ControlThink Forums

Hi, we would like to build a Z-Wave GSM controller use a GSM chip and a Z-Wave Serial Controller.

Is there any documentation explaining how to communicate using this type of product http://www.smarthomeusa.com/ShopByManufacturer/HomePro/Item/ZCS000/ ? Or any other product using a RS232 connection.

Thank you

 

superfc,

To communicate with the serial Z-Wave adapters, just connect to them using the ZWaveController.Connect(comPort) option.  They'll work just like USB sticks.

Chris

Thank you for this quick answer. What I meant is : What is the raw protocol used to communicate on the RS232 connection ? Because we would need to program it in a GSM chip which runs Java programs.

Florent
 

Hi Florent,

The communications between the Z-Wave chip and the host processor (PC) is different based on what firmware you have running on the Z-Wave chip.  Effectively, you generally use the Z-Wave chip as a sort of communciation co-processor for your Java-enabled device.  I believe there's a $10k embedded devkit you can get from Zensys that documents various methods and APIs under NDA and will get you started on the process of building your own stack.

Chris

Yes but we are some student in an engineering school. That would be a central project, building a GSM chip connected to a server. The idea is that people would have a security and remote management solution.

We don't have $10k to spend on a development kit. If we can't find an other solution or a company to work for, we might have to change the subject of our project. We looked around Insteon, but we have the same issues.

We are interested by any solution you could give us.
 

 I still see this Z-Wave Developer's Kit on Sequoia's site, but it's the old chip.

DEVELOPER'S KIT v3.2 FEATURES:

• Complete Z-Wave Protocol and Network documentation
  
• Fully RF qualified Z-Wave Modules for building into OEM
  prototypes
  
• Versatile Development Module for easy HW prototyping
  Sample code libraries included for fast application
  prototyping
  
• PC interface SW for easy communication between a PC and the Z-Wave Modules
  
• Real-time Z-Wave Analyser included for frame flow and
  network analysis
  
• Optional Consulting Services for rapid product development