RE: HA Holy Grail #1: Occupancy Detection

["Andy Laurence" <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From: Malcolm Surgenor [mailto:malcolm@xxxxxxx]
> You're welcome to have a look at  <http://217.155.28.94:8080/>
> http://217.155.28.94:8080/ - please
don't all rush at once!  The login id
> and password are the usual HomeSeer ones of "guest" - for
both.  Pick a room
> - the Spare Bedroom is probably a good starting point.

I had a quick browse.  It's interesting to see flags that are set from
various parameters, and how things are actioned from that.  Pretty much how
I envisaged it.

> In terms of response - i.e. from movement detected to HomeSeer turning
a
> light on (for example), I don't really have a problem with speed - it
seems
> as fast to me as the commercial set up in my work's office (built Dec
2005).

Excellent!

> All the PIRs are just X10 motion sensors - nearly all US spec - that
talk
> back to the HomeSeer via a
> <http://board.homeseer.com/forumdisplay.php?f=705>
WGL Designs W800 RF
> Receiver  with a modified (large) antenna to gain full house coverage.
 The
> interface between the W800 and HomeSeer is a piece of software
(plug-in) -
> <http://board.homeseer.com/forumdisplay.php?f=778>
ACRF Processor . Both of
> these have support forums on the HomeSeer support board at
> http://board.homeseer.com/  The
beauty of the ACRF Processor is that it
> supports multiple interfaces as I also use RFXCOM's equivalent of the
W800
> but this time for RF temperature sensors.   I've also had a look at
using
> RFID with this set up but couldn't really square the bang for buck.

Standard hardware too.  Interesting.  It all looks like it just bolts
together.  There's obviously some major configuration work that's gone on
behind the scenes, but it's all standard hardware and software by the looks
of things.  None of the soldering works and various other things I've
started doing!

> Does any of that help?

Definitely!  It makes me realise how powerful Homeseer is.  I'd like to
keep from having software controlling the house, but as an extra bolt-on
automation, it makes sense.  As long as the light switches work without
software, I'll be happy.  I'm going to try a few PIRs, and see if I can add
this functionality.  We'll see what happens.....

Cheers,
Andy