Security system features?

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  • Last Post 11 June 2013
joe.ak2@gmail.com posted this 08 December 2012

I think it's a good idea - if you could envision this feature inside of InControl, how would it work? What would you as a user be able to setup?

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Ryan-Scott posted this 11 December 2012

I think it's a good idea - if you could envision this feature inside of InControl, how would it work? What would you as a user be able to setup?

joe.ak2@gmail.com posted this 11 December 2012



THe way I'd want it, you would have a seperate tab for security. First, you'd load all devices that you'd consider as part of the security section of the app (IE: sensors, locks, etc.), much the way a rule is created by checking all devices.

Then you'd have a section to enter a schedule for a normal workday by clicking on hours for each day (sort of like this . Once the schedule was set, you'd allow the user to select an action that would occur upon a sensor tripping (such as email, texting, activating relay to siren, etc.). You can also have a setting for integrating onx.ms into the mix by allowing the user to automatically disarm the unit upon arriving home. Of course, you'd also have some sort of system in place that would allow the user to manually disable, perhaps by phone or zwave keypad by entering a code (I don't know about this part, do these exist?) Also, include options for emailing/text when temperature drops in the house, as this could be touted as a great feature for vacation homes.

Along with the sensors part, you could integrate specific cameras into the software, to allow external linking to their feeds from InControl.

I'm sort of thinking of InControl as a central spot for your home automation needs, which could include other devices that may be connected by aren't zwave (such as IP cameras).

A central part of making this happen would have to include a more streamlined way of programming sensors to do specific tasks with less understand of how logic scripting works. I have been in IT for going on 15 years and have scripted in PHP, Visual Basic and some ASP, but I am still having issues figuring out exactly what needs to be where in the rules/conditions sections. You need to idiot proof the setup for users who don't want to tweak the system. Not saying you can't have the scripting there, but have a wizard type interface and an advanced interface.

I know a lot of this is totally possible in your current implementation, but your userbase could expand exponentially if you made it easier to setup. I've been telling all my coworkers about the system and they are all interested, but I just know that it's going to be a lot of work for me to get them setup in the beginning.

Axial-User posted this 04 January 2013

I can understand Joe's thought on this. I'm a software programmer and I was able to figure out all the scripting and rules stuff via trial and error and logical assumptions. But Rule Data and the Conditions screens needs some work.

Screens on the Rule Data options as follows.
'Day of Week' screen. Nowhere is it depicted that 'not' checking the days means all the time. Again coming from a software background, a normal person has no idea. I had actually thought maybe all of them needed to be checked at first as the rule wasn't working as planned but it turned out to be something else.

NodeIds screen has all the nodes listed. Sounds like what I would look for yet doesn't matter what I check, all of the nodes still show up in Conditions screen. I've also discovered that it's not just nodes 'affected by this rule'. I have a motion sensor set up to turn a light on, if I don't select the sensor on this screen along with the light to turn one, the rule doesn't work, regardless what I have in the Conditions. Not sure why that or how that works together.

Off to On screen. There a reason these are not radio buttons instead of entering 'True' or 'False'? It also says when 'a device changes' yet I'm not really sure I know which specific device it would be talking about. Trial and error resulted setting this to true for my motion sensor rule.

Off to On screen. Similar comment about radio buttons versus text. Users tend to fat finger. Also which device is it referring to.

Any Level Change screen. Again the same with entering text and which device does it apply to.


It all seems to work as it is now but can be more user friendly. I'm not here to bash the software either. I'm liking the software quite a bit. I had been developing my own zwave app (just a pure web service) and didn't feel like reinventing the wheel so now I'm using InControl since it too has web services and GUI.

Heck, if you ever want some help Ryan, just let me know and I could assist within my free cycles :P.

On a programming note, can you clean up the .pdb .NET debug files that are being deploying with the installs. I'm anal retentive and it's driving me nutz, lol.

-N

frogbass posted this 11 June 2013

Hey all. I am a BEYOND new Newbie. But I love to figure things out. I started learning about wifi thermostats then ended up getting a whole new Trane HVAC system installed in my house, not by choice, and it came with Z-wave thermostats. I read up as much as I could on different options and ended up getting Incontrol Pro lifetime and love it! But I just have the two thermostats and a light switch hooked up. So I turn the light on and off with my phone and it makes me laugh. I intend on adding tons of stuff little by little, love it.
I did, however, assume that I would be able to hook up my alarm system to it. I read through the forums looking for how to connect my existing hardwired alarm system to Incontrol and happened upon this thread. So to answer Ryan's question, if I may, in the eyes of a green newbie....... It would be so cool to get something like the Honeywell Lynx or Tuxedo or some Z-wave security panel and hook it up to an existing system then "run it" with InControl. So like arm it and disarm it and be sent a text if something trips the alarm.... in a nutshell. That would be too cool. Honestly I got InControl because I didn't want to pay another monthly bill to use equipment I was already paying a monthly bill for, IE my internet and phone, to use my Z-wave. I don't "monitor" my alarm system because I don't want to pay the monthly bill either but I would love to use InControl for that. It seems like a perfect marriage. Thanks!!!!!!

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