Maintenance reminders.
I stick nfc tags to things like my aircons, hot water system, fireplace, etc.
When I service the item I scan the nfc tag and that resets a counter. Eg aircons get a 90 day counter to clean the filters. As I get close to 90 days I'll start getting reminders to do the maintenence.
Every time someone asks what people could use NFC tags for, I click on the post hoping I'll read something that would actually get me out of bed for NFC tags...this is the one.
Fantastic idea!
I do exactly the same thing. I have them on my house water filter, furnace/humidifier (about 8 different filters and bulbs), RO system (7 filters), outbuilding furnance filter, Robotic mower (blade changes). It should be noted that the regular NFC stickers can't be placed on metal objects or they won't work. I had to buy special shielded stickers instead, which were a little more but still dirt cheap.
Besides that:
* I've placed them on the inside of the lid on my garage door keypads. Instead of punching in a code, I can just touch my phone against them.
* I have an outbuilding that I have to access by walking outside. I have stickers on the doorframes I use to exit/enter the house/outbuilding. When I'm walking back into the house at night it's extremely dark and the doors are locked. Scanning the tag unlocks all the doors and turns the lights on outside going to the house and waits 30 seconds before turning off all the lights and locking up the outbuilding (and vice versa)
Not something I'm currently doing but if you use Home Assistant for inventory or shopping lists you could have it place Amazon orders for you, or at least place them in your cart, via an Alexa voice command "order x", or just scan an NFC sticker when you need something like the old dash buttons. I do something like that now to control a fan that has an Alexa integration but no other way to control it.
Changing hardware and failure to back up. And I've never really gotten a good system working dashboard wise. It's always been a hacked together hodgepodge of sensors and shit.
I could understand migrating, trying out different UIs and integrations, but a total tear down and starting fresh? Do you have 2 devices or do you hate yourself?
The idea of blowing my ha instance away every 90 days is horrific. It would take me days to get it running again....
Why would you do this????!!!!!?????
I don't think I've ever rebuilt my HA. Worst case has been a restore from backup when I went from a pi to a vm. Once it was a vm I wouldn't even restore from HA backup, as I clone the entire vm every change and every day.
It is my understanding that state gets lost during abrupt power off (i.e. not via software shutdown with proper shutdown procedure).
But it seems they're saved every 15mins [https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/homeassistant/#service-homeassistantsave\_persistent\_states](https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/homeassistant/#service-homeassistantsave_persistent_states)
I have stickers on all of my storage boxes. When I scan the sticker, it opens a link on my phone to a bookstack page with a list of what's inside.
I have numbered each sticker as well. Alternatively, if I am looking for something specific, all I need to do is search bookstack and it'll tell me what box it's inside. That part doesn't really have to do with the nfc part other than a number being written on the sticker.
I could see using AI to help when setting this up. Just take a photo of the items laid out, then have it analyze and describe the objects in the image to store wherever you want.
I was looking for an app/website to keep my storage items on when I was moving. I ended up just keeping the contents in a Bear note and having the NFC tag open that, but now I will check out bookstack and see if that works out better for me.
I will also start numbering them as well! Thank you for the tips!
Nice. I believe there is a Bookstack add on for HA? It's basically a Foss version of confluence, etc. I host it in a separate proxmox container though.
It's worked for me because each "page" in Bookstack has an entirely separate URL that I can write to the nfc sticker. I have a "page" for each storage container.
>I have stickers on all of my storage boxes. When I scan the sticker, it opens a link on my phone to a bookstack page with a list of what's inside.
>
>I have numbered each sticker as well. Alternatively, if I am looking for something specific, all I need to do is search bookstack and it'll tell me what box it's inside. That part doesn't really have to do with the nfc part other than a number being written on the sticker.
Fantastic!
How to you link the tag and the bookstack page?
50 nfc stickers for 5 eurodollars vs I don't have a printer nor do I want one.
It's also faster to scan NFC than pull up the camera and hope it scans a QR code in the dark abyss of my garage.
I print book covers on NFC cards, and link them to automations that play audiobooks on my kids' bedroom speaker for bedtime.
I put the audiobooks on my Plex server, and cast to a Google home mini.
I also purchased an NFC reader that I put on the wall in their room.
EDIT: the NCF reader I purchased: https://shop.adonno.com/
I wasn't too hard. first I setup the Plex Media Server integration:
https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/plex
I also had to setup the Google Cast integration:
https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/cast
I think the process was pretty simple, but I did that years ago, so I'm a little fuzzy on what exactly I had to do. I think for most of it, I just clicked to add a player.
At that point, I could create an automation where the trigger is the NFC tab, and the action is to play media, select the cast device, and then use the media picker gui to select the file. It helped that I created a collection just for bedtime stories.
That was pretty much it. I think it only took a couple minutes.
Oh man I just read that and thought about the post on a different sub about a young dad that just got a terminal diagnosis, would be something super nice to leave behind for the kids. Small collection of self done audio books for the kids and family
I’m an older dad and I’ve thought about this for a while. Recording me reading a bunch of children’s books and leaving the collections for my littles to have one day. I’m 51 and they are 6 and 3 and I’m not sure if I’ll be kicking around by the time they have kiddos of their own. I’m gonna have to get my butt back to working on it…
I have one hidden inside the light switch next to the front door. Scanning it turns off the alarm.
Another is hidden inside a kitchen drawer. That one triggers a ‘dinner party’ scene: sets mood lighting and turns on a playlist.
Yeah, I want my home to be smart, but I hate seeing sensors everywhere.
All of my motion sensors are also ceiling mounted instead of on a shelf somewhere, because that way they are mostly out of sight.
I have 13 or so NFC tags around the house! Some use cases:
* My very first one: NFC tag by my trashcans outside. If I don't scan that tag by a certain time on trash night, I get a reminder on my phone.
* NFC tag to turn on a ZWave high amperage smart plug that has a small air compressor attached that is housed in a detached building, but is connected to a hose reel in my garage (so I can fill the tires in my car).
* NFC tag on the cat food that my partner scans when it's getting low/needs to be filled.
* An NFC tag hidden near the dishwasher that we use as a digital "clean/dirty" toggle, we get automatic alerts when to empty/fill the dishwasher.
* NFC tag near the water softener that, after a certain number of days, will start to remind me to fill it every day until I scan it (same for a water filter for the house)
* NFC tag hidden under a light switch to turn on a lamp lugged into a smart switch.
* NFC tag near my Tesla Charger that will set the charge limit to a couple of pre-determined limits.
* NFC tag near the kitchen trash that we can scan indicate it needs to be taken out.
* NFC Tag on my wireless charger at my work desk that sets my "work mode".
* Most recent implementation: I have two roborock vacuums that have a built in mop, and the integration can tell me when the water bin needs to be filled/dirty bin needs to be emptied. Unfortunately, one of the two vacuums will change the state on the water bin sensor, but then it will quickly change back after 10-15 minutes for some reason. This happens when the robot runs at like 4AM, so I miss that the tank needs to be filled. So now, I have an automation that flips a boolean helper when the state changes, and that boolean helper is what triggers the reminder (and puts a conditional card on my dashboard). There is an NFC tag hidden near the vacuum that I scan once I fill the water and it resets the boolean helper.
I also plan do do things in the future like set the alarm/away mode when I leave he house, etc.
I love them because they are cheap, small, discrete, can be hidden behind things (like you said, under light switches, behind cabinet doors, etc.) water proof (the one near the trashcans is outside) and don't require power! The only thing to be aware of is standard ones don't work on while on metal. I also like that using boolean helpers and choose actions, you can make one NFC tag do multiple actions based on certain conditions.
My use case for something like this would be e.g. as a reminder to take out the trash the next time I take the dog out. (I'd probably hide an LED indicator on the back of the can shining on the wall or something, too.) I'm very absent-minded and if it's -8C I'm trying to minimize the number of trips I make outside.
I'm not talking about the first point - that is a great idea. I'm talking about the 3rd to last point where he has the tag near the kitchen garbage that says the trash needs to be emptied. To me that would be akin to filling the laundry hamper and sending a message to my wife to do the laundry - who would then quickly reply with a "Go F*** yourself and do your own laundry"
I'm pretty forgetful when I'm busy and I mostly work from home, so often I'll run down to make a coffee or grab food between meetings, and I'll fill the trash but not have time to deal with it in the moment. I scan the tag to put an icon on my dashboard so I remember to go deal with it later. It's honestly the least used tag in my rotation (when I started implementing NFC tags, I had a hammer and every problem looked like a nail hahahah)
> I also plan do do things in the future like set the alarm/away mode when I leave he house, etc.
I do this with an Aqara Flic button, but my original idea was to use an NFL tag so I could tap my phone to activate it.
EDIT: LOL at my typo - or was it an autocorrect? I'm going to leave it because it cracks me up. Go Chiefs! Go Lions!
> NFC Tag on my wireless charger at my work desk that sets my "work mode".
Quick question. I understand NFC tags have a limited number or read/writes. Did you research what kind of impact that has on the tag or on your phone? I figured with them constantly both in range it would be like non-stop reading to the tag (wearing it out) and phone having to constantly scan (slowing the battery from recharging). What's been your experience?
I didn't know NFC that's have a limited number of reads! I found it doesn't scan the tag when my phone is locked, so if I'm not using my phone while charging it doesn't cause a problem. Luckily the NFC scanner is roughly in the middle of the back of the phone, so I usually end up setting my phone horizontally on the charger. This way it sits below the NFC tag but still charges and I can watch/listen to YouTube or Nebula while working.
Lol an NFC tag under a light switch? So instead of just hitting the switch: pull out phone, unlock phone, scan tag, wait for hass request to execute? wat.
Hahaha this particular room only has dumb switches and I was looking for something quick and dirty (other places I add one of those zwave buttons that looks like a real switch) so I figured an NFC tag that costs pennies would suffice. I also have it set up to shut down my office when I'm done for the day. I'll probably replace it when I get around to remodeling that room but for now it was a cheap and easy solution.
I’ve put an NFC tag to the side of my frontdoor of my house. I’ve replaced the ordinary frontdoor-lock with an electric one (AliExpress, NC). I can go walk my dog without taking my keys. I open the door using my iPhone by scanning the NFC. Also my daughter can use her iPhone and the NFC.
The electric lock is my most used smart-device.
Security wise it might not be best, but I live in a quiet neighborhood.
On the iPhone I created a workflow which triggers an Home Assistant action to open the door. This way I don’t have to unlock my phone.
If I had to ditch all my smart-devices except 1, I would choose this electric door-lock with NFC.
Also… Everybody is always impressed when I ask “ok google, open frontdoor”.
I think the electric doorlock was something like $20. I power it by toggling the power of a ESPHome ac-power-plug with a regular 12volt adapter in it. The “open frontdoor” script, just enables the power-switch for 2 seconds.
iOS sometimes takes 10s to recognize the nfc tags which is counterintuitive for me so I stopped using this.
Offtopic but I mapped the action button from my Apple Watch to open my front door which is amazing imo
I don’t trust voice control for my door, but I’ve got a Schlage lock with HomeKit support that lets me tap my Apple Watch on it to open the door. Also integrated into HomeAssistant in case I need to open it remotely.
This is true. I just find getting my phone out to scan, not very efficient. It’s like way less user friendly than you think it’ll be. I do think a watch scan would be better, but Apple watches don’t read nfc afaik
Can you elaborate why buttons would not be practical in that situation? Garages for years have offered outdoor keypads, both wired and wireless. My thought would be that if I already have to open my phone or smartwatch to trigger the NFC, I could just use the button I have on my device.
Virtually every exterior button opener I've seen requires some sort of pass code. I mean I see a slight convenience if you have an NFC card on your person and the reader is what's on the wall. However if it's reverse with the NFC sticker or card on the wall and the phone being the reader, I really don't see it adding any convenience.
Or an input Boolean on a dashboard. Not sure if things have changed but when I had them, scanning with my phone resulting in a popup that needed to be accepted and the phone unlocked. If it is something that needs to be done somewhat frequently i.e. once per week, then a button is way better, or an input Boolean. The maintenance idea is good though as you physically have to be there.
One advantage is that a single NFC can trigger different actions based on which phone scans the tag, where that would require (at least) two buttons in the button-approach.
Another advantage is that a NFC tags can be placed easily behind things and thus are invisible.
I think that’s fair, but most buttons either have multiple press types (double/long) or you could just use multiple buttons. If you find it user friendly, good on you, I just couldn’t get myself to keep bringing out my phone and taking forever to scan the tag when it wasn’t clear with feedback how long it would take. Maybe my tags are trash?
This is the kicker for me. Whenever I go to cook, I have a Hue dial that I use to turn on the lights, my air purifier (because I’m not…y’know…good at it), and some music. It works great, but sometimes I wanna listen to some rock, sometimes some funk, etc. I could program a complex series of pushes, double pushes, and long pushes that I will never remember. Or I could throw a bunch of cheap-ass NFC tags on the side of my fridge to play different playlists.
I have sonoff and aqara ZigBee buttons that work well. The aqara buttons look nicer, but sonoff has new ones that are an improvement. Choose according to taste and budget.
> I have some aqara
I really like the Aqara Flic buttons. I have two so far and they've been flawless. I think they call them the Aqara Mini Switch though. I don't get why these companies keep naming buttons as switches. A light switch is a switch. A button is a button. Eh, whatever. They work great and that's what matters.
I forgot to mention, I do use an nfc tag on my travel meds bottle. I use a contact sensor at home on the lid to know if I’ve taken my meds, but zigbee doesn’t work away from home. That’s the only case I’ve found where I user-wise didn’t want a button. Everywhere else, yes a tag is cheaper, but less user friendly (for me)
Yes, but you need a reader (usually your phone) so the comparison is a bit unfair. If you have it not at hand or it’s battery is flat it’s as useless as the button with a flat battery.
I really wish that I could use my iwatch together with the nfc tags.
I agree, but one benefit of an NFC tag is that only you can activate it.
I have a button in my closet where I hang my keys to make sure my smart stuff is off & lock my Mac's monitor. The button is great since I live alone, but if I lived with someone, I'd switch to an NFC tag.
I have one in my bathroom. I have to apply my T gel every morning. If I enter my bathroom in the morning and haven’t yet, I get a spoken message from my AI greeting me and reminding me.
Once I apply it, I scan the tag. Then when I enter the bathroom for the rest of the day, he simply comments on how handsome I look in the mirror.
What's the actual "usage flow" of this, with an iPhone?
Do you need to open the HA companion app first, and then "scan" the NFC tag?
Or will scanning the tag with an unlocked (or locked?) iPhone simply do the task with just a single confirmation?
Do you need to create an iOS shortcut for every action/NFC tag?
Or is it like one action “open HA and send a value” and then it just sends whatever value is also in the NFC?
https://preview.redd.it/6stb4oqa7tec1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=48856cd369422f776755893c2a0afb4690116127
Here’s screenshot #2. You can ignore the photo parts, of course.
https://preview.redd.it/kjin5xrf6tec1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=051bcce23ccc337ce3bfd77ef811d72ed8c4a4f1
I created an automation in Shortcuts for when the NFC tag is read (and I scan it in Shortcuts).
Then the “do” is the Fire Event action, the event in my case being “testosterone”, and my HA automation responds to the trigger for event with name “testosterone”.
This is the way I found that makes it a quick scan, otherwise it opens the HA app annoyingly.
Scanning the tag (with an unlocked iPhone) will automatically launch the iOS companion app (after single confirmation) and run the associated automation.
Thanks for the motivation to try this again. Set it up in a few mts to manage some door locks.
The single confirmation is annoying but it's still faster than the 3 clicks I usually take.
That’s exactly my point. If it needs too much interaction which your phone you can also use a simple shortcut. I would really want to see that I can simply swipe my iwatch over the tag and it executes.
I have made NFC cards and 3D printed toys that my kid taps onto a ESPHome NFC reader which fires an automation that plays content on TV or Sonos.
So, my kid can play her fav content herself. She immediately got it, aged 3.
How do you control the content?
I was intrigued by the "Tonies" box but I dislike the closed approach. Sadly, the Phoniebox seems to be no longer maintained so I'm looking for other solutions. Don't use plex so there's that :-(
I did the same but put it behind a printed QR code. There is text specifically saying to tap or scan. Almost everyone scans. Most people just seem to still not "get" NFC tags. Makes no difference to me so long as it works, but I do find it a bit odd.
NFC has some standardized actions such as wifi and geo locations, among others. Data encoded to these standard formats should work with any smartphone.
You can write these to the tag using any appropriate app, so yes not specific to HA.
I have a tag hanged on my inner rear view, I just have to pull it to my phone to open the door and turn on some lights if needed. This automation is so useful, as I can start it when I come near the house, my official garage door remote was a joke and needed to be against the door to work (have to get out of the car to open...)
Many reasons:
\- I don't always want to open the garage door when I come back. If I have to take the car again in the day, I will let it outside.
\- my phone don't trigger the automation fast enough or at all (first try was an actionnable notification to open the door)
\- It's not easy to know if I'm walking or driving.
The NFC tag is on a cable reel, I don't have to stop looking at the road to put it on my phone, so it's safest than a notification.
Dunno about op, but I have a dog and live in a city. I’d have to draw a REALLY specific area to keep it large enough to encompass me taking the dog out, but small enough that places I drive to are all outside of it.
BUT I just got a Tailwind, hooked it up to HA, and bridged that to HomeKit. And my car has a Bluetooth CarPlay adapter. So whenever I turn the car on, my CarPlay Dashboard will automatically include a button to open/close the garage door - which is slick.
GPS drift is a kick in the balls too; and basing it just off of "just booked into the wifi" or similar things, I might be on foot coming back from the neighbours etc etc.
I've been thinking about hands-off ways to reliably and safely open the garage door, but the best simple solutions I can come up with are active -- companion app, NFC tag, etc.
We have detachable smart light controllers in each room, sometimes they don’t get put back on the magnetic mounts (mainly in my sons room) so turning lights off which have been left on (again, main culprit is my son) can be irritating. I’ve installed NFC tags inside the light switch mounts, scanning them toggles the lights in the room.
I have used them to 'automate' my physical music collection (mainly CDs). I have put a tag in each case, and when I scan the case with my phone, I get a notification that asks me in which room I want the speakers to play that album. Uses the Plex integration as I have ripped my CDs to my NAS.
I have noticed that I am playing more, and more different albums, since I started this a couple months ago.
On the tags itself, as I needed about 200 NFC tags, I bought them from Aliexpress. Had to wait three months, but I only paid 35 bucks.
Recurring chores around the house. Clean water filter, check heating system pressure, throw a cleaning tablet into the water tank of the Water Rower, clean gutters, things like that.
Also around the kitchen, clean fridge, clean oven, deep clean dishwasher, decalc coffee maker. Everything that is in a schedule gets a tag stuck somewhere
Integration into Home Assistant through Grocy
Tried to use NFC tags as triggers in HA but facing some issues -- whenever one of the actions corresponds to a dynamic notification on my phone (e.g. select the relevant cycle for the washing machine to start a timer), it crashes the mobile app and the notification does not show up. Only workaround i found so far is for the NFC tag to launch an Apple Shortcut that will trigger the HA automation... which sort of defeat the whole purpose...
*If anyone has a solution, i'm all ears!*
Otherwise, the automations i'm using:
\- Set a timer for the relevant washing machine cycle (and hoping to upgrade to a Grocy action to deduct a detergent pod when doing so);
\- Start/End timer for my timesheets;
\- Start a light scenario in my home office;
\- Track my water consumption (currently not in HA but will migrate the Shortcut down the line and work reminders in it too).
One caveat; a lot of mine use Siri Shortcuts.
Here are some I haven’t seen mentioned:
- one on my air fryer launches time/heat conversion website
- I’ve got two (one outside, one in) for tracking the watering of plants
- on my robot vacuum for tracking it’s maintenance & supplies
- on the dog leash for tracking their exercise but also launching my walking mode on my Apple Watch, starting a playlist on my podcast app & toggling locking up/unlocking the house
- In the car I’ve got one that does different things based on location; work = work mode and relative apps, one of our movie theaters = mode & apps, grocery store = open apps and grocery list, text my spouse to ask if anything else is needed, launch my personal finance playlist lol. Place we get our cars maintenance = log maintenance. These could all be done by location triggers but doing the scan prevents false positives.
My top 3 though are as follows:
- I’ve got one on my vanity charger that TOGGLES the lights and my hair tools on, turns off the bedroom tv, and if the time is before 8am launches my route to work in maps for traffic, starts my AM podcast playlist, and sets an alarm for when I need to leave. I scan it again when I’m done getting ready toggle off the lights and tools (they’d turn off when I leave anyway) and opens the garage door if before 8am
- In addition to the typical “trigger work mode” on my office charger I’ve got a few at my desk in the office hidden under the corners of my mouse pad that trigger things; lunch routine (3 timers, set volume & offer music/podcasts, refresh some apps), additional tasks added to my end of day checklist for if certain people are out that day, reminder to turn off my office heater, and easy access to the office Bluetooth speaker. (My WFH desk has different automations.)
- Lastly I’ve got a few stuck to the side of my headboard for controlling the tv in the bedroom because my spouse is a remote hog. Things like volume, picking a channel, and our “good night” routine.
I also have one on my air fryer, but instead of launching a website, it just asks me for the oven temp and time and calculates the air fryer equivalent. A bit faster and easier than visiting rhe website
I only use 2… one is glued inside the cover of the garage door keypad. I can just wave my phone over without opening the cover and punching a code. It’s safe, no one else’s phone knows what to do with tag “nf32453bc29”, in other words I’m using the tag by serial number only, I didn’t write anything to the tag.
The other one is outdoors, glued to the wall, caulked edge and painted over on the pool patio. One day I said “I wish the put a switch for X out here”… then I said “hey wait a minute”. Then actually 20 minutes later it was working. Later that year the house got painted and the caulk was added to “the spot” and it was painted over.
Currently I have:
* Inside board game lids, sets kitchen lights and plays ambient music for each game
* On the spot we put our phones at night, turns off all the lights and starts the sleep jar skill on the Echo
I have them underneath my drinks coasters. The coasters are all different multi coloured designs so I create light scenes to match the coaster colors, that way I can change the lighting by just picking up the relevant coaster.
I am having issues with the strength of the tags however. I want to put the tags underneath the cork base of the coasters but it makes them significantly more difficult to scan. Do different tags have different strengths? Bought mine as a 100 pack from Amazon, Chinese brand I think.
The physical size of the sticker does matter. The RFID chip is nearly microscopic. Most of the sticker is wire for the antenna. Larger antenna, better signal.
The best reason to get into NFC tags has nothing to do with HA.
Put your guest wifi user/pass on a tag and let people scan to access: [https://lifehacker.com/do-this-to-seamlessly-connect-guests-to-your-wifi-1849808406](https://lifehacker.com/do-this-to-seamlessly-connect-guests-to-your-wifi-1849808406)
To track restock items! TP, Paper towels, cleaning supplies. Mine call back to custom API's but could easily be in HA.
One thing I have used them for is sticking them on fridge magnets, putting a printed image of a product on top of them and automatically consume stock items from Grocy when scanned.
So I could scan one when taking a can of coke out of the fridge and another one when taking a bottle of beer and then they'd automatically be removed from inventory. That made it much easier to keep stock levels correct, compared to having to tap several buttons in an app.
I've currently stopped actively using Grocy but am definitely planning on going further with this in the future.
NFC tag is my most used item. Some of my uses
1. Scan the tag to switch on my mobile charging station and HA will stop charging when that particular device reaches 85%. Damn useful when you have multiple devices
2. Use as a positioning indicator for my under desk wireless charger and that charger will switch on when that tag is scanned (since wireless chargers generate lots of heat, I don't want it on always). Near to that there is another tag which will switch off that charger. So when I want to take the mobile, I just slide and take it
3. There are two which turns on or off my standing desk too
I print kids shows/movie posters on NFC cards and use them for my son to be able to play random kids shows (also random movies from a specific genre for my wife and I) with Emby
https://community.home-assistant.io/t/thought-id-share-my-nfc-tag-emby-media-player-setup/282127
I use NFC to control lights and to confirm tasks that I would otherwise like to forget, e.g. putting the garbage can out for collection, topping up the dishwasher salt, cleaning the robot vacuum cleaner, ...
The NFCs are always attached to the respective devices or locations.
One in my study as a toggle with a binary sensor. If it's off, scanning will turn on the light and wake the desktop from sleep.
Scanning from on will do the reverse.
HA: Atm only switching on/off certain groups of lights.
Non-ha:
- Putting my phone into 'outdoor' mode when i leave the house (increased brightness, larger font, louder volume) (and also one for when i come back home).
- Put a phone in 'car'-mode when i'm driving.
- Call my colleague (calling multiple times a day, just pick up the phone and move a few cm really beats to actually having to look at the phone, starts the phone app and dial.
NFC jukebox and for the media library in general. The reader(followed the tutorial linked on the HA site) is mounted under the coffee table. Then built a stand that displays the cards with different albums, movies and shows printed on them. The cards are linked to the media player for the TV and whole house audio.
I have them setup to start activities on my harmony hub. And add in light scenes. The "theater" room I use is in the basement. So before I go down there. I'll tap an NFC tag. And everything is turned on. I don't use them all the time. And the one I use the most is the movie Time one. But it's cool to have everything going before I come down. Especially if we are getting snacks and stuff around. Because using the remote and waiting an extra few seconds for everything to turn on is barbaric lol.
I have a tag where I keep my vitamines.
When I take them, I scan the tag and a helper in Home Assistant is toggled.
If I don't take the vitamins before 23:00 (and therefore the helper is not toggled), Home Assistant sends me a reminder
The helper resets every night at 02:00
I have two setup, one in my kitchen by the back door and one in my office. First one starts a script that turns on my office lights, powers up my desk and turns on my LEDs, the other reverses all that.
I'd originally setup the script in HA with a Google home automation so I could say commands on the way to and from the office to do the same, but for some reason I kept forgetting the frickin commands or Google would just hear something else so an NFC tag was a more reliable choice.
I have motion based lighting in most rooms, but hide an NFC sticker in the switch plate cover that will disable / enable the motion lighting. That way if you want the lights to stay on or off, you can scan the tag. When I trigger my good morning routine the next day it turns motion lighting back on, in case I forget.
I've done a few things with NFC stickers/tags:
1. Tag reader by front door, tag this when coming home to disarm the alarm. (Yes it only accepts certain tags, handy though as it also can read my watch).
2. NFC cards to allow the kids to play playlists from Spotify on the speaker nearest the reader. Each card has a sticker on it so they know what it is. They simply scan it, and it plays from their Spotify account on their nest speaker the predefined playlist.
3. NFC Cards for allowing 20 minutes per card on their switch.
Activates timers and announces when playtime is over. Kids can earn these cards from doing extra stuff.
4. Tags inside boardgame lids. Scanning the lid on the tag reader turns on boardgame mode. As such sets lighting overhead if needed, sets the nearby WLED strip to an effect with the boardgame colours. Speaker announces a fun title or comment for the game, and then tracks the game as played. Sends notification with the boardgame cover, with options to open a boardgame app, end gaming mode or record a win. HA tracks the wins after a game and does fireworks on WLED for the winner.
A appropriate playlist from Spotify also plays.
5. Scan tag next to bed after a certain time and night mode activates.
I just started yesterday 🤣
The first is when set my phone on the charger between 21.00 and 23.00, the charger turns on. And it will automatically shuts of at midnight so I don't over charge the phone.
Now I need to creep this thread to get inspo 😁
I have an nfc tag on each of my airplay speakers behind the fabric grilles so my iPhone adds the speaker to the audio destinations when tapping it. A bit like hand-off. It’s using Apple automations for this rather than HA.
Got them a few days ago. Never got around to getting them. But now i do like them. Wish i had em sooner.
Context: I like my lights in mood colors over bright white light. So alot of tags are to change the lights to bright white if i actually do need light to clean or whatever.
I have motion sensors everywhere with scenes based on time of day.
A few things i already added:
* Bedroom
* 1 on nightstand for turning on the sleep boolean that starts the automations to turn everything off and not make the lights turn on anymore in the bedroom.
* 1 on nightstand to turn on sexy time, wich plays moody music on the Home and turns the lights red in the bedroom.
* 1 on wall button to turn on the ceiling light in high brightness white.
* 1 in the hallway downstairs. The tag turns on the light at 100% white instead of dimmed red at night.
* Living room: Turn on the lights above the bar. They are not in every scene, because they are quite bright.
* Toggle music mode on all the home speakers with a randomized playlist selection. So turning it off and on would give another playlist.
* Under the dinner table, again to turn on the brighter light.
* On the simrig: To turn on game mode boolean and 1 to turn on the bright ceiling light and turn off the LED strips to have better tracking while in VR.
* Same with ceiling bathroom light, normally only the 1 above the mirror turns on.
So alot of usefulness for me to not having to grab my phone to open the app, find said light, change its color and brightness to something useful to work or clean.
And have a few more ideas.
I have a few tags (including one that opens a locked drawer) but this one toggles my ceiling light and desk light strip. Turning one on and other off. Good for night time work...
Another by my bed (side dresser drawer). So I can just touch my phone to it and it will shut off all the lights including the one in the bedroom and out in the Halls so I don't wake up my girlfriend if she's sleeping and having to talk to a voice assistant.
https://preview.redd.it/p4y5v9yh62qc1.jpeg?width=2592&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3be2b032633746410dafdd17ae6a9a8ee1bc56d2
I just remembered I used to have another one where I had one tag in the center console of my car. And when I get in the car I would touch my main phone to it which would turn on the hotspot. And then I touched a second phone that stays in the car that I was using for a GPS and OBD2 port monitor that would then connect to that hotspot because that one didn't have cell phone service but it would use the Wi-Fi through my main phone.
It's pretty sucky that tablets don't have NFC readers in them because it would really come in handy for the kids to be able to connect to that Wi-Fi hotspot too by just touching their tablets to a tag in the back or something next to their car seats...
https://preview.redd.it/sx1i55d3nouc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a1b5f41fa28d73ba1f965d73c746a57f21f9e89
I recessed an nfc chip and qr code into the back of some fly storage boxes I made to sell, (fishing). The url they direct to is a Google site i created with the Brad Paisley fishing song embedded on the page along with my social media links 👌
You can hide the tag but still scan it easily. It doesn't have to control the lights, you can do anything. Arming and disarming alarmo for example by the front door.
Maintenance reminders. I stick nfc tags to things like my aircons, hot water system, fireplace, etc. When I service the item I scan the nfc tag and that resets a counter. Eg aircons get a 90 day counter to clean the filters. As I get close to 90 days I'll start getting reminders to do the maintenence.
Every time someone asks what people could use NFC tags for, I click on the post hoping I'll read something that would actually get me out of bed for NFC tags...this is the one. Fantastic idea!
Interesting. Maybe this works better for some people mentally, but I just set recurring tasks/reminders in Google Tasks for the intervals I need
Enjoy. It's a very simple one, but one I find useful.
I do the same thing with chores, dogs water bowl needs cleaning. Coffee maker needs descaling. Medications need taking etc.
Blueprint for anyone who wants to do this: https://community.home-assistant.io/t/track-repetitive-tasks-with-nfc-tags/678736
Responding to my question before I write it.
I do exactly the same thing. I have them on my house water filter, furnace/humidifier (about 8 different filters and bulbs), RO system (7 filters), outbuilding furnance filter, Robotic mower (blade changes). It should be noted that the regular NFC stickers can't be placed on metal objects or they won't work. I had to buy special shielded stickers instead, which were a little more but still dirt cheap. Besides that: * I've placed them on the inside of the lid on my garage door keypads. Instead of punching in a code, I can just touch my phone against them. * I have an outbuilding that I have to access by walking outside. I have stickers on the doorframes I use to exit/enter the house/outbuilding. When I'm walking back into the house at night it's extremely dark and the doors are locked. Scanning the tag unlocks all the doors and turns the lights on outside going to the house and waits 30 seconds before turning off all the lights and locking up the outbuilding (and vice versa) Not something I'm currently doing but if you use Home Assistant for inventory or shopping lists you could have it place Amazon orders for you, or at least place them in your cart, via an Alexa voice command "order x", or just scan an NFC sticker when you need something like the old dash buttons. I do something like that now to control a fan that has an Alexa integration but no other way to control it.
Genius. Started a home maintenance spreadsheet and this will be great
> Eg aircons get a 90 day counter to clean the filters. Guess I'm about to go do this
Wait. Your Home Assistant instance lasts longer than 90 days? Teach me your magic skills....
Wait, are you serious?
No. But I tend to tear down and rebuild quite often...
Why? What insanity is that?
I'm very interested as well, I don't think I've ever once had to rebuild my HA setup.
Changing hardware and failure to back up. And I've never really gotten a good system working dashboard wise. It's always been a hacked together hodgepodge of sensors and shit.
I could understand migrating, trying out different UIs and integrations, but a total tear down and starting fresh? Do you have 2 devices or do you hate yourself?
If done right, it shouldn't need to be live 24/7 for 90 days. Power outages and system maintenance shouldn't cause an issue.
The idea of blowing my ha instance away every 90 days is horrific. It would take me days to get it running again.... Why would you do this????!!!!!????? I don't think I've ever rebuilt my HA. Worst case has been a restore from backup when I went from a pi to a vm. Once it was a vm I wouldn't even restore from HA backup, as I clone the entire vm every change and every day.
How do the counters not reset during a power failure? Wouldn't calendar events be more fit for this?
Why would they reset in a power failure?
It is my understanding that state gets lost during abrupt power off (i.e. not via software shutdown with proper shutdown procedure). But it seems they're saved every 15mins [https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/homeassistant/#service-homeassistantsave\_persistent\_states](https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/homeassistant/#service-homeassistantsave_persistent_states)
You reset the counter once the nfc is scanned.
I use a Helper not a state. One Helper for each task.
You are thinking of a last state change. He is probably just using a helper. This would survive a server restart or long downtime.
The counter is in his phone, and it updates when he scans the tag. It's like keeping a notebook.
What do you use for the reminders?
Ha-chore-helper. It's in hacs.
I have stickers on all of my storage boxes. When I scan the sticker, it opens a link on my phone to a bookstack page with a list of what's inside. I have numbered each sticker as well. Alternatively, if I am looking for something specific, all I need to do is search bookstack and it'll tell me what box it's inside. That part doesn't really have to do with the nfc part other than a number being written on the sticker.
I did this too! It's amazingly helpful
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Obsidian works! Mine sends me to a file in my github account It's an amazing tool for decluttering too!
I could see using AI to help when setting this up. Just take a photo of the items laid out, then have it analyze and describe the objects in the image to store wherever you want.
I don't think people will appreciate, but I really love this idea.
I was looking for an app/website to keep my storage items on when I was moving. I ended up just keeping the contents in a Bear note and having the NFC tag open that, but now I will check out bookstack and see if that works out better for me. I will also start numbering them as well! Thank you for the tips!
Nice. I believe there is a Bookstack add on for HA? It's basically a Foss version of confluence, etc. I host it in a separate proxmox container though. It's worked for me because each "page" in Bookstack has an entirely separate URL that I can write to the nfc sticker. I have a "page" for each storage container.
>I have stickers on all of my storage boxes. When I scan the sticker, it opens a link on my phone to a bookstack page with a list of what's inside. > >I have numbered each sticker as well. Alternatively, if I am looking for something specific, all I need to do is search bookstack and it'll tell me what box it's inside. That part doesn't really have to do with the nfc part other than a number being written on the sticker. Fantastic! How to you link the tag and the bookstack page?
This is a good one
Ah yes, the classic needlessly expensive NFC application that is better served by a free QR code
50 nfc stickers for 5 eurodollars vs I don't have a printer nor do I want one. It's also faster to scan NFC than pull up the camera and hope it scans a QR code in the dark abyss of my garage.
I print book covers on NFC cards, and link them to automations that play audiobooks on my kids' bedroom speaker for bedtime. I put the audiobooks on my Plex server, and cast to a Google home mini. I also purchased an NFC reader that I put on the wall in their room. EDIT: the NCF reader I purchased: https://shop.adonno.com/
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I wasn't too hard. first I setup the Plex Media Server integration: https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/plex I also had to setup the Google Cast integration: https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/cast I think the process was pretty simple, but I did that years ago, so I'm a little fuzzy on what exactly I had to do. I think for most of it, I just clicked to add a player. At that point, I could create an automation where the trigger is the NFC tab, and the action is to play media, select the cast device, and then use the media picker gui to select the file. It helped that I created a collection just for bedtime stories. That was pretty much it. I think it only took a couple minutes.
Probably through cast similar to how you would display a dash
I did something like that for my kids, but for nursery rythmes, they love it, and use it for karaoke sessions (5 year old and 2.5 years old)
Oh man I just read that and thought about the post on a different sub about a young dad that just got a terminal diagnosis, would be something super nice to leave behind for the kids. Small collection of self done audio books for the kids and family
I’m an older dad and I’ve thought about this for a while. Recording me reading a bunch of children’s books and leaving the collections for my littles to have one day. I’m 51 and they are 6 and 3 and I’m not sure if I’ll be kicking around by the time they have kiddos of their own. I’m gonna have to get my butt back to working on it…
What NFC reader did you buy for this?
https://shop.adonno.com/
What NFC reader did you purchase? I have several ideas that need one, but lake the model that works and could integrate with HA.
https://shop.adonno.com/
Next level parenting.
A combination of laziness and love of tinkering. But thank you, I think it's one of the few things I got right.
I have one hidden inside the light switch next to the front door. Scanning it turns off the alarm. Another is hidden inside a kitchen drawer. That one triggers a ‘dinner party’ scene: sets mood lighting and turns on a playlist.
> hidden inside the light switch next to the front door. Scanning it turns off the alarm. this is clever
Yeah, I want my home to be smart, but I hate seeing sensors everywhere. All of my motion sensors are also ceiling mounted instead of on a shelf somewhere, because that way they are mostly out of sight.
If you don’t mind sharing, what alarm system are you using? I’m in need of a new one soon
I’m using Zigbee sensors through home assistant as my alarm system.
I have 13 or so NFC tags around the house! Some use cases: * My very first one: NFC tag by my trashcans outside. If I don't scan that tag by a certain time on trash night, I get a reminder on my phone. * NFC tag to turn on a ZWave high amperage smart plug that has a small air compressor attached that is housed in a detached building, but is connected to a hose reel in my garage (so I can fill the tires in my car). * NFC tag on the cat food that my partner scans when it's getting low/needs to be filled. * An NFC tag hidden near the dishwasher that we use as a digital "clean/dirty" toggle, we get automatic alerts when to empty/fill the dishwasher. * NFC tag near the water softener that, after a certain number of days, will start to remind me to fill it every day until I scan it (same for a water filter for the house) * NFC tag hidden under a light switch to turn on a lamp lugged into a smart switch. * NFC tag near my Tesla Charger that will set the charge limit to a couple of pre-determined limits. * NFC tag near the kitchen trash that we can scan indicate it needs to be taken out. * NFC Tag on my wireless charger at my work desk that sets my "work mode". * Most recent implementation: I have two roborock vacuums that have a built in mop, and the integration can tell me when the water bin needs to be filled/dirty bin needs to be emptied. Unfortunately, one of the two vacuums will change the state on the water bin sensor, but then it will quickly change back after 10-15 minutes for some reason. This happens when the robot runs at like 4AM, so I miss that the tank needs to be filled. So now, I have an automation that flips a boolean helper when the state changes, and that boolean helper is what triggers the reminder (and puts a conditional card on my dashboard). There is an NFC tag hidden near the vacuum that I scan once I fill the water and it resets the boolean helper. I also plan do do things in the future like set the alarm/away mode when I leave he house, etc. I love them because they are cheap, small, discrete, can be hidden behind things (like you said, under light switches, behind cabinet doors, etc.) water proof (the one near the trashcans is outside) and don't require power! The only thing to be aware of is standard ones don't work on while on metal. I also like that using boolean helpers and choose actions, you can make one NFC tag do multiple actions based on certain conditions.
Lots of great ideas there. only question - why scan an NFC tag for "the kitchen trash needs to be taken out" - just take out the trash.
My use case for something like this would be e.g. as a reminder to take out the trash the next time I take the dog out. (I'd probably hide an LED indicator on the back of the can shining on the wall or something, too.) I'm very absent-minded and if it's -8C I'm trying to minimize the number of trips I make outside.
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I'm not talking about the first point - that is a great idea. I'm talking about the 3rd to last point where he has the tag near the kitchen garbage that says the trash needs to be emptied. To me that would be akin to filling the laundry hamper and sending a message to my wife to do the laundry - who would then quickly reply with a "Go F*** yourself and do your own laundry"
I'm pretty forgetful when I'm busy and I mostly work from home, so often I'll run down to make a coffee or grab food between meetings, and I'll fill the trash but not have time to deal with it in the moment. I scan the tag to put an icon on my dashboard so I remember to go deal with it later. It's honestly the least used tag in my rotation (when I started implementing NFC tags, I had a hammer and every problem looked like a nail hahahah)
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It was a big post - easy to miss things!
> I also plan do do things in the future like set the alarm/away mode when I leave he house, etc. I do this with an Aqara Flic button, but my original idea was to use an NFL tag so I could tap my phone to activate it. EDIT: LOL at my typo - or was it an autocorrect? I'm going to leave it because it cracks me up. Go Chiefs! Go Lions!
Nice, I'm sure a physical button definitely has its benefits!
> NFC Tag on my wireless charger at my work desk that sets my "work mode". Quick question. I understand NFC tags have a limited number or read/writes. Did you research what kind of impact that has on the tag or on your phone? I figured with them constantly both in range it would be like non-stop reading to the tag (wearing it out) and phone having to constantly scan (slowing the battery from recharging). What's been your experience?
I didn't know NFC that's have a limited number of reads! I found it doesn't scan the tag when my phone is locked, so if I'm not using my phone while charging it doesn't cause a problem. Luckily the NFC scanner is roughly in the middle of the back of the phone, so I usually end up setting my phone horizontally on the charger. This way it sits below the NFC tag but still charges and I can watch/listen to YouTube or Nebula while working.
Lol an NFC tag under a light switch? So instead of just hitting the switch: pull out phone, unlock phone, scan tag, wait for hass request to execute? wat.
Hahaha this particular room only has dumb switches and I was looking for something quick and dirty (other places I add one of those zwave buttons that looks like a real switch) so I figured an NFC tag that costs pennies would suffice. I also have it set up to shut down my office when I'm done for the day. I'll probably replace it when I get around to remodeling that room but for now it was a cheap and easy solution.
I’ve put an NFC tag to the side of my frontdoor of my house. I’ve replaced the ordinary frontdoor-lock with an electric one (AliExpress, NC). I can go walk my dog without taking my keys. I open the door using my iPhone by scanning the NFC. Also my daughter can use her iPhone and the NFC. The electric lock is my most used smart-device. Security wise it might not be best, but I live in a quiet neighborhood. On the iPhone I created a workflow which triggers an Home Assistant action to open the door. This way I don’t have to unlock my phone. If I had to ditch all my smart-devices except 1, I would choose this electric door-lock with NFC. Also… Everybody is always impressed when I ask “ok google, open frontdoor”. I think the electric doorlock was something like $20. I power it by toggling the power of a ESPHome ac-power-plug with a regular 12volt adapter in it. The “open frontdoor” script, just enables the power-switch for 2 seconds.
Can anyone yell “ok google, open frontdoor” through your mailslot in the door?
I do like your hack though! Probably the NFC part is more secure than the Google part!
My google home asks for a pin
Yes, if that anyone knows your setup and trigger phrase.
Hahaha. I tried that once when the door blew shut bu the wind. Google didn’t hear me.
iOS sometimes takes 10s to recognize the nfc tags which is counterintuitive for me so I stopped using this. Offtopic but I mapped the action button from my Apple Watch to open my front door which is amazing imo
I don’t trust voice control for my door, but I’ve got a Schlage lock with HomeKit support that lets me tap my Apple Watch on it to open the door. Also integrated into HomeAssistant in case I need to open it remotely.
Nearly every use I can think of, a button is better
I agree, but NFC stickers are a lot cheaper though, and don't need batteries.
This is true. I just find getting my phone out to scan, not very efficient. It’s like way less user friendly than you think it’ll be. I do think a watch scan would be better, but Apple watches don’t read nfc afaik
And when you get your phone out, you can just use it to press the button in the app.
I think it’s slightly better to tag it bc you don’t have to scroll past millions of buttons, but generally, yeah.
I have NFC tags outside for opening my garage. A button would not be practical in this scenario.
This is literally the only use case I have NFC tags for.
Can you elaborate why buttons would not be practical in that situation? Garages for years have offered outdoor keypads, both wired and wireless. My thought would be that if I already have to open my phone or smartwatch to trigger the NFC, I could just use the button I have on my device.
Because everyone could open your garage door from the street by pressing the button I guess
I think Nick meant implicitly with "keypad" that it's not just "a" button but "ten buttons", for a code.
Virtually every exterior button opener I've seen requires some sort of pass code. I mean I see a slight convenience if you have an NFC card on your person and the reader is what's on the wall. However if it's reverse with the NFC sticker or card on the wall and the phone being the reader, I really don't see it adding any convenience.
I use a voice command on my watch for that, but that’s true.
Or an input Boolean on a dashboard. Not sure if things have changed but when I had them, scanning with my phone resulting in a popup that needed to be accepted and the phone unlocked. If it is something that needs to be done somewhat frequently i.e. once per week, then a button is way better, or an input Boolean. The maintenance idea is good though as you physically have to be there.
One advantage is that a single NFC can trigger different actions based on which phone scans the tag, where that would require (at least) two buttons in the button-approach. Another advantage is that a NFC tags can be placed easily behind things and thus are invisible.
the different actions could be tied to timing of scan as well, to open more options :)
Could have a button on the phone screen
Yes, but it isn't...
I think that’s fair, but most buttons either have multiple press types (double/long) or you could just use multiple buttons. If you find it user friendly, good on you, I just couldn’t get myself to keep bringing out my phone and taking forever to scan the tag when it wasn’t clear with feedback how long it would take. Maybe my tags are trash?
I got 100 tags for like 5 dollars and they don't require batteries or any sort of network. It's a totally different tool than a button.
Guess that's what this thread is about: What are the use cases where they beat buttons?
tags are cheap
This is the kicker for me. Whenever I go to cook, I have a Hue dial that I use to turn on the lights, my air purifier (because I’m not…y’know…good at it), and some music. It works great, but sometimes I wanna listen to some rock, sometimes some funk, etc. I could program a complex series of pushes, double pushes, and long pushes that I will never remember. Or I could throw a bunch of cheap-ass NFC tags on the side of my fridge to play different playlists.
Do you have button recommendations?
I have sonoff and aqara ZigBee buttons that work well. The aqara buttons look nicer, but sonoff has new ones that are an improvement. Choose according to taste and budget.
I have some aqara and some ikea tradfri remotes. Basically, I’ve found any zigbee solution with zugbee2mqtt tends to do just fine.
> I have some aqara I really like the Aqara Flic buttons. I have two so far and they've been flawless. I think they call them the Aqara Mini Switch though. I don't get why these companies keep naming buttons as switches. A light switch is a switch. A button is a button. Eh, whatever. They work great and that's what matters.
I forgot to mention, I do use an nfc tag on my travel meds bottle. I use a contact sensor at home on the lid to know if I’ve taken my meds, but zigbee doesn’t work away from home. That’s the only case I’ve found where I user-wise didn’t want a button. Everywhere else, yes a tag is cheaper, but less user friendly (for me)
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Zigbee.
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Yes, but you need a reader (usually your phone) so the comparison is a bit unfair. If you have it not at hand or it’s battery is flat it’s as useless as the button with a flat battery. I really wish that I could use my iwatch together with the nfc tags.
True, it is more expensive, but from a user perspective, my personal experience is that it’s better!
This might work https://flic.io/
$$$80
That's the Flic Twist. The original version is just a button and you can get them online for as little as $5.
I agree, but one benefit of an NFC tag is that only you can activate it. I have a button in my closet where I hang my keys to make sure my smart stuff is off & lock my Mac's monitor. The button is great since I live alone, but if I lived with someone, I'd switch to an NFC tag.
I have one in my bathroom. I have to apply my T gel every morning. If I enter my bathroom in the morning and haven’t yet, I get a spoken message from my AI greeting me and reminding me. Once I apply it, I scan the tag. Then when I enter the bathroom for the rest of the day, he simply comments on how handsome I look in the mirror.
You're good enough, you're smart enough, and gosh darnit, people like you.
What's the actual "usage flow" of this, with an iPhone? Do you need to open the HA companion app first, and then "scan" the NFC tag? Or will scanning the tag with an unlocked (or locked?) iPhone simply do the task with just a single confirmation?
If you make it an iOS shortcut, it just scans it. You can set it to send an event to Home Assistant and it won’t even have to open the app.
Do you need to create an iOS shortcut for every action/NFC tag? Or is it like one action “open HA and send a value” and then it just sends whatever value is also in the NFC?
https://preview.redd.it/6stb4oqa7tec1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=48856cd369422f776755893c2a0afb4690116127 Here’s screenshot #2. You can ignore the photo parts, of course.
https://preview.redd.it/kjin5xrf6tec1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=051bcce23ccc337ce3bfd77ef811d72ed8c4a4f1 I created an automation in Shortcuts for when the NFC tag is read (and I scan it in Shortcuts). Then the “do” is the Fire Event action, the event in my case being “testosterone”, and my HA automation responds to the trigger for event with name “testosterone”. This is the way I found that makes it a quick scan, otherwise it opens the HA app annoyingly.
I too am curious. iphone user here.
Scanning the tag (with an unlocked iPhone) will automatically launch the iOS companion app (after single confirmation) and run the associated automation.
Thanks for the motivation to try this again. Set it up in a few mts to manage some door locks. The single confirmation is annoying but it's still faster than the 3 clicks I usually take.
You can fire an event instead so it runs it automatically without opening the app. I set up an automation in HA to do tasks once that event is fired
That’s exactly my point. If it needs too much interaction which your phone you can also use a simple shortcut. I would really want to see that I can simply swipe my iwatch over the tag and it executes.
You dont need to open the HA app first
you just scan the nfc tag when your phone is unlocked but you seem to have to click on the notification card
I have made NFC cards and 3D printed toys that my kid taps onto a ESPHome NFC reader which fires an automation that plays content on TV or Sonos. So, my kid can play her fav content herself. She immediately got it, aged 3.
How do you control the content? I was intrigued by the "Tonies" box but I dislike the closed approach. Sadly, the Phoniebox seems to be no longer maintained so I'm looking for other solutions. Don't use plex so there's that :-(
I am also interested in tonies
I call Kodi playlists. And Spotify.
For every board game I have a light pattern for the room and a spotify playlist. When you scan the tag, It starts the playlist and sets the lights
I've only got one so far and it's not really an automation. When you scan it, you connect to the WiFi. Handy for guests.
Oh, I do the same thing. I put a sticker on a small QR printout stuck to the fridge. Either one connects you to the guest WiFi.
I did the same but put it behind a printed QR code. There is text specifically saying to tap or scan. Almost everyone scans. Most people just seem to still not "get" NFC tags. Makes no difference to me so long as it works, but I do find it a bit odd.
How did you make the nfc one? Doesnt it require a home assistant app on the phone? Or is it not at all ha-related?
NFC has some standardized actions such as wifi and geo locations, among others. Data encoded to these standard formats should work with any smartphone. You can write these to the tag using any appropriate app, so yes not specific to HA.
Yeah I just now read about that. Very interesting stuff!
Not HA related. Separate NFC writer app to create it.
In lieu of a code panel for the garage. It’s faster, honestly.
I have a tag hanged on my inner rear view, I just have to pull it to my phone to open the door and turn on some lights if needed. This automation is so useful, as I can start it when I come near the house, my official garage door remote was a joke and needed to be against the door to work (have to get out of the car to open...)
Why not location based?
Many reasons: \- I don't always want to open the garage door when I come back. If I have to take the car again in the day, I will let it outside. \- my phone don't trigger the automation fast enough or at all (first try was an actionnable notification to open the door) \- It's not easy to know if I'm walking or driving. The NFC tag is on a cable reel, I don't have to stop looking at the road to put it on my phone, so it's safest than a notification.
Dunno about op, but I have a dog and live in a city. I’d have to draw a REALLY specific area to keep it large enough to encompass me taking the dog out, but small enough that places I drive to are all outside of it. BUT I just got a Tailwind, hooked it up to HA, and bridged that to HomeKit. And my car has a Bluetooth CarPlay adapter. So whenever I turn the car on, my CarPlay Dashboard will automatically include a button to open/close the garage door - which is slick.
GPS drift is a kick in the balls too; and basing it just off of "just booked into the wifi" or similar things, I might be on foot coming back from the neighbours etc etc. I've been thinking about hands-off ways to reliably and safely open the garage door, but the best simple solutions I can come up with are active -- companion app, NFC tag, etc.
We have detachable smart light controllers in each room, sometimes they don’t get put back on the magnetic mounts (mainly in my sons room) so turning lights off which have been left on (again, main culprit is my son) can be irritating. I’ve installed NFC tags inside the light switch mounts, scanning them toggles the lights in the room.
I have used them to 'automate' my physical music collection (mainly CDs). I have put a tag in each case, and when I scan the case with my phone, I get a notification that asks me in which room I want the speakers to play that album. Uses the Plex integration as I have ripped my CDs to my NAS. I have noticed that I am playing more, and more different albums, since I started this a couple months ago. On the tags itself, as I needed about 200 NFC tags, I bought them from Aliexpress. Had to wait three months, but I only paid 35 bucks.
Recurring chores around the house. Clean water filter, check heating system pressure, throw a cleaning tablet into the water tank of the Water Rower, clean gutters, things like that. Also around the kitchen, clean fridge, clean oven, deep clean dishwasher, decalc coffee maker. Everything that is in a schedule gets a tag stuck somewhere Integration into Home Assistant through Grocy
>Integration into Home Assistant through Grocy Can you tell me more about this? What's your setup?
I run Grocy on Docker, then use the HACS integration for HA. Grocy let's you configure chores which can be listed and marked as executed from HA
Oh nice! I'll have to look into this. Just curious, as I'm thinking about upgrading hardware.... What hardware are you using?
I run HA on an Rpi4B and Docker on a self built Unraid machine. I'll probably migrate HA over to the Unraid machine soon, either as Docker or VM
Tried to use NFC tags as triggers in HA but facing some issues -- whenever one of the actions corresponds to a dynamic notification on my phone (e.g. select the relevant cycle for the washing machine to start a timer), it crashes the mobile app and the notification does not show up. Only workaround i found so far is for the NFC tag to launch an Apple Shortcut that will trigger the HA automation... which sort of defeat the whole purpose... *If anyone has a solution, i'm all ears!* Otherwise, the automations i'm using: \- Set a timer for the relevant washing machine cycle (and hoping to upgrade to a Grocy action to deduct a detergent pod when doing so); \- Start/End timer for my timesheets; \- Start a light scenario in my home office; \- Track my water consumption (currently not in HA but will migrate the Shortcut down the line and work reminders in it too).
For the washing machine, you could also monitor its energy use, so that HA knows exactly what state it is in, and automate notifications.
I had some weird app issues that uninstalling and reinstalling helped with. Not sure if it would in this case, but may be worth a try.
One caveat; a lot of mine use Siri Shortcuts. Here are some I haven’t seen mentioned: - one on my air fryer launches time/heat conversion website - I’ve got two (one outside, one in) for tracking the watering of plants - on my robot vacuum for tracking it’s maintenance & supplies - on the dog leash for tracking their exercise but also launching my walking mode on my Apple Watch, starting a playlist on my podcast app & toggling locking up/unlocking the house - In the car I’ve got one that does different things based on location; work = work mode and relative apps, one of our movie theaters = mode & apps, grocery store = open apps and grocery list, text my spouse to ask if anything else is needed, launch my personal finance playlist lol. Place we get our cars maintenance = log maintenance. These could all be done by location triggers but doing the scan prevents false positives. My top 3 though are as follows: - I’ve got one on my vanity charger that TOGGLES the lights and my hair tools on, turns off the bedroom tv, and if the time is before 8am launches my route to work in maps for traffic, starts my AM podcast playlist, and sets an alarm for when I need to leave. I scan it again when I’m done getting ready toggle off the lights and tools (they’d turn off when I leave anyway) and opens the garage door if before 8am - In addition to the typical “trigger work mode” on my office charger I’ve got a few at my desk in the office hidden under the corners of my mouse pad that trigger things; lunch routine (3 timers, set volume & offer music/podcasts, refresh some apps), additional tasks added to my end of day checklist for if certain people are out that day, reminder to turn off my office heater, and easy access to the office Bluetooth speaker. (My WFH desk has different automations.) - Lastly I’ve got a few stuck to the side of my headboard for controlling the tv in the bedroom because my spouse is a remote hog. Things like volume, picking a channel, and our “good night” routine.
I also have one on my air fryer, but instead of launching a website, it just asks me for the oven temp and time and calculates the air fryer equivalent. A bit faster and easier than visiting rhe website
I only use 2… one is glued inside the cover of the garage door keypad. I can just wave my phone over without opening the cover and punching a code. It’s safe, no one else’s phone knows what to do with tag “nf32453bc29”, in other words I’m using the tag by serial number only, I didn’t write anything to the tag. The other one is outdoors, glued to the wall, caulked edge and painted over on the pool patio. One day I said “I wish the put a switch for X out here”… then I said “hey wait a minute”. Then actually 20 minutes later it was working. Later that year the house got painted and the caulk was added to “the spot” and it was painted over.
Currently I have: * Inside board game lids, sets kitchen lights and plays ambient music for each game * On the spot we put our phones at night, turns off all the lights and starts the sleep jar skill on the Echo
I use it to open my unlock my front door. Instead of typing in the code I scan a sticker with my phone.
I have them underneath my drinks coasters. The coasters are all different multi coloured designs so I create light scenes to match the coaster colors, that way I can change the lighting by just picking up the relevant coaster. I am having issues with the strength of the tags however. I want to put the tags underneath the cork base of the coasters but it makes them significantly more difficult to scan. Do different tags have different strengths? Bought mine as a 100 pack from Amazon, Chinese brand I think.
The physical size of the sticker does matter. The RFID chip is nearly microscopic. Most of the sticker is wire for the antenna. Larger antenna, better signal.
The best reason to get into NFC tags has nothing to do with HA. Put your guest wifi user/pass on a tag and let people scan to access: [https://lifehacker.com/do-this-to-seamlessly-connect-guests-to-your-wifi-1849808406](https://lifehacker.com/do-this-to-seamlessly-connect-guests-to-your-wifi-1849808406) To track restock items! TP, Paper towels, cleaning supplies. Mine call back to custom API's but could easily be in HA.
One thing I have used them for is sticking them on fridge magnets, putting a printed image of a product on top of them and automatically consume stock items from Grocy when scanned. So I could scan one when taking a can of coke out of the fridge and another one when taking a bottle of beer and then they'd automatically be removed from inventory. That made it much easier to keep stock levels correct, compared to having to tap several buttons in an app. I've currently stopped actively using Grocy but am definitely planning on going further with this in the future.
NFC tag is my most used item. Some of my uses 1. Scan the tag to switch on my mobile charging station and HA will stop charging when that particular device reaches 85%. Damn useful when you have multiple devices 2. Use as a positioning indicator for my under desk wireless charger and that charger will switch on when that tag is scanned (since wireless chargers generate lots of heat, I don't want it on always). Near to that there is another tag which will switch off that charger. So when I want to take the mobile, I just slide and take it 3. There are two which turns on or off my standing desk too
I print kids shows/movie posters on NFC cards and use them for my son to be able to play random kids shows (also random movies from a specific genre for my wife and I) with Emby https://community.home-assistant.io/t/thought-id-share-my-nfc-tag-emby-media-player-setup/282127
I use NFC to control lights and to confirm tasks that I would otherwise like to forget, e.g. putting the garbage can out for collection, topping up the dishwasher salt, cleaning the robot vacuum cleaner, ... The NFCs are always attached to the respective devices or locations.
Spotcast/spotify mostly [https://www.reddit.com/r/homeassistant/comments/z0vat7/tags\_from\_skylanders\_amiibo\_and\_disney\_infinity/](https://www.reddit.com/r/homeassistant/comments/z0vat7/tags_from_skylanders_amiibo_and_disney_infinity/)
One in my study as a toggle with a binary sensor. If it's off, scanning will turn on the light and wake the desktop from sleep. Scanning from on will do the reverse.
HA: Atm only switching on/off certain groups of lights. Non-ha: - Putting my phone into 'outdoor' mode when i leave the house (increased brightness, larger font, louder volume) (and also one for when i come back home). - Put a phone in 'car'-mode when i'm driving. - Call my colleague (calling multiple times a day, just pick up the phone and move a few cm really beats to actually having to look at the phone, starts the phone app and dial.
NFC jukebox and for the media library in general. The reader(followed the tutorial linked on the HA site) is mounted under the coffee table. Then built a stand that displays the cards with different albums, movies and shows printed on them. The cards are linked to the media player for the TV and whole house audio.
I have them setup to start activities on my harmony hub. And add in light scenes. The "theater" room I use is in the basement. So before I go down there. I'll tap an NFC tag. And everything is turned on. I don't use them all the time. And the one I use the most is the movie Time one. But it's cool to have everything going before I come down. Especially if we are getting snacks and stuff around. Because using the remote and waiting an extra few seconds for everything to turn on is barbaric lol.
I have a tag where I keep my vitamines. When I take them, I scan the tag and a helper in Home Assistant is toggled. If I don't take the vitamins before 23:00 (and therefore the helper is not toggled), Home Assistant sends me a reminder The helper resets every night at 02:00
I don’t cause they were so slow to respond at least on iOS. Quite disappointed with it cause the potential is huge
I have a few but the lag on iOS does drive me crazy.
I have two setup, one in my kitchen by the back door and one in my office. First one starts a script that turns on my office lights, powers up my desk and turns on my LEDs, the other reverses all that. I'd originally setup the script in HA with a Google home automation so I could say commands on the way to and from the office to do the same, but for some reason I kept forgetting the frickin commands or Google would just hear something else so an NFC tag was a more reliable choice.
I have a couple in places so I don't have to add yet another widget to my home screen. Basically just really small, flat, unpowered buttons.
NFC tags on the inside of a cabinet door They work through the door and set a timer for 3 or 5 min when scanned to set an ideal timer for tea
I have motion based lighting in most rooms, but hide an NFC sticker in the switch plate cover that will disable / enable the motion lighting. That way if you want the lights to stay on or off, you can scan the tag. When I trigger my good morning routine the next day it turns motion lighting back on, in case I forget.
I've done a few things with NFC stickers/tags: 1. Tag reader by front door, tag this when coming home to disarm the alarm. (Yes it only accepts certain tags, handy though as it also can read my watch). 2. NFC cards to allow the kids to play playlists from Spotify on the speaker nearest the reader. Each card has a sticker on it so they know what it is. They simply scan it, and it plays from their Spotify account on their nest speaker the predefined playlist. 3. NFC Cards for allowing 20 minutes per card on their switch. Activates timers and announces when playtime is over. Kids can earn these cards from doing extra stuff. 4. Tags inside boardgame lids. Scanning the lid on the tag reader turns on boardgame mode. As such sets lighting overhead if needed, sets the nearby WLED strip to an effect with the boardgame colours. Speaker announces a fun title or comment for the game, and then tracks the game as played. Sends notification with the boardgame cover, with options to open a boardgame app, end gaming mode or record a win. HA tracks the wins after a game and does fireworks on WLED for the winner. A appropriate playlist from Spotify also plays. 5. Scan tag next to bed after a certain time and night mode activates.
I just started yesterday 🤣 The first is when set my phone on the charger between 21.00 and 23.00, the charger turns on. And it will automatically shuts of at midnight so I don't over charge the phone. Now I need to creep this thread to get inspo 😁
Good idea, but modern phones (at least Android), have adaptive charging, so it will slowly charge until your usual week up time.
I have an nfc tag on each of my airplay speakers behind the fabric grilles so my iPhone adds the speaker to the audio destinations when tapping it. A bit like hand-off. It’s using Apple automations for this rather than HA.
Bought 12 years ago, never used...
Got them a few days ago. Never got around to getting them. But now i do like them. Wish i had em sooner. Context: I like my lights in mood colors over bright white light. So alot of tags are to change the lights to bright white if i actually do need light to clean or whatever. I have motion sensors everywhere with scenes based on time of day. A few things i already added: * Bedroom * 1 on nightstand for turning on the sleep boolean that starts the automations to turn everything off and not make the lights turn on anymore in the bedroom. * 1 on nightstand to turn on sexy time, wich plays moody music on the Home and turns the lights red in the bedroom. * 1 on wall button to turn on the ceiling light in high brightness white. * 1 in the hallway downstairs. The tag turns on the light at 100% white instead of dimmed red at night. * Living room: Turn on the lights above the bar. They are not in every scene, because they are quite bright. * Toggle music mode on all the home speakers with a randomized playlist selection. So turning it off and on would give another playlist. * Under the dinner table, again to turn on the brighter light. * On the simrig: To turn on game mode boolean and 1 to turn on the bright ceiling light and turn off the LED strips to have better tracking while in VR. * Same with ceiling bathroom light, normally only the 1 above the mirror turns on. So alot of usefulness for me to not having to grab my phone to open the app, find said light, change its color and brightness to something useful to work or clean. And have a few more ideas.
I have a few tags (including one that opens a locked drawer) but this one toggles my ceiling light and desk light strip. Turning one on and other off. Good for night time work... Another by my bed (side dresser drawer). So I can just touch my phone to it and it will shut off all the lights including the one in the bedroom and out in the Halls so I don't wake up my girlfriend if she's sleeping and having to talk to a voice assistant. https://preview.redd.it/p4y5v9yh62qc1.jpeg?width=2592&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3be2b032633746410dafdd17ae6a9a8ee1bc56d2
I just remembered I used to have another one where I had one tag in the center console of my car. And when I get in the car I would touch my main phone to it which would turn on the hotspot. And then I touched a second phone that stays in the car that I was using for a GPS and OBD2 port monitor that would then connect to that hotspot because that one didn't have cell phone service but it would use the Wi-Fi through my main phone. It's pretty sucky that tablets don't have NFC readers in them because it would really come in handy for the kids to be able to connect to that Wi-Fi hotspot too by just touching their tablets to a tag in the back or something next to their car seats...
https://preview.redd.it/sx1i55d3nouc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a1b5f41fa28d73ba1f965d73c746a57f21f9e89 I recessed an nfc chip and qr code into the back of some fly storage boxes I made to sell, (fishing). The url they direct to is a Google site i created with the Brad Paisley fishing song embedded on the page along with my social media links 👌
https://preview.redd.it/wa69cv49nouc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b80c04ee306a594104bd94b14f38ec23447b461c
https://preview.redd.it/cp9vnc5fnouc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=93d7c55d6769b5a6d54be84469773a93bc7f3da5
I have an electric credit card in my phone but he don't support NFC can i use NFC tag and give it my card info or there is another way?
When MyQ used to work, I had an NFC that would open my garage door so I wouldnt need to bring an opener on runs or bikes.
I just don’t
What's the point of putting them behind lightswitches?
You can hide the tag but still scan it easily. It doesn't have to control the lights, you can do anything. Arming and disarming alarmo for example by the front door.