Re: Bye Bye Standby kit experiences / comments?

[Rob Iles <rob.iles@xxxxxxxxx>]

Geoff,

Well worth a go - - and if it still doesn't work, don't be shy returning it
to supplier if it's still in warranty :)

I don't completely understand why this manifests itself - perhaps someone
with more knowledge of RF based systems could enlighten me? (Don't worry,
I'm a software jockey as far as BBS in concerned, I don't get involved with
the circuit design!)


R.


2009/2/18 Geoff H <yahoo@xxxxxxx>

>   Now that's a useful bit of info and explains a problem I had with
one
> socket. It was a bit flakey and you had to literally be right on top
of
> it for it to receive the signal. I merely replaced it with another one
> which works ok. There are three of these things almost next to each
other.
>
> I shall have to dig the "duff" one out of the drawer and
give it another
> try.
>
> Geoff
>
>
> Rob Iles wrote:
> > 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
<rob.iles%40gmail.com>>
> >
> >
> >> 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
<vargster%40gmail.com>>
> >>
> >> 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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