[Lab Bench Online]
EiED Online>> Building A Multimedia Home Control Center, Part 3
William Wong
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ED Online ID #13858 |
October 19, 2006
Our home multimedia control center is running all the time, so it makes sense to have it handle some additional chores. One is power control, and the way to get there is through Insteon (EiED Online>> Insteon Now, ED Online 11782) from SmartHome.
Our PC communicates with an Insteon powerline network using the Powerlinc Controller V2 USB (see Fig. 1). This USB device contains its own microcontroller and acts as a buffer between the PC and other Insteon devices, such as the KeypadLinc V2 Dimmer (see Fig. 2). The unit comes with its own device driver and timer software. The latter is rather basic — it can turn devices on and off — so I won't go into any detail on the software. Luckily there are a couple of more interesting options available.
The first is mControl (see Fig. 3) and the other is HomeLinc (see Fig. 4). The two are actually complementary given the nature of our home automation system. I was able to test the system since I already have a number of Insteon devices around the house. Utilizing these by PC control was simply a matter of plugging in the Powerlinc Controller and installing the software.
Embedded Automation mControl
Embedded Automation's mControl can be found in bundles with Insteon hardware or it can be obtained separately. It is designed to provide a simple interface to Insteon devices. It can also control a number of other systems including those based on Z-Wave and X-10. The latter can be controlled directly through the Powerlinc Controller. The program is sophisticated but easy to use. It can handle a range of devices from irrigation systems to digital cameras.
The documentation that comes with mControl is impressive, easy to read and utilize. It is extensive because of all the features, but the intro did a good job of getting the basics that most people will need. The program can be controlled by a range of remote devices, such as an infrared remote but that requires a bit more reading to configure.
Installing mControl was typical for a Windows-based application. It is designed to run as a full screen application on a TV configuration like ours, but it can be used easily on a typical PC screen using a mouse to select items. I was able to use the remote control device used with the TV board as well as the Logitech keyboard and keypad.
The system divides devices into zones. The terminology and usage is common to heating and lighting systems. Typically a zone is one or more rooms along with the devices within that area. I set up separate zones for the major rooms in the house and then started adding the devices to each zone.
You need to have the Insteon and X10 device IDs and device type when adding devices to the system. The type allows you to control the kinds of features available on a device since some of the more complex Insteon devices have more than just a power on/off feature. Typically this process is done once and when you add new devices.
Adding a device provides access to basic operations like turning a device on and off. Things get more interesting if you want to take advantage of macros. Macros can be triggered by an action like pressing a button on a KeypadLinc. Macros are simple programs that can do anything with a device that can be controlled by the system. It can also send mail. Since e-mail can often be sent to cell phones, you can be notified when someone turns on a light or when a detector is triggered.
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