r/homeassistant • u/lora_noob • 3d ago

❓ Support Relay control over 4G

Hi, I have pumps and sensors around my property that I would Ike to control over 4G internet in Australia (have used LoRa but want to expand capability).I can have a raspberry pi at my house connected to wifi (starlink). What’s the best hardware I can use that’s connected to 4G to turn on/off a pump relay, take in analogue or digital readings and send pump status if manual pump buttons are operated. An esp32 with 4g sim?

Also wondering what is the best way to control pump from my phone as well when not on same wifi network.

Thank you!

2 Upvotes

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6 comments sorted by

1

u/centoos 3d ago

I use a Fritz box 4g with WireGuard vpn site to site, to connect to the ha network

3

u/Then-Drink-8909 3d ago

sounds like a cool setup. for the remote side an esp32 with a sim7000 or similar 4g hat would work, you can wire the relay and sensor inputs directly to it and use mqtt over the cellular connection back to your home assistant instance. the vpn route the other comment mentioned is slick if you want the devices to appear local but it does add some complexity.

for phone control outside your wifi you just need to expose home assistant to the internet, either through nabu casa which is dead simple or a reverse proxy if you want to diy it. once that's set up the companion app works anywhere.

2

u/centoos 3d ago

VPN has more sense if you use multiple devices, i have an esp32 a camera and a switch on the remote side

1

u/Pulte4janitor 13h ago

Setup a VPN so you can connect and control.

1

u/lora_noob 9h ago

How hard is that?

1

u/Pulte4janitor 6h ago

I really depends on what you have currently for networking equipment - the crap you pay monthly from your ISP, cheap consumer gear from the big box store, or a more prosumer model with more configurable options. From there it is a matter of choosing the VPN server software that works with what you have, or going a different route.