Linux shell and... what automation brand?

[fubaya]

I'm currently using a Pogoplug running Debian and Heyu for X10. I have a W800RF32A but haven't been impressed with the wireless reliability. I want to control my garage door and put in some door sensors and want something more reliable than X10. I want full up and down garage door control too, so I can trigger it from my phone at the end of my road and have the door up by the time I get there, not just down in case I forget to close it.

I need to control it from the Linux command line. I control my current setup remotely from my Android phone with simple ssh shortcuts and also send custom push notifications to the phone, so, as long as the sensors communicate to the Pogoplug, it can tell me via my phone that the door is open.

This not only allows me to directly control it remotely, but also have the phone automatically trigger things when I am near the house or when I connect to my home's wireless. It's nice to see the lights come on as I approach the house and turn off motion sensors when I walk in and my phone connects to the router (well, they're still on but it turns off the notifications when they detect motion).

I can pretty much build the logic to a system on my own as long as I can trigger things from the command line and have sensors report their state to a command line program.

So, what's better than X10 and can be controlled from a Linux shell?

 

[roussell]

Insteon can be controlled with python and pyinsteon. UPB is a 'fairly' simple protocol that could be scripted pretty easily if not already out there. You could also run Misterhouse (use the SVN version) and have your choice of UPB, Insteon, and ZWave.

Outside of that you can use the CAI webcontrol (buy on Amazon) board for digital and analog I/O plus 8 1-wire temp sensors and 1 humidity sensor (FWIW I use one of these to control/monitor my garage doors). Also tons of options with weeder boards, velleman boards, and lots of 1-wire options for low-speed stuff.

Terry

 

[damage]

usb gamepads as contact closure devices. i have a couple dockstars that use them

 

[JimS]

Damage, please elaborate on the gamepad option. I found a little information but it appears there are a number of gamepads and I didn't find much in the way of code.

I am wanting a similar thing but would like to have input and output. There are some projects out there that use a microprocessor such as AVR or Arduino to provide I/O. Here are a couple.

http://infodepot.wikia.com/wiki/Add_30_GPIO_pins_to_a_WRT54G
http://h1866352.stratoserver.net/WRT54GL_add_on/WRT54GL_add_on.html
http://www.jbprojects.net/projects/wifirobot/
http://mightyohm.com/blog/2008/10/building-a-wifi-radio-part-1-introduction/
(parts 7 and 8 cover linking the router to an AVR for I/O)

I am planning to use a router similar to the mightyohm link.

 

[damage]

since you're using misterhouse, check out the linux::joystick perl package http://goo.gl/ttJRv

 

[fubaya]

Thanks for the info, I thought MisterHouse was only for X10 and never knew it supported other protocols.

I'm wanting to use recessed wireless door sensors but I couldn't find any recessed sensors that actually say they're for Insteon, Z-wave or UPB or any protocol. How do they work? Do they all work the same and you have to get a receiver for your protocol that works with them all?

 

[linuxha]

Misterhouse is for all protocols. It's a little tough to figure out what is supported and what's either on the way or supported in a limited way.

As roussel suggested use the SVN version (http://misterhouse.wikispaces.com/Subversion ). Also join the mail list as it will help with the steep learning curve.

 

[fubaya]

I'm not worried about Misterhouse, I just need on/off and to receive wireless signals, it's really overkill so should be easy to figure it out. I just need some free time to actually do fun things.

What's frustrating is looking for recessed sensors. None of them seem to say what protocol they are for. Some, like the GE sensors say they need a GE receiver. But most just say "recessed door sensors $xx.xx" and that's it.

Ah well, I'll find some sooner or later.