Re: IDRATEK announce xAP support

["Paul Bendall" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Kevin,

I am very interested in what you are doing on this front. I have=20
Idratk as my HA but haven't really any XAP applications at the=20
moment.

Paul

--- In xap_automation@xxxxxxx, Kevin Hawkins=20
<yahoogroupskh@...> wrote:
>
> IDRATEK have announced xAP support within version 2.3 of Cortex -=20
their=20
> home automation application package that supports their range of=20
IDRANet=20
> modules.=20
>=20
> IDRANet is a very nicely price range of modules all interconnected=20
via a=20
> high speed multi master serial bus - usually a CAT5 cable.  They=20
offer=20
> digital inputs, outputs, switches, audio in/out, analog I/O,=20
dimmers,=20
> relays, X10 and even some LCD display capability.  The modules can=20
be=20
> programmed to inter operate standalone using ' Reflex' but their=20
> functionality can be enhanced when runing the Cortex Windows=20
application=20
> for more sophisticated control.  Should Cortex fail the modules=20
> automatically drop back to Reflex operation.  This is very much=20
> inkeeping with xAP - distributed or centralised - or both. Cortex=20
itself=20
> is a very different HA application with neat features for=20
occupancy=20
> detection at room level and associated security, lighting and=20
heating=20
> control. Changes are logged to a DB and also graphed for many=20
sensors.=20=20
> A realtime floorplan type display is used as well as remote web=20
> access.   I've only scratched the surface of this application - I=20
keep=20
> finding new aspects.  Mutiple Cortex applications/ IDARNets  can=20
be=20
> linked over the internet and you can have one Cortex application=20
acting=20
> as an automatic backup controller for another even. Something=20
we've=20
> talked about here as a great potential xAP feature a few times.
>=20
> Basically the individual  modules on IDRANet expose themselves=20
using xAP=20
> BSC both for real time event reporting and control.    Also you=20
can=20
> integrate xAP external devices into Cortex to be used as sensor=20
sources=20
> or triggers.   Really neat.   Even better there is a xAP object=20
that=20
> allows you to construct your own schemas either for receipt into ,=20
or=20
> sending from Cortex -so you aren't limited to just BSC.    I now=20
have=20
> all my C-Bus lighting , PIR's and xAP 1-wire sensors nicely=20
integrated=20
> into Cortex and logged graphed and triggering IDRANET modules. 
.=20=20
My=20
> external lighting sensors also work to brighten my C-Bus lights as=20
it=20
> gets progressively darker outside. The aspect I really want to=20
focus on=20
> is my heating control and Cortex offers very advanced fuzzy logic=20
> control of this  - lots to play with..
>=20
> I'm using IDRANet/Cortex in two ways.  Firstly as a way of getting=20
a=20
> nice range of approved low cost networked modules that are=20
accessible=20
> via xAP - including lightswitch replacement sensors/switches. The=20
DIN=20
> dimmer channels at =A3100 for 4 channels are very attractively=20
priced .=20
> Secondly I'm increasingly liking Cortex as a control application=20
for my=20
> existing xAP devices. It continues to surprise me with as to how=20
well=20
> thought out it is and fully featured with aspects just not present=20
in=20
> other applications.=20=20
>=20
> Enjoying this ... I'll post more of my experiences as I go on if=20
people=20
> are interested (?) - including some screenshots.
>=20
> A brief introduction to IDRATEK products
> http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=3D1665
>=20
> IDRATEK Website
> http://www.idratek.com/
>=20
>   cheers Kevin
>



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