Re: MMIR X-10 Macro IR Module

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

"John, SW Missouri" <jmjones@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1190252701.499412.135390@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Bobby,
>
> Well at least I know my message didn't get lost ;-)

Nope, things went wild way fast today.  I shouldn't even be here now because
the chores aren't done, but I needed to set a while an give my aching feet a
rest.

> You can download the software for Homevision free from their website,
> or better yet you can download HomevisionXL from here:
>
> http://hv.tclcode.com/download.html

Thanks.  I will.  Been browsing briefly through the manual.  I like the way
it's organized.  With a quick overview, a "parts required" list and more.
Sometimes, a system just feels like it fits.  I'll take a look at the
software over the next few days.  I'd hate to end up abandoning the MMIR
before I even got started.  I doubt it, though.  At least a few folks must
remember me going on about wishing the X-10 remote (and all of the higher
priced remotes that can do X-10 that I've bought or looked at) could do
multiple housecodes.

The ControlLinc Maxis have a built-in macro keys, but they're "dumb" and
only play back sequences and can't respond to line or IR events.  I can see
a setup where I use both the MMIR and HV because I can distribute and
decentralize functions between them so if either device failed, it wouldn't
knock out the entire system.

> Then you can play with it on your computer and get an idea of how it
> programs compared to the Ocelot.  For me the Ocelot was fine for time
> of day type events.  It could be a pain trying to do anything
> involved.  I tried IR with it a couple times but didn't have any luck
> and gave up.  I know there are people that do IR with the Ocelot so
> I'll blame that on myself.

I went back and tried again with the CPU-XA recently and concluded that
success or failure could easily depend on exactly what you're trying to
control.  It's hard to design a really good IR management program/device
because there's such a wide range of IR schemes in use.  The USB IRTrans has
a separate receiver circuit for B&O equipment because it transmits way
outside the range of what devices like ADI's can see.  As I noted elsewhere
(or meant to) it wasn't until I got a very sophisticated IR-only device like
the IRTrans that could translate what it saw into strings of hex codes that
I realized that some of my more non-standard devices (AV switcher, A/C,
space heater, etc) were sending very weird codes depending on the length of
the button press and maybe the phases of the moon.  The deal-breaker for me
with the CPU-XA as an IR translator was the time lag.  It made it
impractical to use in that mode, although I bet it would work quite nicely
for what I want the MMIR to do: turn the unused keys on my remote into X-10
macro commands.  O

Alas, no matter how I tried I couldn't really make the Ocelot a "family
affair."  There were just too many places where something could go wrong and
technical expertise would be required.  On the other hand, my wife can
clearly follow programming instructions as carefully as she can follow
recipes.  The Army really gave her great training in what we call "grunt and
crank" operations.  For the MMIR that will look something like:

Ingredients:

MMIR, X-10 remote, ControlLinc Maxi, Monterey Line Analyzer

Press red button 6 times to clear memory.

Place UR24 facing LED on MMIR.

Press SAT on UR24 then press 1 on UR24.  Within 5 seconds press K and then 1
ON then 1 OFF on the Maxi controller

Press SAT on UR24 then press 2 on UR24.  Within 5 seconds press 1 ON then 2
OFF on the Maxi controller

. . . and so on.   Not really much more tedious than writing code and the
benefit of doing it this way is that if the memory gets corrupted, either
one of us can reload it easily.  It sure would be nicer to load and unload
programs like the Ocelot OR do it with the cheat sheet, but I don't expect
the unit to require massive reprogramming so I can live with the primitive
button pushing method of programming.  Homevision sounds a tad easier,
though, I must admit.  (-:

> When I did IR with Homevision it just
> worked as advertised - how nice.  I have an MX3000 remote upstairs set
> up with all kinds of screens for home automation - just need to time
> and energy to get it working with Homevision.  We rebuilt our home
> after storm damage and I have the Elk M1G permanently installed in the
> attached garage and 97% wired and operational.  I have my Homevision
> Pro laying on it's back on a table near my HA computer down in the
> family room (used as my laboratory).  It is eventually going to be up
> next to the Elk, but I'm very slow in getting it there.

HA around here means "haltingly addressed" since so many more critical
problems keep cropping up.  Besides, we're still enjoying our new found
reliability created by the XTB.  When I press ALL UNITS OFF the lamps
finally do all go off.  That has a big neighbor wow factor, too, oddly
enough.

> In my bathrooms I have ACT 2-way non-dimming switches controlling the
> exhaust fans.  When you turn one on Homevision starts a timer and
> turns the fan off automatically if you leave it on.  This is one of my
> favorite things, though my wife doesn't think it's so great.

That's fascinating.  My wife is equally unimpressed by automatic timer
functions.  I think the concept of computer control implies an ambiguity of
operation that makes her uncomfortable.  Phrasing that her way would be "I
don't need a computer to tell me when to turn the bathroom fan off,
especially when I wouldn't have even turned it on in the first place."  I'll
tell her she has a kindred soul in Missouri.

> I have a
> detached work shop which is about 80 feet from the house and the
> lighting there is all ACT controlled and you can see what's on from
> the touchscreen display (also laying on it's back on the table by
> HV).  Same thing is true for a small barn I have not far from the
> shop.  We have a little over 3 acres and I have lots of outside
> lighting - all controlled by Homevision.
>
> I hate to knock the Ocelot as it served me well for several years and
> was rock solid.  As you experienced, programming could be a test of
> your patience.  Prior to the storm I had been using a Homevision basic
> controller and was phasing out the Ocelot.  One thing holding me back
> was all the messages I had in the SpeakEZ.  When I installed the Elk
> with built-in audio messages I missed the Ocelot even less.

We haven't done audio messages around here - yet.  But your earlier message
about medication reminders got me thinking that it would be a very useful
thing for my Dad since he's pretty poor about compliance.  I'm sure the
Ocelot would let me program a system that reminded him to take med X at time
Y and I could rig a switch of some kind in bathroom, maybe on the medicine
cabinet - no - wait, a touch screen with the med's name that he has to touch
to cancel the 10 minute voice reminders.

We've tried a lot of methods and so far, he's overcome automatic pillboxes,
5 channel voice timers, manual pill boxes with labeled compartments and
phone calls from me to check.  What I really need is a videocam in the
medicine cabinet to confirm he's actually taken the pill.  Shades of
THX1138.

> I too have an XTB - what a great device !!
>
> Yes, "point of sale" - a little 40 column printer that prints on
> adding machine tape.  I bought one on eBay for $2 ;-)
> Takes about 16" of tape per day to records all the house vitals
> including high and low temps, drive activity, alarm on/off, etc.

I'd like to store something like that to a CF card but for $2 I might go
POS!

> So you have dogs!  I had 5 when the tornado hit, had to give one up
> and have 4 left.  Alpha dog is a 13 year old Shih Tzu, #2 is a 7 year
> old 130 pound black lab, #3 is a 4 year old beagle and #4 is a 4 year
> old poodle that blew in with the tornado in 2003 - yes we've been
> through two tornados.  What dogs do you have?

Little bitties with big hearts.  1 JRT and one rat terrier.  Had a few more
that we had rescued but we placed those in good homes.  One was allegedly a
JRT but since he's now over 55 pounds, I suspect other lineage.  The JRT we
kept was born an alpha dog.  Doesn't roll over for ANYONE and challenges me
for the true top dog spot any time I show weakness!  50 pounds of dog packed
into 15 pound body.  Definitely a working dog.  I have no doubt the stories
of JRT's killing more than 200 rats a day are true.  She's got the most
incredible rat-neck-breaking head shake.   I tie rawhide "ringos" to some
clothesline to play tug of war and she'll nearly dislocate my wrist whipping
it back and forth so hard.  My wife had a Samoyed for nearly 13 years but
the poor dog really suffered in the heat in this area.   I've got to find my
photo of a friend who runs a beagle rescue organization.  Feeding time with
12 of them is quite a sight.  She lives in a cabin in the mountains without
heat - the dogs provide it and believe me, they really do!

> My wife limp wrists everything but her .380 and the .22.  She will get
> a FTE 80% of the time with my 9mm Glock.   She actually does better
> with my .45 which is metal not polymer.  She does very well with a
> wheel gun and so that's her choice for protection.  As if I don't have
> enough on my plate already I just started reloading about 3 months
> ago.  Rifle only at this time, and 99% is .308 winchester with a
> little 30-06 and 270 for grins.  I belong to a local bench rest
> shooting club in Springfield, Missouri.

There have been some pretty endless arguments at the local range about
Glocks, FTE's, FTF's and stovepipes and what causes them.  We've got a
pretty serious feud between old Army shooters with their 1911-A1's v's the
new hi-tech pieces.  My feeling is they're like DVD-recorders.  Some like
Brand X disks and won't work with Brand Y.  There's so much variability in
ammo that I believe failures are mostly ammo related and only secondarily
the recoil/ejection and "limp wrist" issue.  I know the recoil kinetics
differ between guns that are tightly gripped vs. LW so I guess I'll have to
reconsider since you've seen it happen.  I love watching crime flicks where
the bad guys hold the gun sideways.  I also think: "what a great way to have
an eject shell drop back down on the shooter's hand or maybe even back into
the gun's innards!"  (-:  Either way, it's not an issue for my wife who
prefers wheelguns for self-defense, too.  No FTE's at least.

> I've owned 3 Brownings over the years - wish I still had one.

They hold their resale value quite nicely except I can never bring myself to
sell any.  I've got one of nearly every caliber, and that took a long time
to pull together.  The thing I like most about them is that they are
effortless to hold - they seem nearly perfectly balanced.  The Colt 1911
always feels nose-heavy by comparison.

> Without one in the chamber, boooo, ALWAYS carry with one in the tube,
> unless you're an Israeli soldier as they are trained to carry
> unprepared.  My Glock and Para Ordnance are 100% safe with one in the
> chamber as long as they are in a GOOD holster.

I've got a lot of friends in LE and they ALL have stories of one in the
chamber that got out the door.  At one cop party, someone was showing off
his new shotgun and put a huge hole in the ceiling.  Another shot himself
through the butt cheek with his backup .25.  Boy did he *never* hear the end
of that little accident, pardon the pun.  I hear you about being prepared,
but even the best of holsters can have a bad moment.

> Great joke about the Italian submarine ;-)

Works for a lot of other nationalities, too.  However, the mechanical
mishaps of my Italian made Beretta inspired me to diss the Italians.

> Off hand I can't think of a way for Homevision to detect a storm, but
> that doesn't mean it can't be done.  Anyway the new XTB-IIR will be
> doing this from what I read.

Yes, the new IIR will probably have that feature, but I'm not sure I'll need
it.  Eventually I'll get my ESM1 cradle device working.  I went to RatShack
to buy some phototransistors but all the little parts pegboards are gone!!!!
I give them a year, maybe two, until they go belly up.  The only reason
anyone bought anything big from them in the first place was as an
afterthought after they bought a the fuse or an oddball battery that they
originally came in for.

> You're not in D.C. are you - can't be with a functional firearm in
> your home.

Oh, there are all sorts of exceptions to that law.  I wonder, with the law
somewhat in limbo, whether they're even prosecuting anything but outrageous
violations.  As my LE buds always say: "Better to be judged by six men a box
than carried out in box by six men.  Now in VA, where you can get a carry
permit with ease or even buy a gun, apparently, if you're a lunatic like the
VA Tech shooter, they made the list of handgun carry permit holders public
and what do you think happened?  Gun thefts shot up through the roof.  It
was like publishing a treasure map for the bad guys.

--
Bobby G.