Compatible Software Programs

The software to program and control HomeVision, HomeVision-Pro, and HomeVision-PC is included free with the controllers, and can also be downloaded from this web site. In addition, several companies have developed software programs to control HomeVision, HomeVision-Pro, and HomeVision-PC. Some of these are highlighted below. If you wish to create your own software, see this page.

ACE

ACE is designed to enhance your existing automation system by providing remote control and monitoring capability via any TCP/IP network, text-to-speech, caller id, e-mail and many other features that your existing automation system may not support.

ACE is a modular product. Each module is a separate program that provides a unique set of features. Each module can be used by itself or with other modules, depending on your needs. Currently available modules are:

	ACE Client
	ACE Server
	ACE Text-to-Speech
	ACE E-Mail Send
	ACE-32 - Required for WinAMP support

The ACE Server is intended to run on the same PC as the HomeVision software. It serves as a gateway that allows multiple clients (connected over a local LAN or the Internet) to both monitor and control HomeVision. ACE gives HomeVision access to resources on all PC’s connected to the ACE Server.

ACE supports a documented API that can be used to send commands to ACE via a serial port, DDE, network connection or ASCII file. Thus, almost any automation system supporting one of these interfaces can benefit from ACE. If you are a programmer, you can also use the API along with your own software to further enhance your system's capabilities.

The following is a summary of ACE’s features. In this summary, ‘server’ refers to the PC connected to HomeVision and ‘client’ refers to a PC connected to the ‘server’ via a TCP/IP network.

	Touchscreen support
	Support for Comm1 through Comm16 on the server and all clients
	Forward messages from HomeVision to any serial port(s)
	Forward messages from any serial port to HomeVision
	Allows HomeVision to send an ASCII string out any serial port on the server or any client
	Allows HomeVision to write to any I/O port on the server or any client
	Caller id support (does not require cid version of HomeVision)
	Play WAV file for friend, local stranger, long distance stranger, unavailable and blocked callers
	Speak the caller's name and/or number if you also have ACE-TTS (text-to-speech)
	Display the caller's name and number on the standard HomeVision caller id screen
	Add the caller's name, time and day to a HomeVision RAM video screen file to create a log of callers that can be displayed on the TV
	Run a HomeVision macro
	Supports 4 incoming phone lines
	Log file saves caller ID info
	Speak any text string or the value of a variable using text-to-speech (i.e. speak the current temperature)
	Play a sound file (wav, midi, aiff, au, voc)
	Change the volume of the WAV output device
	Send an e-mail with the value of a variable, status of your system, etc.
	Supports full time and dial-up Internet connections
	Can be used to establish a dial-up Internet connection without sending any mail
	Can e-mail someone your dynamic IP address after establishing a dial-up connection
	Can be used to launch a program that first requires a dial-up connection to be established
	Control WinAMP from the server or any client
	Launch another Windows program
	Send keys to another Windows program
	Support for serial LCD keypads
	More…

Visit the ACE website for more information and fully functional downloads.

Caller ID Log to Web Page

CID2HTM.EXE is a caller ID utility that takes the HomeVision and HomeVision-Pro log files CID_LOG.TXT and CID_NAME.TXT and generates a simple HTML file called CID_LOG.HTM. If you create a HomeVision macro to run this EXE every time a call is received, you will have a dynamically created caller ID web page log, which can be viewed with a browser. This program was written by a HomeVision user and is available at http://www.welfringer.com/homevision.htm.

Caller ID Server

This program is a "server" that listens for clients to register themselves over the network and keeps track of their IP addresses. It periodically checks the HomeVision and HomeVision-Pro caller ID log file to see if it has changed. If there is new caller ID information, it is sent to all of the registered clients. The clients can then pop up that information on the screen or do other creative things. This program was written by a HomeVision user and is available at http://www.smithsrus.com/HomeAuto/hvCID/.

CD JukeBox

GrayWolf Software's CD JukeBox is a powerful program that allows you to control multi-disk CD players from a PC. It allows you to easily browse and select individual CDs and tracks, and to build "play lists" that are automatically played. Visit their web site for more information.

DDE Programs

HomeVision and HomeVision-Pro can communicate with other programs on PC using Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). See our software interfacing page for more details.

E-Mail From HomeVision

This is a simple way to have HomeVision (or HomeVision-Pro) send an e-mail. It requires that the HomeVision controller be connected to a PC running the HomeVision software. The PC must be connected to the Internet. It does not require an e-mail program or any other program to be running. Download the required files and instructions here.

Extra Infrared Signals

It is possible for a custom software programs to load an infrared signal into a special “test area” in a HomeVision, HomeVision-PC, or HomeVision-Pro controller. The program could then command the controller to transmit it. This provides a means for such programs to overcome the limit of 255 learned IR signals. This capability is beneficial mainly to those using custom software to control HomeVision, where the PC software decides what signals are to be transmitted. We have an application note and sample Visual Basic application for those writing such software available here.

It’s also possible for the HomeVision controller to send a serial command to the PC software telling it what signal it wants to transmit. The PC software could then load it into the controller and command the transmission. This would benefit more users, as the HomeVision controller would be in charge, not the PC software. This is not detailed in the application note, but developers able to understand the other information should be able to figure it out rather easily.

ECS

ECS is an all-purpose automation program suitable for virtually any tasks (in residential, commercial, and industrial environments). Boasting an object-oriented design, ECS is elegantly simple, yet extremely powerful. Automated tasks may be implemented via simple time-based schedules (great for novices) and/or English-like scripts (which give power users the flexibility they demand). And anyone who can surf the web will be comfortable with ECS, as it supports a browser-based user-interface (accessible via the Internet and WAP-enabled phones/PDAs). For more details, see OmnipotenceSoftware.com.

HAL2000

HAL2000, by Home Automated Living, also supports HomeVision, HomeVision-Pro, and HomeVision-PC. HAL2000 allows voice control of your home automation system. It also provides numerous other control capabilities and features.

For more details, visit the Home Automated Living web site at http://www.AutomatedLiving.com/ or call them at 800-935-5313.

Home Voice

Applied Future Technologies "Home Voice" program is widely used with HomeVision, HomeVision-Pro, and HomeVision-PC. Home Voice is a state-of-the-art voice recognition program that can interface with HomeVision and give you complete voice control of your home (and your PC). A key feature of Home Voice is the ability to use "open-air" microphones. These microphones can be located throughout the house and do not require the user to speak directly into them. Another key feature is that Home Voice is designed to operate in a noisy environment (like most homes!).

For more details, visit the AFT web site at http://www.appliedfuture.com/ or call them at 800-790-3353.

HomAtion 2000

HomAtion Systems has a version of HomAtion 2000 for HomeVision, HomeVision-Pro, and HomeVision-PC. HomAtion 2000 uses the PC as the main controller and HomeVision as the hardware interface. HomAtion 2000 also interfaces to RCS TX10-B thermostats and Davis Weather instruments and provides customizable user interfaces.

For more information on HomAtion 2000 and its capabilities, visit the HomAtion Systems web site at http://www.homation.com or call them at 800-522-6054.

HomeSeer

HomeSeer is a very popular home automation program that works with HomeVision, HomeVision-Pro, and HomeVision-PC. For details, visit their web site at http://www.homeseer.com/. The HomeVision "plug-in" is free and is downloaded from the HomeSeer Updater software.

HomevisionXL

Schelte Bron, a HomeVision user, has developed HomevisionXL, a cross-platform tool for developing schedules for HomeVision and HomeVision-Pro. This is a very powerful program that can do many things that the HomeVision software cannot. He also has a tool for recovering a schedule from the HomeVision controller. In addition, he has an infrared code converter that can convert the Pronto raw infrared code format to the HomeVision format. For details, on these and other tools, visit his web site at http://hv.tclcode.com/.

HV Desktop

This is a small program that is included with HomeVision and HomeVision-Pro and installed automatically. It allows desktop icons on your PC to send commands to the controller. If you're interested in seeing how this works, or creating your own program to do something similar, you can download the complete Visual Basic 5.0 code. See our software interfacing page for more details.

MisterHouse

MisterHouse is a free, open-source, multi-platform, Perl based home automation program. It currently runs on Windows 95/98/NT and Linux, supports the HomeVision, HomeVision-Pro, and HomeVision-PC controllers, speech, speech recognition, and offers a web interface for remote control. Due to the open-source nature of the software, it is always being improved and new features are being added. Since your schedules are written as Perl modules, it offers the ultimate in flexibility and features. More information can be found at http://www.misterhouse.net/ and there's a mailing list at http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/MisterHouse.

To quick-start, install it as directed, then set the Homevision_port parameter in the mh.ini file to the serial port your Homevision controller is plugged into to enable it. Check mh/code/public/test_homevision.pl for some example code to use Homevision's X10, IR, and Digital I/O features.

xAP

xAPHomevision for Windows xAPHomevision is an xAP controller for the Homevision. It provides xAP control of X-10, being a plug replacement for the CM12 xAP X-10 controller, and also provides monitoring and control of Homevision's input ports, output ports, flags and variables. See this page for details.

Last updated:
01 October 2013