Re: Doorbells!

["danward79" <xpl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

--- In xap_automation@xxxxxxx, Kevin Hawkins <lists@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Dan,
>
> danward79 wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > Thanks for your responce.
> >
> > I thought you would be interested to know.  I have had more
success
> > with the Serial Bridge now.
> >
> > The DOS window now shows the xAP msg's I am sending.  They still
do
> > not show on the viewer, but the heart beat does, so I am assuming
it
> > has something to do with the msg I am sending, that is making the
hub
> > reject it?
> >
> > I think my initial problem was that I did not realise there is a
Basic
> > Serial Transport Wrapper, I needed to use.
> >
>     Yes you must wrap the xAP messages for serial transmission
(details
> are in the spec) and there is an (optional) checksum requirement too.
I
> am not sure if P's bridge enforces this.  Viewer can be setup to hide
> (or display) malformed messages received - however it is best to use
it
> in hub mode I think for this (or on another PC as the only xAP app) as
> otherwise the hub could already have dropped them, particularly if its
> the service hub.  Viewer will show xFX hub in its title bar when
acting
> as a hub.  Malformed messages could be dropped via the hub.

Thanks for this tip.  I used the "Mrs" PC to view the msgs as you
suggested and debug them.  I now have msgs flowing from my AVR
Microprocessor, via the xAP Serial Bridge to the xAP network.  Cool!

Now I just need to stick something useful on the AVR!  Like a light
sensor.

> > Am I right in thinking as long as I comply with this I can send
bsc
> > type msg's?
> >
> >
>
>
>     BSC is simply a xAP schema so yes you will be able to...    where
> are you originating the xAP serial messages from and is  the bridge
> putting out the Ethernet originated xAP traffic onto serial OK ?
>

With regard to your question. I have not tried to put msgs from the
ethernet onto the serial device.  I will try and work out how I can do
this.  maybe I can rig up a led or something.  Funny enough I have
only ever sent serial data from an avr, never received any!  Actually
tell a lie. ;-)

Cheers

Dan

> K
> > --- In xap_automation@xxxxxxx, Kevin Hawkins <lists@>
wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Dan..
> >>
> >> danward79 wrote:
> >>
> >>> I would be able to test my ideas if only I could get the
serial
bridge
> >>> working.... hint, hint Patrick! ;-)
> >>>
> >>>
> >> I have just had an email from Patrick who is in the
Australian
outback
> >> somewhere - with very little chance of internet access for
the
next few
> >> weeks....(sends apologies)  so looks like it may have to wait
a
bit.
> >> OTOH what features do you need from a serial bridge Dan -
have
you much
> >> network traffic on the xAP side that would need some
filtering ?   I
> >> could probably knock up a really simple app for you -
assuming
you're
> >> Windows based .  Would you be using checksums on the RS232
serial
data
> >> and what speed would you intend to run at.
> >>
> >
> > My xAP Network traffic at the moment is fairly low, so I would
not
> > need any filtering.  I was intending to run at 9600 baud, and I
would
> > prefer not to use checksums.
> >
> > With regard to filtering I would actually prefer absolutely no
> > filtering from Serial to eithernet direction, but going the
otherway
> > may be useful.
> >
> >
> >>> Would yoi be
> >>> I have found it quite hard to locate any detailed info on
electronics
> >>> projects which involve xAP, I have found a few, or are
there
just not
> >>> many writeups on the web?
> >>>
> >>>
> >> There are Lehanes switches and lcd displays,  my C-Bus
gateway
based on
> >> a  Rabbit core (although source code is not available but
originated
> >> from Patricks C libraries), and maybe Ian's relay controller.
There is
> >> also the xAP Netiom as a commercial product which is a great
enabler
> >>
> > for
> >
> >> hobbyists not wanting to roll their own embedded
device....good for
> >> interfacing to all manner of things
> >>
> >> Within my controller I have 'hacked' up some rudimentary
control
> >>
> > options
> >
> >> e.g. binary inputs/outputs , pulse counters and I intend
pulse width
> >> timers (that I will use for electricity consumption). The
binary
inputs
> >> and outputs send BSC messages , just like the Netiom, and
although I
> >> don't (yet) have my doorbell connected to them I do  have a
number of
> >> devices attached  to either this or the Netioms, although not
all
are
> >> coded yet.
> >>
> >> external & internal PIR's
> >> exterior break beam detectors
> >> driveway car sensor
> >> utility meters (gas , electric, water) *
> >> boiler display and control *
> >> heating pumps and zone valves
> >> TOM10 10 channel temp sensor * - reports as 10 xAP Text BSC
devices
> >> Quasar 4 Ch temp boards (Netiom serial port) - reports as a
raw
stream
> >> serial device currently - still to do ;-)
> >> Switches for C-Bus *
> >> Relays controlled from C-Bus *
> >> Water level sensor (problem valley roof gutter)
> >> Daylight sensor
> >> Serially controlled video/audio matrix switcher
> >> Serially controlled AV amp
> >> Alarm panel
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Netioms require a partnership with  a controller application
for
> >>
> > 'logic'
> >
> >> handling to  (like Girder, HomSeer, xAP Desktop, xAP
FloorpPlan, BSC
> >> Mapper, Charmed Quark, MisterHouse etc) so in my xAP embedded
> >>
> > controller
> >
> >> I have concentrated on supporting devices (marked with a *
above)
that
> >> benefit from standalone logic handling or have unusual I/O  ,
and
hence
> >> don't rely on any software controller.  I have switches that
control
> >> C-Bus, and loads that are controlled via C-Bus so speed and
reliability
> >> were essential. I have inbuilt BSC mapping, within the
controller to
> >> assist endpoint connections (like an old fashioned
switchboard
> >> operator). The pulse width counters and nearly all serial
based I/O
> >> benefits from embedded support as the data needs reformatting
to be
> >> useful. The boiler for example has a 7 segment LED that I
needed to
> >> convert the 7 inputs to one BSC level device based on a state
matrix.
> >>
> >> I eventually hope to add support for the Meteor CID unit ,
and also
> >> maybe X10 to the embedded controller. there is a port for an
X10
mains
> >> interface on the board already. However as in all these
things there
> >> just isn't enough time, and you tend to focus on things you
want to
> >>
> > work
> >
> >> in your own setup (so X10 for example is a way down the
list). I
want
> >> to  add HomeVision support too but again I've veered away
from that
> >> dependence in my own setup a bit now, but it would be useful,
as
an I/O
> >> device with x10 and also to be able to leverage the
'scheduler' and
> >> script engine.
> >>
> >> I don't know whether anyone would like to assist in any of
these
> >>
> > tasks -
> >
> >> as the Rabbit core is easily programmable in ANSI C and the
hardware
> >> boards are fairly low cost and have a lot of onboard I/ O ?? 
My
main
> >> priority is getting things working for me , and moving from
that to
> >> making the device useful to others is a huge step that is
likely to
> >> remain a long way off still.
> >>
> >> I'm playing with trying to get a core set of xAP applications
> >>
> > running on
> >
> >> my NAS file server which runs XP embedded - currently xAPTel
runs
there
> >> (the CID application) and also BSC Mapper and I am finding it
very
> >>
> > solid
> >
> >> - using new builds of these applications that have removed a
memory
> >>
> > leak
> >
> >> the previous versions could exhibit.
> >>
> >> Kevin
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>> Looking forward to some interesting responces!
> >>>
> >>> Cheers
> >>>
> >>> Dan
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> > Thanks for the ideas above I will have a look at them if I get a
> > chance today.
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Dan
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>