Re: Re: Home Automation Integration and touchscreen front end

[Ben McCormack <yahoogroup@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Paul

Thought I had got something wrong.

There is a step where you use the plugin to 'read' your comfort file.
This then creates the devices. But I dont seem to be able to find any
of these devices. I will recheck.

Ben


On 6 Jan 2009, at  20:17, Paul Gordon wrote:

> Hi Ben,
>
> Yes, I'm afraid you must have got it totally wrong!... :-0
>
> It's been a while since I installed the plugin, so my memory of the
> exact process is a little bit vague, but you have to go through some
> setup steps to create devices in Homeseer to represent all your
> Comfort
> devices (inputs, outputs, counters, etc.) - You should end up with
> *hundreds* of Homeseer devices for comfort. - Have you done this
> setup &
> got all those devices?
>
> Paul G.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On
> Behalf
> > Of Ben McCormack
> > Sent: 06 January 2009 18:54
> > To: UKHA Group
> > Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Re: Home Automation Integration and
> touchscreen
> > front end
> >
> > OK
> >
> > I have now spent as couple of evenings trying to get homeseer and
> > Comfort to do something slightly useful and I am getting no
where.
> >
> > I have installed Homeseer and the Comfort plugin.
> >
> > I get the homeseer to query Comfort and retrieve the version
> > information but not much else.
> >
> > Maybe I have got it all wrong but I was expecting to be able to
see
> > 'real time' zone status etc. Have I got it totally wrong?
> >
> > Ben
> >
> >
> > On 5 Jan 2009, at 14:34, Gareth Cook wrote:
> >
> > > I'm the opposite - and the support for the plugin is , well,
p155
> > > poor.
> > >
> > > Paul - time to re-invent your modified plugin ? :-)
> > >
> > > Yup. that's the one. I've found it to be extremely relaible
(touch
> > > wood).
> > >
> > > Paul G
> > >
> > > ________________________________
> > >
> > > From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx on behalf of Ben McCormack
> > > Sent: Mon 05/01/2009 13:31
> > > To: UKHA Group
> > > 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
> > > > >
> > > > > ------------------------------------
> > > > >
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> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > No virus found in this incoming message.
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Release
> Date:
> > > > > 03/01/2009 14:14
> > > >
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> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > 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
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> > > > ------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > ********************************************
> > > > 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 <http://www.avg.com/>
> > > > Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.1/1870 -
Release Date:
> > > > 03/01/2009 14:14
> > > >
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------
> > >
> > > 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]
> > >
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> > ------------------------------------
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> > Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.2/1876 - Release Date:
> > 06/01/2009 07:56
>
>



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