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InsteRon
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Posted: April 21 2006 at 12:52 | IP Logged Quote InsteRon

I downloaded PH and needing it to work with a insteon
controller (2414U) fimware 2.12. The smarthome DM seems to see the controller ok. (connected=true)When I go to the Insteon DM control and enter my controller ID, all the buttons are available. so I go to Download Core Apps. and "Thats all she wrote", it just sets there with all the buttons grayed out. I let it set for 30 min. that way. Does it take that long? The only way to
unlock it is to ctrl/alt/del. After restarting and going back to the DM control and putting the 4214 in "discover mode" and putting a device in and out of link mode. Nothing comes up as new device.
What am I missing.
Thanks Ron

Edited by InsteRon - April 22 2006 at 10:56
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InsteRon
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Posted: April 21 2006 at 13:45 | IP Logged Quote InsteRon

OK I manually added a insteon relay (2476s)in the insteon unit list. Now what? How do I control it?
Where do I control it? I looked in the PH Quickstart guide and the PH Users Manuel for info on adding a device and controlling devices, but did not see anything. My control center is blank, no tabes no buttons. Do I need to build it? Is there a sample or templet DB that I could look at?
Sorry so needy Ron
PS. This software looks Awsome and looks like it will do just what I want to do with Insteon. Can't wait to get it going. Can you tell!!
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dhoward
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Posted: April 21 2006 at 21:34 | IP Logged Quote dhoward

Ron,

Welcome to PowerHome!

Have you checked out the phinsteon.rtf file in the PowerHome directory? The install should have created a link for you in the PowerHome programs group. This file is only about 4 pages long but is loaded with invaluable Insteon related information.

The QuickStart Guide is a good start for everything other than Insteon. Keep in mind though that it is for version 1.03.4.4 and things have changed a little since 1.03.4.7. It should be easy enough to follow though.

Also, be sure and check out this thread to patch 1.03.4.7 to the latest version: http://www.power-home.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=645&PN=1

Once devices are added into PowerHome, a reinit will make sure that everything is properly loaded. You can then open the Device Manager to directly control your devices. The Control Center is completely user configurable so you initially be blank. You can create Control Center tabs and drop buttons for direct control on them.

Concerning your problems...it sounds as if the SDM may not be able to connect to your PLC (possibly wrong port setting). Follow the instructions in the phinsteon.rtf file for fixing this. If you cant download the coreapp, then nothing else will work.

Let me know,

Dave.
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InsteRon
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Posted: April 22 2006 at 10:46 | IP Logged Quote InsteRon

Hey Dave,
Thanks for getting back to me.
Yes I printed out the phinsteon.rtf and was going along
line by line till, "Download Core App." thats where it stops.

As for the Quickstart guide Is there a x-10 add device part that I can use for adding insteon?

I was reading some other threads about the sample DB.
I opened the sample and looked at it in PH Explorer
but couldn't get it to open in Control Center. Is there a way to do this. I would like to see some different button layouts and just what all can be done with the design view. (witch is not there when I right click in control center?)

And last, This is the first past of my SDM log. I'm not sure, but It looks like the SDM is connecting with my PLC.
Maybe you can tale from this?
ui:getplcstatus
PLC:getPLCstatus=beginlist
port=USB4
connected=True
firmware=2.12
id=00.D7.59
devicetype=InsteonPLC-USB
lastErrorMsg=#0:
endlist
downloadTimer started
timerActivate enabled
SDM:DM=active,1.01.26.163,4/22/2006 9:27:09 AM,responded,00.D7.59,2.12
ui:srq:srir=00 00 00 01 37 5A 0F 19 00
si:00 D7 59 01 37 5A 0F 19 00
PLC:eventraw=03
PLC:eventraw=03
PLC:eventraw=03
PLC:even

Thanks Ron

Edited by InsteRon - April 22 2006 at 10:48
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InsteRon
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Posted: April 22 2006 at 11:24 | IP Logged Quote InsteRon

Hey I installed the patch and restarted. Went back to Download core app. and it worked
Cleared DB also worked
Turned on discover mode, it turned on
Turned off discover mode after sending link from device
Did a F5
It did not work   
Any ideas
Ron


Edited by InsteRon - April 22 2006 at 11:25
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dhoward
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Posted: April 24 2006 at 16:11 | IP Logged Quote dhoward

Ron,

Glad the patch got things working (mostly). If the autodiscover is not working, it could be a sign of poor communications. Best thing to do is turn on autodiscover, try to discover a couple of devices, turn off autodiscover and copy and paste the resulting SDM log for me. I'll be able to see a little better whats going on.

If you want actually load the sample DB in PowerHome, locate the pwrhome.ini file (default in c:\program files\powerhome) and edit the DBF= line under the [Database] section so that it points to the sample database. Save and restart PowerHome. You'll now be able to play with the full sample database. To go back, just reverse the above steps.

Keep in mind that the next beta will have significant changes to the Control Center. You'll have the ability to place graphics as well as other controls and such and not be limited to just the typical text buttons.

Dave.
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InsteRon
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Posted: April 24 2006 at 19:02 | IP Logged Quote InsteRon

Great,
The control center is my next thing to tackle.
Do you thing there will be a "GUI" for us NON code writing people
Ron
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dhoward
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Posted: April 25 2006 at 22:40 | IP Logged Quote dhoward

Ron,

Ive been planning to create a "Wizard" interface for awhile now. Ive got a few more base functionality items that need to be added first though.

Once I start on this though, what are some of the things youre interested in? The currently planned interface will be a single launching point with a "What would you like to do?" followed by a list of common tasks that you progressively work through with a series of questions until enough data is gathered to write the code for you.

Dave.
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InsteRon
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Posted: April 27 2006 at 09:12 | IP Logged Quote InsteRon

WOW Thanks for asking!
We are a company that installs Home Theaters, Multi-room Audio/Video/Internet, Structured Cabling, Intercom, CCTV, Central vac, Gate operators and
Home Automation. We were using RadioRa now Insteon. We have three jobs installed (55 to 60 devices each) and a fourth in the works. The cross linking and scene building is what I hope your software can help us with. With all that being said, this is my wish list from the installer side.

Better GUI, Point and click, drop and drag, drop down menus on the front end and auto code building on the back end.

Keep auto discovery as GREAT starting point.

Advanced controller with log window and common install commands. (Like smarthome plus for x10)

Download and upload to PLC.

File saving.

As for the End User.
Again Better GUI for timed events.

Timer with yearly calendar.

Download and upload to PLC, no PC needed to run timers.

I can go on and on.
Ron
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Lazyman
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Posted: April 27 2006 at 12:30 | IP Logged Quote Lazyman

I have an embarrassing newbie question and I am running out of time on my trial of Powerhome. It has taken a long time to get the kinks out of my Insteon system and I am finally at a place where I think I can start doing something with it. I do not know how?

How do you write a macro? How do I learn the language? Is it virtual basic with added insteon commands? Where do I write the code? What is the difference between a Macro and a Trigger?
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mustangcoupe
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Posted: April 27 2006 at 22:52 | IP Logged Quote mustangcoupe

Well Lazyman, I am also a newbie but let me chime in... The language is alot of diffrent ones.. Visual basic, java script, formulas, html parsing ect... Id start off by looking at samples (thats what I am doing) and asking for specifics in the macro/programing section. PH has it's own variables and functions look under help functions for each one and how to use them... ex. ph_sendsmtpemail is a function of power home to send email via smtp

ph_sendsmtpemail("SMTP.xxxx.xxx",25,"XXXXXXXX@comcast.net"," XXXXXX@vtext.com","New IP Address","New IP address {IP}")

sends a message from XXXXXXXX@comcast.net to XXXXXX@vtext.com with the new ip address (that was previously stored in a global variavle IP.

triggers happen when something "triggers" them ex. an insteon command ON or OFF is received. I run macros in conjunction with triggers(when the trigger happend the macro is fired) but if it is something simple (ex. just changing a global variable) I dont write a macro, I just use a formula

And timed events run at a specific time of day/week ect...

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dhoward
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Posted: May 01 2006 at 23:42 | IP Logged Quote dhoward

Ron,

Thanks for the feedback. Im making notes of your suggestions and I'll see what I can do to implement your ideas.

Lazyman,

If you need an extension key, just let me know and I can generate you one.

Dave.
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Lazyman
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Posted: May 05 2006 at 15:28 | IP Logged Quote Lazyman

The syntax for ph_insteon should be: ph_insteon("YOUR INSTEON DEVICE ID",ion,255)
This would turn the device full on.

Dave.


What does ion stand for? What else can go there? Can you control ramp rate this way?
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TonyNo
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Posted: May 06 2006 at 11:49 | IP Logged Quote TonyNo

The ramp rates are set either at the switch or in Devices-Insteon-Groups by Controller section.

From the Help file under Controller...

ph_insteon
Send a standard length Insteon command.

Syntax
ph_insteon ( id, cmd1, cmd2 )

Argument Description
id String. The ID of the Insteon device to send commands to.
cmd1 Integer. The command 1 value.
cmd2 Integer. The command 2 value.

Return value
Integer. Returns a 0 if successful. Returns - 100 if the ID cannot be found. -1 is returned if the controller is not available, -2 is returned if the controller does not support Insteon.

Usage
Use this funciton to send Insteon commands directly to a single device. Valid commands are 17 for on, 18 for fast on, 19 for off, 20 for fast off, 21 to brighten, 22 to dim, and 25 for status. You can also use the enumerated values: ion, ifaston, ioff, ifastoff, ibright, idim, istatus. Set cmd2 to 0 for all cmd1 values except on (17). When sending an "on" command, set the cmd2 value to an integer between 0 and 255 for the level to go to.
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dhoward
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Posted: May 07 2006 at 13:50 | IP Logged Quote dhoward

ion is an enumerated value. What this means simply is an easy to remember mnemonic rather than a more difficult to remember number. ion is short for Insteon On and equates to the number 17.

As Tony outlined above, ramp rates are not accessible from "direct" commands and are only part of a predefined group (link) or the local ramp rate which cannot be set remotely.

Dave.
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