Re: Re: Home Automation Integration and touchscreen front end

[Ben McCormack <yahoogroup@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Right - I am getting somewhere. I don't think I had clicked the
correct button to create the devices. I have now created the devices.

Thanks for the guidance

Ben



On 6 Jan 2009, at  20:27, Paul Gordon wrote:

> Aha.... - I never did it that way as far as I remember... I suspect
> that
> may be a more recent feature of the plugin... I accomplished this part
> by going into the plugins' setup dialogue (the windows UI one
> available
> from the Homeseer executable, not the ASP based web pages) and telling
> it how many inputs & outputs I had, what modules were installed,
and
> what status devices I wanted represented and so on, and then getting
> the
> plugin to create them for me... I've never tried the method of using
> the
> comfigurator file to automate that...
>
> Paul G.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On
> Behalf
> > Of Ben McCormack
> > Sent: 06 January 2009 20:22
> > To: UKHA Group
> > Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Re: Home Automation Integration and
> touchscreen
> > front end
> >
> > 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.
> > > > > > > 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
> > > > > >
> > > > > > ------------------------------------
> > > > > >
> > > > > > ********************************************
> > > > > > Limited Time Offer - Free iPhone VAT
Calculator
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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
> > > > > PO6
> > > > > > 3AU
> > > > > >
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> > > > > >
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> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been
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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]
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > 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
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 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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