ControlThink Forums

mServer:  Just a compact computer with special software to present your home automation system on a web page or media center computer?

Homeseer Pro-100:  Same as above but also presents video from your security cameras?  Also has an option for voice or touch tone control from a remote telephone?

Basecamp: A set-top box that lets you view your automation system on your TV?

Xanboo XG100:  A web appliance for your webcams and ZWave stuff?

Thinkbox?

Leviton Vizia RF Foyer?

It looks like HomeSeer's Hometroller might be the most reliable of the Windows XP black boxes.  This one's got embedded XP and plenty of serial and USB ports.  I am curious to see what kind a scripts and rules can be written.

I may be biased, but I think that the ThinkBox is actually the most reliable of the Windows XP black boxes :) Then again, they're a very rare commodity.

BTW, the Vizia RF Foyer is technically a "white box." :) I'm just teasing...

Chris

"It looks like HomeSeer's Hometroller might be the most reliable of the Windows XP black boxes.  This one's got embedded XP and plenty of serial and USB ports.  I am curious to see what kind a scripts and rules can be written."

Hi garylm,
Both mServer and HomeSeer's boxes use Windows XP Embedded. These boxes often support more ports than common PCs. mServer supports 4 USB ports and 3 serial ports.

Summary of the embedded XP boxes:

mServer Residential:  $1399.99, 1.75" H x 8.5" W x 7.25" D, XP embedded, no moving parts, 800 MHz Pentium-class, 256 MB RAM, 512 MB Compact Flash, runs mControl v1 software,  3-serial, 4-USB, 2-Ethernet,  Web interface, 12 VDC power source (could be powered from backup battery), does not appear to support voice commands or DTMF commands from telephone.

HomeTroller:  $1095.00, 2.5" H x 11.5" W x 10.5" D, XP embedded, 1.5 GHz Celeron, 512 MB DDR, 40 GB HDD (upgradeable to 200 GB), runs HomeSeer HS2 Plus, 4-serial, 6-USB, 1-10/100 Ethernet, 1-10/100/1000 Ethernet, Web interface, 12 VDC power connection, voice control and DTMF control support, phone messaging support, expansion slot for PCI modem.

PRO 100:   $2,595.00, 2" H x 11" W x 7" D, XP embedded, 1.5 GHz Celeron, 1 GB DDR, 2 GB Flash, no moving parts, runs HomeSeer HSPRO, 4-serial, 2-USB, 2-10/100 Ethernet, Web interface, 12 VDC power connection, voice control and DTMF control support, phone messaging support.

Comparison of HomeTroller and PRO 100

In addition to not having moving parts, PR0 100 includes all available plugins and Windows Media Center support.

From Cocoontech C.E.S. 2006 report mentioning the Think Box:

I then spoke with Mike Calcaterra about their interface to non-ZWave devices and he said there was a box that was available which offers an interface to legacy (say RS-232) style equipment that makes them compatible with their system. This box was the "Control Think" box and was designed by Chris Walker.

It remains to be seen what specific legacy controllers will be supported and whether the support will be included in the price or whether it will have to be purchased separately, ala HS2.

Summarized from a Microsoft-sponsored Embedded 2 Enterprise article about the Vizia RF Foyer:

• Uses software developed by Control Think (full implementation of the SDK)
  
• Available 3rd quarter 2007
• Mentions remote control via CE-based PDAs and phones
• Remote Web access requires ThinkConnect service
• Small
• Inexpensive
• Processor from " Digi International"
• ZWave chip built-in
• "primary focus for the launch of the Vizia RF Foyer is lighting and appliance command and control, but it will eventually integrate with window shades, thermostats, door locks, security systems and touch screens that communicate on the Z-Wave standard." (This suggests that some functionality will be added after Q3 2007)
  
• "It’s anticipated that this will lead to third-party development of products to work as plug-ins with the Vizia RF Foyer." (This suggests that, out of the box, there may not be any support for third-party or legacy equipment.)
  

According to Cocoontech, Control Think also had a hand in providing the ZWave functionality for Digital Media Research's "Personal Digital Hub."  DMR's site is currently under construction, but this appears to primarily be a media server, with client boxes scattered around the house.

From the fancy enclosure, I would guess that this is indended as part of an entertainment system, perhaps with ZWave scene interoperability.

Hawking Tech's HomeRemote:  An inexpensive Internet gateway for controlling your home remotely.  They go to great lengths to conceal the fact that subscription services are required for the cell connect and TZO DDNS.

Edit:  Added mention of cell connect and TZO DDNS.

garylm wrote:

Hawking Tech's HomeRemote:  An inexpensive Internet gateway for controlling your home remotely.  They go to great lengths to conceal the fact that this is a subscription service.

Hi Gary,

I believe you are referring to the 'TZO DDNS' service that Hawking promotes. TZO is a subscription service that maps a dynamic internet address to a fixed address. I have a HRGZ1 gateway connected to a Linksys router. I am using the free 'DynDNS' service that is hardware compatable with my router to handle the dynamic address mapping. No cost, no PC required other than for initial set up. So far the Hawking gateway looks to be a good backup to a PC system. I am a long way from considering replacing my XP machine/Homeseer with it however.  :)

Ken

Edit added:
 I have not tried the cell phone interface so I cannot say that dynDNS is compatable. It does work with a browser enabled mobile device.
k

I'm kinda leaning toward the HomeTroller, but I am also curious to see what the Think Box can do.  The Think Box will most likely have the most thorough and up-to-date ZWave implementation, and from what I've seen on this forum, the best ZWave support.

Some stuff that I've read about the other boxes that I would like to see on the Think Box:

1.  Embedded XP
2.  Diskless and fan-less
3.  12 VDC input (I'm thinking to power it from a 12 Volt battery/float charger.  Anybody here tried that?)
4.  Support for legacy plugins.
5.  Complex events and scripting.
6.  Web interface
7.  Voice and DTMF control (maybe a Windows CE client too, although I'm not a big fan of CE, what with the latest crop of full XP handhelds)
8.  Flexible Internet connection options such as dynamic-DNS/static-IP in addition to Control Think's subscription service.

Hi Gary,

The ThinkBox 100 (featured on the site) is based on Windows XPe, has no fan, uses flash memory, and has a DC input.

It doesn't have voice/DTMF control. It does have DDNS, a web interface, and support for third-party plug-ins.

The price quoted in January 2005 is ~$999.

We haven't released the ThinkBox 100 yet because (a) we ship no product before it's time and (b) we're not sure that we're ready to become a hardware company yet ;)

A number of devices based on the ThinkBox platform (i.e. "ThinkBox-embedded") will be coming to market in the next year which will support some or all of these features. More to come.

Chris

Couldn't I build my own ZWave black box, using a thin client machine such as the Neoware e140 (~$500)?  It's got a PCI slot, which would accomodate a modem for remote voice or DTMF control.  It only has one RS232 port.  Is that a weakness?

I already own a ThinkEssentials and SDK license.  XPL is free.  HomeZIX is inexpensive and will soon have voice recognition.

Am I missing something?

Gary,

You could certainly build your own machine. It sounds like a fun project.

Please note that there are a few key differences with the ThinkBox vs. a PC with ThinkEssentials:
1. The ThinkBox software has a myriad of features that didn't make it into ThinkEssentials, such as support for 3rd-party hardware.
2. The ThinkBox has watchdog timers in it and other hardware specially designed for high system uptime.
3. The ThinkBox runs a custom-build build of Windows XPe/CE, with a lower surface-of-attack than a PC.

But building your own box does give you ultimate control over what you put in there, what it does, etc. I used to tinker and build my own systems--it can be a lot of fun.

Chris

The Pulse Controller from navicom/aspalis looks interesting.  The Windows Embedded CE OS should make it quite robust.  They haven't posted anything on their site about configuration tools and their event-handling rules engine.  The mockups of their client screens don't reveal much either.  They do mention the use of their client software on UMPCs, which is another hobby of mine.  UMPCs are no biggie other than the fact that you're dealing with various screen sizes.  I'm not sure, but their mention of this product being targeted at the "hospitalily market" in addition to the residential market gives me the impression that this product might only be available through certified installers.