Smart Home Blog

30th of June was released a new version of VDRAdmin-AM - alternative web interface for VDR. The v3.6.2 contains following major changes:

• No need to set the VFAT option in VDRAdmin-AM any longer as both filename codings will be searched for.
• Include UTF8 locales by default.
• Added support for modifying EPGSearch blacklists.
• Show stream and switch buttons in prog_summary on channels without EPG information.

Additionally a few translations was added and minor bugs were fixed.

VDRAdmin-AM is a fork of VDRAdmin. It became more popular than its parent. It’s a result of good localization, quick bug fixing and implementing requested features, support of all well-known web browsers.

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When I made a research of irrigation controller for our smarthome project one of the best options was Rain8. It satisfied all conditions except one - non-Windows user interface (our home automation system is Linux-based). SiteController for Irrigation & Lighting is deprived this lack. It includes built-in web servicer. So you’ll able to configure the SiteController using any web browser. Additionally it provies:

• 16 stations standard, expandable to 48, with master valve control
• Simple integration with home automation systems
• Programmable sms, email and pager alerts
• Standard 10/100 ethernet connection (possible add WiFi module)
• Support for local weather station
• Weather Resistant polycarbonate enclosure (NEMA3/IP54)
• Simple front panel controls for test and maintenance
• Optional two-wire expansion bus for additional sensors and controls

The SiteController for Irrigation & Lighting is available for pre-order at price $1,295.00.

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Bye Bye Standby has announced its new controller which provides a web interface to control its sockets, outlets and other modules. The controller should be connected to the internet. To communicate with Bye Bye Standby devices it uses radio frequency 433 MHz. So, you don’t need additional wiring.

To be able to use that feature Bye Bye Standby offers a web service. You need to create an account, register your controller and after that you can control your appliance, check its status and monitor energy usage from anywhere in the world via the web. Additionally, Bye Bye Standby on-line service offers sending notifications by email or SMS. But SMS is not free. you should pay for them as well as for using the service.

Sounds good but a bit now clear for me. I prefer to have built-in web server in the controller to avoid using such web services. Moreover, the service is not free. You should pay some monthly amount plus cost of SMS. But if you already Bye Bye Standby devices that controller might be interesting for you.

Bye Bye Standby Online Kit is available at price £84.99 inc VAT and three months of subscription to its web service.

[via AutomatedHome]

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BlueLava is a Perl web application which allows to control your x10 devices via Internet. It’s run as CGI script (it’s old school but many providers support CGI and its configuration is extremely simple) and uses various commandline x10 utilities. The latest version - v0.4.1 offers WAP interface. So you’ll able to control your home devices even from your mobile phone. Demo version of BlueLava 0.4.3 can be found here.

BlueLava is developed using Perl under GPL license. So if you’re Perl geek you can extend it easily and share your result with other people.

BlueLava v0.4.3 can be downloaded here.

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If you value your lawn the Rain8net 8 Zone Irrigation Controller is for you! It’allows non-X10 control of 8 zones directly from your PC, which must remain running to control the irrigation schedule. Main features are:

• Access and control irrigation system remotely over any Internet-connected computer
• Allows non-X10 control of 8 to over 2000 zones directly from a PC or any RS232 serial device
• Provides 2-way control of individual zones with status response

The Rain8net 8 Zone Irrigation Controller can be integrated with home automation systems such as HomeSeer. Maybe it’s also possible to use it with Plutohome (as Generic Serial Device).

UPDATED: It seems that Plutohome should support Rain8net but I didn’t find yet how. I found this software mcssprinklers which can be used standalone or as plugin to the Homeseer to control Rain8net.

UPDATED: There is a WiFi version of Rain8net which seems more catching than wired version.

[via SmartHome]

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