Control of the hotel-room

I visted one hotel that had the minxon system to control the room functions. I don't know if it was only a issue with the installation or simply my unit. Since I really tried to like it and the panel quality and the responce time was extremly nice. But the few in my opinion minor software issues were that you could not turn off the aircon with out the room light turned on. I could never get the temperature higher than 22C. Every time I left the room the thermostat temperature was reset to some default. There was a big light around the bed, only way to turn it off was by the master switch (took me pretty long time to realise that). The light in the bathroom could not be turned off from the console and it turned out that was the only light I cold not turn off from the console AND the only light I then had to leave the bed for to switch off ;-)
High "Cool" factor, save's some steps and very tasty look and feel. 
http://www.minxon.us/home.htm

Foscam FI8918W doubles as motion sensor

In the world of Vera Home Automation controller and things to connect to it things is going lightning fast thanks to the all the developers helping out on volunteer basis.  The OptiCam FI8918W / Foscam FI8918W camera can now also act as a motion sensor in Vera.

Write down the username and passwords of your cameras. Delete the cameras you already have installed (it's easiest to start from the begging).

If you have problem to delete the cameras use this link:
http://<your ip>:3480/data_request?id=device&action=delete&device=<camera device id>

Unplug the camera from network

Go to Apps, Install Apps, Install the Foscam IP Camera plug in


Plug in the camera, wait few seconds for the camera to be detected, press view, add user name and password if needed, save.

In the camera's Advanced tab enter I_FoscamPTZ.xml in the impl_file field.

Change device_file field and change it to D_DigitalSecurityCamera2.xml.

Then change also the settings so the camera only save video only when sensors are armed.

Save.

In the motion sensor's control panel, in the Advanced tab:
It might be good idea to change the OnTime (the value when the camera should return to untriggered) to e.g. 60= 1 minute

Then there is hint here:
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,11161.msg81428.html#msg81428

The manual for this plug in is here:
http://code.mios.com/trac/mios_foscam-camera


Presets support for camera mode in post 1.5.390 firmwares. Create the presets from the cameras own software.

There was a warning on the micaseverde forum that I paste here:WARNING: Do not change the device file for the camera if your MiOS firmware version is older than 1.5.390!

Android tablet Haipad M9 Firmware update

My Haipad Android tablet that I bought to be able to easy control my home, the few times something is needed to be done manually has been working good. But I’m usually never satisfied with that. So I have, from day one, actually been searching for a firmware upgrade without success. Finally there was one published by the manufacturer.
http://www.haipad.co.uk/haipad-m9/
The upgrade went well but I did not expect it to be completely “empty”. Only Android in and some few apps was available.
I did not see any applications in the marketplace until I logged on the mail client and access my google mail. Then all the apps in the Google Android Marketplace was visible again.
On the plus side the WLAN connects way much better from far longer distance than before and is much faster.

My Z-wave adventure

I promised to write the story about where my Z-wave adventure begin. I have learned that the need for more energy effective homes exists global but the needs are different. Luckily now we can use one and the same device to complete the diffrent needs that we have. In the part of the world where I'm living we have snow and ice during the several month of the year. My target was, in my opinion, simple. Have a warm car when I like. Budget, no more than 200€. (A webasto solution is about 2000€).
First attempts was a timer. Problem was that I need to be able to start the heater also on hours when the timer is not programmed.
Next attempt. One of those power sockets that you can control with a remote. It said on the package that it was IP44 protected. It lasted one night outside in the cold. And the second issue was that it could not inform me if the signal had actually reached the power socket.
Then, I don't remember know exactly how it was, I stumbled upon the Vera system from mios.com. It seemed to be very easy, affordable and reliable. It also had a very large user base on the forum that tipped about both this and that of very cool things that you could do. It was not only a system for turning on and off lights but a complete gateway and bridge between various devices in and outside of your home.
Couple of days later I had the white box and the power sockets in my mail. Next morning I had a warm car exactly when I needed it and it has worked very well the whole winter.
The outdoor IP 44-class power socket has been very reliable between all the different temperatures we have had. The signal seems to never have any issue to reach it.
I can start and stop it from my mobile. I can have different programs for different outside temperatures (not implemented).
It did not take long until my wife also asked for it. I had prepared by buying two power sockets so it was very easy to copy the configuration.
Now the configuration has grown to other areas in the house but the main idea and usage is still there, and we are prepared and waiting for the first snow to come.

Picture owned by http://desktopwallpaper-s.com/42/-/Winter,_snow/

Dovado Router and 3G modem

I installed a dovado dova router with 3G modem connected to the USB port. To the dovado a wireless PTZ camera. Everything is connected to no-ip.com where the default address is used to reach the dovado and the ports there after is used for the cameras. The set up works very well but it took two evenings to figure out all the details.

With a vera connected to this I would not have needed the extra step with no-ip and this configuration is know a bit depending on no-ip.com service. But a nice experience. And the 3G part seemed to be super easy to set up and worked great all the time.

Raspberry Pi XBMC installation

I finally got my Raspberry Pi and since the idea was to run the XBMC on it from the beginning I searched on the net for the best way to do the installation.
Found http://www.raspbmc.com that had a very easy way of doing it. But one thing that happened during the installation is that the Raspberry Pi restarts and then the screen goes black. I did the mistake several time to cold start it at this point but you should just wait for a long time. It took some 15-20 minutes for me and then the installation is read!

Another thing I have noticed is that you seem to be little bit limited with the USB devices. If you hook on too much devices you lose e.g the mouse.

The general experience is really good!

The POWERLINE saga (final?)

I found a reply on the Western Digital network forum today (some month after my question) there it was actually a great point.
I plugged in 2 of my Western Digital powerlines to a near by socket.
One of them I connected to my PC with ethernet.
I connected one network cable between the both power lines.
Then they all show up under the Local Devices on your computer. Where the red circle is.

Then press the Privacy tab and
Instead of the Unknown network name you should add something else

This seems to work now!!!! And the speed currently is an amazing 50 Mbit / s where it before was less than 20.
If going back to the private tab it show the default one.