Subject: From: Date:

Re: [ECS] Potential ECS Newbie with lots of questions Mark Gilmore Fri, 29 Jan 1999 08:53:39 -0800

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Mitch, my answers are inserted below:

Mitch Schwenk wrote:
> 
> I am looking to use ECS as my `brains' for apartment currently matched
> with a CM11a to interface to X10.
> 
> I have 3 major questions:
> 
> 1) From what I understand is that ECS can act like an answering machine.
> 
>  However:
>     Can you have mulitple mailboxes?
	Yes
>     Can you check each box remotly?  How secure is this?
	Yes - A password is required for access.
>     At home?
	Yes.
>     Sometime we like to call screen.  Can it play all audio via
> soundblaster if we let ECS answer? (Including voice prompt and what the
> other person is recording?)
	ECS announces who is calling on the SoundBlaster, but the
	callers message is played thru the modem's speaker.
>     I don't see a list of supported modems anywhere?  One know of a good
> cheap modem?  I don't have any modems, just ISDN and ADSL stuff (soon).
> <smile>
	Any modem based on the "ROCKWELL VOICE" chipset should work,
	including the SUPRA EXPRESS by DIAMOND. HOWEVER, I would hold off
	on this purchase, as I may add support for a superior modem soon.
>     Can ECS `multi-task' in that it can be answering the phone while
> performing other events?
	Yes, but all other operations are "linear". The only significant
	offender is the playback of messages thru the phone - this temporarily
	halts other processing. ECS "catches up" afterwards - NO state
	changes are "missed".
> 
> 2) I am also looking to extend the capabilities for digital I/O, analog
> I/O, and IR.
>     Which equipment would you suggest for this?  I will be first using
> IR to control stero, TV, VCR, etc.  The I/O won't be until later.
	HomeVision-PC is probably your bast bang for buck, esp if you want
	to do IR.
> 
> 3) Also, I want to be able to control X10 or set off ECS events via web
> page interface from either Intranet or Internet.  I know about the
> security risks going over internet.  I like the idea of having the
> `brains' in one room and I can just load up netscape to perform certain
> functions from another room or from the internet.
	This is currently "beyond my area of expertise" (i.e. I don't know
	squat about this :-)). But I would like to support this capability
	in the future.
> 
> I was wondering if there is some sort of interface for perl or PHP3 to
> talk directly or indirectly to ECS <as long as it gets the job done and
> is reliable>.

	Yes - ECS supports a DDE API.
> 
> Just FYI:
>   I will be using a lowly 486 for all of this.  I think it should be
> able to handle the requirements of these tasks.  It will be running ECS
> and all needed web server goop as well.
> 
> I just want to try to grasp where ECS's limits are.  These are the main
> concerns that I have right now.
> 
> If anyone can offer suggestions, FAQ's, howto's, mail lists, whatever,
> please advise.  Thanks.
> 
> -Mitch

-- 
Mark Gilmore
Omnipotence (ECS Home Automation Software)
omnip@usit.net
http://www.usit.com/omnip

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