Because of googles enshitification I have stopped using voice to control my home entirely. I invested in many scene remotes and built extensive automations. I’ve come to not miss voice control at all. But here’s to you that want this either for assistive needs or just because. I just need to get a few more local TTS speakers for alerts.
I’ve had my eye on this for a while, haven’t dropped the dough on a PCB order
https://github.com/justLV/onju-voice
A hackable AI home assistant platform using the Google Nest Mini (2nd gen) form factor, consisting of:
a custom PCB designed to be a drop-in replacement to the original, using the ESP32-S3 for audio processing
a server for handling the transcription, response generation and Text-to-Speech from multiple devices on the same network
I ordered some I have 4 other PCBs
My main problem with this is that the speaker isn’t as loud as with the original board…
I wish I could repurpose my Home Minis to use this. Google butchered those entirely over time, so now they’re practically collecting dust, when I dont use them as an occasional room speaker
Somebody else linked this mobo replacement for the home minis, haven’t looked very closely at it yet myself: https://github.com/justLV/onju-voice
I feel the same but in 2026 and with echo flex.
Man, I hope someone designs a dock for this with a better speaker for music!!!
Was anyone able to order one? I saw this last night and at 2 hours after post, all three us retailers were saying sold out. I suppose it’s a good problem for ha to have.
Edit: one of the retailers updated their message to “ we have sold out of our initial HA Voice stock in 21 minutes”
Are there difference between this and a 13$ M5 Atom Echo?
Yes
Like…?
Edit: I’ve bought the M5 some months ago but I haven’t had the time to play around with it, should I buy this one and forget about the M5?
I have 2 of the Atoms; they’re janky and need to be reset often, it doesn’t pick up your voice very well, and you can barely hear the responses. 2/7
Thanks. Other 2 devices that I’ve bought out of excitement that will keep taking dust :( I’ll try the “voice” and let’s hope that I’ll have time to set it up! 🙈
Ordered. I’m am so excited for this as it seems it could replace my only use case for Google Home / Nest voice.
No POE = Deal breaker for me
Although it’s a very promising start. Looks great.
It’s USB-C, there are POE adapters. It’s low wattage using an esp32, you could absolutely use a USB c poe splitter for this.
That solves only power, not Ethernet.
You could always use a POE splitter. I know it’s not the same but it’s better than yet another wall wort.
Still no ethernet.
Well crap. I’d lead with “no Ethernet”.
However, most people wouldn’t use Ethernet for something like this. Would I want it? Yea, but I also realize I’m a fringe case.
Is the whole stack open source or do we have to buy their hardware or license their software?
Their device does look very slick, but I’d like to hack my own system together!
Even better - it’s using ESPHome, which is part of the Home Assistant stack.
ESPHome works from a YAML config file, which ESPHome uses to build firmware images which can be installed OTA (or USB of you must)
It’s all OSS.
Good news indeed
I mean…kinda?
Why the flying fuck does everyone seem to use voice assistants and AI bullshit. I don’t need to waste five seconds to get a bullshit response and to repeat myself when I don’t get the wrong answer or to switch the light in the room next to me when I can make ten steps
For turning on lights and starting and stopping a Heatpump, voice assistants are awesome.
Turning on and off lights and setting timers is what most people use Alexa for. And a certain number use it for music too.
Most people don’t use any of the “assistant” or “ai” features these smart speakers have.
I’ve found it difficult to find other uses. But these ones are great.
This is exactly right. It’s like “hey Google” or “hey Siri” for setting a reminder on your phone, but it’s for your house to dim all the lights or whatever.
Lots of technology used to do a very limited number of things, but convenient things nonetheless.
For turning on lights and starting and stopping a Heatpump, voice assistants are awesome.
Oh, leave me alone…
A smart home should know by itself when to turn the lights on for me, and without me needing to tell it every single time.
I want voice assistant when it is able to fetch me another beer (and then it has to go either to the fridge or down in the basement)
Voice assistants have been great in my experience for smart home stuff. Dunno about ai bullshit
Few examples:
Come home in the evening with a bunch of groceries: “turn on the lights” is handy. I don’t see great and yet I’m irresponsible and will walk into a dark house with way too many bags in my hands
Cooking: again, hands busy. Change lighting, set timers, play music, etc
General laziness: sitting on the couch and decide to watch a movie, set a scene for optimal lighting. Granted this one is easily handled by using phone or just standing up, but voice is easier
Solid mic choice and placement avoids the repeat myself issue, for the most part. Can be an issue mainly during cooking tasks where there can be a lot of environmental noise and loud music playing. But worth the occasional snag, imo
