Re: xPLLib License Issue...

[Mal Lansell <mal@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Frank,

I don't know about Oz, but there are a lot of modules coming out in the
US, and there are a few in the UK.  I expect the number to grow over the
next couple of years.  The technology is based on an RF mesh network
similar to Zigbee, but whereas Zigbee looks to be aimed at the
commerical/industrial user, ZWave is definitely aimed at the home.  The
price is a bit higher than X10 - £35 per module compared to £20 for X10,
but that still puts it into the budget end of the HA market IMO.

So far in the UK there is are plug-in dimmers and switches (like the X10
lamp and appliance modules, and RF remote (for programming the modules
and for quick scene changes) and a USB PC interface.  You can see them
on LetsAutomate.  That doesn't sound like much, but the plug-in modules
have a button for local control, so it should be fairly straightforward
to break them out and mount the contents in a suitable box for a
"wired"
version, with the local control connected to a momentary wall switch.

The remote is supposedly essential for configuring the network, but I've
managed to set up modules using the USB interface and some quick and
dirty c# code ;-).  You definitely don't need the £130 software that
Lets Automate suggests - drivers for their PC interface can be obtained
quite easily.

I'm not going to be allowed to release my code publically until the
ZWave SDK on which it is based is released, and the SDK key purchase /
unlock system is in place, but I will be able to send the application
out privately (when it's a bit more done!) for testing before then.

Regards

Mal




Frank Mc Alinden wrote:

> Hi Mal
>
> > I'm currently working on a ZWave connector for xPL.
>
> This is interesting.....What modules are currently available to te UK
> Market...???....I would like to use some plugin modules but im
> reluctant to
> use x10 plugin modules as i currently only have one and sometimes it
> works
> and sometimes it doesnt....Wonder if there are any Oz versions of the
> Zwave
> kit available...????
>
> Frank
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mal Lansell" <mal@xxxxxxx>
> To: <ukha_xpl@xxxxxxx>
> Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 10:38 PM
> Subject: [ukha_xpl] xPLLib License Issue...
>
>
> > I'm currently working on a ZWave connector for xPL.  I have some
ZWave
> > devices, and they work really well - because they are RF there
are none
> > of the delays of X10, and they confirm their status changes
(hooray!).
> >
> > Unfortunately, there is no free SDK for controlling ZWave via
their PC
> > interfaces.  IMO, this is a huge mistake, but that's how it is. 
Zensys'
> > own ZWave SDK is very expensive, but there is a company called
> > ControlThink that is in the process of creating a USB interface,
and
> > that will ship with a usable SDK.  This SDK will also work with
other
> > ZWave controllers, and licenses will be available to download and
use
> > the SDK without needing to buy their hardware.
> >
> > The SDK is written in .NET, so I would like to use the .NET
xPLLib to
> > handle the xPL side of things, and here is where I run into the
> > problem.  xPLLib is released under the GPL license, and as far as
I can
> > tell, that is incompatible with the ZWave SDK license (which
requires
> > the purchase of the SDK and therefore prevents me releasing the
> > connector software as freeware).
> >
> > Is there a way round this?  Have I misunderstood the GPL license?
 Or am
> > I going to have to not use the xPLLib - which would seriously
impede my
> > ability to release this useful connector service?
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Mal
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > xPL Links: http://www.xplproject.org.uk http://www.xplhal.com
> > http://www.xpl.myby.co.uk
> > To Post a Message: ukha_xpl@xxxxxxx
> > To Subscribe:  ukha_xpl-subscribe@xxxxxxx
> > To Unsubscribe:  ukha_xpl-unsubscribe@xxxxxxx
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> xPL Links: http://www.xplproject.org.uk http://www.xplhal.com
> http://www.xpl.myby.co.uk
> To Post a Message: ukha_xpl@xxxxxxx
> To Subscribe:  ukha_xpl-subscribe@xxxxxxx
> To Unsubscribe:  ukha_xpl-unsubscribe@xxxxxxx
>
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
>     *  Visit your group "ukha_xpl
>       <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ukha_xpl>"
on the web.
>
>     *  To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>        ukha_xpl-unsubscribe@xxxxxxx
>       <mailto:ukha_xpl-unsubscribe@xxxxxxx?subject=Unsubscribe>
>
>     *  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
>       Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
>
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
>