Subject: From: Date:

Re: [ECS] bunch'o misc. questions Steve Letkeman Wed, 14 Apr 1999 16:26:27 -0600

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-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Gilmore <omnip@usit.net>
To: ecs-list@netbloc.com <ecs-list@netbloc.com>
Date: Wednesday, April 14, 1999 3:01 PM
Subject: Re: [ECS] bunch'o misc. questions


>Hi Steve,
>
>Before re-creating VB/GUI wheels, I suggest that you look
>at http://www.infinet.com/~dhoehnen/software/ace.htm.
>ACE communicates with ECS via the DDE API.


I have and it looks interesting but I still need my own program, I
may end up using parts of ACE.

>
>The voice modem (PHONE-INTERFACE-C) will monitor CID on
>ONE line, with the ZOOM COMSTAR 56 being the modem of choice
>(around $100). The modem detects DTMFs.
>
>To monitor CID on additional lines, you will need to use one
>of the following:
>1) CALL EDITOR RSA (CALLER-IFC-A).
>   http://www.vive.com/vivesyn/catalog/p_cedrsa.htm).
>   1 per line at $80 each.
>2) MLM-2X/4X/8X (PHONE-INTERFACE-D).
>   http://www.yes-tele.com.
>   These monitor 2/4/8 lines at $229/$359/$495.
>NOTE: There MAY be a way of safely multiplexing mutliple
>lines into one modem (ANYONE KNOW IF THIS IS POSSIBLE ?).
>If so, you could save major $, as you would not need
>either of the above.


A person could build a little relay box that switches over to the last
line that is ringing as long as more than one line doesn't ring at the
same time you'd be ok.
 If you fed a ring sense line into ECS and ECS controlled which relay
(line) was being connected to the modem, what is the maximum
latency of ECS?  Are there some situations where ECS is busy and
would take more than a minute to service the change?

>
>Steve Letkeman wrote:
>>
>> Hi All,
>>
>>     Mark was kind enough to let me evaluate a copy of ECS and I have
>> played with it enough now to be dangerous!  Actually, I've decided to
>> give it a try (Mark, the cheque is in the mail ;-) ) But I'm going to go
>> about this a little differently.  I am going to use ECS as the interface
>> to X10 and the phone line but I am going to write a VB program that
>> controls the flow of information through my CAN network and will
>> display floor plans etc.  The VB program will also have an interface
>> to Slink-e (www.nirvis.com) which will control IR stuff and my CD
>> jukebox.  Also, because ECS is a little tricky (OK, a lot) to program
>> for an non ecs user (wife) I am going to interface another
time-scheduling
>> program through DDE to VB and ECS.  I'm looking at using Schedule
>> Wizard 98 http://www.dlcwest.com/~sorev/index.html
>> Any comments on this part so far are welcome.
>>
>> Questions:
>> I want ECS to provide the interface to the phone line for two main
>> functions
>> 1) Caller ID with name display, possibly for three phone lines
>> 2) Security dialer.  I want ECS to dial out in case of fire/break-in etc
and
>> call a number of different people and give specific messages as to
>> the problem and then have those people dtmf a command or acknowledgment
>> back to ECS so that it will stop trying.
>>
>> What is the recommended modem of choice?  Do I need a separate DTMF
>> decoder or what do other people do?
>>
>> I have other questions but I'll start with this for now,
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Steve
>>
>> Zanthic Technologies Inc. located at    http://www.zanthic.com
>> 68HC11/CAN (Controller Area Network) Development Systems and other
>> PC CAN interfaces including the CAN-4-EPP (Enhanced Parallel Port)
>
>--
>Mark Gilmore
>Omnipotence (ECS Home Automation Software)
>omnip@usit.net
>http://www.usit.com/omnip
>

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