Show a message on the panel display

The Omni stores up to 128 short text messages. Show one, clear one, log one — all from HA automations.

Programming a message

Messages are configured in PC Access (or via the keypad) — the panel itself stores the text. The HA service refers to the message by its 1-based index, not the text.

In PC Access:

Setup → Names → Messages → pick a slot, type up to 30 characters, save. The slot index is the number you’ll pass to HA.

Show a message

service: omni_pca.show_message
data:
  config_entry: <your_omni_config_entry_id>
  message_index: 7      # 1-based

Every wired console and OmniTouch screen displays the message immediately, with their attention-tone if configured.

Clear it

The message stays up until the user dismisses it from a console or you clear it remotely:

service: omni_pca.clear_message
data:
  config_entry: <your_omni_config_entry_id>
  message_index: 7

clear_message removes the message from all consoles; the next show_message displays whatever you ask for.

Worked example — laundry done

automation:
  - alias: "Laundry done — show panel message"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: binary_sensor.washer_running
        from: "on"
        to: "off"
        for: "00:01:00"
    action:
      - service: omni_pca.show_message
        data:
          config_entry: omni_pro_ii_main
          message_index: 12       # PC Access: "LAUNDRY DONE"
      - delay: "00:30:00"
      - service: omni_pca.clear_message
        data:
          config_entry: omni_pro_ii_main
          message_index: 12

Multiple messages, multiple panels

You can show multiple messages simultaneously — each is independent; they cycle on the consoles. Different message_index values can be shown / cleared independently.

If you have multiple Omni panels integrated (one HA install, two config entries), the config_entry field picks which one. The same message_index on different panels refers to different stored text.

Send a one-shot ad-hoc message

The protocol doesn’t expose an “ad-hoc message” path — you have to pre-program slots in PC Access. A common pattern is to reserve a few slots (“MESSAGE 1”, “MESSAGE 2”, …) and rotate through them as templates that automations fill the meaning into via context.

If you need real free-form messages, use HA’s notify.mobile_app service to your phone instead and skip the panel display entirely — the Omni’s tiny LCD lines are best used for status the household needs to see in the kitchen, not arbitrary notifications.