Re: Bye Bye Standby kit experiences / comments?

[Rob Iles <rob.iles@xxxxxxxxx>]

EDIT - As of Firmware 2.7, it's NOW end user upgradable.

Extra Info: If "smart sockets" are placed to close together, they
are less
responsive to control signals. best ensure sockets are at least 1-metre
apart to guarantee maximum range.


2009/2/17 Rob Iles <rob.iles@xxxxxxx>

> Hi Lee,
>
> 1st - I'm slightly biased - as I work with the BBS Team; have been
involved
> with the "PC-Interface" (online controller), wrote the
Online Site
> (live.domia.eu), wrote the Harmony-BBS Component (To link it to
Harmony
> 2007). I also share an office with the BBS Team - whilst working on
> Harmony/DomiaLifestyle!
>
> With that said - I don't gain anything from "positive
reviews", I'm not on
> comission, don't receive a salary from BBS. I *do* get heavily
involved in
> support - particularly on the BBS Forums.
>
> BBS + Domia Lite are the same thing (different plastics). Domia Lite
is, I
> believe, being phased out. (bargains to be had??)
>
> So, my experience:
>
> Range: Generally "as advertised", 20-30M not a problem.
>
> Reliability: Excellent - as long as you stick to the rated wattage
(Hint -
> no, you can't plug your washing machine, tumble drier and dishwasher
into a
> 4A/1KW socket! :s )
>
> Inteference(1): The appliance/dimmer modules, used with the remote
> controls, do no seem to suffer at all with radio inteference.
>
> Inteference(2): The "Online Controller" *IS* suceptible to
RF noise - if
> located to close to a wireless router, laptop, microwave etc - it
won't send
> a signal. (It waits for "quiet" before sending).  I've yet
to come across a
> scenario where relocating the controller (using a longer cat5 cable)
didn't
> solve this issue.
>
> Controller - early firmware versions had issues with non rfc-compliant
DHCP
> Servers/Routers. All is well in 2.9 (current release). Also, pre
firmware
> 2.7, firmware update was a return to factory effort - it's no end user
> upgradable (only relevant if you somehow buy an old one!)
>
> HA Integration: Harmony has a dedicated component for it. :)
>
> "roll your own" is easy enough - either UDP / TCP Socket
based - see the
> BBS Forums for documentation. A number of users have written their own
- -
> there's even a fledgling hardware hacking scene.
>
> Biggest gripe (from HA point of view) - the Dimmers.  Not HA friendly,
> IMHO.  They turn on (soft start) as expected. They turn off as
expected.
> when turned on, they turn on to last level. All OK.  To dim them, you
turn
> them on, hit on again (to start them ramping up/down*) then press on
for a
> 3rd time to stop at desired level.  (*) whether they go up / down
depends
> where in the up/down cycle they stopped last time, as far as I can
tell.
> Thus, keeping track of dim level in software is nigh on impossible
(I've not
> even attempted it!). As none of the devices report their status,
remote
> control of dimmers is, IMHO, best avoided. (You could work around by
always
> sending an off before an on, if you want them on, but this is messy.
If the
> dimmer was already on, any you switch it on again, you end up with
rising
> and falling lights - amusing once or twice - - zero-WAF long term).
>
> So, dimmers aside - very good replacement for X10.
>
> I've requested "pre-set dim" be included in future versions
of the dimmer
> hardware, but can not say for sure if / when this will happen.
>
> You can see the Controller in action at online.domia.eu/demo/
>
> Hope this is of some help,
>
> Rob
>
>
> 2009/2/17 Vargster <vargster@xxxxxxx>
>
>   Chaps,
>>
>> I'm thinking of replacing all my X10 kit with BBSB kit, due to
recent
>> issues
>> with X10.
>> It's been working fine for years, really fine, but lately there
have been
>> just too many glitches and the WAF is starting to slide.
>> Given that all I use is the PC interface, three remotes, four lamp
modules
>> and a dozen applience modules (none of the weirder kit), it could
easily
>> be
>> swapped for a BBSB controller, several starter kits and a few lamp
>> modules.
>>
>> The $64,000 question is - Is this a wise move? And what's the real
world
>> range of the remotes and the controller? Does it cause/suffer from
radio
>> interference? Is it reliable in operation? Is the hardware
reliable? Etc?
>>
>> Lastly, am I right in thinking the BBSB kit and the Domia Lite kit
are
>> compatible?
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Lee
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Rob Iles
>
> Harmony - www.domialifestyle.com
> Software Development - www.rob-iles.co.uk/rmidevelopment
>
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/Rob_Iles
> Skype: rob_iles
> 12seconds: http://12seconds.tv/channel/rmi
>



--
Rob Iles

Harmony - www.domialifestyle.com
Software Development - www.rob-iles.co.uk/rmidevelopment

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Rob_Iles
Skype: rob_iles
12seconds: http://12seconds.tv/channel/rmi


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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