Hi I just thought I’d upload an image of a project I’m working on in the evenings. It’s a no-nonesence remote control (volume, next, previous and play/pause) that ties into Volumio using its API. I’m most impressed with its responsiveness and reliability. The coding has taken quite some time (not my forte!).
It’s a really nice touch-screen device with magnets in its base, so easy to keep handy (just stick it to the chassis of your unsuspecting amp). Yes, it’s not as smart as the phone app, but it’s quick, easy and fuss-free…
Hi, yes that’s the correct hardware - I will share the code. You can upload it to the device easily, using the Arduino environment. You will need to modify the code with your network details, which is hardcoded in the program. I’m at work just now, but I’ll post the code this evening…
OK, so a little more information regarding the remote control. First of all, it is intentionally quite dumb. It is not intended to take the place of the phone app or web browser control. There is no browsing of playlists, or changing sources. You might ask what the point is and my answer is that I tend to play either long playlist or have Qobuz on random or whatever, my main requirement is to adjust the volume, or stop play when the phone or the doorbell rings - something that the phone app is really poor at - you usually find it’s lost connection, takes ages to reconnect, by which time it’s too late to answer the phone! With this remote, it’s there, always available in seconds. Vol_Remote_v09.zip (4.9 KB)
Fetaures:
Wi-Fi connection - control your Volumio server from anywhere in your home
On-screen Track/Artist/Album information
Battery indicator
Unit enters low power mode after 5 minutes of inactivity - tap screen to wake-up
Built-in Real Time Clock synchronised via WiFi connection.
You need to install this program on the device using the Arduino environment. If you are not at all familiar with this, I suggest you do some reading-up before attempting this project - it’s not difficult, but there can be issues.
Make sure you have all the necessary libraries (listed at the top of the program listing) installed before you start - this is likely to be the cause of any issues you may have:
M5Core2
WiFi
HTTPClient
ArduinoJson
esp_sleep
time
Before installing you will need to enter your wifi credentials and the IP address of your Volumio player, enter your information between the quotation marks:
// Wi-Fi configuration
const char* ssid = “YOUR_SSID”; // Replace with your wifi networks SSID
const char* password = “wifi_password”; // Replace with your wifi password
const char* volumioIP = “Your_Volumio_IP”; // Replace with your Volumio IP address
Finally, this software is provided as is. I am a hobbyist, and will not be able to offer any significant support, although I will always try and help, if you’re having difficulties.
No problem! I hope to develop this further as time allows, but as you can imagine, it’s only one of many things requiring my time, and is therefore a low priority.
There are loads of things that can be done - displaying album art for example, but I’m torn between adding features and keeping it super simple (and therefore more responsive and power efficient).
Great idea and thanks for sharing details @simrae. I agree that sluggish connection via phone app is a continual nuisance. I’d been thinking of setting up an IR remote via GPIO but this should work better wrt not needing line of sight.
That’s assuming several things, for instance, that I have (or want to have) my phone with me all the time. Or, if I have the phone with me, that I’m not using for something else.
And there’s also the issue with the phone’s volume control being taken hostage when the Volumio app is running, even in the background…
If I’m in the room where my system is playing, and I have a dedicated way to control it, that’s the simplest way to do it (for me, naturaly).
So, diferent strokes for diferent folks
Edited: and with the simple aproach with this remote, we still have the phone or PC to do the more advanced operations. So, choices. But I can see how the more advanced options in this remote would also be a valid solution.
Don’t mix the Volume control bug with the Android app vs operating Volumio via the phone’s web browser
But indeed everyone can pick what he/she/them/… prefer.
I am looking at accessing playlist but this of no benefit to those who use the likes of Spotify or Qobuz (my preferred option), in which case you are best to use their dedicated apps.
I’ve experimented with Album Art, but again decided that it’s an unnecessary complication - I have a 15" screen that does a much better job and it doesn’t impact on the efficiency of the remote control.
I’ve found that with occasional use and allowing it to sleep between use, the remote will last several days on a charge even without switching it off at night (those ESP32 microcontrollers are amazingly efficient!).
