OHS_2 Gateway Release 1.5.5

Release 1.5.5 brings significant updates centered around ChibiOS migration and new communication features.

ChibiOS 21.11.x Migration

The gateway has been migrated from ChibiOS 20.3.x to the latest stable version 21.11.x, which is now the primary RTOS version for OHS_2. This major update required extensive work including migration to kernel 7, backporting custom Ethernet and RS485 changes, and updating the modem component to the new UART API. A float number display bug in the web interface was identified and fixed shortly after the initial migration.

SMS Command System

A new SMS command feature enables remote control through text messages using a hierarchical command dispatcher library. The system parses incoming SMS messages and routes them to specific handler functions that can execute actions and respond back to the requester. Security is enforced through phone number verification against stored contacts. The implementation includes a built-in help system that leverages the static command structure for user guidance.

MQTT Improvements

MQTT processing received several enhancements focused on reliability and functionality. A dedicated worker thread now handles incoming subscribe events, moving processing out of the data callback to follow lwIP best practices for ISR-like callback handling. A new /OHS/set/zone/refresh and /OHS/set/group/refresh subscribe topic was added, allowing all enabled zone or group states to be republished to MQTT on demand without requiring a payload.

Home Assistant Integration

Home Assistant auto-discovery support was added for sensors, enabling automatic configuration of OHS sensors that are directly supported by both platforms.

The release is available for download with the OHS_F437.bin firmware binary.

ChibiOS 20.3.x to 21.11.x Migration Success for Gateway

The migration from ChibiOS 20.3.x to the latest stable 21.11.x branch has been completed internally for the gateway. This upgrade adopts RT kernel version 7, with custom backports for Ethernet and RS485 functionality, plus adaptations to the new UART API for modem operations. A successful build is now available for testing.

​Key Migration Steps

• Updated core OHS components to kernel 7 compatibility, addressing API changes in HAL 8.0.0 including SPIv2 drivers and improved STM32 support.
• Backported custom Ethernet and RS485 drivers, leveraging UART driver callbacks for transmission end events essential in half-duplex RS485 setups.
• Modified modem UART integration to align with the new driver model, ensuring reliable communication in IoT gateway scenarios.

Resources and Downloads

•  Forked ChibiOS repository: https://github.com/vysocan/ChibiOS_21.11.x.git – contains the adapted 21.11.x branch for OHS.
•  Test release with binaries: https://github.com/vysocan/OHS_2-gateway/releases/tag/test_ChibiOS_21_11 – ready for download and deployment on STM32F4x7 hardware.

Potential Hiccups and Tips

Fell free to test the new binary and report any bugs through the discord @ #gw-latest

Site Shop not Functional

The ECWID shop platform was transferred to Shopify and the free tear option was removed. It is an end, for now :), for the possibility to buy the hardware directly on my blogger. I'll have to look up a new way to integrate web shop into it.
 

For now you can look and buy on Tindie. It is free, but taking like 8-10% from the purchase. Or directly ping me via Discord or email. 

Old Forum Removal

The old forum has come to an end, and Nabble now gathers only dust.
All past posts have been sent out to users as backups.

From here on, new conversations will take place on Discord.

 

GW Firmware Updates

Recently, there have been a few noteworthy updates to the GW firmware, primarily from the new GW owners. As always, the latest version 1.5.4 is available on the GitHub  releases page.

Here are some key changes:

• Automatic republishing of zone states to MQTT after reconnecting to the MQTT server. This is useful when updating Home Assistant (HA).
• The lwIP network library has been updated to stable version 2.2.0.
• mDNS has been added, both as a client and resolver. The GW is now accessible at http://ohs.local, eliminating the need to search for its DHCP-assigned address.
• A test alert feature has been added to the web interface, making it easier to verify that all alert paths are properly configured directly from the browser.
• A new alert path has been introduced. Now, all alerts can be propagated to the MQTT topic /OHS/alert and subsequently consumed in HA.
• The shell, accessible via USB, now allows for resetting the web admin user to its default settings.
  

 

 

Fingerprint Reader

An interesting addition to authentication node by p2baron. Check the video of the integration. Source code is available on discord.

Discord

For those who are interested, here is a link to Discord server:
https://discord.gg/PEUAUv6XxV

Discord is replacing rather old and not anymore used OHS forum. Also, I will try to redirect all email conversation to Discord in future, just for the convenience for the newcomers.