RE: Proposal for iPaq Touchscreen systems (in place of C BUS Switches)

["Ward, David" <DAvid.Ward@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Mal,

What tools are you using to develop your PDA applications and was/is it a
steep learning curve?

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: Mal Lansell [mailto:mlansell@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 13 September 2004 10:32
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Proposal for iPaq Touchscreen systems (in place of
CBUS Switches)


I started something along these lines a couple of weeks ago.  I've been
getting into xPL, and decided to xPL-enable my PDAs to use as remote
controls.  So far I have the xPL part working - I just need to add the
graphics, and an editor to allow the customisation of the display!

Rather than go to the expense of new PDAs, I just bought wifi cards for my
old HP Jornada 520s.  The SH3 processor is a bit slow, and it only has a
25=
6
colour screen, but it's perfectly adequate for this application.  There are
usually a few of these Jornadas available on Ebay - IME, they can be had
fo=
r
around =A350, plus another =A325 for the wifi cf card from Ebuyer.com

I'm not sure a PDA would make a good replacement lightswitch unless it was
always on - if it's dark you want the lights to come on as soon as you
touc=
h
the screen, not after it's connected to the access point.  Perhaps it would
be possible to connect some local control via the serial connection.

Mal




----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Laurence" <andy@xxxxxxx>
To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2004 11:42 AM
Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Proposal for iPaq Touchscreen systems (in place of
CBUS Switches)


> From: "Gareth Cook" <g@xxxxxxx>
> > 1. Looking at the iPaq website, one of the units states it needs
5V @
2A.
> > This is achievable, and eBuyer do a generic PoE adaptor which
will
deliver
> > 5V @ 2.5A. We can remove the inbuilt lithium battery as if the
iPaq
needs
> > a kick, we can do it from Node0. You don't want to have to keep
pulling
it
> > out of the wall !
>
> Not sure I fancy sending 2A over CAT5, but the IPAQ will use virtually
none
> of that anyway.  I'd be amazed if it ever required more than 500mA.
>
> > 2. Network you think would be easy - but this will require a CF
card to
> > RJ45 - will have to get a unit to look at the space needed for
this in
the
> > wall.
>
> If you're running cable toit, why not use the serial/USB interface? 
Save=
s
> buying a network card, and saves on space too - solder the connections
> directly to the PCB.
>
> > If an iPaq were to be used, then this will require a fairly deep
hole i=
n
> > the wall - but at least it may be possible to dig out a British
double
> > gang standard hole which could be then retrofitted back to a
British
light
> > switch of sorts (as opposed to a J box that CBUS requires).
>
> Sounds good.  Have you measured an IPAQ and a double gang hole?
>
> > 3. An alternative network source is of course a built in wifi or
CF wif=
i
> > card - but hey if a cable is there, I'd prefer it.
>
> Agreed.
>
> > Another idea struck me - but the electrical bods out there may
have to
> > confirm this - we have a standard light switch there already
delivering
> > power to the light (and the light is going to be changed to a
star wire=
,
> > hence rendering the power to the light switch out of commission)
> >
> > 4. Use the lighting ring to power the ipaq - the iPaq needs 12V
@2A -
can
> > we mount the PSU for the iPaq in the wall and connect to the
light ring
to
> > be powered ? May need some hacking to the PSU module itself.
>
> Sounds more than feasible.  Of course, the usual caveats of mains
> electricity apply - don't electrocute yourself!
>
> > 5. With the method in point 4, we would need to use a WiFi card -
but
that
> > means NO retrofitting of CAT5 for CBUS. I like this method :-)
>
> I like that method too!  Of course, you still have to change the
wiring
from
> standard to get the dimming module going.
>
> > Comments appreciated - have I had a mad moment or is this
workable ?
>
> I'd say that's more than workable!  It's also something that software
lik=
e
> Xlobby would cope ith well - build a landscape skin!
>
> Cheers,
> Andy
> --
> http://www.andylaurence.co.uk
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>





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