Skip to main content

Installing Microphone Streaming Software

In order to leverage your tablet as a voice assistant satellite, you'll need to have an application installed that will be responsible for streaming the audio from your microphone on your local network. We'll leverage Stream Assist running on your Home Assistant instance to access those streams and pass the audio into the voice pipeline. We'll cover setting up Stream Assist in a future section.

The following Android applications have been tested and found to be working. The current recommendation is to use IP Webcam, however the choice is ultimately yours. You only need to install and configure ONE of the following applications.

IP Webcam​

Image

Detailed install video: https://youtu.be/-7cHfqZMa1c

Installation​

  1. Download and install the app from the Google Play Store.

Configuration​

  1. Find the IPWebcam Icon and tap it to launch.

  2. Scroll down until you see the Service Control heading and tap on Optional Permissions.

  3. Tap Allow streaming in background and then turn on Allow display over other apps.

  4. Tap back and then deactivate the checkbox on Show camera overlay.

  5. Tap back and scroll up until you see Power management tap it and under Misc Turn on Disable notification and Stream on device boot.

  6. Tap back to get back to the main setting screen.

  7. Scroll down until you see the Misc section and tap on Audio mode. Choose Audio Only.

    info

    While you can stream both audio and video via IPWebcam, we recommend using the Audio Only mode to reduce bandwidth and minimize video being streamed to your HA instance. Many users also prefer this due to the location of these tablet devices on the interior of their home such as in bedrooms.

  8. Tap back and then scroll down and tap on Start server.

  9. When prompted, Allow all permissions as requested by Android OS (camera, microphone, etc.)

RtpMic​

note

RtpMic can only be installed via the Google Play store on devices running older versions of Android OS. Users have been successful manually sideloading the application on newer versions but that is beyond this tutorial.

Image

Detailed install video: https://youtu.be/SkyErx7TE30

Installation​

  1. Download and install the app from the Google Play Store

Configuration​

  1. Find the icon on your table and launch RtpMic.
  2. Scroll down and start server. Allow all permissions.
  3. Enter the settings page and set:
    • You may want to increase gain if your mic detect is low on the meter. I have set mine to 9 dB for the ThinkSmart device I am using
    • audio codec to G.711a
    • target addr to 255.255.255.255
    • target port to 55555
    • Auto start streaming
    • Start at boot
  4. Allow any permissions Android system may prompt for