Another newb question

[dustin2471]

Hello All, 
 
Very green and lost right now, I just got my OPII up and running and was able to get the pc access software connected to OPII.  Now what? at this point I dont know how to get my UPB switches into the pc access software?  I was under the impression that  my UPB switches would be imported into the pc access software and then I would be able to centrally manage my future devices also?  Or am I in for a surprise?  If so what software should I look at for central management of my lighting, alarm, video cameras, whole house audio, etc?  
 
Thank You in advance for your help!
Dustin

 

[Desert_AIP]

Are they HAI brand HLC switches or another brand (i.e. PCS or Simply Automated)?
 
The Omni can import the HAI switches into the controller, then you have to import from the controller to PCAccess.  The controller must be set to HLC.
For other brands, you have to manually configure the switches in the Units section in PCAccess and then export to the controller.
 
I highly recommend you use the HLC protocol, even if using another brand UPB switches.
That's the only way to ensure reliable status tracking without a LOT of programming.
 
If you manually configure the switches, and use HLC, you'll have to follow some simple rules regarding unit and link allocation.

 

[dustin2471]

Thank you Desert_AIP,
 
They are Simply Automated switches. Another question, are there videos or something that can help me understand all the OPII can do? and then how to do it?
 
Thank You,
Dustin

 

[tmbrown97]

You can do just about anything with it - honestly; it's a matter of getting an understanding of the general principles.  The OPII has inputs and outputs as well as interfaces to a few other items - the use of those and some rules is what allows you to all the creative stuff.
 
I'm thinking a good place to start would be perusing the programming examples in the HAI subforum - I'll bet you'll find quite of bit of inspiration in there - but, IE isn't letting me paste right now - so - go into the Forums and the HAI subforum, and at the top is another level deep for Programming - in there you'll see things people are trying and some good explanations of how things work within the language.

 

[Desert_AIP]

The HAI website has a lot of videos on it

The Omni is very flexible and configurable.
You can do a lot with it.
You sometimes have to methodical in thinking about what you want it to do, but it's fairly straightforword.

 

[Desert_AIP]

Thank you Desert_AIP,
 
They are Simply Automated switches. Another question, are there videos or something that can help me understand all the OPII can do? and then how to do it?
 
Thank You,
Dustin

I also use Simply Automated switches almost exclusively (as do many others on this site).
Search this site for HLC

There are a few things you need to plan out before programming your switches.
I put together a little spread sheet with units and links and rooms so I could plan out everything before I started adding switches.
You'll need UPStart to program the switches themselves.

 

[dustin2471]

Thank you to both, I have upstart and have had the switches installed and programmed for over a year before getting the OPII, I will check both things out and go from there, thank you for your help!
 
Thank you!!!
Dustin

 

[Desert_AIP]

You may need to reassign some unit numbers and link numbers if you didn't initially plan for an HLC install.
 
I did the transition with about 60 units installed.
I planned it all out on a spread sheet so when it came time to program everything I could go about it in a methodical manner.
It took me just a couple of hours.
 
Once I made the transition any additional tweaks have been easy, and status tracking works very well.