Introducing HomeWave: an easy-to-use remote control app for Vera

[Bernfrin]

This looks like it will be a great app.  Looking forward to the release.

[1976vera]

The app has been very handy.

[electricessence]

I like that it's configurable and looks very human friendly.

[fire708]

Hurry up and take my money!

[intveltr]

HomeWave will be submitted to the App store today!  There are a few outstanding minor issues but they will be fixed in subsequent releases.  Barring any major bugs being found, or issues during the review process, the app will probably hit the store in 2 weeks.

The website is up as well on: http://homewave.intvelt.com/  It just needs a few videos, to be added as soon as I get the chance to record them.

[electricessence]

Please announce when it's available!
Using SQRemote now. Ready to try this! Definitely like the apps that are configurable.

[electricessence]

WOW.  THE BEST APP SO FAR! PERIOD!!

[PurdueGuy]

Very nice!

The only issue I encountered was with a thermostat.   I was trying to set heating and cooling set-points, but it wouldn't accept the settings.  The settings were correct, but it just said "Off" for all of them.  I quit out of the app and back in, and it worked.

[electricessence]

Gave it 4 stars on the app store.  I'll change it to 5 when it's been refined a bit more.

I'm a bit confused about accessing my Vera.  It didn't ask for a password.  So I'm guessing the only security I have is my WiFi password?  I have yet to try outside the house.  How does it log into mios?

Issues:
- Making mistakes is painful.  If I screw up the grid or arrange something I didn't like in one spot, I can't re-arrange/move it.  There needs to be a better way to move a control.  Probably cut/paste would work fine.
If you screw up the grid, even if you put it back, you're stuck and either have to close the app to avoid saving, or simply have to remove the group and start over.
- You should be able to add controls (and folders) to the home screen.

Beats other apps HANDS DOWN:
It works with all the other plugins!  Combination Plug-in doesn't work with other apps, but does with this one!  Makes my garage door act as one switch/sensor.  Awesome!

[electricessence]

Oh yeah, I have to agree with the other guy.  A really really great (and possibly simple feature) would be to allow custom backgrounds.  Let the user specify a photo!  So I could add a photo for each screen that represented the room it controlled!  Subsequent design suggestion, add a drop shadow layer behind the controls so bright or dark photos don't make the controls disappear.

[intveltr]

I'm a bit confused about accessing my Vera.  It didn't ask for a password.  So I'm guessing the only security I have is my WiFi password?  I have yet to try outside the house.  How does it log into mios

Correct: anyone on your LAN can access your Vera. 
The app connects to MIOS using your username/password for this service; these can be entered in the app settings.

Issues:
- Making mistakes is painful.  If I screw up the grid or arrange something I didn't like in one spot, I can't re-arrange/move it.  There needs to be a better way to move a control.  Probably cut/paste would work fine.
If you screw up the grid, even if you put it back, you're stuck and either have to close the app to avoid saving, or simply have to remove the group and start over.
- You should be able to add controls (and folders) to the home screen.

Moving controls is possible: touch and hold for a few moments, then drag it to its new location.
What do you mean exactly by screwing up the grid?
Perhaps an undo button would help make things easier?

[PurdueGuy]

Very nice!

The only issue I encountered was with a thermostat.   I was trying to set heating and cooling set-points, but it wouldn't accept the settings.  The settings were correct, but it just said "Off" for all of them.  I quit out of the app and back in, and it worked.

Adding a bit to the thermostat issue.....
I can't seem to select "Normal" on the Trane thermostat when it is in "Energy" mode.  When I hit "Normal," the "Normal" turns grey for a bit, them "Energy" turns back to blue.  Going from "Normal" to "Energy" doesn't work either.

I see the following in the log:

Code: [Select]

08      09/01/12 23:56:08.009   JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest device: 46 service: urn:upnp-org:serviceId:HVAC_UserOperatingMode1 action: SetEnergyModeTarget <0x1b829>
08      09/01/12 23:56:08.010   JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument DeviceNum=46 <0x1b829>
08      09/01/12 23:56:08.011   JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument serviceId=urn:upnp-org:serviceId:HVAC_UserOperatingMode1 <0x1b829>
08      09/01/12 23:56:08.011   JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument action=SetEnergyModeTarget <0x1b829>
08      09/01/12 23:56:08.012   JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument NewEnergyModeTarget=Normal <0x1b829>
02      09/01/12 23:56:08.013   ZWaveNode::ReceivedMessage serv urn:upnp-org:serviceId:HVAC_UserOperatingMode1 action SetEnergyModeTarget unhandled <0x1b829>
02      09/01/12 23:56:08.014   JobHandler_LuaUPnP::RunAction device 46 action urn:upnp-org:serviceId:HVAC_UserOperatingMode1/SetEnergyModeTarget failed with -115/Device does not handle service/action <0x1b829>
If I change via Vera dashboard, HomeWave is updated nearly instantly.

Looking at the log when I do it via the Dashboard, I see this in the log:

Code: [Select]

08      09/02/12 0:10:00.439    JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest device: 46 service: urn:upnp-org:serviceId:HVAC_UserOperatingMode1 action: SetEnergyModeTarget <0x1d42c>
08      09/02/12 0:10:00.440    JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument DeviceNum=46 <0x1d42c>
08      09/02/12 0:10:00.441    JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument serviceId=urn:upnp-org:serviceId:HVAC_UserOperatingMode1 <0x1d42c>
08      09/02/12 0:10:00.441    JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument action=SetEnergyModeTarget <0x1d42c>
08      09/02/12 0:10:00.442    JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument NewModeTarget=Normal <0x1d42c>
08      09/02/12 0:10:00.443    JobHandler_LuaUPnP::HandleActionRequest argument rand=0.7215548728127033 <0x1d42c>
06      09/02/12 0:10:00.443    Device_Variable::m_szValue_set device: 46 service: urn:upnp-org:serviceId:HVAC_UserOperatingMode1 variable: EnergyModeTarget was: EnergySavingsMode now: Normal #hooks: 0 upnp: 0 v:0xc18ea0/NONE duplicate:0 <0x1d42c>

Notice that Vera uses "NewModeTarget=Normal" but HomeWave uses "NewEnergyModeTarget=Normal" to set the state.

[intveltr]

Thanks for the logs, that'll be a big help in fixing this issue.  Is the Trane thermostat supported by Vera out of the box, or does it require a plugin?  I have only been able to test plugin / virtual thermostats, and it did work on those. (The only real z-wave thermostats we have here are heating only)

[PurdueGuy]

The Trane is supported out of the box, no plugins required.

[asterix406]

Awesome app - thanks for the great work.

I am looking forward to the ability to save configurations in something like box.net or dropbox.

Other nice features would be:

• Have the ability to change properties like colour in multiple devices at once rather than doing each one individually.
• For the Trane thermostat add support for the Fan & Energy Save settings.
• For battery powered sensors add support for the current battery level.