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cnicholson

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Everything posted by cnicholson

  1. cnicholson
    So it sounds like you want light to turn on if (Motion) OR (Fan) and turn off when (No Motion for 2 mins) AND (No Fan for 2 Mins). There may be a more elegant solution, but i would set up two booleans RecentMotion and RecentFan. When Motion event fires, set the RecentMotion boolean to true, turn on the light and set a timer with 2 min duration. Ditto for Fan on event. On expiration of Motion timer, set Recent Motion to false and, if RecentFan also false, turn off the light. Ditto for expiration of fan timer, although I guess you would want to check to see if the fan is still on and, if so, do not set RecentFan to false, do not turn off the light, and reset the timer to 2 mins. The motion should take care of itself because every motion event will put 2 mins back on the clock (since you will program it that way). I guess you could drive the Fan portion off a change of state of fan load, but using timers takes care of the 'how long since fan was last on?" logic. By checking every two mins, you'll never be too far off. To do it off change in fan load, when Fan changes to ON, set RecentFan to TRUE. On FanOff, set two min timer. At expiration of that timer, if fan still off, set RecentFan to FALSE and if RecentMotion also FALSE, turn off the light. Maybe this is better. An edge case maybe you want to take care of is: if you manually turn on the light and walk into kitchen and turn on the fan (or not), do you want light to turn off after two mins? You could set another Boolean, ManualLightOn, drive it off of key presses and add in this logic.
  2. cnicholson
    I think there was mention up-thread of support for the new Shelly Motion 2. Is that in the current (released) version of the driver? I'm looking to get a couple of these sensors. I have some use cases for the brightness intensity sensor, so I'm hoping that that value is accessible in programing. Thanks.
  3. cnicholson
    I have this projector. I've been waiting for that firmware, but have not updated yet. I guess I'll wait now! Please keep us posted. Apart from not being able to turn it on (!!!) automatically, any feedback on the new features? Didn't seem too earth shattering from the press release, but nice that they are adding new stuff.
  4. cnicholson
    I have a large project with lots of TVs in rooms with speakers in the ceilings. I have a Core5 as main controller. I will have some number of Core1s at some (but not all) TV locations. In thinking through some edge cases in terms of concurrent streams, I think I could run out of Core5 output ports to the audio matrix. For example, several different rooms wanting a digital media source or a Shairplay stream playing music from their phones only in their room. It occurred to me that all the TVs have audio backhaul to the audio matrix and that the Core1 is an input to the TV. Is this a way to expand my maximum concurrent streams? It seems that a valid audio path for a (for example) Pandora stream could be: Inside Core1-->TV-->Bachhaul-->Matrix Input-->Matrix Output(s)-->Amp-->Speaker(s) Same thing for a ShairPlay stream. Core5 not in the path at all. Of course, the TV connected to Core1 would need to be turned on (which I assume would be done auto-magically). Questions: Will this work as described just but setting the audio connections/paths? What is the routing priority/sequence that C4 uses in these case? Will it first fill up the Core5 output ports and then start using available Core1s? If I have four Core1s how will it pick which ones to use? Can I set the order/rules? If the speaker endpoint of the requested stream is in the same room as an available Core1, I'd like it to pick that Core1 (for example). Otherwise, I would not want it to randomly turn on a TV in an occupied room or (worst case) interrupt someone actively watching TV because Core1 in there was idle/available. Any thoughts/advice?
  5. cnicholson
    Got it. I'm am idiot. I see now that the user variables are listed alphabetically under Variables-->[User Variable Name]. I was looking for them at the bottom where agents usually show up. I have a LOT of rooms and system variables to scroll through, but found it! Thanks.
  6. cnicholson
    I playing with some programming where I track how many devices are in a certain state. I use a variable to increment/decrement a counter when stuff changes state. I'm finding some edge cases where the "count' can get out of sync. So I want to periodically do a re-count. My problem is that I have other programming that fires off when the count changes, so I don't want to use the main counter variable for this. I want to use a temp variable (which I created like any other variable) to re-do the count, compare it to the primary variable and, if and only if, the values are different, set the primary to be equal to the temp. But I don't see how to do this. It only (seems to) let you set a user variable to the value of a system variable and not another user variable. What am I doing wrong? I have a potential work-around for my specific use case, but I would still like to know how to do this (or confirm that, for some reason, it's not possible). Thanks!
  7. cnicholson
    I suspect what is happening is that your devices are periodically switching to 2.4GHz bands from 5GHz bands (and sticking there) and that the speed delta was not noticeable before-- whereas you now MUST be on 5GHz to experience your newer, faster speeds. You might try forcing your fast clients onto 5GHz (using some band steering or a separate SSID set to 5GHz only). You'll still want a 2.4GHz network for coverage, but this might improve your typical speeds. If you go down this path, you'll need to keep in mind that the "full speed" range of 5GHz is very limited (on the order of ~25 feet), which implies a LOT of WAPs if you are really really dedicated to maximum speeds everywhere. Also be sure to set 80MHz channel widths for max speed, as long as you don't have a lot of interference in your environment (assuming you don't have any 160MHz capable mobile devices). In "noisy" environments, sometimes wide channels can be counter productive. Just have to experiment. So, bottom line, going to WiFi6 will, indeed get you up to 900mbps to your end clients (expect ~500mbps as more typical when in the same room as a WAP, but not standing right in front of it), but you may need to also add WAPs. I wouldn't worry about 6E just yet, but perhaps the premium to "future proof" is worth it to you.
  8. cnicholson
    Objective: Have lights ramp up to "normal" brightness in the early morning and dim down again after sunset. Approach: Set up a few Advanced Lighting Scenes that are triggered by Schedule agent events based on sunrise/sunset offset time. So maybe 0-10% at sunrise, 10-25% 30 mins later, etc. Issue: if a light has been specifically turned OFF at some point (but it is included in the next scene), I want to leave it off. I'm hoping for something like "if light is currently OFF, exclude it from this scene." Or maybe I'm going about this all wrong. Thoughts/Advice? Thanks!
  9. cnicholson
    Yes and no. I (like I assume most people) leave their AppleTV set to never go to sleep, so you don't actually need to be "watching" Apple TV to use the Apple TV remote to kick off HomeKit/Siri actions. So it would just come down to how C4 implements this. I.e., is the Voice Control button only active when you have an active Watch session with AppleTV as active source? I imagine this is the default configuration, but can we change that? In the real world, I am using HomePod Minis in key areas so I can "Hey Siri, turn on the lights in here" (without specifying the room) and it "just works" (after settings things up in C4 and HomeKit). But having another "location aware microphone" would still be handy. For me, the value would be a location and *context* aware microphone (without additional physical remotes). With HomePod, I can say "Hey Siri, play Ted Lasso" and it will play a PODCAST on the HomePod itself. If I use the (real) Apple TV remote, it does what you would expect and plays the show on the TV. If you are hyper explicit with Homepod, you can get it to work "Watch the latest episode of the TV Show Ted Lasso on the Great Room Apple TV." But that's not very intuitive/smart. I assume the Halo will behave just like the physical Apple TV Remote (i.e., it knows the context so will interpret commands in context of watching TV and will know I am looking for content ON TV and not content to play out of HomePod speaker). Hope that makes sense.
  10. cnicholson
    I am hoping/assuming that the new voice button will do everything that the voice button on a real Apple TV remote can do and not just be limited to Apple TV control. In particular to access HomeKit home automation devices (which, via DTI Homebridge, can include Control4 devices and actions). There's no technical reason why this would not be the case, but Control4 may not want to create "confusion" (read: revenue competition) for smart devices. Perhaps relatedly, I note that there is no reference to controlling *Control4* stuff with voice button--- just an apparent "pass through" to Apple or Xfinity. Pretty odd omission. I have to believe that Control4 are working on this and are perhaps not quite ready to talk about it.
  11. cnicholson
    Agree that maybe we need a new thread. But, until then, I'm hungry for tips, so will ask another question here: In the course of experimenting with renaming blinds to get Siri to better understand my requests, it seems that my attempts to set *different* names have created *duplicate* accessories in HomeKit. I tried the driver action "Delete all Blinds," but the accessories still exist in HomeKit. And, in HomeKit, there is no "remove item" option in settings. What am I doing wrong? How can I fix? Thanks! It's so fun/exciting to play with this driver and see what I can make it do for me.
  12. cnicholson
    We got this working pretty well (knock on wood) yesterday using the two "proxy" C4 light switches idea I mentioned above. We use a Garage door experience button that is not connected to anything. We program off the icon press and toggle the "control" light (if Garage is open, turn the "light" off, and vice versa). Then, in HomeKit, I open the garage door (via MyQ) when the fake light turns on and vice versa. For state tracking / feedback, when MyQ (on the HomeKit side) sees that the garage state changes to "closed," I turn the fake "state" light off (and vice versa). Then, on the C4 side we program off this light proxy and change the state of the C4 Garage button to match. Works great. I can operate Garage door from Siri voice commands, from HomeKit buttons, from C4 navigators, from C4 programming (e.g., from DS2 key codes) or from the physical manufacturer buttons on (real) garage wall and it all stays in sync. A bit of a kludge, to be sure, but it works so far.
  13. cnicholson
    Thanks. That would be great to try out the Programmable Switch. I see many uses for this, but the first thing we are trying to accomplish is to make my MyQ garage doors available for C4 programming and Navigator control. I already have them in Homebridge via the MyQ plugin (which works great!). The current "proof of concept" solution is to set up a dummy light switch in C4 ("Control Proxy"), publish to HomeKit with your software and then, in HomeKit, open garage door when the "light" turns on and close when it turns off. Then use another C4 dummy light ("State Proxy") and have HomeKit turn it on when Garage door is open, and off when closed. This more or less tracks state changes if garage is opened via Siri or the manufacturer's physical wall switch. This works fine for programming, but we're still working on a way to map this into a full-fledged "Garage Door" device in C4/Navigators. Any tips for that? Finally, on the SSL thing for HB Config UI, any tips on quick way to make that work? Thanks again!
  14. cnicholson
    Update (partial success): I (twice) reset the password on Homebridge and even create a (redundant?) user "admin" with password "admin." Anyway, they are talking now, but I can't access the HB Config web interface--- I just use a separate browser window. I'm now setting up some rooms/devices and playing around.
  15. cnicholson
    This looks cool. I run Homebridge on a Mac. I noticed you didn't list Mac as a platform for Homebridge. I that known to be an issue? I am trying to help my dealer install the Homebridge Manager Driver and it does seem to want to talk to my Mac (says No Response from Homebridge Check IP Address). Does your software allow Control4 control of HomeKit devices? I installed the myQ plugin for Homebridge, and that works great. I'm wondering if HomeKit garage openers can appear on Control4 Navigators? Or does it only work the other way around (HomeKit control of Control4 stuff)?
  16. cnicholson
    Works like a charm! Many thanks!
  17. cnicholson
    I'm not seeing it, but I'm a newbie so might not be looking in right place. I am starting the song by sending the "Select Media" command (and then specifying the song/file in the dialog box) to the room I want it to play in. That part seems to work fine. And, once playing, I can physically/manually hit the repeat toggle on navigators. But not seeing a "repeat" option anywhere in Composer. I also assumed it would be there (and still do). But can't find. I hadn't thought to use the Announcements agent, but I just poked around and I don't see a repeat option there, either.
  18. cnicholson
    Hello all. I'm playing with a "Sleep" button (with Custom Button agent) that I want to do a number of things. One of which is to play white noise all night. I have a one hour white noise MP3 and can get it to play by using the "Select the song 'white noise' in Master Bedroom." But how do I put it into loop/repeat mode so the white noise plays all night? I'm not too proud to just create an eight hour long MP3, but I hope there is a more elegant solution. Thanks
  19. cnicholson
    Please report back your findings. I, too, would like to do this. Lots of possibilities.
  20. cnicholson
    I have six "outside units" (compressors) driving ~20 zones. When I added the 6th outside unit, there was zero additional cost (from automation perspective)-- other than integrator time, which was minimal. I'm using CoolMasterNet to control Mitsubishi VRF systems. It's a pricey "brain box," but it eliminates the need to have a thermostat on the wall in each zone (you just bury a temperature probe in the wall and paint over it. Depending on the number of zones you have, the price of all those smart thermostats can start to add up (plus some people don't like the wall wart proliferation). The only "max units" limit I am aware of is that Mitsubishi wants you to buy an enterprise license if you have more than 50 (!) zones. Other brands may have similar policies. I don't think Control4 cares how many zones you have.
  21. cnicholson
    We are in process of rolling out a Ubiquiti/Unify WiFi6 network in my new home. Going with a mix of Unifi6 Pro and Unifi6 Long Range WAPs. I got POE switches with 2.5G ports and enough POE power to drive WiFi6e WAPs down the line, but no need for those now (even iPhone14 announced today lacks WiFi6e). The Long Range ones have 4x4 MIMO on both 2.4G and 5G bands, so we're placing those on outside patios/decks to cover outside (excellent 2.4G range) and the Unifi6 Pros for inside. I started with a few WAPs the get *coverage* but discovered that, if you want very fast (600-800 mbps) coverage *everywhere*, you need A LOT of WAPs. Pretty much need to be ~25 feet or less from WAP for max speed. For me that means like 20 WAPs. But, at $149/each, it's not horrible (in context of a large construction project). Is it silly to insist on near-gig speeds everywhere? Yes, of course it is. But it gives me warm and fuzzies to max things out a bit. My dealer (and I) were a bit worried about the "no human support" issue with Ubiquiti but (knock on wood), so far, so good. Their tools are pretty easy to work with and seem reasonably full-featured. I don't have experience with enterprise gear, so I assume at those lofty price points it must be better for some use cases (at a minimum you get real support, which might justify price for some).
  22. cnicholson
    Wow. Awesome info and advice. Thanks guys! I can definitely live with ~ 1000 microsecond latency (but sync'ed) audio. That will be perfect. I don't have a video solution, but I figure live sports content will be "close enough" to in sync and streamed content can be just two independent streams (invoked by me manually)--- perhaps using Apple's FaceTime/Shareplay feature (or similar from others). Would be super cool if this kind of thing could be invoked programmatically from C4, but I'm not holding my breath. If I'm honest, I don't expect to use sync'ed video between buildings too frequently (probably mostly for demos!). But I do expect to use synced audio a lot. I also have some outdoor speaker zones in between the buildings, so I hope to have a Vegas Strip / Disneyland "the music is following me everywhere" kind of vibe. Thanks again! I'm very excited that there is a seemingly straightforward solution to what I thought might be a "hard problem." This forum is awesome.
  23. cnicholson
    That's the plan. Fiber has been pulled that should be good for 40 Gig, with near term plan to light up with 10G backbone. For now I'm on a 1 Gig copper run (with a repeater switch) and getting about 600Mbps. Prob fine, but I want to future proof to be able to run high bit rate MoIP content and lots of 4K CCTV feeds. Also, I'm getting 1.4 Gigs off my Comcast box and have obsession with getting "full speed" throughout project (probably irrational).
  24. cnicholson
    I do have some spare long runs of Cat6 between locations (although not sure how many that aren't spoken for). In this scenario, would the audio path run from "Matrix to Matrix" instead of "Controller to Controller?" In other words, it would be an analog signal from an output on Matrix @ Location 1 to an audio input to Matrix @ Location 2 (and vice versa for the audio being sent in other direction) and then C4 will be smart enough to figure out that the routing automagically without latency?
  25. cnicholson
    Thanks. Is this case also with "internal" sources (streaming services with native C4 connection)? Or is the lag mostly from the audio-in process for "external" sources?
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