The UK Home Automation Archive

Archive Home
Group Home
Search Archive


Advanced Search

The UKHA-ARCHIVE IS CEASING OPERATIONS 31 DEC 2024

Latest message you have seen: RE: UKHA 2004


[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Displays around the house - volunteers please?


  • To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
  • Subject: Displays around the house - volunteers please?
  • From: "Mark Harrison" <Mark.Harrison@xxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 17:50:41 +0100
  • Mailing-list: list ukha_d@xxxxxxx; contact ukha_d-owner@xxxxxxx
  • Reply-to: ukha_d@xxxxxxx

Robert,

Good summary....

OK - let's ask for some volunteers, using my traditional technique of naming the "dream team" and seeing if they'll agree :-)

1) Try to agree on a simple display which has the features most of us would
like.  Thinking of cost, size, VFD/LCD, interface electronics

- Stuart Poulton, can you lead this?

2) Find a way of mount the display in some sort of nice SWMBO approved panel

- Stuart? You again? Quinten "the stand king"?

3) Connect the display using serial (if thats what the display has) to your
PC.  You can use your existing CAT5 leads for this.

- Ian Bird? Can I twist your arm?

4) Develop some simple software to display "hello world" messages

- Stuart, I think you have most of this already?

5) Roll out to a few more members possible as part of a limited bulk buy

- watch this space

6) Enhance what the display displays!

- Mark Harrison, Andy Powell, Graham Howe and Patrick Lidstone probably have some code handy :-)
- Patrick and I probably have code for "IP port listener" for most O/Ss between us.
- Patrick and I probably have some "IP port broadcaster" code for most O/Ss between us.
- Andy Powell - some Windows Homevision code?
- Graham - could you add a "broadcast this port" option to HomeAutomator if I give you some source code?

7) Add a simple keypad to the display

- later phase

8) Develop code to make use of this, menu systems etc.

- Home Automator input plugin????

9) Consider adding a new board to interface the Displays serial interface to
TCP/IP, possibly with local inteligence if available for zero cost.

---- Whoah - beyond me, squire :-)


-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Chasmer [mailto:robert.chasmer@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 13 August 2002 11:07
To: 'ukha_d@xxxxxxx'
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] Re: Displays round the house - architecture...


Ian Lowe [mailto:ian@xxxxxxx] wrote:
> But realistically, as soon as I see the passion for IP, I think it's
> basically doomed. Using TCP-IP seems to wipe out all of the low-end
> (ie cheap) PICs, and takes you into ?50 module country, plus anoher
> healthy chunk for the display.

To keep the project alive we need to break it down into smaller bits.  This
way more than one of us can actually start to build these, start using them
at home, then look to the future together.  I guess I start of with a very
simple device in one room, and if it worked well, start thinking of
expanding.

I know I'm repeating what others have said, but lets try to keep within the
realms of reality.  The cheaper the project starts out the more people
involved, and the less damage if the project goes to the dogs.

Maybe as a start
1) Try to agree on a simple display which has the features most of us would
like.  Thinking of cost, size, VFD/LCD, interface electronics
2) Find a way of mount the display in some sort of nice SWMBO approved panel
3) Connect the display using serial (if thats what the display has) to your
PC.  You can use your existing CAT5 leads for this.
4) Develop some simple software to display "hello world" messages
5) Roll out to a few more members possible as part of a limited bulk buy
6) Enhance what the display displays!
7) Add a simple keypad to the display
8) Develop code to make use of this, menu systems etc.
9) Consider adding a new board to interface the Displays serial interface to
TCP/IP, possibly with local inteligence if available for zero cost.


Like the IR project this started very simply
* We had a circuit design that allowed us to recieve and transmit the same
signal in another room.
* Several members of the group then built these on breadboards and they
worked.
* Next up someone designed and built simple PCBs people could use.
* We built or own modules, and boxed them up ourselves
* End result several list members have simple IR distribution.

Looking to the future these have been geting enhanced by various list
members for things like Zoned IR control, PC IR control etc.

--
     ______   __   _   ______   ______
    / ___  / /  / / __   / _____ HOME: chas@xxxxxxx    / /  /_/ / /__/ / / /__/ / / /__    http://www.kaosuk.co.uk/
  / /  __  / ___  / / ___  /  \__  \            ----          
/ /__/ / / /  / / / /  / / _____/ / Rob Chasmer, MMT Computing
______/ _/  /_/ _/  /_/ ______/ robert.chasmer@xxxxxxx
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please let us know by e-mail reply
and delete it from your system; you may not copy this message or disclose
its contents to anyone.  Please note that any views or opinions presented in
this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent
those of MMT Computing plc.  Finally, the recipient should check this email
and any attachments for the presence of viruses.  MMT Computing plc accepts
no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email.



For more information: http://www.automatedhome.co.uk
Post message: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subscribe:  ukha_d-subscribe@xxxxxxx
Unsubscribe:  ukha_d-unsubscribe@xxxxxxx
List owner:  ukha_d-owner@xxxxxxx

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/



________________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned for all viruses by the MessageLabs SkyScan
service. For more information on a proactive anti-virus service working
around the clock, around the globe, visit http://www.messagelabs.com
________________________________________________________________________


Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT

For more information: http://www.automatedhome.co.uk
Post message: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subscribe:  ukha_d-subscribe@xxxxxxx
Unsubscribe:  ukha_d-unsubscribe@xxxxxxx
List owner:  ukha_d-owner@xxxxxxx

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Home | Main Index | Thread Index

Comments to the Webmaster are always welcomed, please use this contact form . Note that as this site is a mailing list archive, the Webmaster has no control over the contents of the messages. Comments about message content should be directed to the relevant mailing list.