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General => Users => Topic started by: hari on June 26, 2008, 12:32:03 PM

Title: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: hari on June 26, 2008, 12:32:03 PM
as this seems to be unclear to some users (even when stated in the wiki):

for Z-Wave installations in Europe ONLY the _Seluxit viaSENS HomeController_ is fully supported with plug and play: http://www.seluxit.com

best regards,
Hari
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: totallymaxed on June 27, 2008, 12:43:35 PM
Quote from: hari on June 26, 2008, 12:32:03 PM
as this seems to be unclear to some users (even when stated in the wiki):

for Z-Wave installations in Europe ONLY the _Seluxit viaSENS HomeController_ is fully supported with plug and play: http://www.seluxit.com

best regards,
Hari

We use them as our standard Z-wave Interface in all our installations - they come highly recommended.

Andrew
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: purps on July 31, 2008, 02:15:58 PM
Would you happen to know if these are available in Britain?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: hari on July 31, 2008, 02:25:29 PM
Quote from: purps on July 31, 2008, 02:15:58 PM
Would you happen to know if these are available in Britain?

Thanks.
you can order them directly from Seluxit. They are quick and responsive. There is a rebate for quantities over 10. Maybe totallymaxed wants to resell them :-)

best regards,
Hari
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: syner on August 07, 2008, 12:18:36 PM
hari, what kind of connection do they use, usb or serial?  is the protocol straight zwave or bastardized like the rzc0p?
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: colinjones on August 07, 2008, 02:42:19 PM
hari - why is it only Europe?
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: hari on August 07, 2008, 03:56:36 PM
Quote from: syner on August 07, 2008, 12:18:36 PM
hari, what kind of connection do they use, usb or serial?  is the protocol straight zwave or bastardized like the rzc0p?
usb. They use the generic acm device class, so there is no special driver needed. You have straight access to the zensys chip over /dev/ttyACMx.

br hari
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: hari on August 07, 2008, 03:57:13 PM
Quote from: colinjones on August 07, 2008, 02:42:19 PM
hari - why is it only Europe?
they don't do a US version at the moment.

br Hari
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: colinjones on August 07, 2008, 10:38:52 PM
Hari - doesn't really answer my question, I'm not interested in a US version... What is EU specific about the EU version? Just the RF frequency? (230v/50Hz is effectively "worldwide" except N.A. not just Europe, so that isn't an issue) is there anything else specific?
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: Techstyle on August 07, 2008, 11:10:18 PM
EU frequency is 868.42 MHz, US frequency is 908.42.

and of course the voltage is different.
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: syner on August 08, 2008, 05:46:21 AM
thanks Hari.  have you seen any new serial controllers (not virtual serial via usb) over there?  i know act had one but i think that is a very old version...
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: darrenmason on August 08, 2008, 07:25:56 AM
Colin,

As far as I can work out - you cannot use them in Australia. According the wikipedia page the approved frequency for Australia/New Zealand is 921.42MHz. I still don't know of anyone producing equipment for here.

regards
Darren
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: colinjones on August 08, 2008, 09:42:55 AM
Darren

ACT are aware of the frequency and interested in producing ZWave equipment if they can find a JV partner here... Know of any?
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: hari on August 08, 2008, 12:11:49 PM
Quote from: syner on August 08, 2008, 05:46:21 AM
thanks Hari.  have you seen any new serial controllers (not virtual serial via usb) over there?  i know act had one but i think that is a very old version...
the new serial ones from ACT are the ZCS101 and the ZCS201. Be aware that they use an older chip revision.
iirc domodude uses one of those.

best regards,
hari
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: juan on September 29, 2008, 01:17:56 AM
Darn.... i was hoping to get my hands on the EU Z-wave usb controller to try out over here (Australia).
Does anyone know a good supplier in Australia that has the Z-wave controllers?

Cheers
Juan
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: colinjones on September 29, 2008, 02:35:45 AM
Juan - to my knowledge there are no suppliers here at all, and no AU version of any Z Wave product. Its very annoying because the only material difference from EU would be the RF frequency, which is a trivial change. Even with EU power connectors we could just use a simple adaptor as the voltage and frequency are the same.

Although I'm not particularly interested in going down this path, i suppose you could import the EU version, ignore the RF frequency issue (illegal, but its still very close to the AU range) and use a socket adaptor for the power connection.....
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: darrenmason on September 29, 2008, 07:49:58 AM
I gave up looking.

The only technology I found with support for Australia is PLC-BUS and X-10. The PLC-BUS stuff is good and certainly presents a better option than X-10 but of course it is not wireless. I intend to order some more PLC-BUS stuff for the next lighting integrations.

Regards
Darren
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: colinjones on September 29, 2008, 08:04:11 AM
Darren

1) Are you already using PLCBUS?
2) How do you find the speed (esp for dimming transitions of multiple lights)?
3) Who is you supplier, and what are the prices like?
4) How easy is it to set up with LMCE? I have never done any HA and am hoping for a simple pnp experience!

Could you please list the devices you have used to setup? As what controller(s) do I need...
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: totallymaxed on September 29, 2008, 11:09:07 AM
Quote from: colinjones on August 07, 2008, 10:38:52 PM
Hari - doesn't really answer my question, I'm not interested in a US version... What is EU specific about the EU version? Just the RF frequency? (230v/50Hz is effectively "worldwide" except N.A. not just Europe, so that isn't an issue) is there anything else specific?

The issue is the frequency used not the mains voltage in terms of the Seluxit Home Controller. The frequency used for ZWave in Australia/New Zealand is 921.42MHz which is different to the US and also to Europe. The choice of this frequency means that none of the EU or US ZWave kit will work with kit designed to work at 921.42MHz.

Clearly for ZWave kit that controls a voltage then its the frequency and the mains voltage that need to meet local standards/regulations.

Andrew
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: colinjones on September 29, 2008, 11:40:27 AM
Andrew, that's kind of what I was saying in the previous post. Interoperability with equipment designed for 921MHz isn't really an issue, as there isn't any of this equipment... hence the problem! What I'm saying is, as the voltage/system frequency of AU is the same as EU/UK, the equipment will work here (EU controllers and devices), we just need to break the law transmitting on the wrong frequency.... frankly I'm not concerned about that, the mindless stupidity of the Australian/NZ authorities choosing a different frequency and thus locking out all the EU equipment we could otherwise have made use of, deserves it!
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: totallymaxed on September 29, 2008, 05:23:12 PM
Quote from: colinjones on September 29, 2008, 11:40:27 AM
Andrew, that's kind of what I was saying in the previous post. Interoperability with equipment designed for 921MHz isn't really an issue, as there isn't any of this equipment... hence the problem! What I'm saying is, as the voltage/system frequency of AU is the same as EU/UK, the equipment will work here (EU controllers and devices), we just need to break the law transmitting on the wrong frequency.... frankly I'm not concerned about that, the mindless stupidity of the Australian/NZ authorities choosing a different frequency and thus locking out all the EU equipment we could otherwise have made use of, deserves it!

Sure if your happy to not comply with the local frequency regulations then your in business as long as you stick with EU/UK rated hardware.

We're just testing the Tricklestar USB ZWave stick and their nice simple remote which are available in EU & US variants. These are supported by the new ZWave driver and so are options for you to possibly look at.

The remote should be available in the next week or so and the USB stick in about a month. See http://www.tricklestar.com

All the best

Andrew
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: colinjones on September 30, 2008, 12:05:07 AM
Thanks Andrew, will take a look...!
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: darrenmason on September 30, 2008, 01:05:33 AM
Quote from: colinjones on September 29, 2008, 08:04:11 AM
Darren

1) Are you already using PLCBUS?
2) How do you find the speed (esp for dimming transitions of multiple lights)?
3) Who is you supplier, and what are the prices like?
4) How easy is it to set up with LMCE? I have never done any HA and am hoping for a simple pnp experience!

Could you please list the devices you have used to setup? As what controller(s) do I need...

1) yes, although the controller is not operating at the moment as I have recently (actually its been weeks now :() moved it to the CORE instead of my Dev MediaDirector as part of a cleanup
2) The speed was fine, although from memory dual lights dimmed sequentially when the whole room was controlled (have to check this at home ....)
3) I bought them online from Automation@home (x10-hk.com). Prices were pretty good (they are on the website), they have Australian plug versions and they were extremely quick on delivery (quicker than coming from Australian suppliler)
4) It is not PnP at the moment but pretty straight forward. I wrote a wiki page on it when I first set it up. Once the controller is working, adding lights is the same as with any other system.

Regards
Darren
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: totallymaxed on September 30, 2008, 12:46:43 PM
Quote from: hari on July 31, 2008, 02:25:29 PM
Quote from: purps on July 31, 2008, 02:15:58 PM
Would you happen to know if these are available in Britain?

Thanks.
you can order them directly from Seluxit. They are quick and responsive. There is a rebate for quantities over 10. Maybe totallymaxed wants to resell them :-)

best regards,
Hari

We do resell the Seluxit Home Controller and other UK compliant ZWave hardware by the way ;-)

Andrew
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: hari on September 30, 2008, 07:27:18 PM
Quote from: juan on September 29, 2008, 01:17:56 AM
Darn.... i was hoping to get my hands on the EU Z-wave usb controller to try out over here (Australia).
Does anyone know a good supplier in Australia that has the Z-wave controllers?

Cheers
Juan
The frequency is different in the EU vs the US (vs AU/NZ vs HK).
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: hari on September 30, 2008, 07:34:44 PM
Quote from: colinjones on September 29, 2008, 11:40:27 AM
What I'm saying is, as the voltage/system frequency of AU is the same as EU/UK, the equipment will work here (EU controllers and devices), we just need to break the law transmitting on the wrong frequency.... frankly I'm not concerned about that, the mindless stupidity of the Australian/NZ authorities choosing a different frequency and thus locking out all the EU equipment we could otherwise have made use of, deserves it!

sorry colinjones, no offense intended, but what you are saying is crap. There are good reasons why different frequency bands are assigned to specific services and usages. Even if this is low power, _pretty please_ do not mess with the spectrum, that already killed people in the past.

The AU/HK frequencies were added with the latest chip revisions and SDK version. There should be devices soon.

best regards,
Hari
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: hari on September 30, 2008, 07:37:42 PM
Quote from: colinjones on September 29, 2008, 08:04:11 AM
2) How do you find the speed (esp for dimming transitions of multiple lights)?

speed is crap in comparision to Z-Wave.

br, Hari
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: colinjones on September 30, 2008, 10:53:22 PM
Hari - My comments were intended to be facaecious and ironic because of my irritation caused by the inconvenience of the decision.

Yes, of course there are good reasons why these decisions are made. I have read the Australian spectrum management plan - there is occasional part time usage of that part of the spectrum for military purposes.

But to respond to your point that it has been added to recent chips and there will be something available soon - no, your confidence is misplaced. That is why it is so irritating when we don't follow some established standard from a larger market. NObody wants to design equipment for a market as small as Australia. So whilst it is encouraging that future equipment may have chips that allow operation in AU, it still requires someone to produce a version that has AU power connectors and still locks us out of all the existing equipment. For the sake of some part time military band that almost certainly isn't actually used any more.
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: hari on December 08, 2008, 07:03:30 PM
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Tricklestar_300ZW-EU-W

this controller works very nice, has the latest library versions. Only caveat, one has to add the usb id to the z-wave device template or manually add the z-wave device to the installation.

best regards,
Hari
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: gram04 on December 12, 2008, 10:56:47 PM
Quote from: hari on June 26, 2008, 12:32:03 PM
as this seems to be unclear to some users (even when stated in the wiki):

for Z-Wave installations in Europe ONLY the _Seluxit viaSENS HomeController_ is fully supported with plug and play: http://www.seluxit.com

best regards,
Hari

is it this product ?
http://www.zwave4u.com/products/en/Control/PC-Adapters/Tricklestar-USB-Adapter.html (http://www.zwave4u.com/products/en/Control/PC-Adapters/Tricklestar-USB-Adapter.html)

i cant find any products called viaSENS homecontroller
Title: Re: Z-Wave dongle for Europe - READ THIS
Post by: totallymaxed on December 13, 2008, 10:45:31 AM
Quote from: gram04 on December 12, 2008, 10:56:47 PM
Quote from: hari on June 26, 2008, 12:32:03 PM
as this seems to be unclear to some users (even when stated in the wiki):

for Z-Wave installations in Europe ONLY the _Seluxit viaSENS HomeController_ is fully supported with plug and play: http://www.seluxit.com

best regards,
Hari

is it this product ?
http://www.zwave4u.com/products/en/Control/PC-Adapters/Tricklestar-USB-Adapter.html (http://www.zwave4u.com/products/en/Control/PC-Adapters/Tricklestar-USB-Adapter.html)

i cant find any products called viaSENS homecontroller

Hi,

This is the Seluxit ViaSens Home Controller;

http://www.zwave4u.com/products/en/Control/PC-Adapters/Seluxit-viaSens-100.html (http://www.zwave4u.com/products/en/Control/PC-Adapters/Seluxit-viaSens-100.html)

I would recommend looking at the Tricklestar Remote for including devices into your ZWave network;

http://www.zwave4u.com/products/en/Control/Remote-Controls/Tricklestar-Remote-Control.html (http://www.zwave4u.com/products/en/Control/Remote-Controls/Tricklestar-Remote-Control.html)

Also see my additions to the Wiki that explain how to use the Tricklestar remote in SIS mode to include devices with Hari's newest ZWave binary versions;

http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Z-Wave#Manual_Setup_using_SIS_Mode_with_the_Tricklestar_Remote (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Z-Wave#Manual_Setup_using_SIS_Mode_with_the_Tricklestar_Remote)

All the best

Andrew