eibpc English Version

[bmx]

Hi Perry,

Zitat von Perry 1. EIB-PC with NP has a 'WEB based visu'. I understand that this means 'visualisation', but does this also mean 'control', i.e. is it possible to switch lights from the web browser?

Yes. You can program your buttons to switch on or off the lights.

2. I read in the documentation support for UDP messages. Is TCP/IP now also supported?

TCP is supported and used. I can use TCP e.g. to send a message to my old DBox2 for display. I also could switch the running tv show. It's maybe the same as Eventghost offers. However eventghost needs a running windows pc whereas EibPC only has a closed system on board with the eibbasic programming language. It's got the favor of very low power consumption.

As far as I know (4.+5.) there are network products of IR Trans available and thus they can be controlled by the EibPC.

6. For convenience I would simply buy a router. This allows multiple connections and you can use EibPC and ETSx in parallel.
Also the EibPC got an RS232 and you can attach a OneWire Interface, an RS232 IR Trans or some other device.

Regards,
Bernd

[enertegus]

Zitat von Perry Hello all, 1. EIB-PC with NP has a 'WEB based visu'. I understand that this means 'visualisation', but does this also mean 'control', i.e. is it possible to switch lights from the web browser?

Yes.

2. I read in the documentation support for UDP messages. Is TCP/IP now also supported?

Yes. Use the functions, sendtcp, readtcp and connecttcp (see manual or below)

In this respect, are these commands that EIBPC could send (maybe via the Web interface)?

Yes, see Wetterdaten aus dem Internet for how to do so.

If you know the Eventghost program (or similar program, such as Netremote/Girder), what do you see as the best way to interact between PC with Eventghost/LAN/EIB PC?

I don't know this but we can support you, if you have a bit more specific questions.

4. As for the infrared remote control: Eventghost has a plugin for the highly capable Keene IR Anywhere (Keene Retail Ltd), which is great for sending IR commands to remote, 'out of sight places' and upstairs. Is it possible to control the Keene product from the EIB-PC? If not, see 5 below......

it should be as simple as shown in
iRTrans Infrarot Gateway und EibPC, über TCP

What do you see as the best (and easiest and preferably not too expensive) way to include IR control into the domotica solution?

Well, I leave this questions to the community.

6. Regarding the gateway/LAN connection for the EIB-PC: I have seen that there are huge price differences between single and 'multicast'/router devices.

The Siemens IP Interface allows to connect 4 devices simultanously. Routing means more: You can connect to KNX Systems directly with filters and routing tables. Also interesting if you want to use the VPN Feature for remote programming of your KNX System.

We will release an Enertex KNX Router 2011 significantly cheaper.

[Perry]

Hi Bernd and Enertegus,

Thank you both for your answers. It seems that the things I need are indeed possible with the EIB-PC.
Now it will be a matter of finding out what the learning curve is going to be for this.

I have been fiddling around with Eventghost for some time and, as an example, it has turned out very easy to have Eventghost watch a folder for changes.
I have a folder that my IP camera sends photos to (via FTP) when motion is detected. Now, every time Eventghost sees a new photo in the folder, it starts a macro which brings the live camera-viewing program into focus, as well as a program that shows the last picture with motion detection in it. Furthermore, Eventghost switches the monitor ON, leaves it on for 30 seconds, and then switches the monitor OFF again. This is unless I send a specific infrared command, in which case the macro is interrupted and the monitor stays on.

In the same manner it would be possible to start, e.g. a photo-viewer program and flip through the photos like a slide show.

The point is that all the above and much, much more is very easy to accomplish and requires no programming skills, i.e. the lurning curve is short and making it all work requires little time. Also, I understand that there is an Android server/client plugin available within Eventghost, which makes it possible to use a tablet PC or mobile phone with Android as an advanced remote with two-way communication (have not tried that myself).
On the other hand, making Eventghost work reliably all of the time has been a real challenge for me. What I have noticed in the Eventghost forum is that experienced users all use quite comprehensive Python scripts to make the program work the way they want. I guess what I am saying is that, if I really wanted to make use of Eventghost exclusively, I would have to learn programming skills/learn to think like a programmer.

I am interested to learn if features like the above (such as watching a windows folder for changes in files and triggering other actions based upon them) are also possible with EIB-PC?

I am also very interested and curious about the announced Router product by Enertex. Is there any chance of telling us around which time you are planning the release of the product?

Thanks again
Perry

[enertegus]

Zitat von Perry Hi Bernd and Enertegus, I am interested to learn if features like the above (such as watching a windows folder for changes in files and triggering other actions based upon them) are also possible with EIB-PC?

This could be theoreticially done, but this would require some program skills (perhaps a candidate for
http://knx-user-forum.de/knx-eib-for...ettbewerb.html)

I am also very interested and curious about the announced Router product by Enertex. Is there any chance of telling us around which time you are planning the release of the product?

Our aim is ready to sell in Q3/2011.

[bmx]

Dear Perry,

Zitat von Perry I am interested to learn if features like the above (such as watching a windows folder for changes in files and triggering other actions based upon them) are also possible with EIB-PC?

I am convinced that the EibPC is a very powerful logic machine. What it lacks is the support for filesystems on a programming level at all. Thus one would have to implement a whole filestack based on EibPC Basic. Since it is not a high level language with subroutines, loops and the like it is very difficult (if not to say impossible) at this moment to e.g. implement to watch a folder. For this it would be needed to create a demon checking the link, enumerating files and folder using smb, implementing security to access, etc. As long as the EibPC Basic does not present these basic functions it won't work.

Eventghost seems to be a good solution for your purposes. Thanks for given us a pointer to it!

Regards,
Bernd

[Perry]

Zitat von bmx As long as the EibPC Basic does not present these basic functions it won't work.

Ok, understood. It is not really a problem as I am planning to keep using my always-on, low power-consumption PC anyway.

However, I really would like to use it for controlling the KNX installation with Infrared commands. I know forum member Martin is successfully using Irtrans modules to send IR signals from EIB-PC, but I am not sure if he is able to do the reverse: send Infrared commands via the PC (or maybe even directly through the Irtrans-LAN module?), which then send TCP/IP commands over the LAN to the EIB-PC, which in turn uses these to activate KNX actors.

This way, an ordinary remote control could be used to switch KNX equipment.

The same approach of course could then be used with the folder watching feature of Eventghost, as Eventghost can send IR commands automatically through a infrared receiver/sender (such as, for instance, the USB-UIRT, see also www.usb-uirt.com) when new photos are detected in the watch folder. This allows using an ordinary (IP) camera as a trigger for switching on lights (for instance: outdoor camera is already there anyway. Now it can also be used as a trigger to activate the light at the front door when somebody approaches the house).

Eventghost seems to be a good solution for your purposes. Thanks for given us a pointer to it!

Glad I could finally be of some help to you after your much appreciated help!

Best regards,
Perry

[enertegus]

Zitat von Perry I know forum member Martin is successfully using Irtrans modules to send IR signals from EIB-PC, but I am not sure if he is able to do the reverse: send Infrared commands via the PC (or maybe even directly through the Irtrans-LAN module?), which then send TCP/IP commands over the LAN to the EIB-PC, which in turn uses these to activate KNX actors.

I'm not sure if I understand your post properly. The EibPC can easily send and recieve UDP or TCP/IP messages. As for TCP/IP it can operate both as server and client. So, at this point the limitation of communication is always the "other end" .

[Perry]

Thank you for your confirmation. The problem for me is that most of this stuff is relatively new to me, so I am often not sure if I am asking the right questions, or if I am reading the answers correctly....

I have done some further reading and found this post on the IrTrans forum that also answers my exact question:

IRTrans Support Forum • View topic - Conect to KNX

If you have an IP-KNX gateway (You need a programmable one, not an EIBNET-IP router; currently the Babtec EIB-PORT and the Gira Homeserver are supported) you can also receive an IR code and trigger an EIB/KNX event. You will need the IRTrans Ethernet IRDB device. IRTrans

This is all very exciting stuff: can't wait to get started.

My next challange is going to be how to find a way to detect the presence of people in bed in the bedroom. This may sound more inappropriate than it is actually meant to be: I find that many of the modifications I would like to make to my KNX system are related to me or my girlfriend or both being in bed at certain times.

For instance, when I am getting up in the morning before my girlfriend, a switch could turn on the television in the adjacent bathroom, but there should be no sounds from radio or television. Similarly, the light in the adjacent cupboard room should not turn on automatically from the presence sensor.
If she got up at the same time (i.e. the bed is empty), sounds and light are allowed to switch on.

As I can sleep through lights, but have a problem with sounds, other scenario's should be applied if my girlfriend gets up before I do.

If anyone can think of a good way to accomplish the 'bed occupation detection' (other than volunteering to join us in bed and turn on/off switches for us manually or installing a camera in the bedroom, which are both quite a few steps too far for us ;-)), I am interested to hear them. But maybe I should move this to a different forum topic?

Best regards,
Perry

[bmx]

Dear Perry,

If anyone can think of a good way to accomplish the 'bed occupation detection', I am interested to hear them.

Please search the Forum for "Bettbelegung".

Regards,
Bernd

[Perry]

Wow, that's great! Airbag sensor mats: now why didn't I think of that?

I have not been able to find out on the forum if anybody is actually using them in real life and then, if it works out OK.
I would imagine that fine-tuning weight thresholds and the provision of 12 Volt supply may be difficult issues.

Anyway, thanks for the good suggestion!

Perry