"Home" apps for push notifications on Alarm systems.

trythis3

In my struggle to keep GrapheneOS as my brand new system, because Ive run into the problem of not receiving Push Notifications when my home security systems trigger, whether its the alarm or cameras or sensors. Its Abode and Eufy systems. Ive tried every hack a beginner can follow in all settings in Graphene that i could find on this forum and from knowlegable youtubers (side of burrito, Naomi brockwell, Liron Segev, Mental Outlaw, etc), but still a no go. But... Ive heard that apple homekit, google home or google assist, or maybe the open source app "home-assistant.io", all may be able to control or have some kinda integration with those alarm systems. :) So...if THEY coud receive the push notifications for the alarm systems, then i can KEEP MY NEW GRAPHENEOS! So, Id like to ask from anyone who has experience with either those google or "Home-Assistant" apps/systems I listed (or similar ones), do you anticipate or know if they do this kind of integration that Im hoping for? Ie, That they may be able to blare the push notification for the Abode alarm or eufy cameras to my GrapheneOS, since Abode and Eufy just cant do it? Im on brand new Pixel9.
Thanks for any advice, as I dont know or understand those apps or opensource alternatives.

schklom

trythis3 You could also just install Google Play Services and allow only Network permission to Google Play Services.
You don't need to be logged to an account in order to get notifications through them

Psyonico

I don't have any smart home stuff, so I can't answer your question, but I'm wondering about notifications...

Do you have Google Play Services installed? There are a lot of apps that use GPS for notifications, so if its not installed, you won't get them.

For example, Proton Mail requires Google Play Services for notifications for new emails, so if you use Aurora store and bypass GPS install, you'll not get notified when you receive a new email.

I'm wondering if your security apps function the same way?

schklom

Psyonico FYI, most apps that require GPS for notifications work fine without if you turn off battery optimization in their Android app settings, since they usually fallback to Websocket or SSE if they don't see GPS. It does make each such app use quite a bit more battery than any other app though (which is why GPS Firebase is there in the first place)

trythis3

Psyonico yes, GPS installed.

trythis3

Psyonico yes, GPS installed.

trythis3

schklom Its installed.

schklom

trythis3 did you give Play Services the Network permission and made its battery setting to Unrestricted?
If so, you should get push notifications

trythis3

schklom I have installed Google Play services & Store from Graphenes App store. That was done first after the install of the 2 security apps, then after deleting them, installing Google Play & Store freshly, and reinstalling the 2 security apps post google install. Ive given full network, Notification, and unrestricted battery permissions, during install, and confirmed by checking app settings by long-press on the apps icon in owner profile (I havent installed/created any other Profiles yet.). Following the idea that difficult apps may have the same problems as banking apps, Ive tested in both apps by triggering the alarms various ways: by allowed Native Code Bugging, then testing with blocked setting. And I also tested Exploit Protection Compatability Mode by toggling on, and tested again when toggled off. And the combo of Exp Pro Comp mode off while Nat Code Debug is Blocked. Abode has setting of "allowed" in Modes access. In the phones main Settings>Exploit protection, Native code debugging is toggled to "Blocked for 3rd party apps by default", and Ive had that reversed once as well, I believe.
Im thinkin theres something else I did to try to fix this, but cant remember. Some combo of these tests were done with app open, but most were tested with app closed and screen clicked off, as the phone would be in my pocket in normal use.

schklom

If you gave Play Services unrestricted battery setting + network, AFAIK push notifications should work. If they don't, that's a bug.

Try checking other apps that should get push notifications from Google.
The simplest is ntfy from Play Store, using the official server https://ntfy.sh. Subscribe to a "topic" (e.g. ntfy.sh/abcd), and test your connection to Google push notification server by turning off your phone screen then sending a message on that topic from e.g. your desktop computer.
If your phone gets the notification, then the problem isn't your phone but likely your security apps that just don't have a way to get google push notifications.

Last things I can think of:

you could create a User profile and try your security apps there, maybe you changed some Owner profile setting that screws with this somehow?
did you put your phone in "Do not disturb" or "Battery saver" mode?