I have an SQ Blaster which works great to control my Monoprice HDMI switcher, WH 6 channel audio amp, Theater AV system, DVD, and Dune media player.
Since the demise of SQ Blaster and remote software, I have 2 more house installs where I need to accomplish the same things as my original SQ does.
So the question is what other alternatives are out there that you all are using to do this? I need it to work on my IOS devices as well as via the Vera for creating scenes. (Good plug in support)
I really like the Harmony Hub thanks to Aechelon’s work on his custom binary. It’s still kinda beta and not a full plugin, but works beautifully. You can control preset Harmony activities straight from your vera. Details available in this thread: http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,14928.0.html
To go the other way and control vera devices or scenes from a harmony remote, the route is far more convoluted, but it works great once you finish. Here’s a sample: - YouTube. In order to do this, you’ll need a windows based PC with Eventghost or Autohotkey installed and an IR blaster attached to that PC. From the IR blaster, it receives custom commands from your harmony remote and Eventghost can send commands to vera via web service.
Another user was nice enough to document this process in detail here: http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,14928.msg177920.html#msg177920 (same thread)
I am using Kira plugin that RexBeckett developed. I am using two Pronto remotes without any trouble. 
Have you thought about replacing your SQ Blaster with a Global Cache iTach (WF2IR)? It integrates with Vera via a plug-in called Global Cache GC100. Then you can use a Universal Remote app such as iRule or Roomie Remote to control your A/V and home automation from one interface.
Both Universal Remote apps have a large library of A/V devices (and their codes) you can control. If by chance a device isn’t listed in their library, the iTach has a Learning feature that allows you to use your existing remote to teach it the codes needed to control that device.
Just an idea as it seems to be in line with your current SQ Blaster setup.
I’m not sure how SQ Blaster is, but I just wanted to mention that the iTach WF2IR does require you to broadcast your network’s SSID in order to work. This is not something I like to do and had I known that before buying it, I may have opted for the IP2IR instead.
Looks like the IP2IR is the way to go. I assume that is the same unit as the WF2IR except it is only RS485 plug in.
I will use it in my server room so no need for wifi.
Now the remote software… Roomie or iRule? Roomie requires a subscription? I don’t want to pay any monthly fees. What is best with the most programming options?
Does either one interface with Homewave?
Yes, the IP2IR is the same unit as the WF2IR, but uses a network connection (RJ45 cable) instead of Wi-Fi.
Both Roomie Remote and iRule have a one time fee associated to them (no monthly fees). Of course, there are add-ons you can buy as well.
I’ve used iRule a bit in the past and it allows for a lot of customization. There are two different licenses you can buy (one for $50 and one for $100) and they support a certain amount of devices and features. Then there is an additional $25 to buy the home automation module for Vera. This allows you to integrate Vera into your remote interface and use your home automation devices and scenes. iRule can be used on both iOS and Android devices.
Roomie Remote is less expensive then iRule but only supports iOS devices. From what I’ve heard, it’s not as customizable as iRule and it looks like it only supports lighting devices associated to Vera. I haven’t used this app at all, but a friend of mine has and he likes it.
I guess it all depends on what you’re looking to do and how much you’d like to spend. If you want customization, then iRule is probably the right choice for you. There’s a bit of a learning curve with the app, but it seems to be pretty powerful.
Neither app interfaces with Homewave, they actually talk to Vera directly on your local network. These apps only provide some integration/control of your home automation devices, so you’ll still need to use Homewave as well.
Since I haven’t used either Universal Remote app that much, maybe someone else can chime in with their feedback to help you make up your mind.
Hope this info helps!
That is a lot of good info for me. thanks a lot to take the time to lay it out.
It looks like iRule has more support overall and with Android included. It does seem to have a bigger learning curve, but hopefully I can work through it.
Is the Gobal Tach responsive enough that it can execute scenes or macros without tanking? I really need a solution that is bullet proof because it will be used by users that will not be tech smart at all. After I set it all up it needs to be reliable. Do you find your system set up stable this way?
The Itach is very responsive and mostly depended on your network.
You can also set up IR control with Vera and use scenes to fire off the commands.
The iRule setup is very solid but it may take a while to get use the first time around. It is very good with both Android and iDevices; however, be aware of their Handsets… It is the screen set in difference to physical. E.g set up a 7in , a 10in and a phone = 3 handsets but you could have five 7, five 10 and 5 phone which is still 3 handsets. In addition, the add on is per handset. E.g home automation for the above $75 ($25 per handset)
I’d like to add a second plug for the Kira. The device basically acts as a bridge between IR and IP. IR signals that are received by the Kira are sent to a user-specified IP address. Likewise packets sent to the Kira cause the unit to transmit IR signals. The content of the UDP packets are well defined and easy to understand–meaning interoperability is simply not an issue.
As an added bonus Rex did a great job with this plugin. It works out of the box with your Vera.
iRule and Itach Global Cache products work splendidly together.
iRule will give you a builder program, which allows you to completely customize the interface you intend for your handheld computers. Dozens of different types of buttons can be placed anywhere on any number of screens, to be macros to the functions of any of the integrated AV devices. Expensive, but also expansive software.
The Vera can interface with the IP2IR or similar products, however with iRule, I found no point in doing so. For manual control, I just use iRule. iRule does have a software module to talk to Vera, which is good because you can create your own WiFi only remote for Vera for when watching TV. You can add a lightbulb widget next to your play/pause buttons for example, or whatever. Beyond this though, I’d only have the Vera talk to the IP2IR for automated scene control, if ever I needed my TV setup to do something automatic. I could imagine the scene creation to be hell, as I think you’d need to figure out how to send IR pronto codes via lua script.
For further Vera integration into your TV set up, check out XBMC. There’s a plugin for XBMC that talks to a plugin for Vera. This will allow the state of the media player to trigger scenes. As XBMC has a massive API using JSON scripting, you can throw notifications into Lua on a scene, which will pop up on the TV interface. The full range of XBMC commands is available, although this is likewise a programming challenge for a dullard like myself. XBMC is fully supported by iRule by the way. XBMC is also still difficult to set up for regular use, and isn’t foolproof yet.
I agree with many others on here that are recommending the Global Cache iTach. I’ve been using it for a while and it works great!!!
I wrote a guide to help others figure out how to set it up…
Let me know if you have any questions.
Very handy.
I’ve been hoping somebody would do the leg work for the Vera and iTach. Cheers guys!
It does still look like a very manual process… Is there anything available that will be able to replace the SQ Blaster in terms of seamless IR setup? i.e. just pick a device from a vast library and very easily learn the commands you don’t already have… This was the real selling point for the SQ Blaster as far as I was concerned.
Plus the nice all-in-one iOS interface was a big positive…
[quote=“sameri, post:12, topic:181606”]Very handy.
I’ve been hoping somebody would do the leg work for the Vera and iTach. Cheers guys!
It does still look like a very manual process… Is there anything available that will be able to replace the SQ Blaster in terms of seamless IR setup? i.e. just pick a device from a vast library and very easily learn the commands you don’t already have… This was the real selling point for the SQ Blaster as far as I was concerned.
Plus the nice all-in-one iOS interface was a big positive…[/quote]
Yea, but with iRule you can end up with one app only to open and have control of all Vera things as well as all your ir devices in one place. I am moving away from SQ and going with an iTach and iRule setup. Way better, besides SQ is no more. So spend a little time and set up all your stuff once and for all.
I already had that with the SQRemote App.
I’m more than happy to set everything up using iRule/iTach but I install SQ Blasters along with Vera Home Control for customers. The beauty was being able to design the screens in no time using SQ Designer and rolling out an all-in-one product that did everything with very little fuss.
If I have to set up iRule/iTach for each customer if becomes a bigger PITA. Unless it’s actually far easier than I’m envisioning…?
I don’t think it is any easier, just a completely different set up. However in the end you get a more robust controller that will also allow control for all your other devices as well.
Right now I also use the SQ and know it well for programming. But I see it as time to move on and redo my system using the iTach. The SQ, while being a good solution before, still had it’s reliability issues. The SQ would crash in use from time to time. I had to create a scene on a schedule to reboot the SQ every 24 hrs just to ensure it would be operational. Even still it randomly crashes.
In fact I am going to be a dealer for iRule (called OnControl) and offer my customers a better system than the SQ. My system will be the test bed for learning the OnControl/iTach. In the end I am confident it is the way to go. I also need the ability to set up the customer’s remotes in another language (Chinese) and OnControl will allow for this using my own button designs. Plus it can control RS232 connections as well.
It does indeed sound like the way to go. I guess it’s time to get myself an iTach and get cracking.
I might need to keep you on “speed PM” for when I eventually set this gear up.
Cheers for the help.
Sorry if my guide at How to Control IR Devices with Z-Wave appears to be a difficult manual process. It’s not actually as difficult as it looks when you have AV devices that are available in Vera’s database. All the complex work in my guide was because the device I was using (the LED light strip) did not exist in the database (or I couldn’t find it).
When you are integrating common devices that you can find in the database, it’s as simple as installing the GC100 plugin and adding the devices from the database.
Hope that helps you in the right direction.
I went in whole hog and now I am a certified On Controls dealer. I will be retiring my SQ Blaster system and moving over to the iTach. I will end up with opening up 1 app on my iPad and having my entire home automation, whole house video/audio and media players under one roof. I have been playing around with the iTach controlling things in Chicago via LA where I am now. The response is almost as instant as if I was on a LAN, and the feedback the same. Even faster than my SQ on local net.
So far I am impressed with this setup and it appears to be rock solid stable hardware, unlike the SQ which gets overwhelmed and crashes if it doesn’t get it’s way.
Even if you only want to use it as a total replacement for all your ir remote devices, sans home automation, I think it still give the best value over the other options out there. The price point is very affordable as well.
I can’t wait to return to China and start marketing this solution to Chinese customers.
I’m currently trying to secure a distributorship for iTach in SA so I can start playing as well. Not many places to buy it currently in Australia…
I have Redeye (from thinkflood, now discontinued), sqblaster and Itach…
for a time sqblaster was the best way, but really with some time it turns slow and needs a restart to works fine again,
itach is very fast and no restarts needs after few months…
sqblaster has a fine interface, and itach do not not have this…I would like someone expend time with a development of an interface to itach, like we have in Homewave for Vera, this will turn the things more easy and give a check-mate for this question…
cheers.
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