Smart Home Integration¶
Genius Gateway offers two levels of smart home integration via MQTT, allowing you to choose between simple alarm notifications and full Home Assistant device integration with comprehensive automation capabilities.
| Approach | Description | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Alarm Publishing | Basic fire alarm notifications forwarded to your smart home system without individual device tracking. | Quick setup, simple alarm notifications for all smart home systems with MQTT interface |
| Home Assistant Integration | Full device integration with automatic discovery, individual detector tracking, and rich automation possibilities. | Home Assistant users, detailed monitoring, advanced automation scenarios |
| Feature | Simple Alarm Publishing | Home Assistant Integration |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Complexity | Minimal - one topic | Moderate - add detectors |
| Detector Configuration | Not required | Required |
| Device Tracking | Individual Devices | |
| Location Information | Customizable | |
| Automation Capabilities | Basic - single trigger | Advanced - per detector |
| Platform Support | Any MQTT platform | Home Assistant optimized |
| Unknown Detectors | Supported | Supported |
| Historical Data (besides Genius Gateway) | Limited | Full Home Assistant history |
| Alarm Lines | Individual Devices | |
| Line Test Triggering | Remote Control | |
| Fire Alarm Triggering | Remote Control | |
| Gateway Monitoring | Device Status & Diagnostics | |
| Remote Gateway Control | Restart & Settings |
Simple Alarm Publishing¶
Overview¶
Simple alarm publishing provides a straightforward way to integrate fire alarm detection into your smart home system. When any smoke detector in range triggers an alarm, Genius Gateway publishes a message to a central MQTT topic.
Key Characteristics:
- Single topic for all alarm events
- No device configuration required in Genius Gateway
- Detects unknown detectors within radio range (if enabled)
- System agnostic - compatible with any MQTT-capable smart home platform
How It Works¶
- Detection: Genius Gateway continuously monitors 868 MHz radio traffic for Genius Plus X alarm signals
- Processing: When an alarm packet is detected, the gateway processes the alarm state
- Publishing: Alarm information is published to the configured MQTT topic
- Counter: The message includes how many detectors are currently in alarm state
See the MQTT API - Global Alarm State Topic for detailed payload format and examples.
Configuration Requirements¶
To enable simple alarm publishing:
- Configure MQTT broker connection - Set up connection to your MQTT broker
- Enable Simple Alarm Publishing - Configure the alarm topic and enable publishing
- (Optional) Enable unknown detector processing - Allow detection of detectors not explicitly configured
Works with Known and Unknown Detectors
Simple Alarm Publishing works with or without smoke detectors configured in Genius Gateway. However, if no smoke detectors are configured, processing alarms from unknown smoke detectors must be enabled for Genius Gateway to detect and forward fire alarms.
Home Assistant Integration¶
Key Benefits¶
- Automatic Setup
- Rich Entity Information
- Advanced Automations
- Configuration Synchronization
Home Assistant's MQTT Discovery¶
The Home Assistant integration leverages MQTT Discovery to automatically register Genius Gateway components as individual devices and entities in Home Assistant. This integration supports three types of devices:
- Gateway Device - Gateway monitoring and remote control with diagnostic sensors, buttons, and switches
- Smoke Detectors - Individual smoke detector monitoring with binary sensors
- Alarm Lines - Remote control and status monitoring with buttons and sensors
Home Assistant's MQTT Discovery allows devices to automatically register themselves by publishing configuration messages to specific topics. When Genius Gateway publishes discovery messages, Home Assistant automatically creates entities without any manual configuration.
Configuration Requirements¶
To enable Home Assistant MQTT Discovery integration in Genius Gateway:
- Configure MQTT broker connection - Set up connection (must be same broker as Home Assistant)
- Enable Home Assistant Integration - Enable MQTT Discovery and adjust the topic prefix if your Home Assistant uses a non-default discovery prefix
- Add devices to Genius Gateway - Register smoke detectors and/or alarm lines
Ensure MQTT Discovery is enabled in your Home Assistant configuration:
# configuration.yaml
mqtt:
broker: YOUR_BROKER_IP
discovery: true # This is usually enabled by default
discovery_prefix: homeassistant # Must match Genius Gateway prefix
Gateway Device¶
Overview¶
The Genius Gateway itself is automatically published to Home Assistant as a device when Home Assistant Integration is enabled. This provides comprehensive monitoring and remote control capabilities for the gateway itself.
The gateway device registers with:
- Device Information - Manufacturer, model, firmware version, and web interface link
- 1 Status Sensor - Online/Offline state
- 2 Diagnostic Sensors - Real-time system health monitoring (free heap memory, core temperature)
- 1 Restart Button - Remote restart capability
- 4 Configuration Switches - Remote settings control
- 1 Update Entity - Firmware update management with automatic version checking
This integration enables proactive monitoring, remote maintenance, and dynamic configuration without requiring physical access to the gateway.
Entities Overview¶
| Entity Type | Name | Purpose | Update Interval | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor | Status | Device registration in Home Assistant | On connect | diagnostic |
| Sensor | Free Heap | Memory usage monitoring (percentage) | Every 60 seconds | diagnostic |
| Sensor | Core Temperature | Internal temperature monitoring (°C) | Every 60 seconds | diagnostic |
| Button | Restart | Trigger gateway restart remotely | On demand | - |
| Switch | Alert on Unknown Detectors | Enable/disable processing of unknown detectors | On change | config |
| Switch | Add Line from Commissioning | Auto-add lines from commissioning packets | On change | config |
| Switch | Add Line from Alarm | Auto-add lines from alarm packets | On change | config |
| Switch | Add Line from Line Test | Auto-add lines from line test packets | On change | config |
| Update | Firmware Update | Automatic version checking and OTA updates | Every 6 hours | - |
Monitoring Capabilities¶
System Health Monitoring¶
Free Heap Memory
- Displays available heap memory as percentage of total heap
- Updated every 60 seconds
- Useful for detecting memory leaks or resource exhaustion
- Can trigger alerts when memory drops below threshold
Core Temperature
- Monitors ESP32 internal temperature sensor
- Updated every 60 seconds
- Helps identify thermal issues or inadequate cooling
- Can trigger alerts when temperature exceeds safe operating range
Device Status¶
The gateway automatically reports its online/offline status to Home Assistant:
- Online - Gateway connected to MQTT broker and operating normally
- Offline - Gateway disconnected (shown via MQTT Last Will and Testament)
Remote Control Capabilities¶
Restart Button¶
Remote restart functionality eliminates the need for physical access to the gateway:
- Use Case: Apply configuration changes that require restart
- Use Case: Recover from transient issues without site visit
- Use Case: Scheduled maintenance/restart via automation
Configuration Switches¶
Four switches provide remote control of key gateway settings. For detailed explanations of each setting, see Gateway Settings:
- Alert on Unknown Detectors - Control processing of alerts from unregistered smoke detectors
- Add Line from Commissioning - Auto-discover alarm lines during detector commissioning
- Add Line from Alarm - Auto-discover alarm lines during alarm events
- Add Line from Line Test - Auto-discover alarm lines during line tests
Bidirectional Synchronization
All switch states are synchronized bidirectionally between Home Assistant and the gateway web interface. Changes made in either location are immediately reflected in the other.
Firmware Updates¶
The gateway includes automatic firmware update capability with Home Assistant integration:
- Automatic Version Checking - Gateway checks for new releases
- Update Notification - Home Assistant shows "Update Available" badge when new version is released
- Release Notes - Direct link to GitHub releases for changelog details
- One-Click Installation - Install updates directly from Home Assistant
- Progress Tracking - Monitor installation progress via Home Assistant
- Automatic Restart - Gateway restarts automatically after successful installation
Requirements
Firmware updates require an active internet connection. The gateway must be able to reach github.com and objects.githubusercontent.com.
The Genius Gateway's Update Entity signalizing an available firmware update
The Home Assistant's built-in update capability, including version numbers, release names and live update progress
Home Assistant Visual Integration¶
The gateway device appears alongside smoke detectors and alarm lines in Home Assistant's device registry.
The central Genius Gateway device with configuration options and system values, along with linked smoke detectors and alarm lines
Automation Examples¶
Low Memory Alert¶
Monitor heap memory and send notification when critically low:
automation:
- alias: "Gateway Low Memory Warning"
trigger:
- platform: numeric_state
entity_id: sensor.genius_gateway_free_heap
below: 30
action:
- service: notify.mobile_app
data:
title: "Gateway Memory Low"
message: "Genius Gateway free heap: {{ states('sensor.genius_gateway_free_heap') }}%"
High Temperature Alert¶
Monitor core temperature and trigger alert if overheating:
automation:
- alias: "Gateway High Temperature Warning"
trigger:
- platform: numeric_state
entity_id: sensor.genius_gateway_core_temperature
above: 60
action:
- service: notify.mobile_app
data:
title: "Gateway Overheating"
message: "Genius Gateway temperature: {{ states('sensor.genius_gateway_core_temperature') }}°C"
Technical Details
See MQTT API - Gateway Device for complete topic structure, payload formats, and detailed configuration examples.
Smoke Detectors¶
Overview¶
Each smoke detector registered in Genius Gateway is automatically published to Home Assistant as an individual device with a binary sensor entity. This provides rich functionality including:
- Automatic device discovery - No manual configuration in Home Assistant
- Individual detector tracking - Monitor each detector's state separately
- Rich device information - Model, manufacturer, serial numbers, location
- Automation capabilities - Create detector-specific automations
- Historical data - Track alarm history per detector
- Dashboard integration - Visual representation of detector network
Home Assistant Visual Integration¶
Overview Dashboard
Multiple Genius Plus X smoke detectors automatically discovered and displayed with their configured locations
Detector Detail View
Detailed view of a single detector showing real-time alarm state, manufacturer information, model, and serial number
Device Information
Complete device information with manufacturer details, model identification, and assigned area for automation purposes
Technical Details
See MQTT API - Smoke Detectors for complete topic structure, payload formats, and configuration examples.
Alarm Lines¶
Overview¶
Each alarm line registered in Genius Gateway is automatically published to Home Assistant as an individual device with multiple entities for remote control and monitoring.
When Home Assistant Integration is enabled, each alarm line appears in Home Assistant with:
- 4 Button Entities - Start/Stop line test, Start/Stop fire alarm
- 1 Sensor Entity - Real-time transmission state monitoring
The Button Entities provides comparable functionality to the Web Interface for starting/stopping line tests or fire alarms, as described in Alarm Lines Management.
Home Assistant Visual Integration¶
Alarm Line Device with Entities
Alarm line device with button controls for line test and fire alarm operations, plus transmission state sensor
Transmission State Sensor
Real-time transmission state sensor tracking current alarm line operations
Technical Details
See MQTT API - Alarm Lines for complete topic structure, payload formats, button configurations, and sensor states. Also see Alarm Lines Management - MQTT Integration for operational details.
Related Documentation¶
- Configure Gateway - Step-by-step setup guide for both integration types
- Connections - MQTT - Detailed MQTT configuration including broker setup and authentication
- Gateway Settings - Enable unknown detector processing and automatic alarm line discovery
- Device Management - Adding and managing smoke detectors in Genius Gateway
- Alarm Lines Management - Configure alarm lines and understand MQTT integration capabilities
- MQTT API - Complete MQTT topic structure and payload documentation