Vera Proximity New Android Applications

[RichardTSchaefer]

This uses the Android's Location Services for Geo-Fencing.
Features:

• Interactive Google Map or Address based location definition.
• Multiple Locations
• Multiple Fence around a location - Can be interactively specified on the Map.
• Separate Entry and Exit actions
  Actions Include
  
  • Alerts:
    
    • Vibration
    • Tone
    • Text To Speech
  • SMS Message
  • Vera Commands
    
    • Run a scene
    • Turn On/Off/Toggle a Virtual Switch
    • Turn On/Off/Toggle a Multi-Switch
    Supports Multiple Veras with a mixture of UI5, UI6 and Direct (VPN) access.
    Option to defer commands until phone is unlocked with a warning tone.
  • Rapid Update Action
    If you want high precision when you arrive home, create an a fence with a slightly larger radius, and use this command to enter high precision location for the specified interval. This uses more battery power during this interval.

A plugin to take advantage of the features of this app to facilitate home automation will be coming soon.

[clippermiami]

Richard, great to hear.

I've downloaded it and tried it but I get a STOP immediately on trying to open it. The background task is apparently running, the icon is in the notification bar. But if I try to open the app itself to configure it, it says it has stopped. The background icon goes away and reappears almost immediately but the app still does not open.

I installed it on an HTC One X+ running Android 4.1.1. Reported to you through Google Play also along with system data

FYI, l also  installed it on my Nexus 7 tablet and it mostly works. I say mostly because it does open and allow configuration but occasionally does crash.

[Z-Waver]

Price? The play store states that it works unlicensed for 30 days. What' the cost after that?

Will the afore mentioned plug-in be another $5?

[SirMeili]

Ok. So questions/comments:

1) I see that it needs registration. I'm fine with that, but maybe a popup the first time you open the app to let you know would be nice. I'm sure it has a grace period to "try it before you buy it", but I'm not sure, so I bought you a beer (paid for 1 license) I did not see this until after my test, so I may try and retest. Some of my other comments may then be moot.

2) Will it actually work without a registration license for a period of time? My initial test showed it did not work (I set an entry vera action AND tone, neither happened though it showed me outside the fence and then back in it). (I see the post above mine says 30days unlicensed, so never mind)

3) What is the "smallest" fence you would recommend? I did .02 since that is right around my lot. Understand that when opening the app, it actually had me pinpointed in the exact location on my log (My office). There was very little error in it's locating me.

4) When I leave or enter my fence, my phone is in a state of "wifi" confusion as it is trying to figure out if it can connect. Will the app attempt to resend the command X times until it knows it went through? I noticed when I left that I got a popup stating "No data connect". I think it was from this app. It could have been authomation though as I had it up to check on the multiswitch status

5) If the icon is not in the status bar, is it working? I found I had to open the app to get it to work. This seems like a bit of a hassle. Once it was up there, it stayed for a period of time. I'm hoping this works like iViri/iPhone locator in that it just runs in the background and I don't have to actively initiate the app.

I think that is it. I'm anxious to get this working so I can play with geofencing

[SirMeili]

Price? The play store states that it works unlicensed for 30 days. What' the cost after that?

Will the afore mentioned plug-in be another $5?

$5.50 per "client". I assume that means per phone/tablet/etc.

[integlikewhoa]

1) I see that it needs registration. I'm fine with that, but maybe a popup the first time you open the app to let you know would be nice.

I agree just so there is no question out the gate for some people.

3) What is the "smallest" fence you would recommend? I did .02 since that is right around my lot. Understand that when opening the app, it actually had me pinpointed in the exact location on my log (My office). There was very little error in it's locating me.

I would also like to see what people are using, but I think it comes down to how many false readings you get. Your GPS will bounce you around to certain extent because of satellite reception. Everyone will probley be different in this area. If you make it to small and you get false readings that you left then you need to widen it up a bit. Also to fix delays and wifi connection coming on when you get home, you might need to widen it out a bit also. 

4) When I leave or enter my fence, my phone is in a state of "wifi" confusion as it is trying to figure out if it can connect. Will the app attempt to resend the command X times until it knows it went through? I noticed when I left that I got a popup stating "No data connect". I think it was from this app. It could have been authomation though as I had it up to check on the multiswitch status

Also want to know how this app responds to no data connection, but I think that's all in the setting on how often it reports. Maybe a better understanding from Richard would be goo tho. I also see there is some instant report settings under the fence too.
"No data Connect" is authomation message.

5) If the icon is not in the status bar, is it working? I found I had to open the app to get it to work. This seems like a bit of a hassle. Once it was up there, it stayed for a period of time. I'm hoping this works like iViri/iPhone locator in that it just runs in the background and I don't have to actively initiate the app.

I doesn't stay in the status bar which is a good thing for me, I don't like to be cluttered. It does run in the background.

Richard how bad on the battery do you think this is going to be?

[SirMeili]

Preface:

It wasn't working before, but then I added another fence to do the "rapid update". That one worked, but my original never did. I deleted all the fences, which then caused the app to force close (bug?). When I reopened it a new fence was added and now that one works. I set it to .1 and walked out of my house and it triggered. A new question though:

1) How long does it take to resolve? I'm guessing that you're "polling" the location and I see a "reporting interval". I'm not sure if these two are tied, but I'm curious if it is in fact polling every once in a while, and if so what is the default polling interval. Another question is if "reporting interval" is tied to that polling.

3) What is the "smallest" fence you would recommend? I did .02 since that is right around my lot. Understand that when opening the app, it actually had me pinpointed in the exact location on my log (My office). There was very little error in it's locating me.

I have it set to .02 and I've had a couple of "entering/exit" notifications as my location pops in and out. not your problem, I just need to fine tune it some for my location. I do plan on testing this via voice/notifications before I put it into any use. I know that this is a tight location and I might be expecting too much right now, but testing will let me know. Since I work from home, I don't use "data" that much as I'm on Wifi so my phone lasts forever on a charge. A little extra GPS use won't hurt me that much.

4) When I leave or enter my fence, my phone is in a state of "wifi" confusion as it is trying to figure out if it can connect. Will the app attempt to resend the command X times until it knows it went through? I noticed when I left that I got a popup stating "No data connect". I think it was from this app. It could have been authomation though as I had it up to check on the multiswitch status

I think this was Authomation now. I haven't left my WiFi range yet, but I'll test that in a bit. Still interested in knowine what happens if there is no data connection at that point in time. Perhaps there can be a setting for "retry X times" and "retry every Y seconds/minutes". Or maybe you are checking for network connection and this just is not necessary

5) If the icon is not in the status bar, is it working? I found I had to open the app to get it to work. This seems like a bit of a hassle. Once it was up there, it stayed for a period of time. I'm hoping this works like iViri/iPhone locator in that it just runs in the background and I don't have to actively initiate the app.
I think that is it. I'm anxious to get this working so I can play with geofencing

It doesn't seem to be up there all the time. Good. I like that it does pop up there and tell me when I'm entering/exiting fences, but I can't swipe it away. I think it does go away after a while, so no biggie.

So far, so good. I can't wait to see what the Vera App adds to this!

[integlikewhoa]

So what do you have your reporting interval set at under main settings? And is that seconds (im asumming) or min?

What do you have your rapid update set at under your fences?

[mikee123]

I am using tasker and the autolocation plugin at the moment, but from what i read in your description and given my experience with all your other plugins i will probably move to your app/plugin combo. Do you think you will at some point integrate the app into tasker ?

[SirMeili]

So what do you have your reporting interval set at under main settings? And is that seconds (im asumming) or min?

It is blank, so it's using the "default". Now that I've look in the app, My guess this is for reporting "where" your phone is. Might be interesting for keeping track of kids under the guise of "Home automation". I could be wrong about this.

I do not know if it is seconds or minutes, but I'm guessing settings. I think, however, this setting is useless until the plugin for Vera is released.

What do you have your rapid update set at under your fences?

I had it set for .05 (I'm guessing this is "miles"?). Then I set it to do rapid update for 2 minutes. Of course it triggered while I was picking up my Son from my mom's house (2 streets over), so I didn't see the full affect. I plan on taking a drive shortly to test this out now that my main fence is working.

[RichardTSchaefer]

So what do you have your reporting interval set at under main settings? And is that seconds (im asumming) or min?

What do you have your rapid update set at under your fences?

THe reporting interval is hh:mm:ss. It will be used when my plugin is released. In addition to fences it will report some distance information back home/
That rapid update is 60 seconds ... but I might make it even faster based on battery strength. So I set it for 5:00 minutes  about 1 mile out .. I might stop at the post box.

[integlikewhoa]

I am using tasker and the autolocation plugin at the moment, but from what i read in your description and given my experience with all your other plugins i will probably move to your app/plugin combo. Do you think you will at some point integrate the app into tasker ?

I'm also using Tasker and AutoLocation, but if you switch over why would still want to use Tasker? What other things does tasker do that I might be missing out on? I currently only use it for geofencing.

[integlikewhoa]

That rapid update is 60 seconds ... but I might make it even faster based on battery strength. So I set it for 5:00 minutes  about 1 mile out .. I might stop at the post box.

Sorry I think I didn't quiet understand. The default is 60 secs sounds like.

You might make it faster which would be less then 60 secs right? Then you say you set it for 5:00 minutes which seems much slower.

I lock my doors when I leave but I forget sometimes and have it set up to check and re-lock. I live in a densely populated area and would like this to happen while I'm in some sight of the house or maybe a block over. So a mile or 5 min. for me would be to long.


Few more questions:

Also rapid update time is only the time when the APP checks with Android to see your current location correct?

The app currently only reports or checks in with Vera when the phone has detected it crossed a geofence right? But your saying the reporting interval is going to change that to be able to check in with vera more often rather then only when a geofence has been crossed?

[mikee123]

@integlikewhoa
I am using tasker for quite a few things, i am automating my phone more and more. Vera integration is just a part of it. I use the geofence not only to switch the house to 'home', but also turn the screen lock off when i am at home, and back on when i leave. I turn sound volumes and ringtones down when i am at work, and back up when i leave. Also i use NFC tiles to put the phone into car mode, which reads text messages to me, announces callers, turns on bluetooth, turns the screen lock off... and i keep finding more things i can do... i am starting to experiment with ibeacons now... they are also integrated into tasker.
So lots of reasons for me to want tasker integration. I can work around it if it didnt work, but it would be easier if it was integrated. I also find that the Vera alerts feedback sent to my phone is not always that reliable (thats another mystery i will try to solve at some point), so i rather do it all via tasker and autolocation - hence the wish for integration into tasker

[integlikewhoa]

@integlikewhoa
I am using tasker for quite a few things, i am automating my phone more and more. Vera integration is just a part of it. I use the geofence not only to switch the house to 'home', but also turn the screen lock off when i am at home, and back on when i leave. I turn sound volumes and ringtones down when i am at work, and back up when i leave. Also i use NFC tiles to put the phone into car mode, which reads text messages to me, announces callers, turns on bluetooth, turns the screen lock off... and i keep finding more things i can do... i am starting to experiment with ibeacons now... they are also integrated into tasker.
So lots of reasons for me to want tasker integration. I can work around it if it didnt work, but it would be easier if it was integrated. I also find that the Vera alerts feedback sent to my phone is not always that reliable (thats another mystery i will try to solve at some point), so i rather do it all via tasker and autolocation - hence the wish for integration into tasker

Thanks for the info, I knew it had alot of uses, just never looked into them really.