Re: Re: Home Automation Integration and touchscreen front end

[Ben McCormack <yahoogroup@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Right

I have just ben into the loft to test everything.

I am now getting the realtime responses in homeseer to the changes in
zone state within Comfort.

Now I am currently running homeseer, Comfigurator, Wizcomfort all on
the same machine. I have setup a dedicated homeseer user with Comfort.

The problem I am finding is that homeseer looses connection to Comfort
and I need to restart homeseer for it to pick up the connection again.

Now this could be something to do with the other utilities I am
running on the server. I also remember something about timeouts so I
need to check that all tomorrow night.

Paul - Thanks for the detailed info on Comfort/Homeseer. I will have a
play tomorrow

Ben

On 6 Jan 2009, at  21:45, Paul Gordon wrote:

> 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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> > > > > > > ------------------------------------
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > [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
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > [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]


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