EventGhost

I see this as a logical expansion to EventGhost and have purchased one for evaluation.

Anyone played with this?

Linkage:
http://www.appdig.com/adicon_new/ocelot.htm


Basics:
Automate Home Theaters, Lighting, Security, Sprinkler Control, and much more. You are limited only by your imagination!

Connect multiple Ocelots, Leopard IIs, ADICON 2500 Modules, and Bobcat Discreet Sensors for expansion. Send and Receive X-10, IR, and ASCII.

You can connect the Ocelot to your computer or use as a stand-alone controller. Simple setup with the C-Max software, which is included with the purchase.


- Fully programmable, if-then-else control.

- Over 4,000 lines of programmable code.

- Infrared send and receive.

- 2 way X-10.

- RS-485 expansion to a variety of low cost I/O modules.

- Comes with C-Max 2.0 Control Wizard Software.

Found this ~slightly~ helpful tidbit.

http://www.appdigusers.com/forums/ubbth ... #Post18718

Okay thus far I can:

Set variables (99, integer, 0 to 999)
Set timers (64, 1 second resolution, 1 to 999, 0 to stop, 1 to start)
Transmit x10 (all 256 combinations plus single commands like A1)
Transmit IR (999 available)
Learn IR code (kinda important later on if this gets user support)
Open/Close a relay


The Ocelot also has a table of ASCII strings (128, can use variables in strings) that you configure, Eventghost has no problems here either for logging or event generation.

However I still don't have the skills to make a plugin, anyone who wishes to donate some skills let me know. I think I am making this overly complicated to begin with.

The downsides to the Ocelot are it's straight up DIY model, nothing is a given if you want some functionality you have to build it in programming. Since this is a standalone controller designed to be used with or without a PC you might choose to load some IR code into the device. This is much more difficult then learning them into EventGhost with a USBUIRT (bravo Bitmonster) as such it might be nice to learn them into EventGhost and then use a macro to teach them back to the Ocelot.

Keep in mind the Ocelot is a 9-16vdc 200ma device, it is much easier to keep it running through a power failure then a PC. So you may not wish to teach all your IR to the Ocelot.

This can also be used as a hardware watchdog for your system by bouncing commands back and forth while having the reset of the machine tied to a SECU16 relay. Same can go for when to boot after a power failure, power restored. Most boot instantly but I would prefer power to be back up 10-15 minutes before kicking the machines over. This is no problem with Ocelot.


Also as you may have noticed sometimes your PC can become bogged down and cause EventGhost to react slowly. This does not happen with the Ocelot, it is truely realtime.


EDIT: It seems the basic ascii is limited to 3 digit numbers in many cases so although the Ocleot and SECU16-IR can store 1024 codes you can only access the first 999 from each module (device). Also you can only address variables 0-99 so variables generated in the Ocelot not needing updates from EventGhost should start at address 100.