The joke to counter "you can't even write cursive" and other boomer bs is "well at least I know how to print a PDF", alluding to the abysmal tech intuition of some boomers, usually those in controlling roles like managers or CEOs.
From your post it sounds like you're using MQTT for the shelly devices and that the broker is separate from HA.
I assume HA can connect to and read from the broker? Maybe you have other devices already set up and working?
Do you see shelly data on the broker in any form? Does the shelly user have write access to the broker?
From what I gather, shellys don't send HA MQTT discovery data. I think you need to configure them manually. HA won't just display any data a MQTT broker has; apart from telling HA what data is interesting, it also needs to know the measurement units (and potentially error states or other info like connectivity) https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/mqtt/#mqtt-discovery
Now, you also mention ColoT. That's only necessary if you use the shelly integration in HASS. It's entirely separate from MQTT. You'd point the shellys directly to HA instead of the MQTT broker. It's much easier to use. Maybe just switch to that since all device can see each other, anyway?
It'd help if you included a few screenshots or diagrams of what you're trying to do.
I'd make a "print a pdf" joke, but honestly, that's already an unnecessary "skill".
Sadly, technology has moved towards single finger usability and thrown out features in the process. Printing a PDF is now easy, because there's a big button (that sells you a cloud subscription for some reason), but it's also the only thing the app does.
I used to be able to read during car rides. While going on holidays, I read the half blood prince to my family. The whole car was in tears and I had to take a break. Dad was driving; no clue how much his vision was impaired...
I've been practicing driving with a person who shouldn't drive. She has no feeling for the car, i. e. doesn't understand how you would correct your position, drive in reverse etc., and it feels like she's asleep with her eyes open. Imo driving is a constant stream of decisions and she just doesn't make any. "Why are we driving here?" - "I've been looking for somewhere to turn around." - "We're passing suitable locations every 3 seconds and you're going 50." - "I can't decide in time which to use."
She's afraid to go the speed limit, highways are off limits. The other day she just straight up drove out into an intersection from a yield side without breaking and stopped in the middle. I warned her it was coming, there were signs and everything. She doesn't know the speed limit when it's always very clearly signed. She doesn't read directions and can't navigate by herself; "if I say nothing, go straight, or right if straight is not an option" is forgotten after 5 minutes. She's been driving with an instructor (which I am not) for 20 lessons and we've gone at least ten times, too.
At graduation: "Look to your left. Now look to your right. Remember those faces, as some of them may try to kill you in the future, and some might not make it through the next few years."
My goal has been for ages to lose weight. Biking to work was not feasible for time efficiency reasons. I gave up Coke (for something better). Now the food season is upon us and despite some progress I'm back where I was last year. So now I got a stationary bike for in front of the TV. It costs as much as a year of gym, but I can do it anytime. At least that's the theory.
Also I'm probably going to pay for a dating app now. My request for friends and family to take pictures of me has largely gone unfulfilled, though.
I can see it in your eyes,