Re: MMIR X-10 Macro IR Module
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Posted by Robert Green on September 20, 2007, 2:39 am
Please log in for more thread options Nope, things went wild way fast today. I shouldn't even be here now because the chores aren't done, but I needed to set a while an give my aching feet a rest. > You can download the software for Homevision free from their website,
> or better yet you can download HomevisionXL from here: > > http://hv.tclcode.com/download.html Thanks. I will. Been browsing briefly through the manual. I like the way it's organized. With a quick overview, a "parts required" list and more. Sometimes, a system just feels like it fits. I'll take a look at the software over the next few days. I'd hate to end up abandoning the MMIR before I even got started. I doubt it, though. At least a few folks must remember me going on about wishing the X-10 remote (and all of the higher priced remotes that can do X-10 that I've bought or looked at) could do multiple housecodes. The ControlLinc Maxis have a built-in macro keys, but they're "dumb" and only play back sequences and can't respond to line or IR events. I can see a setup where I use both the MMIR and HV because I can distribute and decentralize functions between them so if either device failed, it wouldn't knock out the entire system. > Then you can play with it on your computer and get an idea of how it
> programs compared to the Ocelot. For me the Ocelot was fine for time > of day type events. It could be a pain trying to do anything > involved. I tried IR with it a couple times but didn't have any luck > and gave up. I know there are people that do IR with the Ocelot so > I'll blame that on myself. I went back and tried again with the CPU-XA recently and concluded that success or failure could easily depend on exactly what you're trying to control. It's hard to design a really good IR management program/device because there's such a wide range of IR schemes in use. The USB IRTrans has a separate receiver circuit for B&O equipment because it transmits way outside the range of what devices like ADI's can see. As I noted elsewhere (or meant to) it wasn't until I got a very sophisticated IR-only device like the IRTrans that could translate what it saw into strings of hex codes that I realized that some of my more non-standard devices (AV switcher, A/C, space heater, etc) were sending very weird codes depending on the length of the button press and maybe the phases of the moon. The deal-breaker for me with the CPU-XA as an IR translator was the time lag. It made it impractical to use in that mode, although I bet it would work quite nicely for what I want the MMIR to do: turn the unused keys on my remote into X-10 macro commands. O Alas, no matter how I tried I couldn't really make the Ocelot a "family affair." There were just too many places where something could go wrong and technical expertise would be required. On the other hand, my wife can clearly follow programming instructions as carefully as she can follow recipes. The Army really gave her great training in what we call "grunt and crank" operations. For the MMIR that will look something like: Ingredients: MMIR, X-10 remote, ControlLinc Maxi, Monterey Line Analyzer Press red button 6 times to clear memory. Place UR24 facing LED on MMIR. Press SAT on UR24 then press 1 on UR24. Within 5 seconds press K and then 1 ON then 1 OFF on the Maxi controller Press SAT on UR24 then press 2 on UR24. Within 5 seconds press 1 ON then 2 OFF on the Maxi controller . . . and so on. Not really much more tedious than writing code and the benefit of doing it this way is that if the memory gets corrupted, either one of us can reload it easily. It sure would be nicer to load and unload programs like the Ocelot OR do it with the cheat sheet, but I don't expect the unit to require massive reprogramming so I can live with the primitive button pushing method of programming. Homevision sounds a tad easier, though, I must admit. (-: > When I did IR with Homevision it just
> worked as advertised - how nice. I have an MX3000 remote upstairs set > up with all kinds of screens for home automation - just need to time > and energy to get it working with Homevision. We rebuilt our home > after storm damage and I have the Elk M1G permanently installed in the > attached garage and 97% wired and operational. I have my Homevision > Pro laying on it's back on a table near my HA computer down in the > family room (used as my laboratory). It is eventually going to be up > next to the Elk, but I'm very slow in getting it there. HA around here means "haltingly addressed" since so many more critical problems keep cropping up. Besides, we're still enjoying our new found reliability created by the XTB. When I press ALL UNITS OFF the lamps finally do all go off. That has a big neighbor wow factor, too, oddly enough. > In my bathrooms I have ACT 2-way non-dimming switches controlling the
> exhaust fans. When you turn one on Homevision starts a timer and > turns the fan off automatically if you leave it on. This is one of my > favorite things, though my wife doesn't think it's so great. That's fascinating. My wife is equally unimpressed by automatic timer functions. I think the concept of computer control implies an ambiguity of operation that makes her uncomfortable. Phrasing that her way would be "I don't need a computer to tell me when to turn the bathroom fan off, especially when I wouldn't have even turned it on in the first place." I'll tell her she has a kindred soul in Missouri. > I have a
> detached work shop which is about 80 feet from the house and the > lighting there is all ACT controlled and you can see what's on from > the touchscreen display (also laying on it's back on the table by > HV). Same thing is true for a small barn I have not far from the > shop. We have a little over 3 acres and I have lots of outside > lighting - all controlled by Homevision. > > I hate to knock the Ocelot as it served me well for several years and > was rock solid. As you experienced, programming could be a test of > your patience. Prior to the storm I had been using a Homevision basic > controller and was phasing out the Ocelot. One thing holding me back > was all the messages I had in the SpeakEZ. When I installed the Elk > with built-in audio messages I missed the Ocelot even less. We haven't done audio messages around here - yet. But your earlier message about medication reminders got me thinking that it would be a very useful thing for my Dad since he's pretty poor about compliance. I'm sure the Ocelot would let me program a system that reminded him to take med X at time Y and I could rig a switch of some kind in bathroom, maybe on the medicine cabinet - no - wait, a touch screen with the med's name that he has to touch to cancel the 10 minute voice reminders. We've tried a lot of methods and so far, he's overcome automatic pillboxes, 5 channel voice timers, manual pill boxes with labeled compartments and phone calls from me to check. What I really need is a videocam in the medicine cabinet to confirm he's actually taken the pill. Shades of THX1138. > I too have an XTB - what a great device !!
> > Yes, "point of sale" - a little 40 column printer that prints on > adding machine tape. I bought one on eBay for $2 ;-) > Takes about 16" of tape per day to records all the house vitals > including high and low temps, drive activity, alarm on/off, etc. I'd like to store something like that to a CF card but for $2 I might go POS! > So you have dogs! I had 5 when the tornado hit, had to give one up
> and have 4 left. Alpha dog is a 13 year old Shih Tzu, #2 is a 7 year > old 130 pound black lab, #3 is a 4 year old beagle and #4 is a 4 year > old poodle that blew in with the tornado in 2003 - yes we've been > through two tornados. What dogs do you have? Little bitties with big hearts. 1 JRT and one rat terrier. Had a few more that we had rescued but we placed those in good homes. One was allegedly a JRT but since he's now over 55 pounds, I suspect other lineage. The JRT we kept was born an alpha dog. Doesn't roll over for ANYONE and challenges me for the true top dog spot any time I show weakness! 50 pounds of dog packed into 15 pound body. Definitely a working dog. I have no doubt the stories of JRT's killing more than 200 rats a day are true. She's got the most incredible rat-neck-breaking head shake. I tie rawhide "ringos" to some clothesline to play tug of war and she'll nearly dislocate my wrist whipping it back and forth so hard. My wife had a Samoyed for nearly 13 years but the poor dog really suffered in the heat in this area. I've got to find my photo of a friend who runs a beagle rescue organization. Feeding time with 12 of them is quite a sight. She lives in a cabin in the mountains without heat - the dogs provide it and believe me, they really do! > My wife limp wrists everything but her .380 and the .22. She will get
> a FTE 80% of the time with my 9mm Glock. She actually does better > with my .45 which is metal not polymer. She does very well with a > wheel gun and so that's her choice for protection. As if I don't have > enough on my plate already I just started reloading about 3 months > ago. Rifle only at this time, and 99% is .308 winchester with a > little 30-06 and 270 for grins. I belong to a local bench rest > shooting club in Springfield, Missouri. There have been some pretty endless arguments at the local range about Glocks, FTE's, FTF's and stovepipes and what causes them. We've got a pretty serious feud between old Army shooters with their 1911-A1's v's the new hi-tech pieces. My feeling is they're like DVD-recorders. Some like Brand X disks and won't work with Brand Y. There's so much variability in ammo that I believe failures are mostly ammo related and only secondarily the recoil/ejection and "limp wrist" issue. I know the recoil kinetics differ between guns that are tightly gripped vs. LW so I guess I'll have to reconsider since you've seen it happen. I love watching crime flicks where the bad guys hold the gun sideways. I also think: "what a great way to have an eject shell drop back down on the shooter's hand or maybe even back into the gun's innards!" (-: Either way, it's not an issue for my wife who prefers wheelguns for self-defense, too. No FTE's at least. > I've owned 3 Brownings over the years - wish I still had one.
They hold their resale value quite nicely except I can never bring myself to sell any. I've got one of nearly every caliber, and that took a long time to pull together. The thing I like most about them is that they are effortless to hold - they seem nearly perfectly balanced. The Colt 1911 always feels nose-heavy by comparison. > Without one in the chamber, boooo, ALWAYS carry with one in the tube,
> unless you're an Israeli soldier as they are trained to carry > unprepared. My Glock and Para Ordnance are 100% safe with one in the > chamber as long as they are in a GOOD holster. I've got a lot of friends in LE and they ALL have stories of one in the chamber that got out the door. At one cop party, someone was showing off his new shotgun and put a huge hole in the ceiling. Another shot himself through the butt cheek with his backup .25. Boy did he *never* hear the end of that little accident, pardon the pun. I hear you about being prepared, but even the best of holsters can have a bad moment. > Great joke about the Italian submarine ;-)
Works for a lot of other nationalities, too. However, the mechanical mishaps of my Italian made Beretta inspired me to diss the Italians. > Off hand I can't think of a way for Homevision to detect a storm, but
> that doesn't mean it can't be done. Anyway the new XTB-IIR will be > doing this from what I read. Yes, the new IIR will probably have that feature, but I'm not sure I'll need it. Eventually I'll get my ESM1 cradle device working. I went to RatShack to buy some phototransistors but all the little parts pegboards are gone!!!! I give them a year, maybe two, until they go belly up. The only reason anyone bought anything big from them in the first place was as an afterthought after they bought a the fuse or an oddball battery that they originally came in for. > You're not in D.C. are you - can't be with a functional firearm in
> your home. Oh, there are all sorts of exceptions to that law. I wonder, with the law somewhat in limbo, whether they're even prosecuting anything but outrageous violations. As my LE buds always say: "Better to be judged by six men a box than carried out in box by six men. Now in VA, where you can get a carry permit with ease or even buy a gun, apparently, if you're a lunatic like the VA Tech shooter, they made the list of handgun carry permit holders public and what do you think happened? Gun thefts shot up through the roof. It was like publishing a treasure map for the bad guys. -- Bobby G. | ||||||||||
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> Well at least I know my message didn't get lost ;-)