Plugin for Superswitch -- possible?

[stisev]

Hi EG,

As if I hadn't asked for enough...

http://www.amazon.com/Switch-Wireless-R ... B000EH8S9O
Costco sells these superswitches. They're controlled by the remote control it comes with. The remote controls 3 of the "electric switches" that it has. Imagine the possibilities!

IF you had one of these superswitches by your side, would creating a plugin for EG to control the electric ports be feasible? Am I making any sense here?

[krambriw]

Hi Stisev,

There are so many variants of those sets you can buy today.

For all, to control those from EG, you would also need a RF transmitter connected to the computer that "talks" the protocol they are using.

I know that this is basically what that the Tellstick (plug-in is available) is targeting and doing already. I´m using that to control similar switches but another brand.

To support the Superswitch you would need to "sniff" the protocol used by the remote/receivers.

Another possibillity would be to use the USB-UIRT with a pyramid (IR->RF) extender. But you have to "sniff" anyway to find the so called pronto codes.


Maybe the best could be to see if the company making the Tellstick could support it.

Best regards, walter

[stisev]

Hi krambriw,

Thanks for the reply. I looked up the TellStick. Looks interesting, but I'm not sure how it works or how it can control my lighting/devices. Plus, it's 699 kr (109 USD) which is pricey.


I'm basically looking for the easiest, most effective, most economical solution to control my devices (lights, devices, etc) with "0-9" buttons on my Snapstream Firefly remote.

What advice would you give to someone like me?

[krambriw]

Hi Stisev,

I think the biggest problem is to catch the actual pronto codes of your devices. But if you succed with this, then it would make sence.

If you want to involve EG in the control (which gives you all the benefits of EG) you need a device that is attached to the PC and controlled by EG (via a plug-in or similar).

This device needs to "talk" to your devices via pronto codes using RF transmission...

I have myself for long time also used the USB-UIRT that is supported by EG. This sends out IR and I use a standard IR-remote extender (looks like a pyramide) to convert from IR to RF.

I have pasted the correct pronto codes for each switch address ON/OFF command into the settings for the USB-UIRT in EG.

So EG can turn on or off my lights on any event (or remote control operation) that I would like to link it to. I also use this together with my script for sunrise/sunset calculation to automatically turn on/off lights, basically using the type of switches you are talking about.

But I have other type of switches, they are called NEXA, and I dont think the protocol is the same as for your Superswitches.

Back to your question;
- a USB-UIRT is around 50$
- a set of pyramides is also around 50$ (you get two but you only need one of them, the one with the RF transmitter)

Advantage is that the pyramide has longer range compared to the Tellstick but the Tellstick is of course nicer and smaller...

But if you live in the US, I assume they are not allowed to sell it to you unless its UL-listed...

If you dont need to have EG to control the devices I have tried myself to use a Logitech 525 remote with the pyramide. Logitech support allows you to send in pronto codes and personal devices that you can download to your remote.

I think the 525 remote is around 115$

So its not cheap

However, all of the above is only relevant if you have the pronto codes for the Superswitch for all commands and addresses you need.

As example, the pronto codes for the NEXA switches I have looks like the following (A2 ON)

Code: Select all

0000 006D 0000 0019 000D 0027 000D 0027 000D 0027 000D 0027 000D 0027 000D 0027 000D 0027 000D 0027 000D 0027 0027 000D 000D 0027 000D 0027 000D 0027 000D 0027 000D 0027 000D 0027 000D 0027 000D 0027 000D 0027 0027 000D 000D 0027 0027 000D 000D 0027 0027 000D 000D 01AB

A third alternative would be to attach directly to the original remote using some electronic skill and drive the remote via rs232. And to develop a driver for it. And then to write a plug-in...

Counting $ this is the cheapest provided your time is available and you have the know how but it gets complicated.

I have seen a project around long time ago for the NEXA remote targeting this...see the attached picture.

Best regards, Walter

[CollinR]

I sell and install security gear for a living, Geovision has a whole RS485 network of addressable modules that would be ideal for this. I just don't know enough about serial communications to get it done. These are cheap and very reliable, you just need a serial RS232>RS485 converter and the knowledge of data.

[stisev]

Hi guys,
Thanks for all your responses. It seems that there's no relatively simple, cost-effective way to control my components with my firefly.

What I did was buy two (2) SuperSwitch devices from Costco ($15 each =$30) and put some 3M double sticky tape between them and stuck them together.

The two remotes come with their respective electric outlets (6 total). Now I control all of my specific electric outlets based on my usage
It's the fastest, cheapest solution I could find; granted, it's not my firefly, but it's better than nothing.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1030/920 ... 8ab5f4.jpg

[stisev]

One of the problems I'm faced with is the fact that most of these solutions are serial-based.

I'm on a laptop (only) and finding a serial > usb adapter is a virtual impossibility.

The tellstick looks like a cute solution, but I'm located in the US and it's quite pricey (damn USD!)

Are there any other solutions I should be aware of to get working. Even though I got my setup working, in the end, I would still love to control it all with EG.

Long live EG!

[CollinR]

Go buy one of those referbed IBM netvistas from tiger direct for $200 and leave it running your automation stuff. Then just use the network sender on your laptop.

Linkage
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... =J156-3270

XP Pro alone almost costs that much! You basically get the PC for $50. Plenty of gonad for EventGhost and possibly SageTV server too.

Put the SageTV client on the laptop and use your FireFly there.

[stisev]

Go buy one of those referbed IBM netvistas from tiger direct for $200 and leave it running your automation stuff. Then just use the network sender on your laptop.

Linkage
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... =J156-3270

XP Pro alone almost costs that much! You basically get the PC for $50. Plenty of gonad for EventGhost and possibly SageTV server too.

Put the SageTV client on the laptop and use your FireFly there.

Hi Colin,
Unfortunately $200 is above the upper limit of my total budget for this project.
Also, I'm unfortunately binded to an unnoficial contract where my electricity usage must stay within certain limits. Otherwise, I pay more per month. Right now I'm at the limit (100-125 +/- 10 watts). I don't have any room for an adidtional computer as well since I'm living in a small space.