mcsMQTT Plugin

[Michael McSharry]

I have become involved with low cost IoT devices with MQTT being the primary means for non-cloud (or cloud) communication and integration. To make it easy to fit into my existing Homeseer environment I have developed mcsMQTT.

This plugin retains HS as the central node in the automation environment and allows MQTT-literate devices to be utilized. While HS Events can be triggered based upon MQTT Topics and Event Actions can publish Topics, the primary integration is with the HS DeviceValue and DeviceString. Changes in HS devices or changes in MQTT Topic payloads are seamlessless reflected with the mcsMQTT bridge.

Change Log
PR 1 12/20/2017 3.0.1.0 Add optional payload specification in MQTT event trigger
PR 2 12/20/2017 3.0.1.0 Define payload OPEN/CLOSE, ON/OFF Device-Status-Graphics pairs for DeviceValue 1/0, map these payloads to 1/0 DeviceValue updates
PR 3 12/20/2017 3.0.1.0 Honor "SET_DOES_NOT_CHANGE_LAST_CHANGE" device property checkbox when updating DeviceLastChange
PR 4 12/21/2017 3.0.1.1 Device Value and String changes not being reflected in new MQTT messages
PR 5 12/21/2017 3.0.1.2 Add debug focused around HSEvent processing
PR 6 12/22/2017 3.0.2.0 Provide bidirectional status and control in single HS3 device
PR 7 12/29/2017 3.0.3.0 JSON parsing of MQTT payload results in exception and log message
PR 8 12/29/2017 3.0.3.0 "A"ccept set true on initialization based upon presence of HS device with the associated Device Ref property
PR 9 12/29/2017 3.0.3.0 Backup of database created on each plugin start, backup retained for 6 months
PR10 1/3/2018 3.0.4.0 Add info to HS3 Device PED and synchronize with database
PR11 1/3/2018 3.0.4.0 Improve initial creation of database so restart is not needed
PR12 1/3/2018 3.0.4.1 Change HS3 connection from 192.168.0.194 to localhost
PR13 1/3/2018 3.0.4.2 Protect Topic from single and double quote in database operations
PR14 1/7/2018 3.0.4.3 Parsing error with training JSON } not removed
PR15 1/8/2018 3.0.4.4 Parsing error reversion, broke earlier correct parsing
PR16 1/9/2018 3.0.5.0 Add ability to specify arbitrary subscription topics
PR17 1/9/2018 3.0.6.0 Parsing exception ala PR7
PR18 1/9/2018 3.0.6.0 Provide Regular Expression replacement on Payload to Device
PR19 1/9/2018 3.0.6.1 Subscription does not include both $SYS and # Topics
PR20 1/10/2018 3.0.7.0 Provide Extract vs. Replace option on regular expressions
PR21 1/18/2018 3.0.7.1 Numbers in payload exceeding 2^32 generate an Int32 exception
PR22 2/14/2018 3.0.8.0 Provided the option to reduce traffic with subscription to only accepted topics
PR23 2/14/2018 3.0.8.0 Fixed broker authentication and used *** for password on setup page
PR24 2/20/2018 3.0.8.1 Settings other than default sometimes not remembered
PR25 2/26/2018 3.0.9.0 Add option to publish button label or button value
PR26 3/5/2018 3.0.9.1 Correct version number (3 to 4 digits) showing in HS log at startup
PR27 3/5/2018 3.0.9.1 Split Topic and JSON filter into two rows to reduce column width
PR28 3/5/2018 3.0.9.1 Fix Install.txt vs. install.txt to allow updater on Linux to work correctly
PR29 3/8/2018 3.0.9.2 Plugin not connecting to HS (hardcoded IP used for testing)
PR30 3/13/2018 3.0.9.3 HS3 device changes on Linux not being published as MQTT topics
PR31 3/13/2018 3.0.9.3 RegEx boxes removed for non-plugin devices
PR31 3/13/2018 3.0.9.3 Debug adjusted to assist with timing measurements
PR32 3/13/2018 3.0.9.4 HS3 source devices auto accepted on startup
PR33 3/14/2018 3.0.10.0 Streamline HS Event callback CPU use
PR34 3/14/2018 3.0.10.0 Add tool tips for hover on browser page
PR35 3/14/2018 3.0.10.0 Change QOS radio style to traditional rendering
PR36 3/14/2018 3.0.10.0 Allow user to select value/status/string on non-plugin device publishing
PR37 3/14/2018 3.0.10.0 Allow user to specify the non-plugin device topics being published
PR38 3/15/2018 3.0.10.1 Add protection for reading null database fields caused by adding new fields in 3.0.10.0
PR39 3/16/2018 3.1.0.0 Revamped UI to improve understandability
PR40 3/16/2018 3.1.0.0 Added manual topic entry/edit
PR41 3/16/2018 3.1.0.0 Added options to manage HS device enumeration and subscription display
PR42 3/16/2018 3.1.0.0 Improved startup timing and page build timing
PR43 3/18/2018 3.1.1.0 Dynamic updates of UI based upon user interaction
PR44 3/20/2018 3.1.2.0 Provided tabbed setup page
PR45 3/20/2018 3.1.2.0 Add retain default and topic-specific user input
PR46 3/20/2018 3.1.2.0 Add default QOS user input
PR47 3/20/2018 3.1.2.0 Add message and connection statistics
PR48 3/20/2018 3.1.2.0 Add LWT provisions
PR49 3/20/2018 3.1.2.0 Robust reconnection on dropped connection
PR50 3/20/2018 3.1.2.0 Removed dual purpose of all Association table columns
PR51 3/20/2018 3.1.2.0 Made 0 & 1 Payloads default to Button Off/On devices
PR52 3/21/2018 3.1.3.0 Add Broker Connection Event Trigger
PR53 3/21/2018 3.1.3.0 Add option to create individual mcsMQTT Status Devices in HS
PR54 3/23/2018 3.1.4.0 Add History retention with display filtering
PR55 3/25/2018 3.2.0.0 Completed bidirectional parent/child status relationships
PR56 3/25/2018 3.2.0.0 Color coded table rows to show plugin vs non-plugin rows
PR57 3/25/2018 3.2.0.0 Rebuilt database on initial startup of this version
PR58 3/25/2018 3.2.0.0 Added ability to specify command topics for existing HS devices
PR59 3/25/2018 3.2.0.0 Modified cosmetics for improved understandability
PR60 3/25/2018 3.2.0.0 Included both Sub and Pub topics in pulldown filters
PR61 3/25/2018 3.2.0.0 Added option to prefix with INFO/ or STAT/ (Tasmota convention)
PR62 3/25/2018 3.2.0.0 Added periodic status reporting option
PR63 3/25/2018 3.2.0.0 Removed PED contents and no longer maintain redundancy of data
PR64 3/26/2018 3.2.1.0 Added debug to Event Trigger setup
PR65 3/26/2018 3.2.1.0 Optimized trigger process for received messages
PR66 3/26/2018 3.2.1.0 Added Association filter based upon HS device categories
PR67 3/26/2018 3.2.1.1-3 Debug added to assist in understand disconnect from HS\
PR68 3/27/2018 3.2.2.0 Added receive queue to buffer incoming rates from HS processing rates
PR69 3/27/2018 3.2.2.0 Made JSON payload decoding optional
PR70 3/27/2018 3.2.2.1 Console writes inserted in each HS API call to help debug disconnect
PR71 3/28/2018 3.2.2.2 Postback error when Association Table requested
PR72 3/28/2018 3.2.3.0 Misc cleanup as devices are associated between manual and Assoc tabs
PR73 3/28/2018 3.2.3.0 Added ability to structure JSON devices as parent/child
PR74 3/28/2018 3.2.3.1 Association table does not appear unless browser previously open to mcsMQTT page
PR75 3/28/2018 3.2.3.1 Improved robustness of Association filters being updated as content changes
PR76 3/28/2018 3.2.3.1 Added purple row color for non-plugin devices mapped directly to MQTT topics
PR77 3/28/2018 3.2.4.0 Provided option for parent/child associations on JSON payloads
PR78 3/29/2018 3.2.5.0 Provided ability to display multiple mcsMQTT browser pages at the same time
PR79 3/29/2018 3.2.5.1 Additional debug around SetIOMulti, HSEvent, Triggers, and message reception & action
PR80 3/30/2018 3.2.5.2 RegEx stopped working with 3.5.0.0 (Replace pattern not retained)
PR81 3/30/2018 3.2.5.3 Disconnect flag true does not persist restarts
PR82 3/30/2018 3.2.5.3 Association filter not cleared when topics no longer present
PR83 3/30/2018 3.2.5.3 Subscription to no topics and no discovery causes .net error traps
PR84 3/30/2018 3.2.5.3 Database non-plugin devices are overwritten when an Accept is done ... need to go back to prior database
PR85 4/1/2018 3.2.6.0 Association table does not render unless a receive message has been accepted
PR86 4/1/2018 3.2.6.0 Concurrent thread protection added while topic and dictionaries are being modified
PR87 4/1/2018 3.2.6.0 Feedback provided on table size for larger tables when Show button is pressed
PR88 4/1/2018 3.2.6.0 Database fix only worked for the 3.1.x.x to 3.2.0.0. Not for subsequent 3.2.x.x.
PR89 4/1/2018 3.2.6.0 Protected Topic text in database should quote or single quote happen to be in Topic
PR90 4/1/2018 3.2.6.1 Added debug to isolate object missing message on Build Association Table
PR91 4/2/2018 3.2.7.0 Added special keyword 'change' in Payload of MQTT Receive Trigger to cause trigger on change of payload
PR92 4/2/2018 3.2.7.0 Changed behavior of SetDeviceValueByRef to always trigger rather than only triggering on a change of value
PR93 4/2/2018 3.2.7.1 Debug data file in DatamcsMQTT_Debug.txt rather than Data\mcsMQTT_Debug.txt
PR94 4/2/2018 3.2.7.1 Locate the data files in \Data\mcsMQTT rather than \Data
PR95 4/3.2018 3.2.8.0 Add page scroll buttons on Association tab and limit table size to 20 rows
PR96 4/3/2018 3.2.9.0 Increment DeviceValue if String Payload received and it changed the DeviceString
PR97 4/3/2018 3.2.9.1 Association Page number of rows availalbe is not shown on initial page rendering
PR98 4/3/2018 3.2.9.2 Use same color scheme of pink/green on history as is used on Association and Manual tabs
PR99 4/3/2018 3.2.9.2 Update Manual to 3.2.9 capability
PR100 4/3/2018 3.2.9.3 Duplicate debug files with second at parent directory folder
PR100 4/5/2018 3.2.10.0 Add Config Link to Plugin Page
PR102 4/5/2018 3.2.10.0 Add List Status/Control Type and generalize text to value mapping
PR103 4/6/2018 3.2.11.0 Added "H"istory checkbox on Association tab (and General tab) to select topic to be included in History collection
PR104 4/6/2018 3.2.11.0 Fixed "R"eject button not being accepted on Association tab. Broke in 3.2.5.0
PR105 4/6/2018 3.2.12.0 Updated concurrency (thread protection) logic to allow nested/multilevel protections
PR106 4/6/2018 3.2.12.0 Numeric payloads are being treated as VSP list enumeration
PR107 4/6/2018 3.2.12.0 Add Echo option on General Tab to allow published topics to be seen as subscriptions
PR108 4/7/2018 3.2.12.1 Fix Echo enable
PR109 4/7/2018 3.2.12.1 Improve auto VSP logic when devcie accepted from Association tab
PR110 4/7/2018 3.2.12.1 Provide compatibility with earlier versions of Mono on Linux
PR111 4/7/2018 3.2.12.2 Use default QOS rather than Exactly for Event Publish Actions
PR112 4/7/2018 3.2.12.2 Update manual to 3.2.12 capability
PR113 4/8/2018 3.2.13.0 Provided same page scrolling for History as Association tab to avoid browser overload
PR114 4/8/2018 3.2.13.2 Event MQTT Receive Trigger fails if same topic used in multiple events
PR115 4/9/2018 3.2.14.0 Added substitution variables for use in templates for published topic and payload formats
PR116 4/10/2018 3.2.14.1 Statistics Accept counts incorrect and no History records for accepted topics
PR117 4/10/2018 3.2.14.2 History date range does not default to valid range so filtered records to not show
PR118 4/11/2018 3.2.14.3 Error trap during MQTTSubscribe does not properly manage sync flags
PR119 4/11/2018 3.2.15.0 Allow entry of Broker port other than 1883
PR120 4/11/2018 3.2.15.1 Text Status/Control type creates VSP so even when DeviceString is set it does not appear
PR121 4/12/2018 3.2.16.0 First segment of substitution template not include in topic or payload
PR122 4/12/2018 3.2.16.0 Encode topic reserved symbols per HTML %## convention
PR123 4/12/2018 3.2.16.0 Added SSL support, testing limited to UI
PR124 4/12/2018 3.2.16.1 Forced On/Open=1, Off/Closed=2 when these payloads are available
PR125 4/12/2018 3.2.16.2 Manual tab entry of Ref number will populate either plugin or nonplugin table
PR126 4/13/2018 3.2.17.0 Compiled with .NET 4.5 vs. prior .NET 4.0
PR127 4/13/2018 3.2.17.0 Added table at top of Manual tab to allow user to select either Ref or Sub Topic
PR128 4/13/2018 3.2.18.0 Made List control/status UI only manual user select, Text is now default
PR129 4/13/2018 3.2.18.0 Added Color Picker as Control UI option
PR130 4/14/2018 3.2.19.0 Converted Association Ref to a button that will populate Manual Tab
PR131 4/15/2018 3.2.19.1 Prefix Color Picker publish RGB payload with # (e.g. #AAFF20)
PR132 4/15/2018 3.2.19.1 Remove debug output for Name and InterfaceStatus calls
PR133 4/16/2018 3.2.19.4 Additional debug during storing payloads in HS devices
PR134 4/17/2018 3.2.20.0 Added MISC properties as user-settable
PR135 4/17/2018 3.2.20.0 Cleared MISC NO-STATUS_DISPLAY for most UI's
PR136 4/17/2018 3.2.20.0 Assured Association & History filters are not masked by prior selection that are no longer availalbe
PR137 4/24/2018 3.3.0.0 Added Chart tab
PR138 4/24/2018 3.3.0.0 removed Label/Number radio for publish, now use payload template with $$value: to publish number
PR139 4/24/2018 3.3.0.0 removed string, status, value publish checkboxes, now use payload template
PR140 4/26/2018 3.3.0.1 corrected tool tip typos and added tool tip reference to the manual
PR141 4/26/2018 3.3.0.2 Added DISARMED/ARMED and OFFLINE/ONLINE as additional special case two-state pairs
PR142 4/26/2018 3.3.0.2 fixed button type when transitioning from number to button and no VSP have yet been recorded
PR143 4/29/2018 3.3.0.3 Changed Manual tab to Edit tab nomenclature
PR144 4/29/2018 3.3.0.3 Added text and figures to Section 10 of manual for tool tip reference
PR145 5/4/2018 3.3.1.0 Added popup window for edit of association properties
PR146 5/5/2018 3.3.2.0 Added HTTP request for chart build with querystring parameters
PR147 5/8/2018 3.3.3.0 Added chart definition and expanded options for chart appearance
PR148 5/8/2018 3.3.3.0 Added ability to popup chart by clicking Association tab payload
PR149 5/9/2018 3.3.3.1 Publish topics not appearing on chart topic selector
PR150 5/11/2018 3.3.4.0 Added Expressions, Filter, Derivative and Integral numeric transforms
PR151 5/12/2018 3.3.4.1 Publish from HS device control no longer works
PR152 5/12/2018 3.3.4.2 Added debug around browser postback
PR153 5/14/2018 3.3.5.0 Added Publication List tab
PR154 5/14/2018 3.3.5.1 Removed debug for WebPage and Register events
PR155 5/15/2018 3.3.6.0 Populate Non-plugin devices from database when Enumerate with button is selected
PR156 5/15/2018 3.3.6.0 Add Time base option for rate device
PR157 5/15/2018 3.3.6.0 Add Delta from midnight option for accum device
PR158 5/16/2018 3.3.6.1 Protection for divide by zero does not exist in rate calculation
PR159 5/17/2018 3.3.7.0 Substitution variables added to publication list file
PR160 5/17/2018 3.3.7.0 Manual updated for Irrigation Control with mcsTasmota firmware
PR170 5/18/2018 3.3.8.0 Added plugin link to mcsMQTT Doc
PR171 5/18/2018 3.3.8.0 Improved alignment of HTML pages to match size of tab canvas
PR172 5/19/2018 3.4.0.0 VSP Topics protected from special database characters in the database
PR173 5/19/2018 3.4.0.0 Improved reliability of filter pulldowns on Association tab
PR174 5/19/2018 3.4.0.0 Added charting for HS Device Values ... including mcsMQTT rate and accum devices
PR175 5/20/2018 3.4.0.2 VSP edit broke for case of deleting VSP entries
PR176 5/20/2018 3.4.0.3 Transform table topics protected from special characters in the database
PR177 5/20/2018 3.4.0.4 Protect from access of objects for chart before chart objects created
PR178 5/20/2018 3.4.1.0 Add delete button on Edit tab to remove obsolete topics and devices from database
PR179 5/31/2018 3.4.2.0 Encrypted broker passwords in mcsMQTT.ini
PR180 5/31/2018 3.4.2.0 New SSL implementation provided by vasrc
PR181 6/17/2018 3.4.2.1 Association filter for second JSON position does not appear, but still used in filter
PR182 6/19/2018 3.4.3.0 Add clear button on the pulldown filters
PR183 6/19/2018 3.4.3.0 Don't publish is subscribe topic is same as publish topic and subscribe message received within 15 seconds.
PR184 6/21/2018 3.4.3.1 Debug added around database operations
PR185 6/22/2018 3.4.3.2 Overcame issue with redundant records being stored in database
PR186 6/23/2018 3.4.3.3 Association and Edit tabs not properly synchronized for non-plugin device records
PR187 6/24/2018 3.4.3.4 Investigation for lack of published messages
PR188 6/24/2018 3.4.4.0 Add provisions for six levels of JSON in Topic and History select filters
PR189 6/25/2018 3.4.4.1 Update Payload/LastDate for subscriptions associated with non-plugin devices
PR190 6/25/2018 3.4.4.1 Fix Edit Page popups to show selected device properties
PR191 6/25/2018 3.4.4.1 Rename Device filter to Room/Floor and fix filter to return only selected records
PR192 6/25/2018 3.4.5.0 Provided RGB to Integer translation on subscription to allow HS device to reflect selected color
PR193 6/25/2018 3.4.5.0 Added ability to use arithmetic and regular expressions on received payloads for non-plugin devices
PR194 6/26/2018 3.4.5.1 Changed colorization on Edit tab for subscribed non-plugin devices to match Association tab
PR195 6/26/2018 3.4.5.1 Added Rebuild buttons to Filters and removed some auto rebuild to improve performance
PR196 6/27/2018 3.4.5.2 JSON parsing fixed for cases of more than two levels of nesting (Tasmota 1-wire sensors)
PR197 6/27/2018 3.4.5.2 Color picker RGB to Integer order reversed and debug added to HS save of RGB value
PR198 6/27/2018 3.4.5.2 Cleanup of non-plugin device mapped to MQTT subscription
PR199 7/6/2018 3.4.6.0 Replace use of GNUPlot for Linux with .NET datavisualization
PR200 8/6/2018 3.4.6.1 Unable to save second axis selection on Chart setup
PR201 8/22/2018 3.4.6.2 Retain flag hard-coded false for event action messages
PR202 8/27/2018 3.4.7.0 Include Regular and Numeric expressions in chart data
PR203 9/3/2018 3.4.7.1 Only one of duplicate event triggers result in HS event trigger
PR204 9/9/2018 3.4.8.0 Event action substitution variables cause log error
PR205 9/9/2018 3.4.8.0 Protect HSEvent from non-numeric device reference parameter from HS
PR206 9/9/2018 3.4.8.0 Event action substitution Value/String/Status can use any of Reference/Address/Code
PR207 9/10/2018 3.4.8.1 Eliminate DeviceStatus extraction on HSEvent callbacks
PR208 9/11/2018 3.4.9.0 Topics published for HS devices that have not been selected
PR209 9/11/2018 3.4.9.0 Add user selection of DeviceValue vs. DeviceString change trigger to publish
PR210 9/11/2018 3.4.9.0 Add visualizations for sort direction and field
PR211 9/26/2018 3.4.10.0 Add user-defined device grouping for improved Device Management display
PR212 10/7/2018 3.4.11.0 Assure VSP display below chart page is shown in sorted numeric order
PR213 10/7/2018 3.4.11.0 Changed MQTT Client ID to be more recognizable as "mcsMQTT on " host name
PR214 10/20/2018 3.4.11.1 Charting of JSON data which was not always being handled properly
PR215 11/7/2018 3.4.11.2 Copied events do not maintain uniqueness
PR216 11/11/2018 3.4.12.0 Publish on receive topic if no transmit topic is entered
PR217 11/27/2018 3.4.13.0 Add TRUE and FALSE as special case payloads for button typing
PR218 11/27/2018 3.4.13.0 Add Wildcard subscription topic template for auto-association with existing HS devices
PR219 11/28/2018 3.4.14.0 Expand Wildcard topic template to all substitution patterns rather than only $$REF:
PR220 11/28/2018 3.4.14.1 Multiple substitutions in wildcard template fail
PR221 11/29/2018 3.4.15.0 Provide option to not HTML-encode space in published topics
PR222 11/30/2018 3.4.16.0 Add option to auto create associations for all HS devices
PR223 12/2/2018 3.4.16.1 Remove workaround that replaced HS CAPI label with plugin-defined VGP
PR224 12/4/2018 3.4.16.3 Non-plugin devices deleted when subscribe topic assigned to two non-plugin devices
PR225 12/6/2016 3.4.16.4 Use UTF8 rather than ASCII encoding for received payloads to accommodate special characters
PR226 12/16/2018 3.4.17.0 XY to RGB color support for lighting
PR227 12/30/2018 3.4.17.1 Publish payload with quote shows us as ^2 after plugin restart
PR228 1/6/2019 3.4.17.2 Additional debug around database operations
PR229 1/7/2019 3.4.17.3 Statistics devices are recreated on each startup when general tab has these selected to be created
PR230 1/10/2019 3.4.17.4 Align new device buttons from left to right in numeric button value
PR231 1/16/2019 3.4.18.1 Provide "_URL_ENCODE" suffix for substitution variables applicable to publish payload templates
PR232 1/20/2018 3.4.18.2 Change "URL_ENCODE" to "URI_ENCODE" and use system.URI rather than webutility in .NET for encoding.

Documentation/Manual http://mcsSprinklers.com/mcsMQTT.pdf
How-To Guides from post #250, #259 & #304 by taylormia attached

[MattL0]

Hi,

how can we install this plugin?

thank you

[vasrc]

I have become involved with low cost IoT devices with MQTT being the primary means for non-cloud (or cloud) communication and integration. To make it easy to fit into my existing Homeseer environment I have developed mcsMQTT.

This plugin retains HS as the central node in the automation environment and allows MQTT-literate devices to be utilized. While HS Events can be triggered based upon MQTT Topics and Event Actions can publish Topics, the primary integration is with the HS DeviceValue and DeviceString. Changes in HS devices or changes in MQTT Topic payloads are seamlessless reflected with the mcsMQTT bridge.

Nice work, you can tell what you do for a living

I wasn't clear on whether the Broker connection will support port 8883/TLS? Will it support a CA cert?

Also, did you use the Event/script interfaces for processing pub/sub rather than using the plugin to map them directly to the HS3 device (or did I miss that?). Clearly the Event/script method gives you more flexibility (ie translating HS3 device/string values to/from field device payloads)

When do we get to play with it

Thanks,
Z

[kideon]

So what sort of applications would mqtt be useful for? I’ve been wanting to mess around with something new.

[Fischi]

Hi,
Isn't it the same as this http://dzjee.xs4all.nl/hs3/mqtt/mqtt.html ?

Fischi

[Michael McSharry]

how can we install this plugin?

I have submitted the request to HST to include it in the updater. The install file that the updater will use is at http://mcsSprinklers.com/mcsMQTT_3_0_0_0.zip. You can manually installed now per guidance in the manual or wait for it to show up in the updater.

I wasn't clear on whether the Broker connection will support port 8883/TLS? Will it support a CA cert?

I have not been concerned with security in my environment, but the underlying software does support it. If you are concerned then I can enable it. It is something we can pursue together if you are interested.

Also, did you use the Event/script interfaces for processing pub/sub rather than using the plugin to map them directly to the HS3 device (or did I miss that?). Clearly the Event/script method gives you more flexibility (ie translating HS3 device/string values to/from field device payloads)

I have provided all options that best suits the user's orientation and environment. In my case I am Device and not Event oriented so I have mapped Topics to Devices and used Device Value/String to manage the Payload. Others that are Event oriented can trigger an Event on a Topic received or use the Event Action to publish a Topic/Payload.

So what sort of applications would mqtt be useful for? I’ve been wanting to mess around with something new.

I have been using an xAP environment for distributed computing for many years. MQTT is a minor variation from xAP with respect to integrating many remote entities. This mcsMQTT plugin was a very easy port of mcsXap plugin.
What moved me to include MQTT is the ESP8266/Sonoff units that sell for under $5 and these include the power supply, Wifi, Relay, multiple discretes and a well supported software environment for hacking. Emulation for Wemo and Hue is included so Echo/Alexa voice control is built in. My first two applications are to provide intelligent Wifi Garage Door interface and a Wifi water meter counter to replace one that has sometimes given me problems on 1-Wire.

Isn't it the same as this http://dzjee.xs4all.nl/hs3/mqtt/mqtt.html ?

Both understand MQTT protocol. It is the user interface, orientation and the degree of integration with HS that are different. If one has a distributed mind-set and HS3 is just one more node then a simple publish/subscribe works well. If one has a master/central mind-set then mcsMQTT should be easier to integrate MQTT with HS3.

[snowboarder]

when i click the download link i get a 404 error ?

I have submitted the request to HST to include it in the updater. The install file that the updater will use is at http://mcsSprinklers.com/mcsMQTT_3.0.0.0.zip. You can manually installed now per guidance in the manual or wait for it to show up in the updater.


I have not been concerned with security in my environment, but the underlying software does support it. If you are concerned then I can enable it. It is something we can pursue together if you are interested.


I have provided all options that best suits the user's orientation and environment. In my case I am Device and not Event oriented so I have mapped Topics to Devices and used Device Value/String to manage the Payload. Others that are Event oriented can trigger an Event on a Topic received or use the Event Action to publish a Topic/Payload.


I have been using an xAP environment for distributed computing for many years. MQTT is a minor variation from xAP with respect to integrating many remote entities. This mcsMQTT plugin was a very easy port of mcsXap plugin.
What moved me to include MQTT is the ESP8266/Sonoff units that sell for under $5 and these include the power supply, Wifi, Relay, multiple discretes and a well supported software environment for hacking. Emulation for Wemo and Hue is included so Echo/Alexa voice control is built in. My first two applications are to provide intelligent Wifi Garage Door interface and a Wifi water meter counter to replace one that has sometimes given me problems on 1-Wire.


Both understand MQTT protocol. It is the user interface, orientation and the degree of integration with HS that are different. If one has a distributed mind-set and HS3 is just one more node then a simple publish/subscribe works well. If one has a master/central mind-set then mcsMQTT should be easier to integrate MQTT with HS3.

[vasrc]

when i click the download link i get a 404 error ?

Try:
http://mcssprinklers.com/mcsMQTT_3_0_0_0.zip

Z

[petez69]

Michael

As you say the Sonoff devices are a no-brainer. I grabbed a few on the 11.11 Aliexpress sale and having fun with them. I've just bought teh 16A version with current sense and one of the tri-colour LEDS .....all very neat stuff :-)

Pete

[snowboarder]

When i enable the plugin in homeseer i get the this error ?

WARNING: Failed getting InterfaceStatus from mcsMQTT - the interface was not found in the list of active interfaces, the list may need to be refreshed

[snowboarder]

When i enable the plugin in homeseer i get the this error ?

WARNING: Failed getting InterfaceStatus from mcsMQTT - the interface was not found in the list of active interfaces, the list may need to be refreshed

When i start in Homeseer in Developer Mode i see that the plugin want to connect to server ip 192.168.0.194 . this is not the ip of my homeseer server.

[vasrc]

When i start in Homeseer in Developer Mode i see that the plugin want to connect to server ip 192.168.0.194 . this is not the ip of my homeseer server.

Download the zip file again. He's fixed that in the latest one.

Z

[Michael McSharry]

I compiled/uploaded a third time to connect to localhost rather than .194.

[petez69]

Michael

Thanks mate, this is a ripper of a plugin. Took me a little time to understand your config page but I've got it happily driving a Tasmota/Sonoff basic relay. Setup a virtual device with a back end script to turn the device on and off, thats now also working with Alexa....

Great work mate, very happy

Pete

[petez69]

Michael

I'm a little stumped as to how to trigger an event from a received MQTT topic. Actually its probably not a topic, its a device I've created as a result of /stat/wemos-sonoff/POWER

The device on the web page turns on and off fine as I ground the wemos PIN. What I cant seem to work out is how to trigger an event from this.

What device value is on/off or do I need to define this myself ?

I've gone into status graphics and set 0 to off and 1 to on....I cant seem to trigger an event from on or off/0 or 1 device status and value....

Clearly missing something simple....

Appreciate your guidance

Pete