Messages

76

Users / Re: x10 CM11A support is now fixed!

« on: April 10, 2008, 09:07:47 pm »

Thanks!

w/r to adding dummy devices - why choose security devices? You can add an event to respond to any device being switched on/off. Does it not work?

Chris

Chris I used security devices as presently the CM11A code will only send events to DCErouter if the device category of the incomming X10 message is a security device.  It will be a simple task to change this in the code but we need to think about what is the best approach in terms of creating a new category.

Nos   

77

Users / Re: Incoming call ends media play instead of just pause-anyone can confirm this?

« on: April 10, 2008, 08:24:12 pm »

@bulek

I am still running Beta3 and confirm the same symptoms when watching movies

NOS

78

Users / Re: x10 CM11A support is now fixed!

« on: April 10, 2008, 08:13:46 pm »

@jondecker76

This functionality already exists by using the respond to events function.

I have setup a range of dummy security devices in the range of E1-E16.  The devices are set to disbaled so they don't invoke security scenarios if triggered.  I have then used a palmpad remote on house code "E" and created events within linuxmce to send commands to my X10 devices on diifferent housecodes.  So for example pressing button 1 on the palmpad sends X10 event E1 ON, LMCE then responds to this command by sending L1 ON which is a light.

I also have an event E16 ON which changes the display on my Media Director to the Webcam in my living room etc

It is not great that I had to create dummy security devices but it does work well and from a programming point of view I have named the devices PalmPad_1, PalmPad_2 etc so the events are logical.  It would be better to create a device template called X10_Remote which is controlled by the CM11A, but what I have done works fine.

Hopefully catch up with you on IRC to discuss X10 roadmap

Best Wishes

NOS

79

Users / Re: VIA Announces Strategic Open Source Driver Development Initiative

« on: April 10, 2008, 09:54:23 am »

Andrew,

I believe we are saying the same thing, however the term competition can be looked at from two view points.  Competition is a bad thing for manufacturers as it drives down the margins, so their prime target is not to compete but to have a market in the first place.

nVidia and ATI both identified that the provision of open source linux drivers would increase the size of the market in which they could operate and maximise hardware product sales.  Others such as Matrox have been content with supplying to a specific high end market and therefore maintain margins although with fewer sales.

I guess its just terminology in the end   

NOS

80

Users / Re: VIA Announces Strategic Open Source Driver Development Initiative

« on: April 09, 2008, 09:02:02 pm »

Certainly a positive step, its not about competition its about staying in the market place.  All of the manufactures have invested huge sums of money in R&D and production.  However by not giving full support to linux VIA have effectively reduced the market for their technologies.

On the other hand nVidia have previously committed to updating open source drivers for not only their current product range but have continued to support older chipsets which has given them a clear advantage within the linux based computing environment.

All of the manufactures have excellent products, but that does not matter if their policies restrict the size of the market for which they are supplying.

It will be interesting to see how far VIA go in terms of releasing open source code

NOS

 

81

Developers / Re: HADesigner almost working on Linux

« on: April 09, 2008, 08:40:21 pm »

Thom

Good luck with the port to linux, unfortunately .NET is not something I have ever been inclined to learn so will leave you and the other coders to suffer this headache 

NOS

82

Users / Re: Home Automation Experiences

« on: April 09, 2008, 08:29:19 pm »

@DeeEmm

Following Thom's comprehensive response I can add that I am now using X10 extensively within my home and all of it is monitored and managed via LMCE.

To answer one of your specific questions regarding the management of events, I have listed below some of the specific things that I am doing in relation to X10:.

1. I have floor plans which show the current status of all my lights and appliances within the house, all the devices are one way, but LMCE monitors X10 events on the powerline so also knows if I have changed the status of a light or appliance using X10 remotes or mini controllers.

2. I have motion detectors which fire events which LMCE can then process, so if the living room motion detector is tripped and it is dark then a light is automatically turned on.  Additionally if the security system within LMCE is set to alarmed then my AMP and TV is turned on and a recorded message played, the media directors in the house also switch to show the Web CAM in the living room.

3. All my lights, TV's and AMPs  are turned off in the house if I set the security system to sleeping

4. If I play a movie after 8pm at night certain lights are turned off and others are dimmed in the room where the video is being watched.

It is possible to build complicated sequences of events based upon mind boggling criteria using pull down lists within the system so event management is genrally only restricted to your imagination.

At present I am using a CM12U (UK Version of CM11A) controller but have just ordered a firecracker interface with the intention of adding support for this controller in LMCE.

NOS.
   

83

Developers / Re: CM11A - adding new lights...

« on: February 26, 2008, 11:59:34 pm »

Hi guys,

Well done, it's great news about the status update events

Keep up the good work

NOS

84

Developers / Re: CM11A - adding new lights...

« on: February 25, 2008, 09:44:09 am »

@ddamron

Thanks for the support, and  I thought this thread might get moved to developers 

@jondecker

I have finally got to the bottom of the events handling code so I am now happy that the code should function as expected.  It looks like the device_status information is held locally within the CM11A code and hence not passed back to decrouter for the purpose of updating floorplans (this is the bit I was struggling to understand).  DCERouter is only informed of external events if they refer to a security device                                                                                                                                                               such as a motion sensor.

I will not be around for a couple of days, but if you could investigate the possibility of updating floorplan items I believe that would complete the CM11A module, if we are lucky it may only require a few lines of code.

PS the error you experienced in debugging was caused as you were trying to display an item which does not exist within the container !

Feel free to update the trac ticket with the latest code as Dan is hopefully going to test our work shortly

Best Wishes

NOS

85

Developers / Re: Idea for GUI: Pie menus as alternative to linear menus in UI2 ?

« on: February 24, 2008, 06:29:50 pm »

@Bulek

Could not agree more, lets hope it is considered for the UI3 although I think that is going to be some time off

NOS

86

Users / Re: Blurry text?

« on: February 24, 2008, 01:56:23 pm »

I guess blurry text can be caused by a number of factors, the main one being the type of connection and quality of cable used.

The refresh rate will usually be handled automatically be the video card if using s-video or composite outputs.  It is very rare that you will get a sharp picture using composite so you should aim for S-Video if your tv supports it. 

Obviously if the TV have VGA or HDCI connectors these are preferable.

You may be able to improve video quality on some TV's by using modelines in your Xorg.conf, also ensure you have the correct tv standard  for your region

NOS 

87

Users / Re: LMCE network question

« on: February 24, 2008, 01:50:02 pm »

I am not sure I fully understand the question as you say that the router is not acting as a DHCP server.

The LMCE core/hybrid should have a fixed IP address and then you have the option of deciding whether it will act as a DHCP server, leaving it as a DHCP server will not cause you problems if all your other devices already have static IP's.

Given your scenario I guess it does not matter how you configure the system

NOS

88

Compatible Products & Services / Re: linuxmcestore comming soon.

« on: February 24, 2008, 10:24:28 am »

To be honest I like the thrill of trying to get a bargain so probably fit into the freeloader category 

But given the number of posts here asking about compatible hardware and specs there is probably a niche for selling "certified" kit, if your not in it to make a fortune and don't expect to make a living from it then you have nothing to lose and everything to gain (apart from your spare time of course)

There is certainly a market for pre-built kit, but buying power is the key

Good luck hope its works out well for you

NOS

89

Developers / Re: Idea for GUI: Pie menus as alternative to linear menus in UI2 ?

« on: February 24, 2008, 09:55:49 am »

Certainly an interesting idea and I could see it working well for gyro based pointers.  I think it would be good as an option but I am also one of the old school types who struggles with change (I still sort my media by filename as that is what works best for me in terms of quick navigation).

For it to work well you would probably have to increase the menu hierarchy depth, i.e restrict number of options on screen and therefore increase the click count in navigation terms.  This could slow selection, but conversely it could speed it up due to less acuracy being required when using a gyro pointer.

So in summary yes would like to see this as an option, but please don't take away the option of linear menus   

NOS

90

Users / Re: Maintaining directory structure of an internal media NTFS drive

« on: February 24, 2008, 09:18:39 am »

@ITsik

I also sort mine like you as the kids and girld friend find it easier to navigate to their movies etc

Go to your media screen and select Sort->Filename it will then use the folder structure you have implemented (you will have to repeat this process everytime you reboot LMCE as it does not remember your sort preferences)

NOS

Whoops posted as bulek was replying lol