Yesterday we rolled out an update to our GDO blaQ device profiles for SmartThings to take advantage of some new SmartThings capabilities and fix a few annoyances and confusion. SmartThings and GDO blaQ users don’t need to take any action, your devices should refresh automatically in the next few hours or so if they haven’t already. Here’s a rundown of the update:
In the first version of the GDO blaQ SmartThings profile, we had to get creative to model the garage door position percentage (0% - 100%) because SmartThings didn’t have a built-in capability that matched exactly – so it appeared as a Dimmer (for a light). This worked fine, but could cause confusion with some automations that would try to dim or brighten lights, and might inadvertently open or close the garage!
SmartThings have now given us a generic Level capability which better represents the 0% (fully closed) to 100% (fully open) level of the garage door. In the refreshed GDO blaQ profile, you should see the Level slider in place of Dimmer automatically.
Obstruction sensor now reports as Hardware problem
The obstruction sensor, or safety-beam sensor, previously reported as a contact sensor (open/close sensor) to SmartThings. Again, this was “fine” but not ideal, because often contact sensors are used for security automations, and this could cause some unintended alarms if using SmartThings home monitor.
Now, the garage door safety beam will report to SmartThings as a Hardware problem with the states clear and detected.
Removed WiFi signal strength (RSSI)
We removed the Signal Strength capability card from the device profile to keep the device focused on key functionality and not diagnostic info. WiFi signal strength can still be viewed on the device’s internal web page.
Automatically detects motion sensor capability
If your garage opener wall button has a built-in motion sensor, then the GDO blaQ is able to report motion in the garage to SmartThings via the Motion sensor capability. For those users who don’t have a motion-capable wall button, this card was useless and would sometimes cause a warning message when opening the device. We now automatically detect if your garage opener supports motion detection, and if not, your device profile will not show the Motion sensor card.
Let us know what you think of the updates and feel free to post any questions/comments here!
Hi nate,
It seems that an update happened, I don’t know if it was on SmartThings end or yours. I suspect SmartThings as they have screwed up other company/developer integrations in the past and had to revert their decisions to keep their integration over the developers due to communition backlash (ex. BlueYeti’s: Philips Hue Edge Driver for SmartThings Hubs). Not only that if it is SmartThings fault it’s next to impossible to get customer support to listen and/or understand the problem. They are the worst in customer service I’ve ever dealt with in the world.
Anyway, SmartThings just had an update and now the Konnected Blaq Controller for it no longer has these features: Signal Strength, Dimmer (aka the garage door opening percentage), or the Contact Sensor. Not only this we can not use these features for routines anymore. We still have the motion sensor, light, lock state, and basic opening and closing functions and can still use them in routines, but we post many of the major funtions. With the state the controller is in now we basically just have a standard controlls that we have in myQ within SmartThings without the advanced features of the ratgdo. Below is a screenshot of what we have now. Can this be fixed back to what it was?
@MPHDodgeDaytona The problem you’re having is most likely related to this update. You beat me by a few minutes before posting new update/announcement!
The refreshed capabilities should populate in SmartThings soon. It seems there is a bit of a delay on refreshing the device profiles and I’m not sure exactly how it works on their back-end. You can try to force it to refresh by going to Settings > Linked Services in the SmartThings app and then tap on Konnected.
Keep an eye on it today and let me know when/if it updates like my screenshot posted above.
Hi nate,
Thanks for the update I was able to refresh my linked account via SmartThings and that allowed the new capabilities to become populated. The only one that isn’t working right now is the “Hardware problem”. It’s blank for me and I’m not home right now to test it out by blocking the sensor eyes to see if that fixes it. I will test that when I get home and let you know, but as of right now everything else works fine and looks just like you have above.
The new Hardware problem capability probably just needs a state update to populate for the first time. The next time something crosses the beam or the next time the blaQ reboots it should be all fixed up.
Hi nate,
Just wanted to let you know that the Hardware problem is working now. I’m not home yet, but the Blaq must of rebooted like you said and everything is up and running like it should. Thanks for the update, looks good and should be less confusing for my family members with the new changes.
Hey Nate and team. Any thoughts on the GDO reporting the door state alao as a contact sensor state? Anything other than closed reports open, and closed is closed? This would allow for security and some automation solutions.
