+1: