ControlThink Forums

Hey all, as stated in topic, I'm new to home automation. I'm trying to accomplish a few things (initially) - I would like to know if I can accomplish these things with z-wave:

1- Ability to monitor movement in a room and activate cameras & lights

2- Ability to monitor the door bell and swtch the TV to another input to show a camera feed mounted outside the door

2a) On the same note as the above, would need a wireless camera of some sort to transmit a feed to the computer (or other device to get it displayed on the tv)

3) Adjust temperature of heating/ac systems if "no one is home" (motion detectors being quiet for a certain period of time?)

4) Work as a security system to detect opened doors and windows.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can provide any input on this.

I'm new to Z-wave also, even though I live here in ControlThink's back yard.

I have been following Zigbee for a couple of years and had plans to start automating my new home with Zigbee as soon as I got moved in.  I had done some reading and had visited various Zigbee booths at C.E.S., but I could never find any good DIY information on the Internet.  Well, I had an unpleasant encounter with a Control4 rep this year at C.E.S., and now I know why there's no DIY community for Zigbee:  Control4 is the main supplier of Zigbee-based home automation products; they've gone beyond the Zigbee standard on their controls with their own proprietary commands; the only way to talk to a Control4 product is with their proprietary software; the only way to get their proprietary software is to become a Control4 certified installer.  The rep was pretty smug when I lamented that Control4 had locked out the do-it-yourselfers.

I decided that I wasn't in love with the idea of a Zigbee home any more, and as soon as I got back from the show I went looking and found Z-wave and ControlThink.  So far it looks like Z-wave is open to DIY's, and I guess it will remain that way as long as new products come with white papers of their command sets, and as long as ControlThink incorporates those command sets into their inexpensive software.

This interview at Z-Wave World has me a bit concerned.  I thought that the Lagotek HIP100 wall-mounted controller looked pretty cool and would be fun to interface with, but this guy has no intentions of catering to the DIY community.  Let's hope that he changes his mind.  Notice that Lagotek's primary product is software, not hardware, and most DIY's don't want to spend a lot on software.

What appeals to me about ControlThink is that although their focus is software, they don't seem to mind selling it cheap to DIY's.  And being a member of the Z-Wave Alliance, they've got access to all the white papers for the new products.

Well, it took me a week to figure this out, but if you plan to do Z-Wave, prepare to get in bed with Microsoft.

garylm wrote:

Well, it took me a week to figure this out, but if you plan to do Z-Wave, prepare to get in bed with Microsoft.

I read the article and don't understand your point.  This doesn't change anything for the ControlThink SDK and Z-Wave devices in general.  You are already using Windows, .NET, and possibly a Microsoft development environment.  Do you consider that being "in bed with Microsoft"?

Yawn.  As if Leviton are the only supplier of Z-Wave modules...

 

cncb wrote:

You are already using Windows, .NET, and possibly a Microsoft development environment.  Do you consider that being "in bed with Microsoft"?

Yep.

Microsoft developers always succeed in making me feel stupid.  Throw some more 3-letter acronyms at me.

I think the answer for me is to tap into an open-source home automation project over on SourceForge.  It looks like in the last 3 months they've got Zigbee pretty well figured out.  Nothing yet for Z-Wave.  Never feel stupid over there.

garylm wrote:

Yep. Microsoft developers always succeed in making me feel stupid.  Throw some more 3-letter acronyms at me. I think the answer for me is to tap into an open-source home automation project over on SourceForge.  It looks like in the last 3 months they've got Zigbee pretty well figured out.  Nothing yet for Z-Wave.  Never feel stupid over there.

Don't know what to tell you.  Read the description of the ControlThink SDK and it clearly states that it is tied to Microsoft and .NET.  You come on here "warning" us about Microsoft and then are all defensive when someone questions your statement?  Good luck with your "Microsoft-less" home automation quest...

cncb wrote:

[Don't know what to tell you.

What you need to tell me is that if I choose to develop in a non-Microsoft language, I'm on my own.

I guess I expected to find here a development community from various backgrounds with experience in a number of languages.  The decision to develop for .NET should have opened the door for that kind of diversity.

If I figure it out I'll be sure to come back here and share.

garylm wrote:

What you need to tell me is that if I choose to develop in a non-Microsoft language, I'm on my own.

There have been several requests for a Java version of the SDK which would be another alternative for you if ControlThink can do it.  Chris can explain why they chose .NET but I find it very convenient to use and you can get Visual Studio Express for free to develop for .NET.

For selfish reasons, I'd love a Java SDK.