HomeGenie Forum
General Category => Troubleshooting and Support => Topic started by: kevinvinv on December 29, 2015, 02:50:21 PM
-
Hi All,
New user here. I managed to get HG installed on Linux, connected to a CM15 and configured with a couple X10 modules. I was pretty excited when the lights turned on and off via the computer! Very cool!!!
I've seen some threads asking about this but wasn't sure of the conclusion, I'd like to have some events happen at sunset and sunset+1minute and sunset+2minjtes. Is this doable at this point?
THanks!!!!
-
There is no way to simply use a statement like
@sunset+2in the scheduled events APP. You have 2 options.
1) Define a new event time based on sunset
2) Enable jkUtils Solar Altitude APP and pick one of the various sunset times that is slightly later than your current sunset time.
-
thanks! I'll see if I can figure that out. Thanks again!
-
Hello,
So I am trying to work with Solar Altitude and get sunrise/sunset to work. I put in my attitude and longitude for Erie CO as 40.0404 N and 105.0394 W and get some pretty wacky results for sunrise and sunset times etc...
Can you offer advice on the syntax for the lat/long strings? I must be doing something dumb.
Thanks!
-
Hi,
The 2 fields "Longitude" and "latitude" to fill in solar altitude can be determined by Jkutil openweather.org or by google maps.
Bye
-
I don't remember, but you might need to reset the app after changing the values. Also, don't use cardinal directions in the code. You want to use the following for Erie, CO:
latitude = 40.040369
longitude = -105.057659
-
ah, yes... MUCH better. Can you tell me HOW I should have known to make the Long -105? I'd like to understand how to do this myself.
Next question then, I assume that all these "variables" are now available to the scheduler? For example JKutils.SolarAltitide.Morning.Sunrise.End
Do I use this DIRECTLY in a cron or the scheduler as @JKutils.Solar.... or how do I access this?
If there is some documentation I am missing... pls advise and THANKS!!!
-
Easy, you just know ;)
I have done a few projects with GPS in the past and knew that west is negative and east is positive (same with north and south). There are some other conversions that are necessary for certain situations with minutes to degrees as well as cardinal directions and +/-. They can be tricky for a new person, so I'd just suggest looking for an online guide if you want to know more.
Go to the Scheduler item under the configure menu to see what the cron name should be. Your example would be "@Morning.Sunrise.End".
-
OK Thanks. And how would I know that it is @Morning.Sunrise.End ? Is that seen somewhere in the UI or ?
Just want to learn how to find my own answers better! :)
Thanks again!
-
Like I said, look at Configure->Scheduler. It shows all the cron events that are available. You can add more in there if you want, but the ones under SolarAltitude are automatically updated by the jkUtils program.
-
OK i got it.
One last question for today then.
Can I edit the crontab manually or do I need to use the Scheduler GUI? I cant figure out how the scheduler guy actually works....
I want to have one module from Dusk to Dawn and the other from Dusk to 10:30pm
Cant see how to schedule different modules to different schedules ...
Sheesh... need some kind of manual or example I guess... :)
-
HG does have documentation linked off the main page. To get to the scheduler documentation, you'd follow:
www.homegine.it (http://www.homegine.it)
DOCS & SUPPORT (top right)
Event Scheduler (left column)
http://www.homegenie.it/docs/scheduler.php (http://www.homegenie.it/docs/scheduler.php) (direct link)
This shows the basics of how to create a cron event and how to use it for a module. If you want to do more than a single event (e.g., turn on at 5am and dusk), you can use AND (:) and OR (;) as well as parenthesis to make more complex events.
If you want to create your own fixed event (same time/date/day of week/etc), you can manually create a cron event in the Scheduled Events section of HG. If you want to do something that changes based on the day or whatnot, you will need to write some code (or modify something that already exists). In that case, refer to the jkUtils SolarAltitude for a really good example.
-
Thanks. I've read through the doc's you mentioned numerous times but it isnt helping much.
First problem is that it mentions using a "Wizard" (the second picture) and doesnt say how to bring up that wizard. I have been unable to find it in the gui.
I just want one X10 module A1 to come on at dusk and go off at Dawn...
I tried putting the proper @sunset stuff in the module itself under the scheduled on/off section and that doesnt seem to work... so I still am at a loss...
-
There are 2 things you are referring to I believe.
You can create a cron event in the Scheduled Events section as the guide shows. I'm not at my HG setup now so I can't get exact steps but it looks reasonably good in the guide.
Secondly, to utilize any of these events, you have to use the Scheduled ON/OFF APP or write some of your own code (C#, JS, Wizard script, etc). The easiest way is to use the existing Scheduled ON/OFF APP. Go to a module and click the gear icon in the upper right corner. Select "Scheduled ON/OFF" from the drop down. Enter a valid cron expression as described in the guide I liked before. Select "control device on a given schedule" check box. Click update.
The Scheduled ON/OFF APP is simply a C# script that is provided by Gene. If you want to do something more/different, you can either write your own in any available language or modify something that already exists.
-
OK thanks. No offense to you or anyone but this could be A LOT easier.
Here are the problems I encountered:
The "enable scheduled on/off" checkbox is nearly invisible until you check it... I did not know it was a check box at all
I typed in a string for "Turn on" and "Turn Off" instead of clicking the calendar button....
I finally got my first scheduled event to post... at least that is something.
Thanks again!!
-
The cron style string is certainly not as simple as AHP. But, once you have it set up, it does work as well as AHP's approach. I hear your opinion and don't disagree that it's easier in other programs to build a scheduled event.
-
:) I have zero problem with the cron string.... my complaint is that the gui and the documentation doesn't guide the noob very well ... BUT who can complain ? The tool actually seems to work and the price is right!!!
-
Documentation is one thing that has dramatically improved in the last couple years since I started using HG. It's not at the level of some HA software, but when combined with the forum, which is more active than others I looked at, I think getting started isn't too bad. The interface is a little less refined than some others as well, though that is also much better than day 1 for me. The biggest thing that makes HG the top on my list is the scripting. You can do ANYTHING you are creative enough to code. It may not work quite as simply as AHP's drag 'n drop programming, but there's very few things that can be done with AHP other than simple linear scripts (no real logic) without going outside it via the SDK.
-
Thanks for that! And thanks for your help!
I am curious, what other HA programs would you say are more refined in this regard? I like the idea of coding my own stuff up and was going to do that using the command line heyu type thing but I had trouble getting it running decent on Linux and the app seemed fairly old.
My needs are not great ... except reliability... One might wonder why I am using X10 if reliability is important but I find that with Volp's stuff, is is pretty darn good now...
I just need a reliable software platform that is simple to use... I am not intending this to be my new hobby ! :)
-
With the XTB-IIR and a few filters, my X10 setup is very reliable. HG is also very reliable once it's configured correctly. There have been some versions that add new issues, but those tend to be fixed pretty quickly when Gene is aware of the issue and the cause is understood.
I don't think there is a better software that fits my needs which is why I use HG. The ones I mentioned as more refined are basically the ones where you use your phone to set things up. However, I didn't like the inflexibility nor lack of programming language on most of them. Also, most don't allow for the X10 setup that I have or are RPi compatible. I'm not interested in replacing all of my X10 equipment with RF (ZWave, ZigBee, InsteonRF, etc). The cost is significantly more for most of that equipment and I'd just have to start over with figuring out how to construct a reliable system. With HG, you can add other systems as you wish and keep your old stuff too.
-
I hope I am not trying your patience :)
My events that are entered in as actual times are working but not the @sunset type of stuff.
Do I just type @sunset (or whatever) into the scheduled on/off fields in the module or is there a different place to put that?
Is there a way to see what is ACTUALLY scheduled without waiting around for the next sunset :) ?
Thanks again!