Help with this automation

[hunter69]

I am currently remodeling a room into a Home theater/MP room. I have decided to control the lights using UPB. I am in need of a blackout shade to control light, so I selected one from the avoutlet. It is a roller shade witha somfy motor on it. I have not ordered the shade yet but am planning to soon. I am trying to formulate a workable plan to automate this process. here is more information to consider. This is my first venture into home automation. I plan to do more including security. I am close to purchasing a Omni or Elk but just not yet due to my current project.
My goal is:
To control the lights and roller shade using the IR/RF capabilities of the URC remote control. I would create different macros for different situations.

I had came up with an idea to control the lights using a universal remote. I currently own a URC MX-880 with the mrf350. My plan was to buy a ir capable scene controller and use it to controll the lights.

Now on to gaining control of the Roller shade. I am purchasing the blackout roller shade from avoutlet. I talked with avoutlet and they suggested the "Somfy Sonesse ST30 DCT ". The person from avoutlet that I emailed stated "I would consider using the the Somfy Sonesse 30 DCT. This motor can be controlled via Dry Contact (Momentary Relays) There are UPB and X10 dry contact modules that should work to control the motor". Here is a link to the motor that was suggested http://www.av-outlet.com/en-us/dept_4.html

So now I am trying to figure out what other components are needed in order to automate these components. I am planning on purchasing something similar to the "PCS DCT-6" to control the lights. I am also wondering if this situation is dependant on involving say an Elk M1 or Hai Omni or a software equivlant. If so I would obviously be looking for suggestions?

Thanks for all the help so I can purchase the correct components to make this possible.

 

[etc6849]

You could look on ebay for a used URC MSC-400 and ditch the MRF-350. If you programmed your current setup yourself, it shouldn't be too hard to program the MSC-400 to work with your setup. Make sure the 880 will work with an MSC-400 first, but I think it can...

The MSC-400 will have contacts and 12-volt triggers on the back to work with your blinds; it will also have a serial interface so you could potentially figure out how to use that to control lights in all your rooms if you can find a UPB serial controller. You would embed custom RS232 codes as macros that are triggered by your remote. Not an elegant solution, but it would work.

I don't think many here use the URC line of stuff as it's not very capable compared to the many DIY systems available. There's a few links in my signature you may want to explore if you want a whole home automation system. I use an Elk M1G in along with a PC based HA sytem. All logic for the Elk is handled through the PC via an opensource Elk software module for Premise.

The PC software I use is free and is much more powerful than what URC products can do. I use it along with IP based IR controllers to control A/V components. However, I too like the URC hard button remotes and have integrated them into my system as a dumb remote: http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18691

The philosophy behind my setup is I have only one system (PC running Premise) that contains all HA logic. If you want full integration, you can't leave logic upto the URC remote alone. Of course, things like the Elk M1G still handle the security logic internally, but the PC can use the same motion sensors for lighting automation...

 

[hunter69]

You could look on ebay for a used URC MSC-400 and ditch the MRF-350. If you programmed your current setup yourself, it shouldn't be too hard to program the MSC-400 to work with your setup. Make sure the 880 will work with an MSC-400 first, but I think it can...

The MSC-400 will have contacts and 12-volt triggers on the back to work with your blinds; it will also have a serial interface so you could potentially figure out how to use that to control lights in all your rooms if you can find a UPB serial controller. You would embed custom RS232 codes as macros that are triggered by your remote. Not an elegant solution, but it would work.

I don't think many here use the URC line of stuff as it's not very capable compared to the many DIY systems available. There's a few links in my signature you may want to explore if you want a whole home automation system. I use an Elk M1G in along with a PC based HA sytem. All logic for the Elk is handled through the PC via an opensource Elk software module for Premise.

The PC software I use is free and is much more powerful than what URC products can do. I use it along with IP based IR controllers to control A/V components. However, I too like the URC hard button remotes and have integrated them into my system as a dumb remote: http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18691

The philosophy behind my setup is I have only one system (PC running Premise) that contains all HA logic. If you want full integration, you can't leave logic upto the URC remote alone. Of course, things like the Elk M1G still handle the security logic internally, but the PC can use the same motion sensors for lighting automation...

Does the MSC400 use the same software(complete control) as the MX880? Right now I am currently using the MX880 in our bedroom, this is a plan for a new area/room in our house, so if there is a better implementation that I should consider, please suggest. I did program the MX880 but I am far from advanced with it. I made it work but should probably spend more time with the program to get better at it (especially when dealing with devices that don't have discreet IR codes.

 

[hunter69]

So I have found this item:

http://pulseworx.com/OCM_.htm

How would I find out if the above item would work to control the following items:

http://www.av-outlet.com/en-us/dept_4.html

http://www.firgelliauto.com/product_info.php?cPath=91&products_id=51

I am wondering if I purchased the appropriate UPB switches and the above item with a PCS DCT-6 if this would work. What do you think?

SO I am looking for input as to what it would take to control my IR equipment (Onkyo HT receiver, Sagetv HD300 etc etc) using UPB. Then maybe turn an Ipad into the remote control. I am not stuck on the urc remote. I use it else where in the house.

 

[etc6849]

Sorry, I don't use UPB... I use leviton vizia RF+ (z-wave) stuff and an elk m1g (security).

The problem with the MSC-400 is unless you run wires for IR emitters to the other TV, it can't work in a multi-zone installation. The best option is to install an IR hub at your secondary location and run a cable from the MSC-400 to the hub. The MSC-400 can handle multiple remotes assigned to the same RF channel and can store complex macros that are triggered by remote buttons, but you need special editing software to use it. I use three MX-900's with my setup.

The Global Cache (GC) products are what I use for IR control over ethernet. The MSC-400 acts only as a bridge for receiving the RF signal from my URC remotes and sends ascii text to my PC over a serial port. I have a GC iTach WIFI2IR at one TV and a GC-100-12 in my theater. My PC talks to the GC devices over the network after processing the ascii data from the MSC-400.

I'm not sure what your skill level is... If you are very good at computers and networking, have done some vbscripting in MS Office or are willing to learn, and know how to wire basic circuits and use a volt meter, a PC option is best for you (Premise is a free option, but Homeseer is another). If this doesn't apply to you, there's Control4 which is much more user friendly and pretty powerful, but you'll have a hard time finding a dealer willing to let you have the software even if you buy the components from them...