Use Visual Basic

Hi

Ok. so this is going to sound like an email from the mid nineties.
But I am old and grey and only know how to program a little in VB6.

I have just moved into a house with a C-Bus system. I think the installation is about 10+ years old, so probably isn't the most up to date hardware.

Question is - can I use VB6 to control/monitor the C-Bus events? I was thinking if I could write some basic programs, it might be fun.

If so, then what do I need in terms of hardware and software and documentation?

of course.... if I am asking a really stupid question, please feel free to say so.

Mark

 

From what I've read it's not directly possible to do this.

Given how old your system is I would doubt that you have a ethernet module, or Wiser - the only item that you might have that would allow some programming would be a PAC (Pascal Automation Controller). If you have one of them you could control it using a Pascal program.

The only other option would be to have an Ethernet module, and some sort of software to connect VB to that module.

 

Sydney C-Bus maintenance

Can anyone recommend an installer/maintainer in Sydney - northern suburbs residential installation? thanks

 

Happy to give you a hand, however the ideas you have would be very time consuming & above my level in any case. Can assist with PAC, Wiser etc no dramas. Contact no is 0409 667 937

 

Sydney Cbus

Thanks for all your responses - this is a very helpful forum isn't it. As you may have guessed, I am not an expert, I have just inherited this in my house.

ASHLEIGH, you seem to be very experienced.

Ray - I might take you up and am interested in a Wiser assuming this is all too hard for me (which I think it is going to be). Whats your email address?

However - this is the current situation. I have an (estimated) 12 year old CBUS install in my new house. It has around 20 4 channel dimmers and relays and a Home MINDER. Garden waterers, swimming pool stuffo, PIR dedicators, bathroom fans, etc. Reading this forum it seems that as I have a minder, that this would explain why there is no PC/clock unit.

The lights go on and off - power outlets suit themselves whether they are on or off and I have ZERO idea what is going on behind that grey tin panel. its like it looks at me in defiance randomly turning things on and off just to irritate me.

Anyway - the minder has a serial port on it, so I plugged a PC into it today to see what came out (using windows terminal). every few minutes it spits out:
ATZ
ATS0=2
?+++ATH

Does this mean anything?? Is there a book that explains all this?

All i really want is to understand what is going on and be on a position where I do not have to call out a technician every time I don't understand something .
If I need to get Clipsal software for the Minder or the Cbus, then what do I get and from where?

Many thanks Guys - really do appreciate this forum.

if i can't make sense of this, I guess I'll buy a wiser, but they are heaps of dough it seems.

Thanks so much guys

Mark

 

Hi Mark,

My name is Brad Merrick and I am the Technical Director of Nous House. see www.noushouse.com.au. Our site has a lot of information about 'What is C-Bus', how it operates, what you can do with it and what third party products best integrate with it, which might be some good background info for you at least of what to expect from your system.

We are based in Lane Cove if you need any assistance in deciding what to do with your 'special system' to bring it up to date, and I also offer to visit and help.

You can contact me at [email protected] or call on 02 8004 6668.

Happy to be of service,

Brad

ps. Forgot to mention the serial port output you are seeing are modem control strings as the Minder thinks it is talking to a modem to allow remote access. ATZ reset the modem to factory defaults, ATS0=2 sets a modem to answer on the second 'ring', +++ sets the modem to 'command state' and ATH hangs up waiting for call. Look for 'AT modem command' or 'Hayes modem strings' on Google for more info.