Unfolded Circle Remote 3

[Travis Ballstadt]

Didn't realize I hadn't been sharing much here since the Remote 3 was announced.

I have received my UC Remote 3 to replace the Remote Two. This hardware really is great. Some folks are having charging issues with the Dock 3, I'm not, but it's happening. Their documentation is still extremely lacking, but I've been creating content to help fill in some gaps, thought I'd add it here as well.

One thing that has been fantastic is that with more folks getting this remote in their hands, that also means more people with coding experience are starting to receive them and that has resulted in a very quick uptick in the development of Custom Integrations. Reminder, this remote uses an open source design, so any user with basic skills can create integrations that allow 2-way communication between the remote and devices in their equipment rack, smart home devices, etc. In just a couple months, I'm no longer reliant on IR for anything but my older Sony UHD player, which seems to be about to become controllable by an integration.

Integrations allow much more detailed control and feedback than simple IR control, therefore they offer a much more powerful remote. It's not just sending radio frequencies into the ether and hoping they're received, it's directly communicating with your devices.

I'll start with the basic unboxing...

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[Travis Ballstadt]

Here is a long-form configuration video. This is a long one, I'm currently working on shorter breakdowns.

In this video I add some integrations to the remote and setup an activity from start to finish, including building the custom interface for that activity to create a very focused remote that is specific to the activity I'm using. This includes a Storm Audio ISR Fusion 20, a JVC NZ700 projector, a Lumagen Radiance Pro and a Kaleidescape Strato C.

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[Travis Ballstadt]

Next up is a very quick video showing the flexibility of the remote, including the ability to add lighting control inside of an activity or at the Home Screen level of the remote so you can control lights without having to launch an activity.

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[Travis Ballstadt]

When a developer creates a Custom Integration for the UC Remote Two/3, the update process requires removal and reinstallation of the integration, and essentially you need to do both steps twice to get a complete removal an reinstallation. This does NOT remove all your custom controls and activities, when you reinstall, all references reconnect automatically. I was really nervous when I first did this process, but it works every time without having to rebuild.

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[Travis Ballstadt]

Activity Groups tell the remote what components work together in a system and/or room and how to properly move from one activity to another.

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[Travis Ballstadt]

Home Assistant can be a great way to add devices that don't have their own dedicated integrations yet. Here's how to bring them in:

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[LCSeminole]

Thanks for the videos as they will be very useful once I actually receive my Remote 3. I’m just disappointed that this process has taken so long, being an early backer and paid for this last June 2024, as the original shipping date was supposed to be last December and here I am still waiting seven months later. Hopefully I’ll get a UPS shipping notice soon.

 

[canavan]

Activity Groups tell the remote what components work together in a system and/or room and how to properly move from one activity to another.

You say it delays a minute, but I only see 1000ms there, am I overlooking anything? Would it not be better to wait until the device answers to pings or accepts TCP connections?

Also, what are the benefits and drawbacks of Home Assistant integrations vs. native UC integrations, assuming both cover the same functionality of a given device?

I like you videos, but they'd really benefit from some cutting of redundant content.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

Thanks for the videos as they will be very useful once I actually receive my Remote 3. I’m just disappointed that this process has taken so long, being an early backer and paid for this last June 2024, as the original shipping date was supposed to be last December and here I am still waiting seven months later. Hopefully I’ll get a UPS shipping notice soon.

To be expected with a Kickstarter. I waited almost 3 years for the NEEO Remote on Kickstarter, only to have it bricked a year later when they sold the product to Control4.

There were folks on a waiting list long before the Remote 3 was announce, who wanted to buy the Remote Two. Anyone who backed the Remote 3 and was on the Remote Two waiting list was prioritized in the shipping order regardless of when they backed the Remote 3. Shipping started slow but has ramped up, they're about 33% through the list now and shipping at a much higher clip.

It'll be worth it.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

You say it delays a minute, but I only see 1000ms there, am I overlooking anything? Would it not be better to wait until the device answers to pings or accepts TCP connections?

Also, what are the benefits and drawbacks of Home Assistant integrations vs. native UC integrations, assuming both cover the same functionality of a given device?

I like you videos, but they'd really benefit from some cutting of redundant content.

The delay is 1000ms, my saying 'a minute' was conversational, not actual. Like saying "gimme a second" knowing it'll be more than a second.

Home Assistant integrations are dependent on your Home Assistant device. I'm using a Home Assistant Green. Now that I've had some devices that were previously using HA integrations that now have UC native integrations, I can definitely feel the difference, in that they are much snappier and more quick to respond to commands. There's no noticeable delay. Things like scrolling through the Kaleidescape menu or bumping the volume up ten clicks. Much more responsive.

 

[LCSeminole]

To be expected with a Kickstarter. I waited almost 3 years for the NEEO Remote on Kickstarter, only to have it bricked a year later when they sold the product to Control4.

There were folks on a waiting list long before the Remote 3 was announce, who wanted to buy the Remote Two. Anyone who backed the Remote 3 and was on the Remote Two waiting list was prioritized in the shipping order regardless of when they backed the Remote 3. Shipping started slow but has ramped up, they're about 33% through the list now and shipping at a much higher clip.

It'll be worth it.

I’m one of those that was on the Remote 2 list and backed the Remote 3. I know others that were on the Remote 2 list that got on it well past when I was on it, and they’ve already received there Remote 3. Yes, I just logged in to the Kickstarter site to see the 33% shipped, so I now realize Kickstarter projects take way more time than alluded to in the beginning, so expect long delays. Hopefully as you stated, it’ll be worth it, though I most likely won’t be backing anymore projects on Kickstarter. I do give Marton Borzak lots of credit for keeping all 5067 backers up to date on their progress which has helped quite a bit in keeping impatience at bay.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

MANY apologies on the audio for this video. I had @jack.powell join me this morning for a deep dive into his HA integration and due to my stupidity, his audio was recorded directly AND in with my mic including an echo. I made some audio adjustments which helped, but I also added subtitles throughout in case you want to watch this one on mute. Sorry all, especially sorry Jack. Lots of great info in here though:

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[gorman]

Too few physical buttons once again. The four colored buttons (red, blue, green, yellow) and the numbers buttona were really the minimum to have on top of the previous models.

Minimalist design is one thing, form over function a whole different beast. :-(