Subject: From: Date:

ECS Support, custom interfaces (was [ECS] HVAC-INTERFACE-B chapter) Michael David Tue, 29 Sep 1998 22:58:06 -0400

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Hi Wayne!

Ok, I disagree with some of your message, and I agree the rest. :)

I think you should have expected that others would have eventually used the
functionality for which you and Reddy donated money.  If you are bothered
that you paid something for it and others are getting it for free, don't be.
After all, you did get the specific functionality you wanted.  For your
investment, you got to influence the development of ECS, and achieved
support for a device that Mark may not have supported for some time, if
ever.  Personally, I think Mark is totally awesome for asking so little for,
what amounts to, custom programming.  BTW, I have been is the same position
as you on this issue, and it really doesn't bother me a bit.

Now, that may not have been your point.  If you were really saying that we
all need to support Mark and ECS, then I misunderstood your message, and I
apologize.

I very much agree that we need to support Mark and his efforts.  I, like
yourself, and many others here, believe we get the most incredible support
from Mark.  Yet, he receives no compensation for the amount of time he
spends supporting us.

Mark, I hope you will forgive my meddling in your business affairs, but I do
have some thoughts on how to remedy this problem.  One of these ideas might
be the answer.  Perhaps we'd implement more than one suggestion.

1)	An annual support fee; perhaps $50.00?  Or, maybe $10 per interface used?
This fee could cover bug fixes, and Mark's support here on the list.

2)	An upgrade fee for new minor, non-bug fix versions; perhaps $25.00?

3)	An upgrade fee for new major, non-bug fix versions; perhaps $50.00?

4)	An honor system, whereby anyone who uses any of the privately funded
interfaces would send Mark a small donation; perhaps $25.00?

5)	A small fee for any interfaces used beyond the basic ones supported by
ECS; again, perhaps $25.00?

What do you guys think?  Mark?


Cheers!

Michael David
michael@michaeldavid.com




-----Original Message-----
From: Wayne Wittenberg [mailto:waynew@magicnet.net]
Sent: Monday, September 28, 1998 11:31 PM
To: ecs-list@vancouver.ml.org
Subject: Re: [ECS] HVAC-INTERFACE-B chapter


   Okay folks, I am gonna vent here!  Hopefully I won't say anything I
really regret.
   Back on July 18th, I posted to the list the fact that I had won an HAI RC
thermostat.  I was looking for any feedback or advice from anybody that had
already tried this with ECS.  Reddy Biggs indicated he had a similar unit,
but hadn't gotten around to using it yet.  Peter Kraus indicated he was
using two of the with ECSW, but requests for advice or code samples went
unanswered.
   Since it seemed like Reddy & I were the only ones interested, we opened
discussion with Mark G about adding true support for the HAI stat.
Otherwise I was tempted to switch to the already supported Enerzone StatNet.
Reddy and I bankrolled Marks development of this device.  I now have many
dollars and hours into beta testing this device.  I have had to do this on a
spare machine using ECSW.  Neither Reddy nor I have SEEN the DOS version
yet, which is what we both want to use.
   Now, before Reddy and I even get a chance to see what we purchased, other
people are wanting to use it!  Reddy & I bankrolled this because we wanted
it and because we felt it was good for the product, meaning more sales for
Mark.
   It really saddens me to see existing users that don't want to contribute
to the group or financially to support the product.  We all have a vested
interest in keeping Mark "in business".  If he ever had to reduce or drop
support for ECS, we would all be in a bit of a bad situation.  This leaves
me with mixed feelings about supporting development of new software that
will be available to everyone for no cost.  Since it appears that Mark G
makes little (or no) money from routine upgrades, he must make his living
from custom development or new sales.  This could lead to a situation like
Cyberhouse, where you purchase the main module, then purchase all the
additional modules for the hardware you wish to use.  By the time you are
done, Cyberhouse ends up being quite expensive. From Marks point of view,
this business model probably makes good sense.  But, the administration of
authorization codes or software could end up taking quite a bit of Marks
time.
   Now that it appears that Mark is switching to an authorization code
system, rather than the Everlock or dongle approach, maybe it is time to
consider this business model.  That way people would pay for what they are
using.

Opinions?  Feedback?

c'ya,
Wayne


At 03:02 PM 9/28/98 -0400, Bill Freeman wrote:
>How is this chapter distributed?   I did not see either ECS.doc or ECS.txt
in
>either the DOS or BETA zip files on the FTP server.    Is this file buried
in
>the ECS (windows) .CAB file?  So far, with my limited configuration,  I've
>found no compelling reason to upgrade to the W95 product.   Is this HVAC
>interface only supported on the windows version of ECS?
>
>I too have implemented the HAI thermostats as serial byte items, with
>substantial initial help from Peter (thanks again, Peter).
>
>Thanks and Regards,
>Bill Freeman
>
>---- Forwarded by Bill Freeman/Austin/IBM on 09/28/98 01:55 PM
>>From: Peter Kraus
>> on a seperate note i noticed in the update that you have added hai rcstat
>>support. i set mine up long ago with the serial byte,with your help on the
>>chksum. However, i would like to see the documentation for usage for what
>>you have added, is it available?

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