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Hello, I currently own a KP400 driver version 20211108 and looking to ad devices like HS100. It looks like there is new driver that will support HS100. What's the best way for me to upgrade to the new driver? Does the license I currently have cover upgrade to the new driver?  My controller is running 3.2.3.606460 (which I can upgrade).

On 3/8/2020 at 8:12 AM, Jim McKernan said:

I have a simple automation in place that opens my home shutters at a certain time of the day. I want to add logic that prevents the shutters from opening if it is raining outside. I installed the "Control4 Weather" driver but am unable to undertand which variable I should be using. I see the "FORECAST_NEXT" variable but what are the possible values? In fact, what are the values for any of the variables? Without knowing the exact values, creating an automation feels like such a hit and run experience.

Any pointers are appreciated. 

This pretty nice, I am looking to do a similar thing. Is the driver you used a free driver or something you have to buy? I did a quick search and didn't come up with anything.

2 hours ago, alanchow said:

We don’t have this functionality but am happy to provide you with a refund.

In future please use our 90 day trial to test out our drivers prior to purchase

Thank you, will do. Do you think I can use your free "ping" driver to just periodically detect device being offline and reset the state to off? Frankly I would rather find a way to make this work.

9 hours ago, alanchow said:

Yep this is exactly what OvrC and Domotz is developed for.  If you do not have network monitoring installed i highly suggest you look into it as most professional installers utilise this product nowadays to ensure all of their sites are healthy and if not they can be proactive about servicing them.

You can find out more about OvrC and Domotz via the links below.

https://www.ovrc.com/

https://www.domotz.com/

Thank you, I understand your line of thinking here but the functionality is needed within Control4 driver so you can react to the device being offline - just like the native Kasa app is able to do. Do you think you guys can implement this? I bought the driver but without this functionality it's not a viable solution.

On 8/28/2021 at 5:49 PM, alanchow said:

That is a feature our driver does not have.

It sounds like you have other problems you should resolve (power issues and/or wifi issues).

Luckily for us that there are alot of network monitoring tools out there.

My two choices are Domotz or OvrC.

Note OvrC has alot of compatibility with Control4 as it is created by the same company that owns Control4 (SnapOne).

Just to clarify there are no power or wifi issues going on at the site, all equipment is working as expected. This is really about having a defensive mechanism in case Control4 looses connection to KP400. This can be for any number of reasons such as bad wifi reception in the area where an outlet is deployed or a circuit breaker popping. If this was to happen you for sure want to know Control4 lost connection and notify/display/handle this in a meaningful way and not be in the dark so to speak. 

Hello,

I have KP400 installed with the chowmain driver and seems to be working ok at least with one outlet I have tested so far. What is not working is when the KP400 is unplugged from utility power the native KASA app detects the outlet going offline but Control4 doesn't seem to. This very important for reliable handling of situation when KP400 looses power for one reason or another. Does the driver support detection of KP400 going offline or is there a way to detect it with some clever programming? Driver version below. Thank you.

7 hours ago, msgreenf said:

no

Thank you. I sort of understand how to do the Amazon dot setup but may need your help with programming. Would be interested in doing some remote programming? Separately there is a HEOS C4 driver, what is a good use for it if any?

On 1/31/2019 at 8:04 AM, msgreenf said:

Yup. Exactly. Really now you could buy the echo input instead of dots

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
 

Hello, I have a Denon receiver with HEOS, Control4 audio matrix and Amazon dots in the house. Is there a way to direct HEOS from Amazon dot and use that as Control4 source?

I am sorry if I am being a little slow here, I feel like I understand the concepts here but not the whole "best practice" approach here. The way I see this is there are choices:

1. Add all devices are added to Control4. All programming of picos kicking on/off multiple lights, timer based scenes  etc including dimmer percentages and ramp up times are coded in Control4 composer and Lutron repeater only acts as conduit. This may produce a flood of individual commands and also a popcorn like effect from what I understand.

2. Combination approach. Add all devices to Control4. Add phantom buttons to Lutron repeater that invoke scenes as they are programmed in Lutron repeater and invoke scenes from C4. Pico control buttons associated with kicking other lights on/off will remain programmed in Lutron repeater. Here all the timer and possible other advanced programming scenarios are done in C4. 

I would really appreciate if someone could confirm what is considered "best practice".

1 hour ago, lippavisual said:

Yes, if that’s what you use to control the lights. 

Thank you, this makes sense. When you say "pecos integrate just fine" I think you are talking about having them available in C4 controller so I can kick them and and off from the C4 UI. Is that correct or there is something else I should be thinking when it comes to integrating picos?

2 hours ago, lippavisual said:

Picks integrate just fine.  For scene control, you will want to use phantom buttons to bind to C4 buttons, etc. to control the Lutron scenes.  This way the lighting system works the way it was designed. 

Should I keep Picos programming (lights they control) in Lutron repeater then and not move them move to C4 at all? 

12 hours ago, dinom said:

If you move scenes to C4, the lights will not execute in tandem, but will sequence on one at a time (popcorn effect). 

Thanks. So what's the best way to set this up then? I have some picos that control scenes like "welcome home" turning on bunch of lights. I also have timer based scenes. One way i read people using phantom buttons on the Lutron side and trigger a scene using C4 and this phantom button. What about picos, what's the best way to integrate here?

Hello,

I am looking for advice on integrating an existing RadioRa2 installation with a Control4 install. The RadioRa2 switches, dimmers and picos have been fully configured and scenes programmed in the Lutron repeater. I am thinking it's best to have all programming under one controller and move all schedules and scenes to C4 controller. One thing that comes to mind is the interface between C4 EA5 and Lutron repeater. I would rather avoid extra dependency on the network switch. Can someone share pros and cons of having all lighting controlled with C4 and having Lutron repeater being a dumb executor?

6 minutes ago, alanchow said:

I bought a house with a Swann system in it.  Ripped it out and replaced with SnapAV Luma and the difference is night and day.  Having said that if you want something thats cheap and works the Swann stuff will work (though not through Control4).

Differences in video quality or there is more to it? If you don't mind sharing your Luma setup it would be great.

On 1/6/2014 at 1:16 AM, xaveon said:

I am absolutely 100% impressed with this system.  Here's why:

 

1. It has amazing picture quality.  In both bright and no light situation.  You can see for yourself here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKexNhcI4GI

 

2. The software is very mature.  I was able to get it up and running in seconds (although I believe that I am pretty tech savvy).  It supports PC, Mac, iOS and Android.  iOS and Android support remote playback (playback of recorded footage on the tablet itself).  PC and Web Interface allows full configuration of the NVR.  For me, this means that it can just sit in my rack and I can configure and review footage remotely.  I was pleasantly surprised by how mature the software was.  

 

3. The had a mechanism to setup the NVR with your router via UPNP, but I opted not to go that route because I have a SonicWall Appliance and to keep things secure, I was just going to VPN in.

 

4. They are POE cameras and the NVR has 8 POE ports.  Basically, this means that you don't need to find power.  You have to run 1 Cat5e cable to the camera and that's it. 

 

 

Mine is a retrofit, so it's already in. 

 

 

The quality is amazing, especially for the price.  Panasonic will integrate and play very nicely with C4, but you're talking about 4x the price for the same picture quality. 

 

 

If you're talking about Costco, yes, that's where I got mine. 

 

 

That's what I ended up doing.  I couldn't find a serial or IP driver for it so I ended up creating an IR driver for it.  Works perfectly.  I've been using the Nexus 7 sitting around the house with the app as "viewers".  One Nexus in the Office, one in the Kitchen and so on.  So currently, I have the NVR output via HDMI to a HDMI splitter (this works because the signal is not HDCP) then going to my Marantz amps for various rooms.  

 

 

For me, being able to see the video feed on the C4 interface wasn't as appealing, and I couldn't find a cost effective solution that would support this.  For informational purposes, in my opinion, the SecuritySpy + EV drivers + IP Camera is probably the most cost effective solution for viewing + recording + being on C4 interface - but even that solution is pretty expensive.  

 

Overall, I am extremely happy with this system, and IR drivers work just fine.  In the future, if C4 or someone decides to write an IP driver for Swann NVRs - it'll be even better.  

This is a pretty old thread but I am in a similar situation trying to decide on the surveillance cameras for my setup. The cost of the equipment from LTN is about double compared to Swann. I don't have to see the camera output in C4 interface but seeing on TVs would be helpful. Are you able to view them on TVs? Thank you. 

On 1/30/2018 at 4:23 PM, sonic30101 said:

My 1st floor is all GE zwave dimmers and a vera controller. They work fine, just can't play with ramp rates and lose double and triple tap programming but they will interface with c4 just fine

I am considering GE zwave dimmers as an option to integrate with C4. I am still interested in Lutron Casseta for their Picos but debating if GEs are reliable enough instead of C4 dimmers and switches. Is vera all local and will work with internet connectivity? Any advice is appreciated.

On 1/5/2019 at 4:00 PM, kmonty2 said:

With the new ip driver it works well, expect for the art mode.

Thinking about putting one in the master bedroom and want to be able to shut off the art mode at certain hour or maybe depending on the motion in the room. No way to shut off the art mode?

1 hour ago, msgreenf said:

Play an announcement. Turn lights on. Idk. What do you want?

Sent from my BBF100-2 using Tapatalk
 

Let me rephrase. Is there anything that can happen on my Fire HD 8? For example can I have my porch surveillance camera show something on Fire HD?

1 hour ago, msgreenf said:

Ring w ring event driver

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
 

So what happens when someone rings a doorbell?

On 6/29/2019 at 9:30 AM, Elvis said:

If you have Z-Wave light switches, and you don’t want/can’t use C4 switches, Vera is your best option for integration. Unless something has changed, C4 Z-wave module/dongle doesn’t support Z-wave light switches. 

I have a house full of cheap GE zwave switches, and thanks to Ari (chopedogg88), they all are well integrated. I wouldn’t do it again, though. Can’t beat native C4 switches/dimmers. 

I am at the point where I am considering light switches to use and GE was one of the options. Choices are GE Zwave/Control4/Lutron RadioRa2. Can you share your experience and why you would not want to do this again?

On 7/12/2019 at 5:11 PM, rea said:

 

Yes, you can still get to the cameras just like you do on your mobile app. I use a Fire HD8 in one of my bathrooms with the Show Dock and it works great (though you still currently have to take the Google Play side-load route to get OS3 on there). I didn't need the intercom or navigation agent features in that area so it serves my purposes really well and have near-zero connectivity issues. 

And being Prime Day is next week, you can probably grab one at a ridiculously cheap price to give it a try and just send it back if you don't like it. 

I bought 3 HD8 on the Prime Day, thank you for pointing out, great buy. What do you use for your door bell, is it integrated with Control4? If you can share your experience with security system and surveillance cameras would be great as well. 

3 hours ago, msgreenf said:

you can't do page jumps direct to cameras

Can you still navigate to cameras in another way?

16 hours ago, sonic30101 said:

Anything other than native touch panels are not designated in the program so navigation agent cannot be used for ipads/android tablets

What is this "Navigation agent"? I understand there an app for Android that allows me do what the native panel does. Not having the Navigation agent limits me how? Thank you.

I am considering Control4 deployment for my new home, looking to use Android tablets. Any recommendations on Android or Amazon hardware would help a lot. Also I saw a mention on some thread about "Navigation agent" not working on tablet. Not sure what this is about, is that still a thing?

On 11/16/2016 at 4:20 PM, livitup said:

Thanks for the thoughts.  Just thinking out loud here...

• Always on C4: Nice, but worth $800?
• Faster: Worthy of consideration. How bad is it on the app, or another way to say it, how large does the media DB need to be to cause noticeable slowness?
• Always there: I'm talking about running the app on wired, Android-based VOIP phones, so it will also always be there.
• Not dependent on OS: Also worthy of consideration, but I think I can mitigate that.
   

I was also thinking the kitchen if anywhere. At first I was thinking in the hallway between the garage entrance and the kitchen, but that's kind of out of the way. Useful for when you're coming and going, but I think we are going to be in the house a much greater percentage of time than transitioning between in and out.  Maybe that hallway is a good spot for a (cheaper!) 6 button keypad with an "away" and "home" scene programmed to a couple of the buttons for hitting when your arms are full of groceries. I'm going to have to look at my plans, but I think there might be a wall between the kitchen and family room that would be good for a full touch pad.

Phones will be PoE, so that's awesome.  Didn't realize C4 used TCP/IP to talk to the touch pads.  Good to confirm.

Paging is a concern of mine as well. It was leading me to an all-or-nothing viewpoint. Either all the rooms had to have touch pads, so we could intercom between them, or all the rooms had to have phones so we could intercom between the phones. I didn't see any point in putting phones and touch pads in the rooms.

The better solution that you have all helped me come to is phones in the rooms, and a couple touch pads in really strategic locations like a main hallway or between the two most commonly used rooms.  Those are locations you wouldn't intercom to anyway (who intercoms to the "main upstairs hallway"... I want to intercom to my kid's room!) so you're not losing anything by not having the ability to call them from the phones in the rooms.

Thanks for all the help working this out, guys!

This is kind of an old thread now but I am considering C4 deployment for my new home. If people on this thread ever decided on Android tablets could you share your experience? Another question comes to mind if the Android app is going through and Internet connection vs C4 Touch going through the local network.