RE: Re: Home Automation Integration and touchscreen front end

["Paul Gordon" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The CBUS functionality is fairly straightforward... you should now
have
a number of Homeseer devices called czCounter:nnn - 1 for each Comfort
counter you specified, - so probably 256 in total...

Each of those will automatically map to the corresponding CBUS group
number, - this is taken care of by the CBUS UCM, you don't need to do
anything in Homeseer. So CBUS group address 005 will map onto Comfort
counter 5; any change to the value of CBUS group 5 will (via the CBUS
UCM) automatically set the Comfort counter 5 to the same value, and this
will then be reflected in the Homeseer device czCounter:005. If you turn
CBUS group 5 on, you should see the Homeseer device czCounter:005 change
value to 255, turn it off, you should see it in Homeseer change the
device value to 0. You can use these devicevalue changes as triggers to
Homeseer events.

Note that although it might seem counter-intuitive, the reverse
operation does NOT work. - i.e. changing a comfort counter value (either
in Homeseer, or directly in Comfort) does NOT change the corresponding
CBUS group address to the same value. - This is because of how the CBUS
UCM works, not anything to do with the plugin or with Homeseer. -
Basically, Comfort only *tracks* the CBUS group addresses with its
counters, it does not allow you to control CBUS groups via its counters.
Instead there is a specific action in Comfort (197 I think, but it's
obvious if you use Comfigurator). You must call that comfort action with
various parameters to send commands out onto the CBUS from Comfort. -
Again, you can do this from Homeseer via the plugin, because one of the
actions made available to Homeseer through the plugin allows you to run
any Comfort response.

HTH

Paul G.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of Ben McCormack
> Sent: 06 January 2009 20:52
> To: UKHA Group
> Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Re: Home Automation Integration and touchscreen
> front end
>
> Paul
>
> Thats the create button I had missed. The plugin has been enabled.
>
> I need to check the status reporting is working and then understand
> how to get cbus working through homeseer
>
> Ben
>
> On 6 Jan 2009, at  20:46, Paul Gordon wrote:
>
> > From what I recall, the option to read the devices into the
plugin
> > from
> > the CCL file does little more than read the number of inputs,
> outputs,
> > RIO zones, and counters from the CCL file to populate the correct
> > numbers in the boxes on the plugin config form. I think you
*still*
> > then
> > have to press the "Create" button to have the plugin
actually create
> > the
> > numbers of devices specifed...
> >
> > Once that's done, you still have to modify many / most of the
> > devices it
> > creates to customise them for your environment, since the devices
all
> > get created with generic names like "IzZone 1" and so
on. - Not sure
> > if
> > this still applies if you use the CCL file method, as the names
you
> > have
> > given to the zones in Comfort should be available in the CCL, so
> maybe
> > it's smart enough to read zone names as well..
> >
> > I presume you've already configured the connection to the UCM,
and
> > that
> > this is working, - since you said you've seen it report the
comfort
&
> > UCM Version details, this must be OK... You also have to set the
> > plugin
> > status to enabled in the Homeseer interfaces configuration if you
> > haven't done that already...
> >
> > Once all this is done, you should have real-time logging in the
> > Homeseer
> > log of any changes to comfort zones, so if you go & jump
around in
> > front
> > of a PIR, you should see that logged virtually instantaneously in
the
> > Homeseer log...
> >
> > HTH
> >
> > 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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