Re: Z-wave on Linux

[eclipseha <eclipseha@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Aug 18, 7:08=A0am, dlh <d...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Aug 18, 9:27=A0am, eclipseha <eclips...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
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> > On Aug 18, 4:58=A0am, dlh <d...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
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> > > On Aug 17, 8:34=A0pm, eclipseha <eclips...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
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> > > > I'm look for a USB device (and the specs) to interface to my custom
> > > > (fedora 15) based home automation system. =A0I dropped Niel Cherry =
an
> > > > email, and well as a few vendors of z-wave USB sticks, but haven't
> > > > heard back. =A0Anyone got any ideas?
>
> > > Why not use the ZCS101 serial interface? If you have no serial ports,
> > > the kernel has built in support for FTDI and other Serial<->USB
> > > adapters. I've tested with FTDI, Prolific and Silicon Labs based
> > > adapters on 8-10 of the most used Linux distros.
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> > > Byterunner has two very inexpensive adapters, one based on a Prolific
> > > chipset and one based on FTDI. (I've tested both USB-COM-CBL and Y-10=
5
> > > under Windows, Linux and OSX.) Spark Fun Electronics has Silicon Labs
> > > and FTDI based adapters but they are more for breadboarding and/or
> > > embedded development. (I've tested their CP2102 board - BOB-00198.)
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> > > =A0 =A0 =A0http://www.smarthome.com/22011/ACT-ZCS101-Z-Wave-RS232-Int=
erface/p.aspx
> > > =A0 =A0 =A0http://www.byterunner.com/byterunner/category=3DUSB+to+Sin=
gle+Serial+Ad...
> > > =A0 =A0 =A0http://www.sparkfun.com/search/results?term=3Dusb-serial&w=
hat=3Dproducts
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> > While that is possible, the problem gets back to the SW. =A0The ACT uni=
t
> > says it doesn't provide the SW, and all I've found on the z-wave SDK
> > says it's for windows and not linux. =A0I'd bee happy with the specs, a=
s
> > I'll be writing the SW for the actual interface, but again, it sounds
> > like even the SDK provides the interface, but not the actual protocol
> > to interface to the z-wave adapter. =A0Am I missing something?
>
> AFAIK it's an ASCII interface and the only way to get the API
> documentation is to purchase a developers kit from Zensys for oodles
> of moolah. You might find more info at LinuxMCE.
>
> =A0 =A0 =A0http://www.zen-sys.com/modules/Zensys/
> =A0 =A0 =A0http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/ACT_Homepro_ZCS101
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> I haven't looked at Z-Wave in detail since shortly after it was
> introduced. The high cost (hardware and API), high complexity network
> (difficult to setup and maintain) and inherent limitations (there were
> a limited number of modules that could be used in a network with
> limited range and a limited number of hops between modules - you were
> likely =A0to run out of modules/hops before you ran out of real estate)
> convinced me to forget it. It may have since been improved but I'm not
> going to waste time exploring it again. Zensys is now a division of a
> larger company and may not get a lot of attention or funding.

WOW!  $3500 for the SDK/API doc?  They CAN'T be serious!