Watching over a lot of users talking about Ratgdo to Homekit.We have come along and find out What it is all about . If you are trying to find a way with which you can effortlessly, wirelessly connect, and control your garage door openers. Then this might be your pick – you can control it with just three simple wires. Unleash a way to connect and communicate with your door openers with a lot more abilities.
What is Ratgdo?
Ratgdo is a WIFI /hardware Control board invented by Paul Wieland (Great work ) that can be used for your Garage Door Opener. It works over your Local Network using the ESPHome, Apple Homekit, or the MQTT. Using Ratgdo on Apple Homekit, you will be able to turn your Garage door opener into a Smart Device. One can experience significantly more features, and capabilities than others.
Using Ratgdo to Homekit, you can perform numerous functions such as the following ;
- Wirelessly Lock and Unlock doors.
- Control your Garage Doors to Open, Close, Stop and Toggle.
- Turn ON/OFF the lights.
- Detect motion and Report positions.
- Seamlessly integrate with Smart Home Automation Platforms.
- No Subscription is required – Free and Open Source.
- Not a Cloud device.
DISCLAIMER: Use the device at your very own risk. Operate it within your sight.
Does Ratgdo work with Homekit?
Yes, It is possible to make Ratgdo to Homekit work. It is a hardware control board that helps you control your door over WIFI and lets you integrate directly with your Smart Home automation platform. To connect Ratgdo to Homekit, Install the Homekit Ratgdo firmware which is best for iOS Users and can also be used without any automation platform.
NOTE: If you choose to use Dry Contact Interface, there is no WIFI required.
Do Check out: Connect MyQ to Homekit
How to connect Ratgdo to Homekit?
It is quite straightforward to add Ratgdo to Homekit to enable controls for your Garage Door Openers. The Natively available Homekit firmware allows users to add and connect Ratgdo into the Apple Homekit ecosystem with no additional central home automation server. Make sure that you have all the Neccessary requirements to make the process work.
Follow the Stepwise procedure to connect your Garage Door Opener with Ratgdo to Homekit.
Check the Compatibility
Ensure that the Garage Door you are using or planning on using is compatible with Ratgdo. The Door Openers supported by Ratgdo are Security + and Security +2.0. All Residential Chamberlain, Liftmaster Openers, and Other manufacturers through dry contact control, The Ones with Yellow, Red, Purple, or Orange buttons, etc.
It is capable of providing full control Virtually for any Compatible Garage Door Opener.
Order your Ratgdo Device
You can order it through Online and directly from the Developer Paul Wieland. The Price may vary depending on your geographical location. The order comes with the Control board and everything that is needed for the Installation.
Set it up – Complete the Installation and the Configuration.
FIRMWARE INSTALLATION
- Connect your Ratgdo to the Computer using a USB Cable.
- Navigate and access a browser – Google Chrome and Visit the Flasher.
- On the Ratgdo Web Installer – Install the Ratgdo Firmware for Homekit or the ESPHome.
- Tap on Connect and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.
WIRING
Once the Ratgdo Homekit firmware installation is done, Move on to prepare the wiring. There are different ways to do the wiring – if you are a techie, this might be easy for you and if not – It still is simple. You will need Red, White, and Black wires to attach to the Door Opener terminals.
Keep in mind to de-energize your garage doors while setting up the wires.
When the Wiring is done, Make sure to test if it works. Connect Ratgdo to the Power source and Power on the Door Openers, Check if it opens and closes.
Connect Ratgdo to Homekit Garage Door Opener
When the wiring and Installing firmware are done. Wait for some time and Connect your Ratgdo to a stable WIFI source.
- Navigate to the Ratgdo webpage and configure basic settings.
- Enter the IP address of your Ratgdo board, and name, and check the door protocol.
- Provide a username and password.
- You can change any required settings by clicking on the Settings option on the web.
Read :Tesla to Homekit
Add your device to Homekit on the Apple Home App:
Before pairing your garage door opener to Apple Home via the project make sure it is not already connected with any other platform. On the Online browser flash-based tool, After the installation, Tap on Visit Device. You will find a Pairing code right there.
- Install and Open the Apple Home app on your iOS Device.
- Scan the QR Code (if available) or Enter the Setup code – 2510-2023 (if it works).
- Select your Garage door opener and name, and Click Done.
- Once done, you will now be able to control your door via the Apple Home.
Ratgdo to Homekit via Home Assistant
So, If your Garage Door Opener is not Homekit compatible, But works with a Home Assistant. You can still use Ratgdo. To access controls and automation with Ratgdo to Homekit via Home Assistant. Follow the below instructions carefully ;
- Setting up Ratgdo is the same.
- The only thing that you need to do is Flash the Ratgdo firmware.
- Install the MQTT Firmware to connect to Home Assistant.
- Complete the wiring and move to set up the integration on Home Assistant for Smart Controls.
- On the Home Assistance Instance, Select the MQTT integration. Add MQTT if not already added.
- On MQTT, Under devices, Search and Find Ratgdo.
- Make sure – The Automations, Lights, and Sensors are accessible.
Now, To access the connected Garage door opener with Ratgdo on Homekit via Home Assistant. Add the Homekit Bridge to Home Assistant to move, access, and control devices from HA to the Apple Home App. Read here to know: Easy Integration for Home Assistant to Homekit
Integrating via Home Assistant is recommended as It is tried and used by many.
Homebridge Plugin for Ratgdo Homekit
Another way to make your Garage door openers integrate with the Ratgdo to connect to Homekit is using a Homebridge Plugin. The Homebridge Ratgdo Plugin can make your door openers automate on the smart home platform.
- Firstly, Install Homebridge.
- Then – Install the Homebridge Ratgdo Plugin as a child bridge.
- Now, Use a browser to install the ESPHome firmware.
- Run the Homebridge Plugin and your connected devices will appear on the Homekit.
Bottom Line
With Ratgdo to Homekit, you will be able to determine your device status, Door close delay, LED on, Motion triggers, and logs. Also, Reboot, Reset, and Upgrade your systems on the official web settings. You can choose the firmware installation depending on your choice of interest. It is absolutely free and open source, however the board may cost you.
Try the project carefully at your own risk. Good Luck!