RE: Re: Home Automation Integration and touchscreen front end

[Paul Gale <groups2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm using that plugin - works well.

Paul.



> -----Original Message-----
> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of Ben McCormack
> Sent: 05 January 2009 13:32
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: [ukha_d] Re: Home Automation Integration and touchscreen
front
> end
>
>
> Guys - Are you using the  pjcComfort2 plugin to connect Comfort to
> homeseer?
>
> --- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Paul Gordon" <paul@...> wrote:
> >
> > Indeed, Gareth's experience does generally differ from my own,
but
> I've
> > always attributed that to the fact that Gareth generally is
"pushing
> the
> > envelope" rather further than I do...
> >
> > :-)
> >
> > Paul G.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On
> Behalf
> > Of Gareth Cook
> > Sent: 04 January 2009 19:21
> > To: UKHA Group
> > Subject: Fw: [ukha_d] Home Automation Integration and touchscreen
> front
> > end
> >
> > Paul and myself chat often as we have almost the same
installation
> with
> > Comfort, CBUS, Homeseer, and Sonos.
> >
> > I would like to say that the PC component is as flakey as a box
of
> > cornflakes - always has been and I've been running Homeseer for
> several
> > years.
> >
> > The Comfort plugin is ok, but has a temper now and again - and
the
> Sonos
> >
> > plugin is not stable at all. If you dont mind checking your
system
> every
> >
> > now and again, you'll be fine. I too, like Paul, have CBUS
buttons
> > activating Sonos stuff and the like - and we have to use Homeseer
as
> > that's the only route between Sonos and Comfort - but it's often
not
> > functioning because one of the 2 plugins has died on its arse.
> >
> > I plan to reinstall (for the umpteen time) and try to keep to a
> stable
> > revision of everything (ie one but last of the Comfort plugin)
but
> both
> > plugins really requires some extensive QA work - stability is
> severely
> > lacking. Even Comfort has it's moments, but CBUS has never ever
gone
> > wrong.
> >
> > G.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Ben,
> >
> > I agree with pretty much all those choices, with the exception of
> > Smartfit... - the good thing about it is there is a dedicated UCM
to
> > integrate smartfit & comfort, but the downside is that
smartfit is a
> > pretty dumb system, and is only suitable for certain Central
Heating
> > designs. The newer Hometronic system is far better in most
respects,
> > although there isn't a dedicated UCM for it unfortunately.  I
believe
> > Cytech were (are?) attempting to make an arrangement with
Honeywell
> with
> > a view to developing a Hometronic UCM, but I've heard nothing on
this
> > for the last 2 years or so, so I guess that idea never got off
the
> > ground (shame). Hometronic is, as you've noticed, significantly
more
> > expensive, especially if you have lots of radiators all needing
the
> > hometronic control valves on them, although I guess you *could*
> > implement it in phases to reduce the initial impact.
> >
> > In case you hadn't sussed, it *is* actually possible to implement
a
> > degree of integration between Hometronic & Comfort, using
some of the
> > Hometronic modules that provide digital input/outputs that can
then
> be
> > connected to Comfort outputs/inputs to signal discrete states,
and
> > enable Comfort to control Hometronic (i.e comfort could have a
number
> of
> > outputs connected to Hometronic, each signal line could then be
> > programmed in Hometronic to set a particular
"lifestyle" so for
> instance
> > Comfort would be able to turn off all heating when set to away
> mode...)
> >
> > I already have almost all the components of the system that
you've
> > specified (Comfort, CBUS, SONOS, Homeseer) and I actually settled
on
> > Hometronic for my heating as well, and even went as far as
getting a
> > quote for a system. Unforseen circumstances have repeatedly
forced me
> to
> > put it on hold unfortunately, so I still haven't got round to
> purchasing
> > it, although I do still intend to when circumstances allow.
> >
> > If you haven't already experimented with Homeseer, its worth
pointing
> > out that there is just about to be a new component launched for
it
> which
> > is specifically designed for easy implementation of touchscreens.
> > "Homeseer Touch" is in beta at the moment, and I've
been playing with
> it
> > for a couple of months. It is pretty simple &
straightforward, and
> > integrates seamlessly with Homeseer. It's still a bit rough
around
> the
> > edges, but I believe in time it will be an extremely capable
system,
> and
> > almost a no-brainer for anyone who already runs Homeseer.
> >
> > Using this combination of components I've been able to achieve
some
> > additional integration that actually isn't possible if any of
them
> are
> > omitted. For instance I can have CBUS buttons control SONOS zones
so
> > that my "room off" button that I have on all my CBUS
keypads can also
> > stop the SONOS zone playing in that room as well, which makes for
a
> > nicer overall experience. This particular function uses Homeseer
to
> > bridge several systems via their respective plugins (signals go:
CBUS
> > --> Comfort --> Homeseer --> SONOS)
> >
> > If you'd like any further info about my experiences, then just
> holler.
> >
> > HTH
> >
> > Paul G.
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On
> Behalf
> > > Of Ben McCormack
> > > Sent: 04 January 2009 16:16
> > > To: UKHA Group
> > > Subject: [ukha_d] Home Automation Integration and
touchscreen front
> > end
> > >
> > > All
> > >
> > > As I am suer many of you are aware we have recently moved
into a
> new
> > > house that needs renovation. This has given me the chance to
> automate
> > > the house. I have tried to use best of breed in each area
where
> > > possible and integrate systems as well.
> > >
> > > I have arrived at the following scheme
> > >
> > > Lighting : Cbus
> > > Alarm : Comfort
> > > Heating : Smartfit
> > > Temp Monitoing : 1-Wire using HA7Net. This is based on
recent
> > > discussions.
> > > All the media in the house will be supplied from my Mac Mini
Server
> > > and Sonos.
> > >
> > > cbus and Comfort are linked
> > > Comfort and Smartfit are linked
> > >
> > > So I have Lighting, Heating and Alarm integrated. So far
Comfort
> will
> > > be my main interface so I can use Comfort keypads or the
DECT
> phones
> > > in the house to control things.
> > >
> > > Now I have added 1-Wire I am starting to think how to
integrate
> that
> > > and make intelligent decisions based on room temperature and
also
> > > provide temp logging and graphing.
> > >
> > > There is one area that I don't think I have worked out yet
and that
> is
> > > the overall control mechanism. I guess ideally I would like
a
> couple
> > > of wireless touch-screens that could display information
about the
> > > house and allow me to control various functions.
> > >
> > > I can see that homeseer could be used as an interface. It
has
> plugins
> > > for most of my components.
> > >
> > > Are there any other options I could look at?
> > >
> > > Ben
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------
> > >
> > > ********************************************
> > > Limited Time Offer - Free iPhone VAT Calculator
> > > http://berble.com/index.php/component/content/article/109
> > > ********************************************
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > > Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> > > Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.1/1870 - Release
Date:
> > > 03/01/2009 14:14
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > ********************************************
> > Limited Time Offer - Free iPhone VAT Calculator
> > http://berble.com/index.php/component/content/article/109
> > ********************************************
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Unless stated otherwise above:
> > IBM United Kingdom Limited - Registered in England and Wales with
> number
> >
> > 741598.
> > Registered office: PO Box 41, North Harbour, Portsmouth,
Hampshire
> PO6
> > 3AU
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > ********************************************
> > Limited Time Offer - Free iPhone VAT Calculator
> > http://berble.com/index.php/component/content/article/109
> > ********************************************
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> > Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.1/1870 - Release Date:
> > 03/01/2009 14:14
> >
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
> signature database 3738 (20090105) __________
>
> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>
> http://www.eset.com
>


__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
signature database 3738 (20090105) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

http://www.eset.com


------------------------------------