New Android App for IMMEDIATE ALERTING from Vera.

[ragmondo]

@ragmondo

Sorry, I don't know how to
2) Install a "virtual device" in your vera software using files from the link above (the 2nd link down). There will be 4 of them, "D_VeraAlert.xml, I_VeraAlert.xml, S_VeraAlert.xml and D_VeraAlert.json". Upload all of them to you vera !!

Have you downloaded those 4 files ? Go into your vera / development window (normally the top row). Get hold of me - richardagreen (funny a symbol) gmail.com and I'll help you through it. Maybe time to do a youtube install video ??

Richard.

[myhomeserver]

I didn't know there was a 20 text limit...

It works via using a server which is running 24/7 which vera talks to, sending the alert id ( ie the phone ) and the alert message (which can be pretty much any length I think).

I am going to enhance it so there are several alert levels - ie "info, warning and GET OUT OF BED NOW" kind of alerts - as well as maybe a few user set ones so that you can have the phone  remain silent, or flash flash BLEEP BLEEP etc etc if you're on holiday and suddenly you find your back door is open.

I'm also toying with the idea of the sensors feeding the server details so you can graph stuff online too - but (unfortunately) I'm not getting much feedback on the app so far :-(

I havent tried this yet, but I use the SMTP Luup code to send a note to my droid, and I use Handsent SMS and change the FROM address for each message. Then in Handcent I can setup different notifications on differnt contacts, so I have a contact for DoorUnlock@..... that beeps 2X, turns the LED Red, DoorLock@....has the Locked message, and beeps and plays a Lock sound, then turns the LED Green to signify OK.

If your app can change the "fron" address for each message, you can give more flexibility to the users this way if they use Handcent...

[michaelk]

GREAT little app (or plugin?)

couple things for suggestion
- obviously would be nice if the boxes for id and message on the vera were labeled.
- I'm using the googletalk function. For ID can is it possible to put multiple gmail's like "user1@gmail.com; user2@gmail.com" so that multiple people can get an alert for the same event?

I experimented and for others who care you CAN just make a second device (vera alert2 as an example) and then it will send 2 messages by google talk.

[michaelk]

one question-

with the google talk version- does that go through the server or straight from the vera to google's server?

mostly curious.

[ragmondo]

one question-

with the google talk version- does that go through the server or straight from the vera to google's server?

mostly curious.

All events go [ Your Vera ]  --- > [ vera-alert.appspot.com ]  < --  >  [ google talk ] or  [ android ]

Vera can't talk xmpp - well it probably can - but I use a common account to talk to all gtalk recipients for simplicity. The recipient ID is looked at in a very basic fashion - if it contains an "@" then it presumes its a google talk address, if not, then it must be an android phone.

Technically, it would be possible that you could actually "chat" back to your vera via google talk, but I think that opens up too greater possibility of a breach if people used their vera as an intrusion alarm. Perhaps if there is enough interest then there could be certain allowed functions depending.... Anyway - let me know !

[michaelk]

one question-

with the google talk version- does that go through the server or straight from the vera to google's server?

mostly curious.

All events go [ Your Vera ]  --- > [ vera-alert.appspot.com ]  < --  >  [ google talk ] or  [ android ]

Vera can't talk xmpp - well it probably can - but I use a common account to talk to all gtalk recipients for simplicity. The recipient ID is looked at in a very basic fashion - if it contains an "@" then it presumes its a google talk address, if not, then it must be an android phone.

Technically, it would be possible that you could actually "chat" back to your vera via google talk, but I think that opens up too greater possibility of a breach if people used their vera as an intrusion alarm. Perhaps if there is enough interest then there could be certain allowed functions depending.... Anyway - let me know !

hmmm- interesting thought about "talking" back to vera and triggering commands that way. Maybe your on to a whole better way to do remote control. Both Home Buddy and the smartphone interface have something of a lag (I think to refresh?) before you get status. Maybe the "big boys" have something to learn from you.   

Also- maybe you should cross post this to another section of the forum. I have android stuff so i saw it- but i decided to to use the gtalk so it would ding my pc's too. But with the gtalk bits it works for anyone i'd guess (I think there's also googletalk for iphone plus the obvious PC use like i have setup)

[michaelk]

not sure if it's on my end of something on the server end-

installed 2 instances of the device.

I can set a scene to trigger vera alert 1 and vera alert 2.

If I put my gmail in either or both I get teh google talk messages.

But I can't seem to get my wifes gmail to work for either.

I tried my email first- is it possible that the server only likes the first gmail address you give it?

[VeraUser]

Started using it yesterday (using Andori notification) and it works very well!

Would like to see the different notification sounds for different messages i.e. a doorbell sound when some approaches the front of the house.

Toby

[ragmondo]

not sure if it's on my end of something on the server end-

installed 2 instances of the device.

I can set a scene to trigger vera alert 1 and vera alert 2.

If I put my gmail in either or both I get teh google talk messages.

But I can't seem to get my wifes gmail to work for either.

I tried my email first- is it possible that the server only likes the first gmail address you give it?

Ok - your wife is not accepting the initial talk request - this is a mandatory step that google have implemented to prevent people using chat for spam messages (ie people could just set up a fake chat account and spam loads of people various web site links) .... so.... it appears as if she's ignored it. At this point, google won't allow the server to talk to your wife. What she will need to do is initiate a conversation on google talk to the chat address and all will be well !

[ragmondo]

Started using it yesterday (using Andori notification) and it works very well!

Would like to see the different notification sounds for different messages i.e. a doorbell sound when some approaches the front of the house.

Toby

Yes I am working on a number of alert levels. I hadn't thought of a door bell noise though. Keep the ideas coming !!

[waltbru]

I really appreciate the attempt, as a Vera alerting app to Android smartphones is sorely needed.  However, it did not work for me and now my Vera controller is not working correctly.  The four Luup modules you supplied did NOT create a device and now they can't be removed from my Vera box's list of Luup code.

A screenshot of the messed-up list of custom Luup modules is attached.
Here's the text of them, scraped directly off my Vera screen:

C%3A%5Cinstall%5CVera2%5CVeralert%20Plugins%5CD_VeraAlert.json View download
C%3A%5Cinstall%5CVera2%5CVeralert%20Plugins%5CD_VeraAlert.xml View download
C%3A%5Cinstall%5CVera2%5CVeralert%20Plugins%5CI_VeraAlert.xml View download
C%3A%5Cinstall%5CVera2%5CVeralert%20Plugins%5CS_VeraAlert.xml View download
D_AvMisc1.xml View download
D_BinaryLight1.json View download
D_BinaryLight1.xml View download
.....

Until the kinks get sorted out, this one should be in the "hobbyist" category, IMHO not ready for prime-time just yet.  If I can't recover this Vera box, I'll buy another one.
I encourage you to get it working as then it will be very useful.

[mikea9999]

The same thing happened to me.  The file names have the drive letter and path attached to the file names.

I SSH'd into vera and moved (unix mv command) the incorrect file name to the correct file name and all is well.

[waltbru]

Outstanding help, Mike9999.  Your fix worked for me too and I'm grateful.  
The app now alerts my Android version 2.2 on my Galaxy S Vibrant phone.  Lag time is a few seconds to my Gmail ID using Meebo as an IM client.
This app is now a winner and I retract what I said about it being not ready.  This is worth the time it takes to set up and the author is to be commended.
He has done the Vera community a great service.

Here are the details I found:

  1. Log in to the Vera box with SSH
  2. Locate the LuuP files with this command:  find / -name *VeraAlert.*
  3. The files end in ".lzo" not ".xml" as they might appear
  4. The directory is:  "/etc/cmh-ludl"
  5. These commands did the rename for me but they will differ for others:

 mv C\:\\install\\Vera2\\Veralert\ Plugins\\D_VeraAlert.json.lzo D_VeraAlert.json.lzo
 mv C\:\\install\\Vera2\\Veralert\ Plugins\\D_VeraAlert.xml.lzo D_VeraAlert.xml.lzo
 mv C\:\\install\\Vera2\\Veralert\ Plugins\\S_VeraAlert.xml.lzo S_VeraAlert.xml.lzo
 mv C\:\\install\\Vera2\\Veralert\ Plugins\\I_VeraAlert.xml.lzo I_VeraAlert.xml.lzo

[mikea9999]

Happy to help!

[ragmondo]

Hi there - what do I need to do to avoid this again? Create a different download file suffix?