OMNI PRO II - Resources to learn the system FAST!

iostream212

iostream212

Active Member
My work friend has had enough of his HAI system and wants me to help him program it. The system came with the home and my friend is not into technology at all. I am from the ELK/Insteon camp so I am familiar with automation and security, but have never done anything with HAI. To prep I had him purchase the Snap Link and the dealer access software. I am afraid I bit off more than I can chew because he told me the house has 3 panels of automation controls and the whole house, all 11,000 square feet of it, is entirely automated. Lights, audio, thermostats, EVERYTHING. Is there any good references to get a good basic understanding of the OMNI Pro 2 quickly? His major gripes are:
1.) Thermostat. It is set to a program that he hates. He wants the program fixed to his specifications and to control it over his android phone.
2.) Lighting scene in the backyard is messed up and the lights do not turn off as supposed to. He made it sound like it is based on time and a photo sensor.
3.) He doesn't know how to use the security system. This, hopefully, should be self explanatory looking at the keypad.

THANKS CT!
 
Either you and he spend the time to do it right, or hire someone.

If he signs up for monitoring with an HAI dealer, at x$/month, x36 mos, they'll probably take care of most of that.

Or, pay a local integrator familiar with HAI, at an hourly rate. Everyone can agree on a fair price.
 
That's a good point. I didn't think of the monitoring company as a resource to do the programming of the system. I know from talking with him over the years that he had 2 different integrators out from different companies and did not achieve the results he was looking for. That really surprised me. I found the user manual online so I'll flip through that. Maybe youtube will have a quick tutorial vid or something so I can get the basics down. As a HA enthusiast I honestly can't wait to see this system. :)
 
Ok so I did the configuration today and everything went OK. As a novice in the OmniPro II camp here is what I did:
1.) Install PC Access.
The initial security stamp is to encrypt your account file. I needed to install the .Net framework as well (v2.0). After installed check for updates. This required registering the software with HAI. This was easy enough following the prompts. After PC Access was installed and updated create a new account file. With the file created connect to the system. We used the ethernet port. You need to have the following to connect via the ethernet: ip address of the Omni panel, port number, and part 1 and 2 of the security keys. The default password is PASSWORD if you need to see/change the keys. I didn't have the things needed to connect to the ethernet port, but found them easily enough in the setup menu on one of the touch screens. Configure the network settings with the information from the last step. Then go to communications and connect. If all is well you should connect to the panel if everything is correct. Once connected select the read from panel option under the communications menu to receive all current system settings into your account. After this is done save your account file. Any changes to the system need to be sent to the panel via the communications menu and the file re-saved.
2.) Install Snap Link. This was easy as well and involved a lot of the same step from before. Register the software with HAI, create an account file and save it to the Snap Link drive, set communication options and credentials, save, and then connect. This was up and running in minutes after step 1.
3.) Install Snap Link mobile. This involved the same configuration steps as before. I was not, however, able to connect with Snap Link mobile. Further investigation found that Snap Link mobile requires firmware v2.16, and we had v2.11. Firmware updates can be done without new chips, as I understand it, on the newer OmniPro II boards. Our board was older and we had to purchase a new firmware chip that needs to inserted in the board in place of the older chip. The website to order is http://www.easycart.net/HAI
So that is where I left it. We will wait and continue after the new chip arrives. Left to do: Update firmware. Setup remote access. Figure out the camera system. I did see 7 cameras connected to a video server board. I assume it was an HAI product as the cameras were viewable on the touch screens.

A few questions for seasoned users:
1.) The thermostats were not responding to Snap Link / PC Access control. There are 6 thermostats, all model RC-120. I did a quick read and found that the thermostat can not be on 'hold' if you want to control them remotely. I did turn one off hold mode, but still was not able to control it remotely.
2.) The lighting used throughout the home is UPB. How are the scenes created/modified? I did not see too many options in PC Access, unless I was looking in the wrong spot.

So the best place to get information to quickly get up and running is.... drum roll.... the HAI website! Shocking! Go to http://www.homeauto.com/Support/Downloads/downloads.asp to view all the quick start guides/user manuals. It was a bit of a read, but not difficult to understand if you are technologically proficient.
 
The best option for Omni with UPB is to follow the HLC convention. HLC is simply a structured allocation of links and unit numbers.
It allows the Omni to track status and automates a lot of the "book keeping" to maintain status.

See this thread and my posts with links to the docs and discussions.
http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20105&view=findpost&p=163903

You need to set up each UPB switch in the "Units" section of PCAccess.
You set up the links in the "Scenes" section under HLC and UPB (I recommend doing it in both places).
You will program the scenes into the switches via UPStart. (you can set up HAI switches in learn mode and program them without UPStart, but I find it more straight forward to do everything in UPStart).

Plan the install first and decide what switches you want where.
Write out the list of links and how each switch interacts with them (do this on a spreadsheet).
It's much easier to program PCAccess and UPStart with a written plan.
 
Thanks Desert_AIP. That is great info. I got the spreadsheet ready to go!
Ps. If anyone has at Omnistat RC-120 installation manual pdf please PM me. I am still having issues getting the thermostats communicating. Thanks!
 
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