Getting started with KC-868AG Pro for blinds control with ESPHome/Home Assistant

[Parallax Abstraction]

Hey everyone.

First off, a lot of what I'm asking will be novice questions here, but I'm a quick learner.

I have a set of automated blinds that are controlled with a remote on 433.92Mhz. I purchased a KC-868AG Pro in order to be able to automate them using Home Assistant. I did check out some material on the device before I bought it, but it seems a lot of it assumed some basic setup had been done before hand and I'm struggling with that. I am a technical person and work in IT, but haven't done much with these kinds of devices. Clear documentation and firmware is not easy to find on KinCony's web site and after spending quite some time, I'm not sure I'm going down the right path.

I have downloaded and installed the CH431SER driver on Windows 11 and the device does get detected when plugged in with USB. From what I understand, the next step is to install the ESPHome firmware for this device. However, I cannot find it. Every page about firmware on this forum I can find doesn't list one for this model and I can't find anything for it on the main web site. As I understand it, I can't join the device to my wi-fi or start programming it without this, so I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. In addition, is USB power all this device needs for what I want to do or will I need a separate power adapter? Since it powers on and it reachable over USB alone, I'm assuming that's all I need for my use case but again, it's unclear. I understand that I also need a default YAML file for ESPHome for Home Assistant to recognize the device. Is this the case and if so, is there somewhere I can grab that as well?

Once I get the basics done, I think I can figure things out from there. I'm just at a loss on these beginning steps.

Thanks for your help, I appreciate it!

[admin]

what you want to do with AG Pro, such as IR device? TV , air conditioner? or some others?
need your requirements in details. AG Pro mainly config by ESPHome, the ESPHome yaml file as same as AG's yaml file.

[Parallax Abstraction]

what you want to do with AG Pro, such as IR device? TV , air conditioner? or some others?
need your requirements in details. AG Pro mainly config by ESPHome, the ESPHome yaml file as same as AG's yaml file.

For now, the only thing I want to control with it are some powered blinds, which use a remote control that operates at 433Mhz. I want Home Assistant to be able to control them based on time, lighting conditions and some other factors. I just need to have the AG Pro learn the remote's commands and then be able to broadcast them to the blinds. ESPHome is the perfect way to do that, but I don't know how to set it up as there's very little documentation. From what I understand, the device has to be flashed with a firmware before I can connect it to my wi-fi. I've got the UART driver installed and my PC can see the device, but I can't find the latest firmware for it. Every firmware I can find says it's for another model. Once I do flash it, I assume the YAML file is where I enter the settings for my wi-fi network? What YAML file would I use for this model?

Thanks.

[admin]

ok, i think you can download KCS v2 firmware by USB-C cable firstly, try to learn your RF 433M remote. if learned success, you can integrate to home assistant by mqtt.

[Parallax Abstraction]

ok, i think you can download KCS v2 firmware by USB-C cable firstly, try to learn your RF 433M remote. if learned success, you can integrate to home assistant by mqtt.

OK, I downloaded KCS_KC868_AG_V2.2.13.zip and flashed that firmware on. But how do I get the device on my wi-fi for Home Assistant to see it and what YAML file do I start with?

[admin]

here is KCS v2 online guide: https://www.kincony.com/esp32-kcsv2-firmware.html
set wifi to STA mode. if you use by KCS firmware, not need ESPHome yaml file.

[Parallax Abstraction]

here is KCS v2 online guide: https://www.kincony.com/esp32-kcsv2-firmware.html
set wifi to STA mode. if you use by KCS firmware, not need ESPHome yaml file.

Awesome, thanks. I'll go through that stuff first and come back if I have any questions. Cheers.

[admin]

ok

[Parallax Abstraction]

here is KCS v2 online guide: https://www.kincony.com/esp32-kcsv2-firmware.html
set wifi to STA mode. if you use by KCS firmware, not need ESPHome yaml file.

OK, good news. So I got connected to the device and have it on my wi-fi in STA mode. However, I'm trying to get it to learn my blinds remote and using RF it's just saying Time Out with every button. This is the remote I'm using, which is 433.92Mhz RF.

[admin]

that means the RF wireless code not supported. you can try to learn other 433M RF device.