RE: saturn switches

["Kevin Hawkins" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Noble [mailto:yahoo-groups@xxxxxxx]
> Sent: 19 June 2004 00:20
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [ukha_d] saturn switches
>
> John B wrote:
>
> > I'm just getting my C-Bus kit up and running, and it's
> great... it
> > works - instantly, and reliably!
> > No problems with status response, or anything getting
> out of sync - I
> > have global variables in xPLHal that track the level of
> every light,
> > so in any of my scripts, I can find out exactly which
> lights are on,
> > and at what brightness, and have complete control over
> every light.
> >
>
> What do you use to interface to the cbus system? Just the
> PC serial i/f?
>

Jim - you can use the RS232 interface (or the more Expensive ethernet one)-
there is a also a thing called a 'SIM' or serial interface module that some
of the OEM products use at a much lower cost. C-Gate - a Java application
connects to this and acts as a tcp/ip server that provides control and
status info about C-Bus activity. The xPL connector attaches to this as a
network client, this is very effective solution costwise as all the
components are available 'free' currently, assuming you have the RS232
C-Bus
module available already.

OR I have a nice low cost 'black box' about the size of a HomeVison unit
that attaches directly to Ethernet and C-Bus (no serial interface and no PC
required) - it is an embedded controller. It speaks xAP out the other side
(Ethernet)and allows for full control, status and synchronisation with
C-Bus
including all the high level MMI management. Once you have xAP you are then
in 'open' territory and you can control and monitor C-Bus from most
anything
eg from xAP Desktop and now HomeSeer using the xAP plugin or even from
MainLobby ! Anything that has a conduit to HomeSeer (and there are a lot of
these applications eg Girder) can now work with C-Bus effectively via xAP.
This black box has some extra RS232/422/485 serial ports, parallel I/O eg
for 'normal' switches - which can control C-Bus groups and incorporates a
web and ftp server allowing Control and Status monitoring for C-Bus all
without a PC server or middleware application.

Kevin