Access Home Automation Forum

Access Home Automation Forum http://www.accessha.com/forums Access Home Automation Forum - Insteon, UPB, Z-wave, Zigbee, Home Control en Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:41:20 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.accessha.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg Access Home Automation Forum http://www.accessha.com/forums HRDS1 Door/Window Sensor - A Quick Review http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/accessha/~3/412026887/showthread.php Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:38:34 GMT This device is a Zwave, battery powered, sensor that uses the proximity of a magnet to detect open/closed. The pix: http://www.cwfam.com/PublicZwave/HRDS1_insideBox.jpg.jpg (http://www.cwfam.com/PublicZwave/HRDS1_insideBox.jpg) The device comes with batteries and mounting hardware and works as... This device is a Zwave, battery powered, sensor that uses the proximity of a magnet to detect open/closed.

The pix:
http://www.cwfam.com/PublicZwave/HRDS1_insideBox.jpg.jpg

The device comes with batteries and mounting hardware and works as advertised. In HomeSeer, it shows up as a binary sensor that reads either 'open' or 'closed'. It also reports battery level. It has an advertised 100 foot 'line of sight' range, so you will need to have a fixed Zwave device, or your controller within about that distance.

The default 'wake up' interval on mine was set to one minute. I set it to 30 minutes to conserve battery life. 'Wake up' , basically means, that the device turns on and transmits battery level.

I mounted mine as a garage door closed/open sensor. The switch will indicate 'closed' when the magnet is within about 1/3 to 1/2 inch of the center. What else can I say? It works.

:)

Ken ]]> Z-Wave Technical Forum KenM http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1983 http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1983 HAControl, a new GUI for HomeSeer http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/accessha/~3/410811491/showthread.php Sat, 04 Oct 2008 03:06:53 GMT Hi all, What started out as an easy way for me to change the look and feel of my custom interface has evolved into a very unique front end to HomeSeer. I would now like to invite all AccessHA HomeSeer users to take a look at what can be done with about 20,000 lines of code! :D Introducing... Hi all,
What started out as an easy way for me to change the look and feel of my custom interface has evolved into a very unique front end to HomeSeer. I would now like to invite all AccessHA HomeSeer users to take a look at what can be done with about 20,000 lines of code! :D

Introducing HAControl! A customizable graphical interface front end for use with HomeSeer automation software. Simply fill in the forms and let HAControl do the rest!

* Very customizable! Display the pages the way you want them.
* Completely skinable!
* Import your own graphics too!
* Display only the devices you want per room!
* Display the rooms graphically! Supports both BLFloorplan and UltraView2.
* Supports up to 16 rooms!
* Setup events per room!
* Ability to embed pages!
* Insteon Friendly!

HAControl will soon be in the HomeSeer updater but right now I need beta testers! Please feel free to visit techha.com to see screenshots and download the full featured beta. ]]> General Discussion techno_goof http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1962 http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1962 Solar Decathalon Automation http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/accessha/~3/410569655/showthread.php Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:00:07 GMT Hi, I am working on designing a home automation, security and monitoring system for the Rice University Solar Decathlon (http://www.solardecathlon.org/) Team and I would like your opinions on a home controller that would be able to do all of those things. It needs to have analog inputs to be able... Hi,
I am working on designing a home automation, security and monitoring system for the Rice University Solar Decathlon Team and I would like your opinions on a home controller that would be able to do all of those things.

It needs to have analog inputs to be able to monitor energy usage and light levels through out the house.
The biggest goal of this project is to conserve energy.
The house is very small think of a long single wide mobile home about 14' x 50'

Once our house is finished with the competition it will be used by a family in the 3rd ward of Houston.

I am looking at the products from ELK and HAI but are their other options available?

Thank you for any help you can provide. ]]> General Discussion AllenGregoryIV http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1959 http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1959 Goodbye, Insteon! Hello, Z-Wave. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/accessha/~3/408632839/showthread.php Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:33:13 GMT My hate affair with Insteon is finally coming to an end.

15 days after Ike hit, our block finally got power back. I waited a few extra hours before I turned our home back on. Everything worked fine.

A power interruption the following night killed five of my SwitchLinc V2's. This now brings my number of smoked or otherwise defective SwitchLinc's to at least a dozen. Combined with network integrity issues, support issues, and other problems ... enough is enough!

The SwitchLinc V1's in my home all still work perfectly. X10 may suck, but those switches were well made. I feel that Smarthome has really tarnished their brand with Insteon, but that's just my $0.02.

I now have a bunch of Leviton Vizia + and Vizia RF + goodies on the way. I hope these will live up to the high standards Leviton has set for themselves.

I also have a Z-Troller on the way. I continue to hate Homeseer, but I haven't seen anything better.

I won't miss the stranded, tinned wire sticking out of the back of the SwitchLincs. Orange wire nuts can kiss my butt. The Vizia switches are direct-wired!

I am pleased that I will have true, hardwired multi-way switch operation again.

More importantly, I hope I will get to spend more time enjoying my HA system, instead of cursing failed switches and lousy signal integrity.

WAF is priceless. ]]> Z-Wave Technical Forum Bicster http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1945 http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1945 Light Show Master 2.0.1 Beta released! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/accessha/~3/407924952/showthread.php Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:52:51 GMT We just released a quick new update this evening (September 30, 2008) with the following items: New Features: * Completely reworked the show schedule logic. The 7-day schedule has been replaced with show events that allow you to create an unlimited number of events that have their own... We just released a quick new update this evening (September 30, 2008) with the following items:

New Features:

Completely reworked the show schedule logic. The 7-day schedule has been replaced with show events that allow you to create an unlimited number of events that have their own start/stop date and times. You are no longer limited to starting/stopping your shows on the hour or half-hour. You can now have events that span minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or even years! You now can even create multiple events for a single day.
Added new show trigger feature. With this option enabled, now your show will only start playing if it is currently during one of the scheduled events and if a specific Insteon device (such as a motion detector) has triggered Light Show Master to start playing. You just link the trigger device as a controller with the PLM as the responder, and enter the device id of the trigger device in the Show Properties window. When Light Show Master is triggered, it will play the show through once and then go back to waiting for a trigger.

Bug Fixes:

Fixed bug when trying to add sequences to the show that were created with 2.0.x that resulted in the file validation to fail.

Download the new version here:
http://www.jltsoft.com/downloads.aspx ]]> Light Show Master (Insteon) Xpendable http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1942 http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1942 AHP crash http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/accessha/~3/406254689/showthread.php Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:40:19 GMT AHP crashes evrytime I try to go to TOOLS - HARDWARE CONFIGURATION

I've reloaded and updated AHP, any suggestions

Thanks
DON the NEWBEE ]]> X10 Technical Forums mrdon http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1940 http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1940 Updates http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/accessha/~3/404369860/showthread.php Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:36:41 GMT Well it’s been a slow summer for Insteon and home automation. I’m looking forward to winter when everything in the industry picks back up.

I spent most of the summer helping good friends out with home automation, multimedia, and home theaters. After all that, I somehow managed to attack part of the dreaded “honey do list”.

My two major projects have been a friends home and our aging hot tub. The hot tub needed a new primary pump and spa pack. I ended up putting in a Balboa spa pack, which we are extremely pleased with. The only downside… it has IR control but no RS232 control.

My friends home was a serious project. HDMI over CAT5e, whole house audio, MS media center, security, surveillance, Middle Atlantic rack, and IR control throughout.

I also picked up a new iPod touch. All I can say is WOW... Apple has done an incredible job with this amazing product. I’ve always been a little anti-Apple but I have to give credit where credit is due. This little gem will revolutionize…

What projects did you work on?

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]]> Access News Access http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1939 http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1939 <![CDATA[COMPLETE bundle for under $450! ISY, Nokia, NK8 & PLM!]]> http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/accessha/~3/402301029/showthread.php Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:32:34 GMT Know someone just starting, or looking to get started, with Insteon? Have a vacation home you want to automate? This might be the perfect bundle for you. Image: http://www.interfacego.com\store\photos\nk8_n800_isy-26.jpg Bundle includs: - Universal-Devices ISY-26 (Refurbished) - Insteon... Know someone just starting, or looking to get started, with Insteon? Have a vacation home you want to automate? This might be the perfect bundle for you.

Bundle includs:

- Universal-Devices ISY-26 (Refurbished)
- Insteon PLM
- Nokia N800 Wireless Touch Panel (Refurbished)
- interfaceGO NK8 Touch Panel Software

All for only $449.90!

Some notes:

- The ISY-26 is refurbished with a brand new memory card, upgraded to the latest ISY firmware, and fully tested.

- The Nokia N800 includes at LEAST the touch panel, AC adapter, memory card, and USB sync cable. Some units may also ship with the original box & other accessories. Each unit is loaded with the latest OS from Nokia and fully tested. Units are in great condition.

- The interfaceGO NK8 software is pre-loaded onto the Nokia N800 at no charge. An installation CD is also included.

Please keep in mind that we have a very limited number of these bundles available.

To order, please visit our on-line store:
http://www.interfacego.com/store/store.html

Feel free to contact me with any questions. ]]> INSTEON Technical Forum MikeB http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1938 http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1938 PowerHome Announces Version 2.0 with UPB, Insteon, and X-10 Support http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/accessha/~3/394672557/showthread.php Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:57:24 GMT *Empower Your Home with PowerHome 2 * PowerHome 2 Released With UPB, Insteon and X-10 Support ORLANDO - With todays introduction of PowerHome2 beta software, seamless integration of competing home automation products is now a reality. The three most popular home automation protocols now can... Empower Your Home with PowerHome 2

PowerHome 2 Released With UPB, Insteon and X-10 Support

ORLANDO - With todays introduction of PowerHome2 beta software, seamless integration of competing home automation products is now a reality. The three most popular home automation protocols now can be used as one with PowerHome2.

David Howard, developer of PowerHome said, My goal has always been to make home automation easy to use and available to everyone. But, there were always competing home automation devices requiring different automation software to run them in the home. Prior to PowerHome2 you were forced to choose between Insteon or UPB devices and hope you chose wisely. With PowerHome2 you can run Insteon, UPB and X-10 devices together, making automation of your home a lot simpler and making the choice of which protocol to use less important.

Further, David Howard said, Ive included a new Quick Setup Wizard making it easier for a new PowerHome user to get the software up and running fast.

About PowerHome Software
PowerHome2 is a home automation software package that allows control of home lighting and appliances as well as home theater, audio, video, infrared devices, and security systems. Lighting and appliances are controlled via Insteon, UPB and X-10 controllers. Infrared control is achieved through various IR controllers. Access to digital inputs/outputs, analog inputs and analog outputs is also available. PowerHome2 is integrated with the ELK M1Gold security system. PowerHome2 is compatible with the newest automation devices including Smarthomes Smartlinc, Insteon Thermostat, and SimpleHomeNets EZRain and other devices. With its programmable interface, control is achieved via keyboard, mouse, web, Email, X-10, IR, voice recognition, socket communications, Windows Messaging, RS232 and, with its built in web server, even internet enabled cell phones like the iPhone and Treo.

New Pricing
PowerHome2 beta is available until October 15th for $69.95 from www.Power-Home.com. After October 15th, the release version of PowerHome2 will be available from major online home automation retailers and the website for $99.95. All present users of PowerHome are entitled to a free upgrade to PowerHome2.

About PowerHome Automation LLC

PowerHome software was developed in 1999 in an effort to make home automation available and useable by everyone. Constantly evolving as new automation protocols and devices were developed and as demand for a comprehensive software product grew, PowerHome Automation LLC was founded in 2004 by David Howard. Since 2004 PowerHome has emerged as one of the top home automation products available and is used in homes throughout the world.

Contact
Noel D. Adler
(631) 689-0150
nadler@PHwire.com

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]]> Access News Access http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1935 http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1935 Light Show Master 2.0.0 Beta released! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/accessha/~3/390975976/showthread.php Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:02:28 GMT We just released the all-new PLM-based Light Show Master 2.0.0 Beta! Head over to http://www.jltsoft.com for information about the tons of new features and full-size screenshots. Image: http://www.jltsoft.com/lsmbeta2/previews.jpg (Special thanks to the AccessHA webmaster for putting a... We just released the all-new PLM-based Light Show Master 2.0.0 Beta!

Head over to http://www.jltsoft.com for information about the tons of new features and full-size screenshots.

(Special thanks to the AccessHA webmaster for putting a front-page news item up on his site!):) ]]> Light Show Master (Insteon) Xpendable http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1930 http://www.accessha.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1930 JLT:Soft Announces Light Show Master 2.0.0 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/accessha/~3/390701099/showthread.php Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:06:50 GMT Halloween is just around the corner and before you know it… Christmas. Time to crack open those Rubbermaid’s and put up the decorations. To take things to the next level, check out the new Light Show Master 2.0.0 and really give your neighbors something to talk about.

New Features:

Replaced PLC support with faster, more capable PLM Support.
Supports sending up to 20 commands per second sustained!
Removed sluggish SDM library from software. No longer needed!
Added user-adjustable tempo control. Sequence tempo can now be set anywhere from 16 bpm to 220 bpm.
Sequences are now divided into 64-cell blocks representing a measure of 4 beats. Column markers now denote 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 4/4 beats.
Complete overhaul of sequence graphics display.
Fade representations greatly improved. Now fades will dynamically "stretch" and "shrink" in real-time as you adjust the tempo of the sequence.
Complete overhaul of the channel properties screen. Now setting up your Insteon devices is a piece of cake! Just type in the device id for each device you want to add to a channel, and let Light Show Master manage all the link programming for you!
Channel properties screen now allows you edit all channels without having to bring up the channel properties separately for each channel.
Added automated support for deleting/removing links from your Insteon devices.
As you add/remove devices and select/unselect fade intervals, Light Show Master now queues up all the changes that need to be written to your Insteon devices. When you're ready, you can just sit back and relax while Light Show Master programs all of the link changes for you. You don't even have to think about it! No more hand-written group tables or tedious manual programming of links one at a time!
Now supports 20 different fade intervals (versus the 7 intervals supported in version 1.x).
Automatically sends a command to shut off all Insteon devices simultaneously when stopping playback.
New feature automatically shows you errors in your sequence where you have overlapping commands that can't be sent.
Fade-up optimization eliminates the need for a useless "ON" command that you used to have to add at the end of a fade-up sequence.
New command: Force Off. Can be used to force a channel off wherever it is needed. Useful for turning off a channel in the middle of a fade, or after a channel was turned on with a fade up.
Added "Chan" and "Seq" buttons to sequence window for additional ways to get to the channel and sequence property windows.
Auto-scans for PLM on all serial ports.
Added button on Sequence Properties screen that will erase everything in a sequence but keep all of the channel programming.
Added audio file "preview" functionality to the sequence properties screen. Now you don't have to play the sequence in order to see if you selected the right file.
Demo-mode now allows you to work on a full-length sequence, but you'll only be able to play the first minute of the sequence.
Added volume control to toolbar.
Media files can now be saved as relative paths if the media file is in the same directory as the sequence file. This makes it much easier to share sequences with others!
Optimized real-time channel display so only the channel "flashers" are rendered during playback, and not the entire channel box.
Added the ability to load the link programming from another existing sequence. You can choose whether you want to load just the links or load the links + channel names and channel colors.
Added button in channel properties that allows you to clear and reset all link programming from the sequence. This allows you to replace the link programming from somebody else's sequences.
Added button in channel properties to wipe a single channel clean of all sequence commands.
Added automatic check for newer versions of Light Show Master.

Bug Fixes:
Fixed bug in status bar that would flash "SHOW PLAYING" while using the horizontal scroll bar in a sequence.
Fixed bug that sent all commands prior to starting position of frame when using the "Play Frame" feature, instead of just sending the visible commands.
Fixed bug that left "Stop" and "Pause" buttons enabled on startup.
Fixed bug that would display incorrect sequence length when you loaded another sequence window.
Fixed bug where the horizontal scroll bar wasn't being readjusted when loading a sequence.
Fixed bug where last column was not being displayed.
Fixed crash bug if you tried to play a sequence with a non-existent media file.
Fixed bug that would still display sequence position, length, and # of channels in the status bar when no sequences were open.
Fixed bugs that wouldn't mark a sequence as unsaved if certain settings were changes.
Fixed bug when trying to play a sequence when the media file doesn't exist.
Fixed bug where media would continue to play if you closed the sequence during playback.

Recommended Requirements:
1.7 Ghz or faster CPU
Windows XP, 2000, 2003, Vista 32/64
Insteon PowerLincModem (PLM)
1 or more Insteon LampLinc V2 modules or other Insteon responder devices
2 AccessPoints or 2 SignalLincs recommended