X10 Girder Control

[siegeld]

Girder is great! Thanks!

I've just got girder talking to me every time I enter my room. The setup works like this:

1. I'm running an X10Controller class on a Tini standalone Java computer board that sits on my LAN. It is connected to an X10 serial computer. When X10 commands are picked up by the computer they are broadcast over my LAN by the Tini device.

2. On a Linux box, I've got a Java program that listens for these commands. When it receives a particular command it connects to my Windows box and connects to the Girder Internet client to issue a Girder event.

Of course, all this could run off of a single Windows computer, since the driver programs are all simple Java. I've created a distributed system for various other reasons.

The setup works really well. Right now I'm using an X10 motion sensor, and when motion is sensed Girder starts talking to me. Maybe some day I'll come up with a more practical application for this nice technology.

David

[visormiser]

Hi. I've been scouring the Net for weeks looking for something like this. Can you explain in newbie-terms how you did this?

I've got a CM11A and a firecracker transmitter, and want to use my motion detector to have my windows xp box emit and audible "hello" when I enter the room. Can you tell me how you set this up? What is a tini device? What Java plug-ins do you use? Is this something that could be easily grasped by a non-programmer?

Tx in advance for your help.

[Liickdude]

For X10 integration, you should look at the Powerlinc from www.smarthome.com. It will allow you to send and recieve X10 commands over the power line in your house. I have had some trouble getting mine to send, but I now have girder able to execute commands from X10 commands, or motion sensors. You will still require a working X10 transceiver to make it all work. The motion sensor sends a signal to the transciever, which sends a command over the powerline, which the powerlinc listens for. It works very well, the powerlinc is about $37 US and makes X10 integration into girder very seamless. I use an X10 controller in my kitchen to power on or off the entire theater downstairs, pause the DVD, or mute volume. It is a pain to run upstairs for something and then have to go back down to turn off the theater equipment if I decide to stay upstairs. I know, I am lazy.

[Odi]

Darn, I went and ordered a Powerlinc USB before I realized girder existed.

I am a developer though. Maybe its up to me to write some HID device drivers.

[Odi]

OK. I have some news on this. I think I'll go post in the developer forum.

[Haddood]

i think there is an easier way to this, certainly you will be needing an x10 motion detector device ... and CM11 / CM 12 X10 Driver plugin ... then do the following:
create a new girder command (I call it: recieve x10)

in the events drop down list choose "Girder Event"
click "learn event" ...
in the dialog box, choose "On Event" for the first drop down list and
CM11 / CM 12 X10 Driver
click select now go back to the command and from girder tab choose "variable manipulation script" ...
click on apply then script botton ...
then use the following as a guide ...

X10event = EventString

if (strfind (X10event, "Event you want to detect, ex: A_1_On" )) then
TriggerEvent("a girder event that you want to be executed", 18 )
end

[ewingr]

I'm trying to figure out what I need in order to get Girder to send CMDs to an X10 for light control.

I've been told by Smarthome that I should use sthe Powerlinc instead of the CM stuff. (They didn't know anything about Girder.)

The post above implies that girder works with Powerlinc.

But I can't determine for sure if there are plugins for girder with Powerlinc.

Any feedback on this?

BTW...I'm doing just 4 light sets, so don't want to invest in something like Homeseer.

[Promixis]

Girder does not support the powerlinc usb at this time.

[ewingr]

So I'm gathering.

I hear that I can use the Powerlink Serial, based on using the Serial Plugin.

[Promixis]

Yes, the serial version works.

An USB HID driver is on the list of todo's