The UK Home Automation Archive

Archive Home
Group Home
Search Archive


Advanced Search

The UKHA-ARCHIVE IS CEASING OPERATIONS 31 DEC 2024


[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

RE: HomeVision or other?



Hi keith, I'm not sure on the Leopard / Ocelot question but can offer some thoughts on the pronto..
 
>How good is the a Pronto?  does it have ALL the commands for my Sony 940 Receiver/Amp?
 
It is superb, and as it is a learning remote, it will learn any command from your existing kit (apart from some higher frequency equipment such as B&O and some cable Tv boxes).
 
>Are macros assignable to on screen buttons for single hit use?
The biggest selling point of the pronto is the fact that it is programmed by you, so single buttons can perform quite complex macros...
 
>Pointers to useful Pronto web sites would be good.
 
www.letsautomate.com - on line seller of prontos.
 
www.remotecentral.com - loads of downloadable pronto config files. + reviews
 
www.pronto.philips.com - philips sales site.
 
There are other learning remotes available, but none of them cone close to the pronto for flexibility.
 
HTH
 
Daniel
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Baker, R Keith [mailto:keith.r.baker@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 25 February 2002 10:36
To: 'ukha_d@xxxxxxx'
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] HomeVision or other?

 
I was looking at getting the Leopard. But it seems that there is little capability to use it as anything other
than an input device, ie, it would be nice to send messages from the PC to display on the screen but
this does not seem possible unless the message is pre-programmed into the Leopard.
So, I was thinking that using a pronto, plus an Ocelot would be better, then any HA control would be recieved
as IR commands from the pronto.
 
Does this seem like a sensible aproach?
 
How good is the a Pronto?  does it have ALL the commands for my Sony 940 Receiver/Amp?
 
Are macros assignable to on screen buttons for single hit use?
 
Pointers to useful Pronto web sites would be good.
 
And what about alternatives to the Pronto? or different approaches to the combining remotes and HA control problem?
 
Cheers
 
Keith 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Hawkins [mailto:lists@xxxxxxx]
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2002 6:22 PM
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxxSubject: RE: [ukha_d] HomeVision or other?

    I took a look at HV's current price and it does seem more expensive than I remember. The differential is quite significant now.
 
    You can compare the hardware features yourself I guess from the specs so here's some comments on the software side.
 
    The Ocelot is the brains behind the Leopard controller and is well produced and professional product (IMO). I use the Leopard and I am happy with it, but I find it awkward. A lot of my criticisms are to do with the specific capabilities of the Touch screen interface and the ongoing development of the product and hence don't apply to the Ocelot. Basically little appears to be happening in terms of new features but what you do have works well. The programming environment for the Ocelot is quite different to HomeVision - much more like a programming language and that may or may not be an advantage to you. I suggest you download the software which is available on the web site and try it and see what you think. It can be used without the Ocelot connected. In addition I suspect the amount of code space inside the Ocelot is much less than with HV and requires much more skill to code in a complex environment. There is a well supported mail list for this however. Homeseer supports Ocelot directly.
 
    HomeVision - which I use too - is my choice of HV controller. I find it easy to use and incredibly powerful, it has a busy mail list supporting it and Craig does an exemplary job. In fact he and Dan Hoehnen (ACE author) are my nominations for the best support Oscars. I find it much easier to add things quickly into HV and to understand things later on when I've forgotten why I did such and such. This allows for more ad hoc experimentation & less planning is required (but not recommended). The programming environment can also be downloaded from CSI's site and works without HV so have a look and see - it is a much more graphic environment. In addition the HomeVision application links up with ACE etc via DDE to provide a very tightly integrated solution. The ACE / Homeseer integration is much more of a programming interface (COM).
 
    In the USA there is also a product called HomeVision PC available which is lower cost - the main difference being it is a card sitting in a PC so it requires a permanently powered PC.
 
    My recommendation ?? HV every time but that's being a little insensitive to the now much larger price difference than I had expected, so you takes your choice I guess... If you will use TV display then the HV of course is a certain choice.
 
    A comparison of HV against JDS's Time Commander is quite enlightening and is available here http://www.csi3.com/hv_comp.htm.
 
    Kevin

[[K]] 
 -----Original Message-----
From: Andy Laurence [mailto:andylaurence@xxxxxxx]
Sent: 22 February 2002 16:46
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxxSubject: [ukha_d] Homevision or other?

I suppose it'll be time for me to splash out on an HA controller of some
description soon.  I've been looking around at the possibles.  I've seen
this (http://www.letsautomate.com/10599.cfm?CFID=432&CFTOKEN=51078446) which
seems to do quite a lot for not a lot of money.

I'm after something which will do X10, IR and possibly control things via
relays (no idea what yet).  Bear in mind that I run a server 24/7 at home,
and have another which can do the same.  What would I be missing out on if I
bought the above rather than HomeVision?  I know I'd lose the TV interface
of HomeVision, but that doesn't bother me.  Are there other alternatives?

Andy
--
PC-Based Multimedia System
http://www.andylaurence.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/pcbmms


_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com



For more information: http://www.automatedhome.co.uk
Post message: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subscribe:  ukha_d-subscribe@xxxxxxx
Unsubscribe:  ukha_d-unsubscribe@xxxxxxx
List owner:  ukha_d-owner@xxxxxxx

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.


For more information: http://www.automatedhome.co.uk
Post message: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subscribe:  ukha_d-subscribe@xxxxxxx
Unsubscribe:  ukha_d-unsubscribe@xxxxxxx
List owner:  ukha_d-owner@xxxxxxx

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.


For more information: http://www.automatedhome.co.uk
Post message: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subscribe:  ukha_d-subscribe@xxxxxxx
Unsubscribe:  ukha_d-unsubscribe@xxxxxxx
List owner:  ukha_d-owner@xxxxxxx

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.


***********************************************************
This message is confidential and intended for the exclusive
use of the addressee(s) only and remains the property of
Exchange FS Group plc. You should not disclose its contents
to any other person. If you are not the intended recipient
please notify the sender named above immediately.

Registered Office: Munro House, Portsmouth Road, Cobham,
Surrey, KT11 1TE. Registered in England No. 2596452
***********************************************************

Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT

For more information: http://www.automatedhome.co.uk
Post message: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subscribe:  ukha_d-subscribe@xxxxxxx
Unsubscribe:  ukha_d-unsubscribe@xxxxxxx
List owner:  ukha_d-owner@xxxxxxx

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Home | Main Index | Thread Index

Comments to the Webmaster are always welcomed, please use this contact form . Note that as this site is a mailing list archive, the Webmaster has no control over the contents of the messages. Comments about message content should be directed to the relevant mailing list.