Re: Re: New to group, RS232 input to MisterHouse via xpl and PIC micro?

[Ian Lowe]

> Hi, Ian
>
> Give us an idea of what you have, and we can get together a list of
> bits to download and setup!

> My DESKTOP PC (Preferred option as its spare)
> ---------------------------------------------
> Win98 (WIN95 at moment)
> Proccesor 120mhz
> 24mb
> Free Disk Space available 300mb
> 1 RS232 port available
>

That should do the trick. :) It's at the low end of what we are looking at,
but I'd imagine we can get most things working.

You need to come up to W98 on the desktop, as W95 is just too far behind
the
programming environment to be used.

> Task
> ----
> At the moment all I wish to do is have my PC, via RF a 433Mhz module
> control a 230Vac Lamp to get an understanding of the system.
>
> I have a ceiling PIR that turns on a RF module connected to a PIC,
> this sends data to a RF receiver. At the moment this receiver then
> decodes the signal and if correct and it is dark in the room, turns
> on a lamp for 30 seconds then switches it Off.
>
> I would like to expand this using a PC to receive info from RF modules
> then depending on light sensors, control the house lighting.
>
> I mentioned Misterhouse as its free and it seems to have 'macros' to
> control events
>
> Would XPL do this on its own?

There's a script engine for xPL, xPLHal along with a pretty powerful
configuration environment: I believe it's capable of most things with a
little knowledge of vbscript code.

> Future ideas
> ------------
> Control C/Heating

you too, huh ;)

> Keyfob activation of events via RF (X10 protocol) as these are freely
> available at a reasonable price.
>
> PC alarm/reminder via RF to modules?
>
> Other?
>
> Any views you have on suitability etc?

Sounds like you are right in the target environment for xPL development!

> How popular is XPL as you dont here much about it?

xPL span off from xAP, an earlier protocol to do pretty much the same sort
of things, and as a result of the tension this caused in the main ukha_d
group, we don't talk much: also, as these things are on a long development
time (being hobbies rather than paying jobs) there has been a lot of
vapour,
and not a lot of ware.. the situation is much better now, but we are still
wary of shouting about xPL as the solution to all your HA woes. It *will*
be, but it's not there yet!

Ian.