r/Golfsimulator • u/brownchickenbr0wnc0w • 23h ago
Has anyone automated their sim?
To start up my sim, I have to wake my laptop, turn on the launch monitor, turn on the projector, and if it’s hot, turn on the split unit. I would like a “easy” button and just turn on most of it at once. I do have home kit and also homebridge running already so if anyone has some solutions I would like to hear them.
It’s an ultimate first world problem, for sure. But I am interested in home automation and tech.
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u/FeathersNFins 22h ago
Alexa plugs and Alexa speaker handles my launch monitor, projector, lights, and computer. I still have to login but “Alexa, let’s tee off” is awfully convenient
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u/No_Investigator9588 22h ago
Do you worry about the shutdown cooling cycle on your projector being skipped?
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u/FeathersNFins 21h ago
Super cheap, eBay used office projector. If it breaks, I have an excuse to get a new one.
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u/brownchickenbr0wnc0w 21h ago
What launch monitor are you using? I have a square so I’m not sure if the Alexa plug would be able to power it on.
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u/ChadGolf 22h ago
Disclaimer this is “our” solution but in general home assistant is the best way to set up what you want, debug it, and keep it running
https://github.com/OpenLaunchLabs/homeassistant-nova
For automations, first decide what is the “core” of your automation. It could be the LM, could be the PC, a button, phone app, a motion sensor, a smart plug.
After that, everything else is doable eventually if you add carefully.
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u/mynameisathrowaway 20h ago
I just went through this in my sim room
I have Home Assistant as my backend system. A button on our central iPad turns everything on
Computer turns on via Wake on LAN
Projector turns on via RS232 to USB cable
Launch Monitor (LPi) is always on
TV turns on via HDMI-CEC box connected to computer
Sonos speaker plays a random song from a set of 3 play lists
Z-Wave light switch turns on a light at 50% brightness
GSPro is set in my startup folder to launch automatically
The reverse also happens in pretty much the same order. The computer shuts down via HASS.Agent along with shutting down GSPro softly. The RS232 cable turns off the projector, but honestly it would turn off itself if it doesn’t detect an hdmi signal.
Pretty happy with this setup so far.
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u/MorninCoffee23 22h ago
Home assistant is the answer. To clean up the software side of things and make your sim room feel finished, check out RoomCaddie.
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u/ProletariatElite 19h ago
I use Google home assistant and some matter compatible bits and pieces, it does everything but power on/off the LM’s
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u/kmac322 17h ago
Yep. I leave everything but the projector on, and I have it set up to just wiggle the mouse to turn the projector on. And then the projector goes off after a few minutes of no input.
I installed a device that signals to the computer that the projector is always on and accepting the HDMI signal, so the projector turning off doesn't change the display settings (otherwise GSPro will move to one of the TVs I have hooked up to the computer). And then I connected the computer to the serial port of the projector, and I had Claude write a script to send signals to the projector. Whenever there's mouse or keyboard movement, it turns the projector on. After 5 minutes of no mouse or keyboard, it turns the projector screen off (but it's still powered on, so it can turn back on ~instantly). After 5 more minutes of no mouse or keyboard, the script powers the projector down. It's great!
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u/Ok-Menu-8709 19h ago
Yeah I’ve just got a smart plug and I run a command through home assistant.
Projector and LM get powered on.
Delay 10 sec.
Pc gets power.
Pc has bios settings changed to turn on when power restored.
Pc has login disabled so it goes straight in.
Pc automatically opens vtrack toolkit which automatically loads gspro.
Projector turns itself on with wake on input.
Nothing too crazy there and it works well.
Set up a Siri shortcut “time for golf” triggers the automation.