I’m investigating to buy a domotica system, primary used for light control and later on for sound/TV control also.
The VELBUS system looks like a promising system, but I have still some questions afte investigating the online docs and forum … May be someone can help:
Can I attach a push button (using VMB8PB or VMB8IN?) that controls one dimmable light with next commands:
short push: on/off, on = restore previous dim %
long push: cycle through dim % from current % to 100% and back to 0%
What modules do I need to do this?
I want to create macro’s (watching tv: dimming lights, putting on indirect lights, …). Is this possible out of the box with the pc or other modules? What modules do I need?
I’m a programmer writing some own code is not an issue.
3.I have a Logitech Harmony remote. Can this be used? If I know how to simulate the vbirts remote it should work, no?
However is it possible to launch macros with the remote?
It would be very nice to control from a pda over TCP/IP. Is this possible?
If all those questions are possible this would be awesome: then I could even write an add on for Window Media Center to control all lights from the MCE remote with a nice MCE interface
All good and bad experiences involving those questions are very welcome. I will be glad to help the community to set up some open-source VELBUS projects
[quote]1.
Can I attach a push button (using VMB8PB or VMB8IN?) that controls one dimmable light with next commands:
short push: on/off, on = restore previous dim %
long push: cycle through dim % from current % to 100% and back to 0%
What modules do I need to do this?
[/quote]
Yes. You need a dimmer module and a pushbutton module (VMB8PB or VMB8IN)
[quote]2.
I want to create macro’s (watching tv: dimming lights, putting on indirect lights, …). Is this possible out of the box with the pc or other modules? What modules do I need?
I’m a programmer writing some own code is not an issue.
[/quote]
You can assign multiple tasks to one button, or you can write some code on the PC and execute it. For this, you need the USB or serial interface module.
At this time, this is being tested. Evaluation code is available.
[quote]3.I have a Logitech Harmony remote. Can this be used? If I know how to simulate the vbirts remote it should work, no?
However is it possible to launch macros with the remote?
[/quote]
If it is a learning remote, then it will probably be able to grab the codes of the custom Velleman remote.
What exactly has to be done to add several tasks to one push button? Is
here a PC interface to do that, or does one have to write code to do that?
Is there a program that I can download to see (simulate) these possibilities? As a programmer it is important to me to know what the options are. May be someone can point me to a code example or some documentation?
What’s the difference between the VMB6IN and VMB8PB except for the nr of inputs? It seems odd that the 8-channel module is cheaper than the 6-channel module … I must be overlooking somthing.
Where can I find more info about the (upcomming) TCP/IP possibilities? Can’t wait to see the evaluation code: Can you point me to an url?
Thanks again for the feedback. Much appreciated.
Gert
[quote]1.
What exactly has to be done to add several tasks to one push button? Is
here a PC interface to do that, or does one have to write code to do that?
[/quote]
Either you write code or you learn the button to several modules
[quote]2.
Is there a program that I can download to see (simulate) these possibilities? As a programmer it is important to me to know what the options are. May be someone can point me to a code example or some documentation? [/quote]
Free Velbus software is availiable from www.velleman.be
No simulation.
[quote]3.
What’s the difference between the VMB6IN and VMB8PB except for the nr of inputs? It seems odd that the 8-channel module is cheaper than the 6-channel module … I must be overlooking somthing.[/quote]
8-channel: for mounting behind a pushbutton (short wires)
6-channel: optically isolated, for long wires between PB and module
[quote]4. Where can I find more info about the (upcomming) TCP/IP possibilities? Can’t wait to see the evaluation code: Can you point me to an url?
[/quote]
I have a universal Logitech Harmony remote control. Unfortunately the Harmony database does not yet contain the Velbus Vbirts remote.
Luckily the Harmony remote can also learn commands from existing remotes. But it would be a pitty to buy the Velleman vbirts remote just for the sake of learning and afterwards not using it anymore.
So I spend some time testing other Velleman IR components that are present in the Harmony comptibl devices database. I found the VellemanK8050 IR light controller to be compathible with the Vbirts remote!
Here are the corresponding commands to remote-control all 8 buttons on the vmb4pd:
