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General => Remote Control => Topic started by: AgileHumor on January 26, 2014, 12:26:39 pm
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I'll be honest, I'd love a Star Trek LCARS themed solution like this :)
http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/app/lcars-interface/cf3da302-e3bb-4dc1-a1ab-63cbcbed3662
However, looking for the prettiest (not most functional) solution to replace my current Kindle Fire entry control system. Even though I'm Windows centric, I'll even look at buying a used iPad or Android tablet device if it provides a great experience.
I use Grasshopper on my Phone and Tablet which is super quick (especially with Live tile shortcuts) and super functional. However, it doesn't have any of the pretty graphs that I saw in ImperiHome.
What is your favorite wall mounted tablet app?
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There's an LCARS theme for SQ Remote by the way.
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I don't know how I missed this post and reply. Thanks @Strangely. Will look into SQ Remote.
LCARS home interface would be most excellent.
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I'm still on the quest for the coolest looking tablet interface.
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I'm a Windows guy as well (work at Microsoft), and currently use Grasshopper as well, although have been playing with AutHomationHd thru a few borrowed Android tablets (as well as on Win8 thru Bluestacks). I really like the UX... pretty flexible. ImperiHome looks interesting, but would likely need a larger tablet (+ 9") to get the most from their dashboard view.
Have you done the wall mount yet?
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Well us Windows guys need to stick together on a Linux based HA platform :)
At a high level, I'm looking for a large "glance pane" for the following:
* Show the Front Door Camera so I can view it before I get to the door. Allow other cameras if needed.
* Home Status (that allow scene activation if on or off)
** Shields Up = Door Locked and Closed.
** Long Range Sensors = Outdoor Motion Alerts Enabled
(I have screen pop alerts on TV and then it show the camera...which has has WAF problems when I'm working on the lawn and her show is interrupted every few minutes)
** Hull Integrity = Shock, Door & Window Sensors Tripped
** Life Support Systems - Temperature and Humidity (and possibly CO2 of I ever get a Netamo)
** Short Range Planetary Sensors - Outside Temp, Humidity, and Weather Forecast
** Engineering = Energy Meter
** Holodeck - Will need a plugin to MediaBrowser (or XBMC) to list movies or TV
** Reminder Area - For myriad of reminders or variables
** Red Alert Button - To remind the other person to go, dinner is ready, etc.
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Well us Windows guys need to stick together on a Linux based HA platform :)
I hear that!
Wow... you are really taking the Trek theme to the next level!!! :D
I'm just looking for an alternative to super expensive (e.g. Leviton) scene controllers. If i can solve the wife factor... seems like an inexpensive tablet will do all that and more, for the same price.
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@tomgru, this is heading in the wrong direction, but I have one of these for the master bedroom and it's sick.
http://www.amazon.com/Evolve-Guest-Controls-5-Button-Controller/dp/B00B4KFU4G
You can change the menu as the day progresses (in AM, it's a snooze button...in PM, it's the goodnight button).
If your going to splurge on a scene controller, this is the best ones IMHO. Sadly, I could only afford one.
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I think once the bRight Switches hit the market the Evolve ones will be a moot point. While they are nice, they are too expensive. Of course, just my opinion.
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bright-switch-the-next-generation-of-wall-technology
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To Agile and TC1... a very funny coincidence, as i was literally just talking to a guy at work about both of these.
I've been looking at the Evolve as well.. and agree it's pricey. My other issue is that i need local load control if i use it on the wall. The guy i chatted with gave me a great idea to use an Aeon in-wall dimmer for the load, and then install the evolve over top, eliminating the local switch. Pricey, but would be a great way to do it (and get rid of my Leviton's). Agile, have you played with the beta plug-in for the Evolve? Looks really promising.
TCI... i LOVE The bRightswitch idea.... I just dont' want to wait 3-5 months. And i must say, having a real/tactile button to turn on/off lights and scenes helps the wife factor quite a bit! :D
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the bRights do everything right (IMO). They are basically mini- Android tablets with matching load controllers, designed to fit a standard switch box. Plus built-in camera, occupancy sensor, mic and speaker. You could have unlimited virtual controllers on the same physical interface. Powered by the house current. For about $100 or less. They solve so many issues.
We're still recovering from Sandy, so I can afford to wait. Lot's of new things in the HA world coming to market this year.
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...when it ships...it won't work as described for at least a year IMHO. I hope I'm wrong.
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...when it ships...it won't work as described for at least a year IMHO. I hope I'm wrong.
I have same fear, plus the additional plugin work that will need to be done.
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...when it ships...it won't work as described for at least a year IMHO. I hope I'm wrong.
As long as it operates like a "dimmer" as my current switches do, then for the price I paid ($73.33/each for 6 blues), then I think I'll be happy as they are about the same price as levitons or cheaper. Also considering that as long as they are android based and they get access to the Google Play Store, I could easily install Authomation or ImperiHome and get even more functionality from it.
I do agree that it will likely take a bit to get the "extra" sensor info into the Vera for us (via plugins). That I can wait for. I'm not sure I really bought into them for the other stuff they added (Skype, Pandora, etc), so if those don't work right out of the box, I think I'd be ok with it as I was really just hoping to pop Imperihome or AutHomation on them.
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Check this LCars interface for iRule:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JyM7bLgADU
And, iRule supports Vera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dDRt9Z7U4I
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@SirMeili: Exactly. With the BT and something like Pandora, all one ahs to do is add a couple of BT speakers in a room and you have a cheap media player setup.
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@SirMeili: Exactly. With the BT and something like Pandora, all one ahs to do is add a couple of BT speakers in a room and you have a cheap media player setup.
And hopefully they hold true to their word to me that they decided to take my advice and add a phono plug to it somewhere. This way you could also add it to a whole house audio setup. For some reason they are only adding it to the Bluetooth model, which I think it a mistake (it can't be that expensive and Android should support it natively).
Either way, I'm hoping to possibly test running it to a central location for WHA, I'm not sure how being so close to the main power will affect it, but we'll see. If it doesn't work, then at least I got them to add it for free, so no loss to me!
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Or just accomplish all of that with Sonos and the plugin :-)
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How much is each Sonos unit? And then you need a smartphone for each person or room to control it.
Until the costs of Sonos units comes down to something reasonable, it's not a good solution for everyone.
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I'm starting to think about doing this on my own. I'm a Windows house, and you can get no contract Lumia 520's for $59. It's a great phone, and already runs Sonos, Grasshopper, Skype, etc. You'd still have to work the same power issues as with tablets, and maybe not quite a cool looking, but should work pretty well.
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Since you mentioned LCARS and tablet wall mounts, I wanted to share my tablet mount solution.
http://hackaday.com/2013/07/03/perfect-wall-mounted-tablet-integration/
http://www.controlmypad.com/projects.html
The picture just shows the LCARS clock that someone made for WebOS, but the tablet also boots Android ICS so I could run the iRule LCARS skin too.
The only disadvantage I see with the Bright Switches is that all of my switch boxes are too low on the wall for me to be able to access any information on the screen, but with a simple interface (dimmer slider and a couple status indicators) I guess it could work as they have shown it. I tried doing something similar with iPod touches when I realized my project linked above instead.
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Drool.....very nice setup too...no wires showing.
Live long and prosper my friend.
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I bought a cheap snap on back for my Nexus 7 and mounted a Qi (wireless) charger to it. I then cut a hole in the wall, ran electrical to place an outlet in the wall, then used that to power the USB adapter for the Qi charger. I then used 3M tape to adhere the back to my wall. I can easily remove the Nexus 7 for normal use.
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Very clean mount!
I wish there was some good mounts for a Microsoft Surface. I want to upgrade to a Nokia tablet (with built in internet via cellular) and would love to mount this on the wall.
Sadly, I haven't seen an interface that has tempted me to move on an iPad or Android after playing with them for a bit on my Fiance's ipad and kindle fire.
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Sadly, I haven't seen an interface that has tempted me to move on an iPad or Android after playing with them for a bit on my Fiance's ipad and kindle fire.
Just a heads up, don't mix up Android tablets and the Kindle Fire. While the Fire is indeed based on Android, the interface is different (OS interface). Granted, if you're talking about the app interfaces, then they would be the same. I would give a Nexus tablet a try if you can. I find I like the base Android experience. And if you are looking for a tablet jsut for HA, then check out the 2012 Nexus 7. Not the best, but good enough for HA and even watching Hulu, Netflix, etc.
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Check this thing out. It looks pretty nice.
http://www.flow7.co.uk/
Can't seem to actually buy it anywhere though.
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Check this thing out. It looks pretty nice.
http://www.flow7.co.uk/
Can't seem to actually buy it anywhere though.
Now that is slick!
It seems to be new. I couldn't find any purchasing information either.
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I sent an email to Habitech asking for purchasing options and pricing. I will let you know.
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Here is what I got back.
We do not advertise prices or anything as we are a Trade-Only organisation.
If you wish to purchase these units, you would need to set up a Proforma Account which requires the attached forms filled in.
Once the account is on our system you will be able to buy the units. Shipping would need to be organised by you I?m afraid as we can only do UK shipments and I believe you are US based is that correct?
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Graham Nash
Tel: 01420 540054
Email: graham.nash@habitech.co.uk
www.habitech.co.uk
Tel. 01420 54 00 54
21 Caker Stream Road, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 2QA
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That flow7 thing is pretty sweet looking. I wonder if it's US 120V standard?
I bought one of these recently and am trying it with Imperihome.
http://store.homeseer.com/store/HomeSeer-WFTT07-WiFi-Tabletop-Touchscreen-with-HSTouch-P1742.aspx
I love Grashopper App interface on my PC, Phone and Surface tablet.
It was a hard toss up between AutoHomation and Imperihome for my first foray into Android...but I need an HTTP API for dashboards and backup TTS alerts (if my Russound or TV alerts were not working).
I have noticed a lot of crashes with Imperihome. For those that use Android, is there way to restart a crashed app. For a always on interface, I king of wanted always on :)
PS - Still haven't found the perfect wall interface to show off.
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I have noticed a lot of crashes with Imperihome. For those that use Android, is there way to restart a crashed app. For a always on interface, I king of wanted always on :)
I use Tasker to periodically check if the imperihome is running and if not to load that app.. I also use another app the makes the imperihome the home app.. meaning it always defaults to the imperihome interface..
The only thing I haven't yet figured out is how to clear the annoying imperihome lost connection screen... if I reboot my vera
If you need to name of the app.. I'll check when I get home
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That flow7 thing is pretty sweet looking. I wonder if it's US 120V standard?
I bought one of these recently and am trying it with Imperihome.
http://store.homeseer.com/store/HomeSeer-WFTT07-WiFi-Tabletop-Touchscreen-with-HSTouch-P1742.aspx
I love Grashopper App interface on my PC, Phone and Surface tablet.
It was a hard toss up between AutoHomation and Imperihome for my first foray into Android...but I need an HTTP API for dashboards and backup TTS alerts (if my Russound or TV alerts were not working).
I have noticed a lot of crashes with Imperihome. For those that use Android, is there way to restart a crashed app. For a always on interface, I king of wanted always on :)
PS - Still haven't found the perfect wall interface to show off.
How has that HomeSeer touchscreen been working out for you? Was it difficult to get Imperihome running on that instead of the HS software? I'm considering Imperihome as my frontend for a pending VeraLite install and it looks like it could be a pretty nice option for touchscreen control if it works.
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I've been running ImperiHome for several months on my Nexus 7 2013 with Android 4.4.2 and have not had it crash.
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So here is the latest update, while i tried the WFTT07 near the front door....I've decided to move in another direction. The WFTT07 was just too small and a tad too slow. The WiFi updates were a little too spotty in my crowded WiFi spectrum so I was really looking for a ethernet tablet. I think I'll move the WFTT07 to the bedroom and give my fiance my Evolve LCD bedside (for it's simplicity).
My new path is a wall mounted, 21" HP Android Touchscreen with Ethernet and AutHomation. I ordered these tonight:
* HP 21' Android 4.2 Touchscreen http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F0R9SO2
* VESA Wall Mount http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VKCIJU
I plan to build a wood "frame" or crown molding around it once I have it settled.
I anyone knows the power barrel size HP Slate 21-k100 power adapter...that would be super helpful. I would like to use the Cat 5 location I already have at that wall location with a passive POE injector like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RE3QS0 Or, I can just be patient and measure it myself ;)
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Wow. I guess I went the other way. I bought two Acer 7"'s today to mount on the wall. I already have a 23" AIO HP (older model) in my Kitchen running Win8.1 that i'm about to upgrade to a newer Dell. Still Win8.1, so i'll run Grasshopper and/or Bluestacks with AutHomation.
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I also have a 27" Acer Touchscreen in the Kitchen that allows access to Central WMC Server (8 way HDMI and USB come to this TV).
However, I need a dashboard view of the home and grasshopper doesn't provide things like showing the camera in the tile view. Also, I pre-ran a Cat5 behind that area, so I'm limited by my wattage that I can put over POE (about 50 watts).
Let me know how your setup works out.
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that's a lot of screen in the kitchen ;D
I was just about to pull the trigger on the Evolves... but decided to try a couple of tablets first for the price. I like Garrett's card view a lot, although I don't seem the camera live in that view. I assume what you are going for is a large dashboard view of everything important going on without having to swipe through screens?
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Yes, at a glance. I wonder how AutoHomation handdles 1080p screen?
I known there is a "small card view", but if I get even more tiles with the extra space....I was planning to add some Highway/Traffic cameras too.
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@AgileHumor, I too am considering a large Windows or Android touchscreen for House Automation control on our first floor, but I also want it to double as an HDMI monitor that I can feed whatever is on my main TV (for sports game viewing from any angle in the house). Do you know of any large tablets that also accept an HDMI input?
If I can't find one then I might go the large 23 - 27" touchscreen monitor route, 1x2 HDMI remote switch, then mount a small Intel NUC mini PC to the back of it. Will then end up running a Windows version of some Vera control software.
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Sorry TC1, I don't know a combined one. I know a lot of computer monitors have 2 Video Inputs if you use a PC (acer makes a 23" and a 27" touchscreen). Don't know if you can get Android on a external box.
I would have preferred Windows, but Grasshopper is the only remote...and it's awesome as a remote on my phone/tablet...doesn't have the "glace view" i'm looking for.
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This looks like a wall-mount wireless charger that would keep a tablet on a wall.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/synergy-line-of-wireless-chargers-for-your-smartphone#home
I hope that this product can become a reality. Amazon indicates that it is "Not yet Released".
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For those that go with the HP 21" Android Slate, here is how I have it mounted on the wall:
* Wall Vesa Mount
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VKCIJU
* Passive POE Injector (so I get power and ethernet over same Cat5
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003QRQ5DK
Super happy and it looks great!
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For those that go with the HP 21" Android Slate, here is how I have it mounted on the wall:
* Wall Vesa Mount
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VKCIJU
* Passive POE Injector (so I get power and ethernet over same Cat5
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003QRQ5DK
Super happy and it looks great!
MUST HAVE PICs!!!
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@AgileHumor, I too am considering a large Windows or Android touchscreen for House Automation control on our first floor, but I also want it to double as an HDMI monitor that I can feed whatever is on my main TV (for sports game viewing from any angle in the house). Do you know of any large tablets that also accept an HDMI input?
If I can't find one then I might go the large 23 - 27" touchscreen monitor route, 1x2 HDMI remote switch, then mount a small Intel NUC mini PC to the back of it. Will then end up running a Windows version of some Vera control software.
@TC1, check out the Viewsonic's. They have HDMI in, but are lacking some features like external volume controls. Make sure to read the reviews. There is a 22" on Woot Computers today that is ok. It's a few years old, but it is likely good enough to run Authomation or Imerpihome.:
Woot link: http://computers.woot.com/offers/viewsonic-22-full-hd-touch-smart-display?ref=cnt_dly_tl
Viewsonic has some newer ones. There is a white one comparable to the HP, but costs more:
http://www.amazon.com/ViewSonic-24-inch-Display-Monitor-Android/dp/B00DSUTG4U/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1405027315&sr=1-1&keywords=vsd241
and they have a new one coming out at the end of the month, but I like the "all white" of the one above. IT also has a full HDMI port instead of the mini-HDMI of the 22" version
Edit: the viewsonic's also can act as Citrix thin clients as well using an app for the android side.
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Nice, I like the 24" Viewsonic. Thanks!
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Nice, I like the 24" Viewsonic. Thanks!
Just note that the 23" comes out at the end of this month (I believe) and it has a Tegra4 (instead of Tegra3) and runs a newer version of Jellybean (too bad they didn't put KitKat on it, but at least you get Project "butter")
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Where's your man card? Bigger (24") is always better ;D
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Where's your man card? Bigger (24") is always better ;D
LOL...the 24" also LOOKS better with the all white case. It is likely what I will get (or the HP like @AgileHumor has), however, I was thinking some might prefer it because the newer specs might mean it will last longer, though honestly, Viewsonic doesn't seem to want to update the Android versions on these "smart displays".
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For those that go with the HP 21" Android Slate, here is how I have it mounted on the wall:
* Wall Vesa Mount
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VKCIJU
* Passive POE Injector (so I get power and ethernet over same Cat5
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003QRQ5DK
Super happy and it looks great!
Yeah @AgileHumor, give us some pics please (if you have time that is 😁)
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
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Here are some pics of the Android HP Slate 21.
I really like this slim Vesa wall mount and the Passive Power over Cat5 injectors. I prewired a single cat 5 and put a single gang blanking panel at a few spots in the house and use this for powering digital picture frames as well as the Slate.
* Wall Vesa Mount
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VKCIJU
* Passive POE Injector (so I get power and ethernet over same single Cat5)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003QRQ5DK
PS - If anyone knows a way to root the HP Slate, please do share. Can't figure out a way to reboot it nightly :(
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Here are some pics of the Android HP Slate 21.
I really like this slim Vesa wall mount and the Passive Power over Cat5 injectors. I prewired a single cat 5 and put a single gang blanking panel at a few spots in the house and use this for powering digital picture frames as well as the Slate.
PS - If anyone knows a way to root the HP Slate, please do share. Can't figure out a way to reboot it nightly :(
Interesting. I'm planning on running a 12V distribution around the attic and bringing it out to blank Double Gang plates in the ceiling corner of various rooms to use for internal WiFi cameras attached to my Blue Iris (that way I can control that the internal cameras are active only when the alarm system is active.) I may change that to CAT 5+POE instead and drop some down the walls in key locations after seeing this.
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@agilehumor, looks great. But why do you need to reboot the slate nightly?
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@agilehumor, looks great. But why do you need to reboot the slate nightly?
Once a week it seems to hang running Imperihopme or doing something else. I tried uninstalling most apps. It now only is mostly Imperhome, with occasional grubhub or google maps app.
My other option is to cycle the power supply before the passive POE injector. It's meant to be a desktop vs portable design so this 21" android "tablet" has no battery.
This might be the best option so I can turn it off to save energy when the home is unoccupied/away mode. It does boot right to Imperihome.
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Bummer, I got it hooked to a Z-Wave switchable outlet...but found that there is no "power on after power loss"...and no BIOS to change this setting ;) I have to then power it on manually.
Does anyone knows of a way to reboot a Android tablet (4.2.2) without rooting?
Nightly heal (or any Vera reboot) causes Imperihome to get "disconnected". Doesn't say when it becomes disconnected (looks like the dashboard)...but the data is inaccurate/stale by many hours when I awake each morning.
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Did you just try to cycle the network via Tasker (i.e. toggle the WIFI off then on).
I finds that this makes my tablet start communicating with the outside world again!
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I'll try that. Haven't done too much with Tasker yet.
My Slate 21 has ethernet (which is awesome for running 8 cameras with 1s refreshes). Turning wifi on turns ethernet off...so maybe that will work.
Appreciate the tip.
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(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/16/25910f879c5d9912b09a6618eb62f2db.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Nice looking installation, Rich1983.
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(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/16/25910f879c5d9912b09a6618eb62f2db.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nice install.
What app is that?
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(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/16/25910f879c5d9912b09a6618eb62f2db.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nice install.
What app is that?
It's homewave :)
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/16/25910f879c5d9912b09a6618eb62f2db.jpg)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nice install.
What app is that?
It's homewave :)
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Bummer, Apple only... :(
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Bummer, I got it hooked to a Z-Wave switchable outlet...but found that there is no "power on after power loss"...and no BIOS to change this setting ;) I have to then power it on manually.
Does anyone knows of a way to reboot a Android tablet (4.2.2) without rooting?
Nightly heal (or any Vera reboot) causes Imperihome to get "disconnected". Doesn't say when it becomes disconnected (looks like the dashboard)...but the data is inaccurate/stale by many hours when I awake each morning.
AgileHumor- were you able to resolve this issue with your HP slate? I currently have a Nexus 7 serving as my wall mounted home control panel but I'm finding the screen to be too small. Also does the built-in camera on the HP slate work for waking up the tablet through the imperihome app or do you use a separate app to wake up the tablet? If you could do it over again, would you pick the HP slate as your large screen wall mounted home control panel? Thanks for the info!
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I just refresh it occasionally....but the latest version of imperihome seems to work better.
So far, I still love the HP Slate large screen...I actually upgrade to a Pro!
Cheers!