| Author |
|
dmoreno
Newbie
Joined: February 15 2002
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 31
|
| Posted: June 04 2002 at 05:09 | IP Logged
|
|
|
 So, What kinda goodies are in the next version of Powerhome? And, How long before it's done. I know your working hard on it, But I just can't wait. Know what I mean? I love this program, It's powerful, and customizable. Activehome, Eat your heart out!!! Keep up the good work 
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
dhoward
Admin Group
Joined: June 29 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4447
|
| Posted: June 04 2002 at 10:22 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Dan,
Now you're going to make me spoil the surprise
Seriously, what you'll see in the next version is a whole slew of new formula functions. I dont remember the exact count but Im pretty sure its more than 30. A large portion of these functions is meant to replace variable substitution and some of the send keys commands. Its more efficient to have a function returning the value of variables rather than search and replace the braces and brackets of variable substitution. Also all places where variable substitution was utilized have been changed to formulas. No more remembering what was VS and a formula because everything is a formula now. All send keys sequences have been changed to formulas as well. The multi-x buffers have been expanded from 6 previous to 20 previous. Internal system variables have all been doubled. Internal changes concerning how variables are stored and passed should mean more efficiency. With the new functions, you have access to pre and post processing of triggers and send keys enabling a greater range of control. Also added is PSP or PowerHome Server Pages. Utilizing the new functions and formulas, you can create your own dynamic web pages to be served by the internal PowerHome web server. The samples will include the current internal web pages all written as PSP pages to demonstrate how you can customize the web interface to your liking. PowerHome alos should now work properly with triggers defined on events which fire fast macros in the CM11A. Another change is a dedicated Control Center design window with a drag and drop feature.
Most of the work on the above is complete with testing being done. Whats remaining is the documentation and the database conversion utility. I'll be releasing it labeled as a beta because of the vast number of internal changes but am pretty confident it will be just as reliable as the current version.
I would like to have it released within a couple of weeks, but dont hold me to it. Im usually pretty poor at my estimates
Hope this whets your appetite.
Dave.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
TonyNo
Moderator Group
Joined: December 05 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2889
|
| Posted: June 04 2002 at 20:57 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Sounds great!
Can you elaborate on, "triggers defined on events which fire fast macros in the CM11A"? I've been trying to figure out how to eliminate delays using RF devices.
Thanks,
Tony
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
dhoward
Admin Group
Joined: June 29 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4447
|
| Posted: June 04 2002 at 23:06 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Tony,
No problem. One of the things people have tried to do is use ActiveHome to program whats called a fast macro into the CM11A. This is a usually a simple command that is stored within the CM11A's built in memory and is independent of PowerHome. It would consist of something like "If A1 ON received, turn B2 ON". Once fast macros are programmed into the CM11A, ActiveHome is turned off and PowerHome restarted. The theory is that when an RF command is received by the CM11A (actually on the powerline after being placed there by an RF receiver), the fast macro stored within the CM11A would execute almost immediately and the received command would also be passed on to PowerHome for event logging and additional processing through a trigger. As it is now, PowerHome does not interpret the fast macro received commands from the CM11A as it was intended for the CM11A memory to be cleared and so doesnt respond with a trigger either.
It is important to note here that PowerHome does not support the downloading of fast macros to the CM11A. You must use ActiveHome to set the CM11A up with any fast macros. The support that will be available in the next release will be the proper receiving of incoming X-10 commands even if the command triggers a fast macro.
Now, in my opinion, the best way to eliminate RF delays is to use the MR26A (MouseRemote). In addition to receiving all housecodes, this beast is almost instantaneous. After I got my MR26A, I unplugged the four TM751's I was using and was much happier 
Dave.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
TonyNo
Moderator Group
Joined: December 05 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2889
|
| Posted: June 06 2002 at 00:03 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Great! So, this MR26A connects to a serial port and PH will do something with it? And I won't need umpteen TM751's anymore?!
I was shocked this morning when my motion detectors were responding in 1 second versus the normal 3. I wonder what was going on? Any ideas?
Tony
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
dhoward
Admin Group
Joined: June 29 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4447
|
| Posted: June 06 2002 at 10:16 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Tony,
Yep, the MR26A connects to the pc via serial port. The triggers it fires in PowerHome are X-10 RF In. The speed is fantastic. Its all housecodes so you can unplug all of the TM751's. The only downfall is the range offered by the antenna. If you're just a little bit handy though, a much better antenna can be built for it that will greatly increase the range. Before building an antenna for mine, the range was probably 20 feet at best. After the antenna, I was able to read a palm pad from almost the end of the court on which I live.
There is a direct link to the MR26A on X-10's website on my links page. If you're interested, the link I used to construct my antenna is http://www.shed.com/tutor/mr26ant.html.
Concerning the increased speed of your current sensors...Im not sure what would be responsible unless it was just a matter of timing. In my testing, the CM11A was the main slowdown in response. If a single RF signal was received and placed on the powerline, the CM11A seemed to wait briefly to see if any more signals were coming. As soon as a second signal was received, the CM11A was very quickly trying to upload its buffer and I got a quicker response time.
Dave.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
TonyNo
Moderator Group
Joined: December 05 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2889
|
| Posted: June 06 2002 at 20:10 | IP Logged
|
|
|
So, the MR26A would be set up as another controller, as far as PH is concerned? I would have my CM11A on COM1 and the MR26A on COM2 for example?
Thanks,
Tony
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
dhoward
Admin Group
Joined: June 29 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4447
|
| Posted: June 07 2002 at 12:09 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Tony,
Yes. In the X-10 section of Setup in the Explorer, you can define up to 5 separate X-10 controllers. The MR26A is one of the selections in the dropdown. So if your CM11A is on COM1 and assuming COM2 is available, you'll have no problem.
I have so many controllers, I had to get a separate 4 port serial card to use in addition to the 2 supplied on the motherboard. If you need to do something like this, I would recommend an ISA card with fully configurable interrupts and ports over one of the PCI cards. I had problems with PowerHome recognizing the ports on the PCI card, but it works great with the ISA card.
Dave.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
TonyNo
Moderator Group
Joined: December 05 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2889
|
| Posted: June 07 2002 at 13:04 | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks for all the info, Dave. Have you ever tried USB-to-RS232 devices for this?
Tony
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
dhoward
Admin Group
Joined: June 29 2001
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4447
|
| Posted: June 07 2002 at 16:47 | IP Logged
|
|
|
I sure havent. I would be curious if anyone has given this try and gotten it to work.
Dave.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Active Topics 
Memberlist 
Search 
Help
Register 
Login
PowerHome Messageboard : PowerHome General
Topic: goodies
