RE: Re: Home Automation Integration and touchscreen front end

["Paul Gordon" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Aha.... - I never did it that way as far as I remember... I suspect
that
may be a more recent feature of the plugin... I accomplished this part
by going into the plugins' setup dialogue (the windows UI one available
from the Homeseer executable, not the ASP based web pages) and telling
it how many inputs & outputs I had, what modules were installed, and
what status devices I wanted represented and so on, and then getting the
plugin to create them for me... I've never tried the method of using the
comfigurator file to automate that...

Paul G.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of Ben McCormack
> Sent: 06 January 2009 20:22
> To: UKHA Group
> Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Re: Home Automation Integration and touchscreen
> front end
>
> Paul
>
> Thought I had got something wrong.
>
> There is a step where you use the plugin to 'read' your comfort file.
> This then creates the devices. But I dont seem to be able to find any
> of these devices. I will recheck.
>
> Ben
>
>
> On 6 Jan 2009, at  20:17, Paul Gordon wrote:
>
> > Hi Ben,
> >
> > Yes, I'm afraid you must have got it totally wrong!... :-0
> >
> > It's been a while since I installed the plugin, so my memory of
the
> > exact process is a little bit vague, but you have to go through
some
> > setup steps to create devices in Homeseer to represent all your
> > Comfort
> > devices (inputs, outputs, counters, etc.) - You should end up
with
> > *hundreds* of Homeseer devices for comfort. - Have you done this
> > setup &
> > got all those devices?
> >
> > Paul G.
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On
> > Behalf
> > > Of Ben McCormack
> > > Sent: 06 January 2009 18:54
> > > To: UKHA Group
> > > Subject: Re: [ukha_d] Re: Home Automation Integration and
> > touchscreen
> > > front end
> > >
> > > OK
> > >
> > > I have now spent as couple of evenings trying to get
homeseer and
> > > Comfort to do something slightly useful and I am getting no
where.
> > >
> > > I have installed Homeseer and the Comfort plugin.
> > >
> > > I get the homeseer to query Comfort and retrieve the version
> > > information but not much else.
> > >
> > > Maybe I have got it all wrong but I was expecting to be able
to
see
> > > 'real time' zone status etc. Have I got it totally wrong?
> > >
> > > Ben
> > >
> > >
> > > On 5 Jan 2009, at 14:34, Gareth Cook wrote:
> > >
> > > > I'm the opposite - and the support for the plugin is ,
well,
p155
> > > > poor.
> > > >
> > > > Paul - time to re-invent your modified plugin ? :-)
> > > >
> > > > Yup. that's the one. I've found it to be extremely
relaible
> (touch
> > > > wood).
> > > >
> > > > Paul G
> > > >
> > > > ________________________________
> > > >
> > > > From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx on behalf of Ben McCormack
> > > > Sent: Mon 05/01/2009 13:31
> > > > To: UKHA Group
> > > > Subject: [ukha_d] Re: Home Automation Integration and
touchscreen
> > > > front
> > > > end
> > > >
> > > > Guys - Are you using the pjcComfort2 plugin to connect
Comfort
to
> > > > homeseer?
> > > >
> > > > --- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Paul Gordon"
<paul@...> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Indeed, Gareth's experience does generally differ
from my own,
> > but
> > > > I've
> > > > > always attributed that to the fact that Gareth
generally is
> > > > "pushing the
> > > > > envelope" rather further than I do...
> > > > >
> > > > > :-)
> > > > >
> > > > > Paul G.
> > > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx]
On
> > > > Behalf
> > > > > Of Gareth Cook
> > > > > Sent: 04 January 2009 19:21
> > > > > To: UKHA Group
> > > > > Subject: Fw: [ukha_d] Home Automation Integration
and
> > touchscreen
> > > > front
> > > > > end
> > > > >
> > > > > Paul and myself chat often as we have almost the
same
> > installation
> > > > with
> > > > > Comfort, CBUS, Homeseer, and Sonos.
> > > > >
> > > > > I would like to say that the PC component is as
flakey as a
> > box of
> > > > > cornflakes - always has been and I've been running
Homeseer
for
> > > > several
> > > > > years.
> > > > >
> > > > > The Comfort plugin is ok, but has a temper now and
again - and
> > the
> > > > Sonos
> > > > >
> > > > > plugin is not stable at all. If you dont mind
checking your
> > system
> > > > every
> > > > >
> > > > > now and again, you'll be fine. I too, like Paul,
have CBUS
> > buttons
> > > > > activating Sonos stuff and the like - and we have
to use
> > Homeseer
> > > as
> > > > > that's the only route between Sonos and Comfort -
but it's
> often
> > > not
> > > > > functioning because one of the 2 plugins has died
on its arse.
> > > > >
> > > > > I plan to reinstall (for the umpteen time) and try
to keep to
a
> > > > stable
> > > > > revision of everything (ie one but last of the
Comfort plugin)
> > but
> > > > both
> > > > > plugins really requires some extensive QA work -
stability is
> > > > severely
> > > > > lacking. Even Comfort has it's moments, but CBUS
has never
ever
> > > gone
> > > > > wrong.
> > > > >
> > > > > G.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Ben,
> > > > >
> > > > > I agree with pretty much all those choices, with
the exception
> > of
> > > > > Smartfit... - the good thing about it is there is
a dedicated
> > UCM
> > > to
> > > > > integrate smartfit & comfort, but the downside
is that
> > smartfit is
> > > a
> > > > > pretty dumb system, and is only suitable for
certain Central
> > > Heating
> > > > > designs. The newer Hometronic system is far better
in most
> > > respects,
> > > > > although there isn't a dedicated UCM for it
unfortunately. I
> > > believe
> > > > > Cytech were (are?) attempting to make an
arrangement with
> > > > Honeywell with
> > > > > a view to developing a Hometronic UCM, but I've
heard nothing
> on
> > > > this
> > > > > for the last 2 years or so, so I guess that idea
never got off
> > the
> > > > > ground (shame). Hometronic is, as you've noticed,
significantly
> > > more
> > > > > expensive, especially if you have lots of
radiators all
needing
> > the
> > > > > hometronic control valves on them, although I
guess you
*could*
> > > > > implement it in phases to reduce the initial
impact.
> > > > >
> > > > > In case you hadn't sussed, it *is* actually
possible to
> > implement
> > a
> > > > > degree of integration between Hometronic &
Comfort, using some
> > of
> > > > the
> > > > > Hometronic modules that provide digital
input/outputs that can
> > > > then be
> > > > > connected to Comfort outputs/inputs to signal
discrete states,
> > and
> > > > > enable Comfort to control Hometronic (i.e comfort
could have a
> > > > number of
> > > > > outputs connected to Hometronic, each signal line
could then
be
> > > > > programmed in Hometronic to set a particular
"lifestyle" so
for
> > > > instance
> > > > > Comfort would be able to turn off all heating when
set to away
> > > > mode...)
> > > > >
> > > > > I already have almost all the components of the
system that
> > you've
> > > > > specified (Comfort, CBUS, SONOS, Homeseer) and I
actually
> > settled
> > > on
> > > > > Hometronic for my heating as well, and even went
as far as
> > getting
> > > a
> > > > > quote for a system. Unforseen circumstances have
repeatedly
> > forced
> > > > me to
> > > > > put it on hold unfortunately, so I still haven't
got round to
> > > > purchasing
> > > > > it, although I do still intend to when
circumstances allow.
> > > > >
> > > > > If you haven't already experimented with Homeseer,
its worth
> > > > pointing
> > > > > out that there is just about to be a new component
launched
> > for it
> > > > which
> > > > > is specifically designed for easy implementation
of
> > touchscreens.
> > > > > "Homeseer Touch" is in beta at the
moment, and I've been
> playing
> > > > with it
> > > > > for a couple of months. It is pretty simple &
straightforward,
> > and
> > > > > integrates seamlessly with Homeseer. It's still a
bit rough
> > around
> > > > the
> > > > > edges, but I believe in time it will be an
extremely capable
> > > > system, and
> > > > > almost a no-brainer for anyone who already runs
Homeseer.
> > > > >
> > > > > Using this combination of components I've been
able to achieve
> > some
> > > > > additional integration that actually isn't
possible if any of
> > them
> > > > are
> > > > > omitted. For instance I can have CBUS buttons
control SONOS
> > zones
> > > so
> > > > > that my "room off" button that I have on
all my CBUS keypads
> can
> > > > also
> > > > > stop the SONOS zone playing in that room as well,
which makes
> > for
> > a
> > > > > nicer overall experience. This particular function
uses
> Homeseer
> > to
> > > > > bridge several systems via their respective
plugins (signals
> go:
> > > > CBUS
> > > > > --> Comfort --> Homeseer --> SONOS)
> > > > >
> > > > > If you'd like any further info about my
experiences, then just
> > > > holler.
> > > > >
> > > > > HTH
> > > > >
> > > > > Paul G.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx]
> > On
> > > > Behalf
> > > > > > Of Ben McCormack
> > > > > > Sent: 04 January 2009 16:16
> > > > > > To: UKHA Group
> > > > > > Subject: [ukha_d] Home Automation Integration
and
touchscreen
> > > > front
> > > > > end
> > > > > >
> > > > > > All
> > > > > >
> > > > > > As I am suer many of you are aware we have
recently moved
> > into a
> > > > new
> > > > > > house that needs renovation. This has given
me the chance to
> > > > automate
> > > > > > the house. I have tried to use best of breed
in each area
> > where
> > > > > > possible and integrate systems as well.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I have arrived at the following scheme
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Lighting : Cbus
> > > > > > Alarm : Comfort
> > > > > > Heating : Smartfit
> > > > > > Temp Monitoing : 1-Wire using HA7Net. This is
based on
recent
> > > > > > discussions.
> > > > > > All the media in the house will be supplied
from my Mac Mini
> > > > Server
> > > > > > and Sonos.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > cbus and Comfort are linked
> > > > > > Comfort and Smartfit are linked
> > > > > >
> > > > > > So I have Lighting, Heating and Alarm
integrated. So far
> > Comfort
> > > > will
> > > > > > be my main interface so I can use Comfort
keypads or the
DECT
> > > > phones
> > > > > > in the house to control things.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Now I have added 1-Wire I am starting to
think how to
> > integrate
> > > > that
> > > > > > and make intelligent decisions based on room
temperature and
> > also
> > > > > > provide temp logging and graphing.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > There is one area that I don't think I have
worked out yet
> and
> > > > that is
> > > > > > the overall control mechanism. I guess
ideally I would like
a
> > > > couple
> > > > > > of wireless touch-screens that could display
information
> about
> > > the
> > > > > > house and allow me to control various
functions.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I can see that homeseer could be used as an
interface. It
has
> > > > plugins
> > > > > > for most of my components.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Are there any other options I could look at?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Ben
> > > > > >
> > > > > > ------------------------------------
> > > > > >
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> > > > > >
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> > > > > > Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database:
270.10.1/1870 - Release
> > Date:
> > > > > > 03/01/2009 14:14
> > > > >
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> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Unless stated otherwise above:
> > > > > IBM United Kingdom Limited - Registered in England
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> > > > > 741598.
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> > > > > Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.1/1870 -
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> > > > Unless stated otherwise above:
> > > > IBM United Kingdom Limited - Registered in England and
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> > > > 741598.
> > > > Registered office: PO Box 41, North Harbour,
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> Hampshire
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> > > No virus found in this incoming message.
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Date:
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> Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.2/1876 - Release Date:
> 06/01/2009 07:56

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