Google Nest Wifi is the superhero we need in our battle against the dark corners of wireless dead zones that haunt our ultra-modern, tech-savvy homes. These divine devices make setup a breeze, saving you from the drudgery of laying Ethernet cables. Why, you ask? Because Google Nest Wifi is a master of meshing. With multiple hubs at your disposal, the system will effortlessly flip between access points, all based on signal strength. The cherry on the cake? The second generation of Google Nest Wifi moonlights as a smart speaker for the Google Assistant.
Unofficial Google Nest Wifi integration for the win
While there is an official Google Nest Wifi integration with Home Assistant, but let's be real, it's sort of like bringing a potato peeler to a gunfight. It gives you the basics: network status, up-time, the current IP address, and the firmware version. But the good news? There's an unofficial Google Nest Wifi integration with Home Assistant that's the Batman to the official version’s Robin.
I know what you're thinking, using a mesh network for your home setup is like putting a plaster on a bullet wound. And yes, I agree, a wired connection for access points is the Holy Grail. And yes, you can use a wired connection for the Google Nest Wifi hubs. But let's not forget about those who can't run an Ethernet cable to every nook and cranny, or those who simply appreciate the simplicity that systems like Google Nest Wifi bring to the table.
How the Google Nest Wifi Home Assistant Integration works
Think of this Google Wifi Home Assistant Integration as a Swiss Army knife of sensors and switches, that makes the official integration look like a rusty penknife. It even transforms your Google Nest Wifi system into a device tracker. If Google Nest Wifi is the only game in town for you, that's worth its weight in gold. So buckle up, and let me walk you through this digital treasure trove.
A binary sensor will be your own personal spotlight, illuminating the current connection status of your Google Nest Wifi hub. It also bestows upon you a custom service (googlewifi.reset), giving you the power to reset either a single Google Nest Wifi hub or the entire system.
The device tracker platform plays detective, letting you know when tracked devices (most often smartphones) are either at home base or out and about. It keeps tabs on all devices registered in your Google Nest Wifi network. Fair warning, though, Google Nest Wifi has a long memory, leading to a parade of duplicate devices logged as away. It's a minor inconvenience, but no solution is in sight yet.
A switch serves as your digital magic wand, giving you the power to turn the internet on and off for any device connected to your Google Nest Wifi system. Perfect for when you need your kids to take a Fortnite breather. Plus, two added services let you prioritize any device in your network.
And for the grand finale, you get a light in Home Assistant that lets you control the lights of your Google Nest Wifi hubs – switching them on and off, and tweaking their brightness.
Installing the Google Nest Wifi Home Assistant Integration
Installing this integration is as easy as pie with the Home Assistant Community Store (HACS). The process is a cinch, and you'll be able to install updates straight from the Home Assistant dashboard.
You'll need to add a custom repository directed to djtimca/hagooglewifi and the Google Wifi Home Assistant Integration will pop up under 'Integrations'. After installation, restart your Home Assistant instance, and you'll be good to go.
To find your Google Refresh Token, you can use this handy Chrome extension. Once you've got that sorted, head back to Home Assistant, click on configuration, then Integrations. Hit the big + button, add the Google Wifi integration, enter your Google Refresh Token when prompted, and, voilà, you're all set.
