ControlThink Forums

I just uploaded a new beta of ThinkEssentials 2.1 which includes support for devices with "advanced scene" capabillities.  This includes Vizia RF, Vizia RF +, and Aspire RF devices among others.

Download link (only valid for build 5; if this is no longer live just download the latest version):
http://forums.controlthink.com/p/1471/4906.aspx

When you create a scene using ThinkEssentials as the Primary controller, you can click on "more information" when naming the scene to manually select a Scene ID (or you may select "None" to revert to legacy scene support).

This new feature should eliminate the "popcorn effect" on nearby devices which include the advanced scene support.

Chris

Forgive my ignorance, what are "advanced scene" capabilities? What does selecting a "Scene ID" give you? What is "popcorn effect"? Thanks

Basically, there are two ways to activate scenes (when you push a scene button):

Basic Scenes
ThinkEssentials says:
* Bedroom lamp, go to 50%
* Bedroom overhead, go to 80%
* Hallway lights, go to 0%

Advanced Scenes
ThinkEssentials says:
* Bedroom lamp, bedroom overhead, and hallway lights: all of you activate "scene 1" simultaneously

In the advanced scenario, any of the devices in direct range of the PC will go to their target levels simultaneously; in the basic scenario they do it in rapid succession--which creates a bit of a "popcorn effect." (as in pop, pop, pop).

Chris

Cool.  Got it.

 

Thanks

 Hi Chris,

 Can dimmable devices (ie.#HA14c) "remember" different light levels for different scenes?

For example:

Home Theater overhead, go to 30% "scene 1-Intermission"

Home Theater overhead, go to 0% "scene 2-Movie"

 And how many different light-levels can each device remember?  Or is the light-level "remembered" by the controller instead?

Thanks,

Teddy 

 I assume this will allow you to setup a Wayne-Dalton Car2u Gateway as a secondary?

"When you create a scene using ThinkEssentials as the Primary controller, you can click on "more information" when naming the scene to manually select a Scene ID (or you may select "None" to revert to legacy scene support)." I just loaded Build 9 and am playing with this for the first time. What happens if 2 or more scenes have the same ID? Is there a way to know what IDs are in use? What is Auto? I presume in auto, TE chooses the scene ID and this is the main one to use. Is there a way to assign or change scene IDs? What is the default setting used, if I do not open "More Information"? Thanks, Pete

When a Scene ID is assigned to a scene button, it is no longer available in the drop-down for re-use in another scene (unless you delete the first scene).  When you look in the drop-down, used scene IDs will not appear in the drop-down list.

If you choose Auto, ThinkEssentials does use the first available scene ID.  This is the default, for when you do not open the "more information" link.

Please note that you can also set up scenes without using scene IDs by clicking on "more information" and then selecting "None."

Chris

Thanks. That's how I figured it worked. Will not think about scenes from here forward and will enjoy "Advanced" scenes. What would happen with my older, non-scene supporting devices like my handful of Intermatic plug in units? (Most of my devices are Vizia). Also, unrelated, why am I unable to enter carriage returns in my posts? When I post a message, they disappear. If Iedit it, they are there.

ClubChapin,

No idea on the carriage returns.  What browser are you using?

For your non-scene-capable devices, the software will simply do scenes the old fashioned way.  You may get a bit of a "popcorn effect" with them--but we support full backwards-compatibility.

Chris

Fantastic. Sounds like you thought of everything. If a Scene is "Advanced" and I add a non-scene capable device, will the scene become "old fashioned", or will I need to specify "none" when creating the scene? IE, can the scene type change after it is created? RE my carraige returns, am using Safari, under osx (I run TE in Parallels on a MAC).

If you add non-scene-capable devices to an existing scene, it will become a hybrid scene.  In this scenario, scene-capable devices will use the scene id capability and non-scene-capable devices will be activated the old-fashioned way.

We'll check into the Safari CR issue...

Chris