This article is relevant if you want to remotely access your OpenGarage device. If you do not need to remotely access your OpenGarage (for example, you use Home Assistant to manage your OpenGarage devices), you do NOT need to use cloud connection.


NOTE: firmware 1.2.0 is officially available. The description below about OTC token is only available starting from firmware 1.2.0, while you can use Blynk token described on this page with all firmware versions.


For a quick video walk-through of cloud connection, check out the new OpenGarage video below (the section starting at 7:25 is about cloud tokens)




Introduction

From firmware 1.2.0, OpenGarage provides support for both Blynk cloud connection and OTC (OpenThingsCloud) connection. You can choose either of them for remote access. The pros and cons are explained below.

  • Blynk: Blynk cloud connection allows you to remotely monitor the garage door status, car status, trigger garage door action, which are the most common operations for remote access. In addition, if you use the Blynk (legacy) app, it supports push notification. However, the Blynk team has discontinued support for Blynk legacy app and have taken down the official Blynk server. If you don't already have the Blynk (legacy) app installed, it is no longer available to install (although if you use Android, the Blynk legacy app apk is still available online, which you can install manually). Our OpenGarage Mobile app and simple web app both supports Blynk cloud connection, although neither of them supports push notification, nor changing settings or viewing log data remotely.
  • OTC (recommended): OTC connection is based on our own OpenThingsFramework. It's a cloud proxy, which allows you to remotely access the same built-in web interface as OpenGarage (including monitoring status, trigger door action, changing settings, viewing log data etc.). Our OpenGarage Mobile app and simple web app both support OTC connection. On the down side, OTC has no support for push notification.
  • You can always get push notification via IFTTT, this is regardless of either Blynk or OTC.

So in quick summary:

  • If you only need to remotely monitor garage door status, car status, and trigger garage door action, you can choose either Blynk or OTC. The OpenGarage Mobile app as well as the simple web app support both of them.
  • If you need to remotely change settings / view log data / trigger a device reboot, only OTC supports it.
  • If you need push notification, Blynk supports it, and you must have the Blynk (legacy) app installed (iPhone users can no longer install it if you don't already have it installed on your phone; Android users can still find the Blynk legacy app apk and install it manually). Alternatively, use IFTTT for push notification, which is independent of Blynk or OTC.

Once you make your choice, find the corresponding section (Using Blynk or Using OTC) below for instructions.

Using Blynk

If you have the Blynk (legacy) app installed and prefer to use that app, please follow the instructions in this other article. The instructions below are for meant for using the Blynk cloud token with the OpenGarage mobile app or OpenGarage web app. It's NOT recommended for using the Blynk (legacy) app because it doesn't show you the password of the Blynk acount. However, if you proceed with the method below and want to go back to use the Blynk (legacy) app, you can always use 'Forgot Password' in the Blynk app to set a password for your Blynk account. 


    Step A: Create a Blynk Token

  1. Go to www.openthings.io and log in using your opensprinkler.com login email/username and password. If you do not yet have an opensprinkler.com account, please go to www.opensprinkler.com and click on 'My Account' at the top, then register for a new user account. The two websites share the same log in.

  2. Once you log in to openthings.io, you will see the dashboard. On the left side of the dashboard, click
    My OpenThings Blynk Devices
    See the image below for illustration.
    Do NOT click on My OpenThings Devices (which is underneath My OpenThings Blynk Devices) as that's for creating OTC token, not Blynk token. 
  3. Next, type in a Device Name (this can be your home address, or any name that can help you identify which OpenGarage device this is), and click on Add New Device. See the image below for illustration.


    This will create a new OpenGarage device, and you will see the Blynk token as illustrated below. The token is 32-characters long. You will need to copy and paste this token to your OpenGarage settings, and also use this token when adding the device to your OpenGarage mobile app.


    Step B: Update OpenGarage Device Settings

  1. You will need to change settings on your OpenGarage device to use the Blynk token. To do so, open a browser and type in the IP address of your device, this should show the web UI.
  2. Go to 'Options' and click the 'Integration' tab, here you can copy/paste your Blynk token.
    Next, if your OpenGarage runs firmware 1.1.2 or prior, you also need to change the Blynk domain name and port to the following:
    Blynk domain to: blynk.openthings.io
    Blynk port to: 8080
    From firmware 1.2.0, these are the default settings so you don't need to change them.
  3. Submit the changes and finally reboot your OpenGarage. Now you are all set.

     Step C1: Using the Blynk Token with OpenGarage Mobile App

  1. Make sure you have the OpenGarage mobile app installed. You can go to your App store, find it and install it.
  2. Run the OpenGarage mobile app, then click Proceed without logging in...
  3. Next, click Add Controller, and Add By Blynk Token
  4. Paste your Blynk token, and type in blynk.openthings.io as the Blynk server host, and 8080 as the Blynk server port.

            See images below for illustrations.

    Step C2: Use the Blynk Token with OpenGarage devices web App

    We have written a simple web app for managing multiple OpenGarage devices. To use it:

  1. Go to https://raysfiles.com/og/og_devices.html
  2. Click 'Add' to add a device using its Blynk token. Assuming yours is a OpenThings Blynk token, the server and port settings are default as is, there is no need to modify them (yes, the secure port is 9443 as the default value shows).
  3. You can add multiple devices. Click the device name to select it, then you can move it in the list, delete it, or click 'Go to' to set it as the current device.
  4. The web app makes use of local storage to remember your added devices. You can bookmark it in your browser, or add it to home screen on your phone (most mobile browsers support this feature) so that it looks almost like a native app.

* The script also works with local IP if you need, in that case, since local IP is not through secure http, you will need to use the non-secure link (i.e. http instead of https): http://raysfiles.com/og/og_devices.html


Using OTC


    Step A: Create an OTC Token

  1. Go to www.openthings.io and log in using your opensprinkler.com login email/username and password. If you do not yet have an opensprinkler.com account, please go to www.opensprinkler.com and click on 'My Account' at the top, then register for a new user account. The two websites share the same log in.

  2. Once you log in to openthings.io, you will see the dashboard. On the left side of the dashboard, click
    My OpenThings Devices
    See the image below for illustration.
    Do NOT click on My OpenThings Blynk Devices (which is above My OpenThings Blynk Devices) as that's for creating Blynk token, not OTC token. 
  3. Next, type in a device description, and then click on Add New Device. See the image below for illustration.This will create a new OpenGarage device, and you will see the OTC token illustrated above. The token is 32-characters long. You will need to copy and paste this token to your OpenGarage settings, and also use this token when adding the device to your OpenGarage mobile app.

    Step B: Update OpenGarage Device Settings

  1. You will need to change settings on your OpenGarage device to use the OTC token. To do so, open a browser and type in the IP address of your device, this should show the web UI.
  2. Go to 'Options' and click the 'Integration' tab. Enable cloud connection and choose OTC. Then copy/paste your OTC token into the Cloud Token box. The default OTC server is ws.cloud.openthings.io and the default port is 80. You can leave them as is.
  3. Submit the changes and finally reboot your OpenGarage. Now you are all set.

     Step C1: Using the OTC Token with OpenGarage Mobile App

  1. Make sure you have the OpenGarage mobile app installed. You can go to your App store, find it and install it.
  2. Run the OpenGarage mobile app, then click Proceed without logging in...
  3. Next, click Add Controller, and Add By OpenThings Cloud Token
  4. Paste your OTC token.

    Step C2: Use the OTC Token with OpenGarage devices web App

    We have written a simple web app for managing multiple OpenGarage devices. To use it:

  1. Go to https://raysfiles.com/og/og_devices.html
  2. Click 'Add' to add a device using its OTC token. You can add multiple devices. Click the device name to select it, then you can move it in the list, delete it, or click 'Go to' to set it as the current device. On the current device page, you can also click the 'Devices' Homepage' link to access the homepage of your OpenGarage remotely.
  3. The web app makes use of local storage to remember your added devices. You can bookmark it in your browser, or add it to home screen on your phone (most mobile browsers support this feature) so that it looks almost like a native app.