How to get started with OpenBeken - looking for tutorials and courses for beginners

Is there a good tutorial / course / manual showing how to use Open Beken from a complete standpoint?

In other words - where to start?

OpenBeken is open source software for various types of "smart home" devices, designed for various, often Chinese, WiFi chipsets, below is the list of supported platforms in the spoiler (as of 14.02.2024):

OpenBeken works similarly to Tasmota, and is even compatible with some of Tasmota's commands, so it is also worth reading what Tasmota is. The whole idea of the software here is also similar, also the flashing process is similar.
Accurately uploaded and configured OBK is often able to well replace the manufacturer's software and sometimes even give more possibilities.
The motivation for uploading OBK varies, here are some reasons given by users:
- desire to be free from the manufacturer's cloud (from SmartLife, Tuya, etc.) in order to gain privacy
- desire to control devices locally
- desire to secure oneself in case a given manufacturer e.g. goes bankrupt or reduces functionality
- desire to be able to control devices locally
- desire to secure oneself in case a given manufacturer e.g.
- willingness to configure and extend the capabilities of the device independently (scripting its behaviour, adding buttons, sensors)
- willingness to combine multiple ecosystems into one
There is some material on OBK on Elektroda's Polish YT channel.
Materials about BK7231:



Materials about BL602:

Materials concerning W600/W601:


Note - the flashers for BK7231 from the videos, specifically hid_download_py and bkWriter 1.60 are already obsolete, now we use :
https://github.com/openshwprojects/BK7231GUIFlashTool
The above program also automatically detects the GPIO configuration, it loads it from the original Tuya batch


On the English language Elektroda channel there is a bit more material:
https://www.youtube.com/@electrodacom


Pairing OBK with Home Assistant:



Pairing OBK with ioBroker:



DIY modification - we add an IR receiver to a bar that did not support IR:


Tasmota Devices Groups, i.e. grouping of devices without Home Assistant (OBK-compatible):


DIY modification - adding a button to the LED controller:


SSDP, i.e. detecting OBK devices from within Windows:

OpenBeken, thanks to compatibility with Tasmota's JSON format, it is also compatible with Tasmota control apps:


It is also very important to look at our list of supported devices :
https://openbekeniot.github.io/webapp/devicesList.html
The templates/devices list is a search engine + aggregator of links to Elektroda, if we have a device it's worth checking if someone hasn't already developed it before, this will help us configure it if e.g. we don't know what roles it should have.

Another important place is the OBK documentation:
https://github.com/openshwprojects/OpenBK7231T_App/blob/main/docs/README.md
With special emphasis on example files autoexec.bat:
https://github.com/openshwprojects/OpenBK7231T_App/blob/main/docs/autoexecExamples.md

And if someone were to ask more specifically how to get started this is what I would advise:
1. Buy some WiFi smart product you like and want to convert it to work locally. I think I have even seen "light bulbs" smart for 20 zł to buy.
1.1 you can search for something in our list, for example by entering the name of the shop, such as "action" or "allegro": https://openbekeniot.github.io/webapp/devicesList.html
2. Try to reflash it, admittedly no one can guarantee that you will get something on a supported WiFi module, but usually there are BK7231 or ESP (on ESP you upload in turn Tasmota)
2.1 If you have something that has not been discussed on our forum then describe your experiences in detail and post the topic in our devices section, Elektroda can send you a gift for this
https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/forum507.html
3. Then you can buy a second device (having e.g. a switch and an LED light already allows you to buy a second device. Then you can buy a second device (having e.g. a switch and an LED light already allows you to use Tasmota Device Groups to connect them/script them etc) or think about setting up a Home Assistant

Generally it is worth reviewing the entire Smart home tutorials section of our forum:
https://www.elektroda.pl/rtvforum/forum517.html
Also worth a look at the list of devices, here:
https://openbekeniot.github.io/webapp/devicesList.html

Select "show only detailed teardowns":

Then only detailed tutorials, presentations and tutorials from the forum will be shown after performing a search.



I don't know how much this exhausts the topic, because people have different motivations for flashing, and sometimes the hard truth is that some people find it more profitable to stay with the original firmware (and I don't have a problem with that), but if you have any questions I'll answer.

Is there an integration of OpenBeken with Domoticz ?

I am looking for a replacement device to control the roller shutters which I currently have implemented on shelly 2.5 which quite often crashes, has a problem on return after a power reset and generally suffers from this type of pain.