Colvin.PA@xerox.arpa (11/12/85)
Heathkit makes a computer interface for BSR modules. Also in the recent DAK catalog they were offering a computer interface for Commodore and Apple computers. If you are really ambitious, in the June through August (I might be off a month) issues of Byte, Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar was about a Home Control Computer that could communicate with BSR modules. I would be interested in hearing how all this turns out, as I have just installed BSR modules all over my home and am working on an interface to my computer. -- Craig Colvin
munck@mitre-bedford.arpa (11/13/85)
My RS CoCo has been running my house through BSR modules for about
four years. I've got about 30 modules, mostly the built-in wall
switch and outlet type. They control lights, appliances, fans, and
the heating system (directly, not through a little heater under the
thermostat). They used to control the various audio and video systems,
but I've gradually given the CoCo more direct control through
imitating IR remote control devices and actual wiring into the
microprocessors in those units. My driver program calculates/knows
about/senses weekends, holidays, local sunrise and sunset, interior
and exterior weather (interior, exterior, and boiler temperature, as
well as exterior windspeed and wind direction, are used in the furnace
control algorithm.), bed occupancy, and phone off-hook. I'm working
on giving the CoCo control of the phone system, so that I can enter
commands through touch-tone phones. I'd also like to be able to
receive the BSR signals, so that I could use the various Plug n' Power
consoles to enter commands to the whole system.
Just as a quick example, the system wakes me up by selecting a
classical station and raising the volume over fifteen minutes. In
winter, the temperature is also brought up from the night set-back. If
the sun isn't up yet, it also slowly turns on the lights. If I don't
get up, it switch to soft and then hard rock stations and raises the
volume even more. If I'm still in bed, it connect the voice
synthesizer through the hifi and YELLS AT ME.
I've gotten so used to the system that I'm considering building a
little portable version that could control a hotel room, to take with
me on trips.
-- Bob Munck, MITRE
Munck @ MITRE-Bedford.ARPA