New WiFi Products Connect Control Systems, including iPhone and iPod touch, to IR, Serial, and Relay Devices in Seconds
While emitting IR or controlling an RS-232 device over the LAN is an old trick for this company, the latest line really takes it to the next level. The first thing we noticed was how much smaller the box was – comes in handy when there isn’t much room behind the TV – but we quickly said who cares when we learned that WiFi was built-in. But even if you already have a network drop behind your TV you’ll be happy to hear that the new line also offers PoE. Those two features alone are enough to get us excited, but the fact that an IR learner is now built-in (used to be an extra $75) and the device is no longer limited to a single connection (so you can have up to eight iPod Touch remotes now). Top all that off with a lower starting price, and being user upgradable, and you have our home automation gears working in overdrive.
If I’m reading this correctly it requires 802.11b (Wireless B!) enabled on our routers. Didn’t realize anyone was still producing those chipsets. That’ll have a big impact on the Wifi Bandwidth as everything will lower to 802.11b “compatability mode” levels (without running a parallel WiFi network).
Given the models described, it looks like you have to choose between IR, RS-232 and Dry closure.
I hope that’s a typo, I was really looking forward to a compact/modernized GC-100 with multiple RS-232 & IR ports, and maybe even a Network Switch thrown in to reduce the plug-pack jungle (esp with the PoE versions)
Reading the press-release it started to look that way, but the Datasheet threw cold water on it.
You can still connect 11b devices to 11g networks w/o impacting the overall performance of the network - 11g is fully compatible with 11b. You don’t need to switch 11g AP/router to “compatibility” mode to work with 11b devices.
Same as if you connect 10Mbps devices to some ports of 100Mbps switch - other ports will still work in full capacity and won’t be reduced in speed.
As of IR, RS-232 and Relay support - those seem to be individual devices at this point. Hopefully they will also launch a combined unit with WiFi/PoE and with multiple ports, like it was before…
aka. Performance, Security, impact of running both “at the same time”
Same as if you connect 10Mbps devices to some ports of 100Mbps switch - other ports will still work in full capacity and won't be reduced in speed.
From what I understand, it’s more like using an old Ethernet Hub than a modern Ethernet Switch. You can get lucky if the ‘b’ device isn’t chatty, but it will interfere like an old Hub would since they share the airwaves and no-one really moderates this well (as compared to an Active Ethernet Switch which has circuitry to do that)
aka. Performance, Security, impact of running both “at the same time”[/quote]
Not to argue too much…
3rd item is potential - in real life most of the modern 11g APs won’t degrade overall speed to the level of 11b. It says there: “When both 802.11b and 802.11g clients are connected to an 802.11g router, the performance of the 802.11g clients can suffer.” (the keyword is “can” - highlight is mine ). There are plenty of other factors affecting the performance/speed, like interference, distance and crowded channels…
But I completely agree with the 4th item - it’s hard to find 11b devices being able to do WPA/WPA2/PSK. Don’t see any specifics on the iTach devices though… I hope they will do proper security, since they are new.
my comments were from having experienced the problem, in a low-density WiFi environment, with an AppleTV streaming a rental over G at the same time an older laptop was using B (to a Linksys, if it matters)… not a good experience for the wife who was trying to watch a 'flick at the time.
I upgraded the Laptop to a G card shortly afterwards and haven’t had issues since. The URL was mostly for a more “official” stance on the problem(s) associated with doing it
Anyhow, I too look forward to them bringing out something that can compete with a home-grown option, at a reasonable price point. I particularly like the PoE option, since it’ll avoid the above altogether, along with minimize the power-brick problem(s).
Speaking of home-grown options - I’ve been re-flashing cheap Asus WL-520gU (can sometimes be found for $25-$30) routers with OpenWrt for appliance-like use. Like having a WiFi music player for the bedroom. Or IR over WiFi transmitter… But it’s definitely an involved DIY solution and not for everyone
I’m sure this is not the best place to be asking, but you’ve piqued my curiosity:
Can the 520’s also be flashed/configured in such a way that they perform the duties of a print server?
I just re-flashed my bedroom WiFi music player to OpenWrt trunk, so I can get the latest MPD to support mms:// streaming and directly access my file server over NFS for music. Latest MPD is a pig, I tell you, it brings new huge dependencies, like glib2 and C++ libs… Everything barely fits in 4MB of flash.
As of IR transmitter - I want to replace my current setup (which is based on Linux box running LIRC) with the OpenWrt based one. There is LIRC package in the feeds, so I figured it would only take configuring LIRC properly for USB-UIRT (or any other USB-IR dongle). But I haven’t had time to actually do it yet with OpenWrt…
LibraSun:
WL-520gU actually comes with print server in the stock firmware. I haven’t looked at it in the OpenWrt though.
It is with mixed feelings that I welcome Global Cache’s new line of “iTach family of wifi and ethernet connectivity products” into the HA world. The GC-100-06 really looked like it was going to be the ticket for my application; that is adding my existing GE Security/Caddx security system to Vera. (Vera is located in my AV Rack in my living room which is quite a distance from the alarm panel. Something I could make wireless, as opposed to a RS-232 to USB cable, was a huge plus! I realize it puts another layer of potential failure, but it is risk I am wiling to take.)
What are the forum’s thoughts on the new WF2SL (WiFi enabled RS-232 box)? There are alot of Pros and Cons to weigh. Here they are as I see them :
What will the availability of these things be on their expected ship date of Sept 30th? I’m thinking it will be very hard to get my little “consumer” on one of these puppies for quite some time. I believe manufactures will have first dibs to gain a good level of support before letting them loose on the public.
What will the compatibility/stability of these devices be straight out of the gate? As with all new products, there will be unanticipated failures, and incompatibilities that, in time, will be ironed out. (I’ve learned that a “software upgrade” sometimes leaves behind previous core functionality that no longer seems like a core function to the vendor) Will the NX-584 (RS-232 integration board) still be compatible with the WF2SL as it was with the GC-100?!?! Anyone have experience with this company surrounding bug fixes or support of their legacy devices?
What advantage does the WF2SL give us that we couldn’t get with the GC-100? I think the biggest thing here is the ability to do firmware upgrades myself, as well as built in WiFi connectivity. (Lord knows I have enough networking gear to serve a small business, the last thing I need is two devices when I could have one!)
Any advice the forum or MCV could offer would be greatly appreciated!
@paintguy,
The USB-UIRT runs on USB and must be directly connected to Vera, or over a long USB Cable. It sends IR signals to change TV’s, Amp’s and Satellite boxes, similar to how your Remote control does. Recently a Vera Driver was released to cover this device for it’s Infrared Control functions (I haven’t tried it).
The GC iTach famility of devices run on either WiFi or Ethernet, depending upon the model, and are supposed to be like the “Components” of a GC100 in general function (you get either a Serial Port, or a IR or a Contact-closure device, depending upon the model). The Driver availability is unknown right now, but it shouldn’t take long to get one, since it’s supposed to be similar to a GC100
The iTach WF2SL that @Jacobly ordered is a Wifi version of a Remote RS-232 Port (see Datasheet) so not at all related to the IR Device listed on the MCV site. You could use that device to remote-attach a Device with an RS-232 (“Serial”) interface, such as most Alarm Panels, many higher-end Amplifiers/TV’s and Cable/Satellite boxes (once a driver is written).
High end HA controllers tend to “wire in” the components like this, since the protocol for talking usually includes “acknowledgments” of the commands sent, unlike IR, so it’s generally more reliable (but much more $$$ at the same time)
Sorry 325xi, I also meant to say I had to call in my order. I’m not aware of it being on thier website either. Hopefully Global Cache will update thier website tomorrow with more documentation. If not, I’ll try and figure out a way to post what comes with the product when it arrives.
