Recently through this forum i was advised to add an app that helped the basic functionality of some of my devices I think it was called Mios Update Utility it is a background app that updates MIOS for specific devices (I think). This was a Huge help with a scene controller that i recently added to my network.
I am relatively new to Vera, i have a Vera 3 with about 65 devices installed (lighting only) installed for about a month…
My question is whether there are other apps or updates that are needed to help Vera function, or if there are apps that are “life changing” ;like the one noted above.
Thanks,
CTZw
Day night plugin
Pleg
Virtual switch
These are the main ones I use. Pleg will change your automation life. It does have a learning curve but there is a pleg beginners guide to help.
Check out the plugin section of the form.
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For non-programmers, maybe PLTS first before PLEG. I doubt many non-programmers will ever develop much PLEG code, except maybe some cut and paste.
Also, look at the device specific plugins for things you own, or might own. TV’s, receivers, sonos etc. If the plugin is under active development it will probably work well. Also, it gives a good feel for IP device control, which is a complementary technology to zwave. I’ve changed the brand of TV I’m buying based on available IP control.
I agree somewhat but I am not a developer and don’t code at all. But I can look at examples and reverse engineer with trial and error. Pleg scared me at first but once I got into it with the help of the doc made, for the most part it makes sense to me. That being said I am sure I am only using 10 percent of the product but that 10 percent has made my vera so much more useful versus the limited scene System built into vera.
My advise. Install it and play around with it but don’t add anything to your main setup until you have it right especially if you have others in the house that still haven’t bought into home automation yet. I have a pleg that I use for development and don’t move anything to my main plegs until I feel it will work right.
One key thing I have learned about home automation is that you shouldn’t notice it working, meaning it should be a background thing that isn’t noticed and just works. Lately I have gone from “this is silly and never works” to no complaints at all from my wife. I bit off more than I could chew in the beginning and got burned. Think things out and plan and test and it’s a lot smoother and more enjoyable.
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[quote=“waynehead99, post:2, topic:181229”]Day night plugin
Pleg
Virtual switch
These are the main ones I use. Pleg will change your automation life. It does have a learning curve but there is a pleg beginners guide to help.[/quote]
I couldn’t agree more. I also use “weather underground” for automation too.
“Virtual Switch” has been changed more over to “multiswitch” which is just a group of 8 virtual switches in one package vs. a bunch of single virtual switches.
All good information thanks, a couple of questions:
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Can you describe your system? Waynehead99 and DZmiller in particular, it seems that I am about a year behind you in learning and probably system complexity. I don’t have any sensors or locks only lighitng…so far. Once i finish the lighting portion, i will start security.
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What is a virtual (multi) switch? It kinda sounds like a scene controller within vera- no physical “switch” right? I currently use Vera’s built in ability to schedule a good night scene that turns all lights except “nightlights” off. I also use the Sunset scheduler to have landscape lighting turn on./off as well as other similar ones. These all work fine. What would a virtual switch do for these rudimentary examples.
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Pleg sounds daunting, i have downloaded the app. it seems like the learning curve and the Lack of GUI has scared me away so far. Not being a programmer, it will take me some time to dig in. But i will. Where do i find the pleg beginners’ guide?
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I haven’t heard of PLTs, i will check it out. I assume that this is in the app store as well, right?
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Related question, what is the consensus of polling time. I am interested in running the system without bogging it with continual polling. I have installed switches with instant reporting where necessary to trigger scene. Does reducing polling time help?
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Can you change Vera3 to do fewer heals. As i have gleaned, currently my system does one nightly.
By the way without you guys (the forum) learning Vera would be impossible. the GUI is less than desirable, the installed system (16) had to be downgraded immediately…a bit frustrating.
Anyway, thanks in advance for all of the info!
CTZW
See:
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,21603.0.html
There is also one for PLTS … it shares much of the m same evaluation engine.
[quote=“catchingthezwaves, post:6, topic:181229”]All good information thanks, a couple of questions:
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Related question, what is the consensus of polling time. I am interested in running the system without bogging it with continual polling. I have installed switches with instant reporting where necessary to trigger scene. Does reducing polling time help?
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Can you change Vera3 to do fewer heals. As i have gleaned, currently my system does one nightly.
By the way without you guys (the forum) learning Vera would be impossible. the GUI is less than desirable, the installed system (16) had to be downgraded immediately…a bit frustrating.
Anyway, thanks in advance for all of the info!
CTZW[/quote]
I have attached two images of my zwave settings tab and have a couple of questions
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as shown on the options tab, i have the polling set at factory defaults, i believe. is there a better, more streamlined polling approach than polling a node every 30 seconds?
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Is it good to have the “reconfigure all devices when done” box checked? why i this necessary?
Thanks,
CTZW
For question 1, it is not polling the node every 30 seconds. In reality the more devices that you have in your z-wave network the longer the poll time will be. Vera will poll each device one by one, and cycle through the list. So it might take say 2 minutes to get the status of the device and not really 30 seconds. Vera will not poll the device less than the 30 seconds time frame.
[quote=“garrettwp, post:9, topic:181229”]For question 1, it is not polling the node every 30 seconds. In reality the more devices that you have in your z-wave network the longer the poll time will be. Vera will poll each device one by one, and cycle through the list. So it might take say 2 minutes to get the status of the device and not really 30 seconds. Vera will not poll the device less than the 30 seconds time frame.
Garrett, thanks for the note, I generally understand polling. I have 65+ devices installed currently. My question is whether there is a better polling interval to make the system work less hard
Thanks,
IMHO, polling is only useful to correct a status in Vera that happened while the Vera was offline.
For example, if there was a scene that fired when NoMotion was detected, and the Vera was rebooting when the NoMotion message was sent by the sensor…the Vera would still have Motion (until you trigger and then let the sensor timeout again while the Vera is running).
I poll my motion sensors once an hour just in case something goes out of whack on a reboot missing sensor changes.
The only benefit to polling more often is when you need to poll to get the data (like temperature or light sensors).
[quote=“catchingthezwaves, post:10, topic:181229”][quote=“garrettwp, post:9, topic:181229”]For question 1, it is not polling the node every 30 seconds. In reality the more devices that you have in your z-wave network the longer the poll time will be. Vera will poll each device one by one, and cycle through the list. So it might take say 2 minutes to get the status of the device and not really 30 seconds. Vera will not poll the device less than the 30 seconds time frame.
… I have 65+ devices installed currently. My question is whether there is a better polling interval to make the system work less hard[/quote]
Which system? The z wave network has a maximum polling rate. Your question, I think, is can Vera itself be detrimentally burdened by excess polling. I think if your CPU usage never gets very high, then you can assume vera’s waiting on the zwave network to poll.
I can’t get Vera to successful poll my upstairs thermostat more often than every 30-60 minutes. I have no idea why. Vera’s design as a small, embedded system makes understanding the constraints difficult. The whole app thing is not well suited to an vera’s design. What are the implications of vera having limited cache space? I don’t think we really know.
I’m not going to try to figure too much out until I do the antenna mod and see if a few of my issues were unreliable communications.
I was thinking that polling less would be better considering that i have mostly all light switches. It seems that more frequent polling would be good for other systems.
CTZW
I have a question regarding the multi switch, I have set one up and it works to control scenes just fine through the Vera Dashboard, but it doesnt seem to show up on the Vera mobile app.
Am I missing something on this, or is the multiswitch only intended for dashboard uses?
Thanks,
CTZW
Not every plugin will work with every app. It is the responsibility of the app developer to support the plugin. You bay want to look into using another app.
Which app are you using? The official Vera app doesn’t show the virtual switches. Home wave and iviri are two I know do for iphone
I’m using the official Vera one, I will look into the others, I will look into Homewave.
CHeers,
CTZW
I use AutHomationHD for my Android products and I use HomeWave for my CrApple Products. I also now Use Iviri only for Geofencing capability on my CrApple and Vera Proximity for geofence on Android.
Take a look at the remote section of the forum before purchase. Home wave is a great product but takes a lot of setup to get it the way you want. Iviri is still new and has gotten better over the months and doesn’t really take much setup at all but you are limited to customization if that’s what you want. It does have a lt of features for the cheap cost though.