Loewe, Apple und Heim-Automation

[macpro]

(Ich werde hier meistens Englisch schreiben, weil mein Deutsch nicht so gut is. Entschuldigung dafür. Aber Deutsch lesen ist kein Problem für mich.)

A few years ago I installed an X10 based home automation system that's controlled using a Mac mini and Indigo. This system has been enhanced with an IRTrans infrared module so my Mac can send AND receive IR signals.
With this setup I have been able to control my Loewe Credo television from my Mac using infrared.

This year the Credo has been replaced by a Individual Compose and that TV has an RS232 interface. My dealer gave me documentation from Loewe to "talk" to the TV over RS232. To connect the TV to my Mac mini, I bought a Global Cache GC-100 module.
(fswerkstatt gave me some good tips to get started on this. Thanks!)

After a lot of hours writing some programming code, I have now (almost) integrated my Loewe TV into my Home Automation setup.

So what can I do with my Loewe TV?
- Control lights and appliances in the house using the Loewe Assist
- Control the SqueezeBox music player using the Loewe Assist
- See the outside temperature

What can I do with my Mac?
- Switch on the SqueezeBox and Loewe TV to listen to music
- Control the settings of the TV like channel and volume
- See what TV channel is being watched on TV

What can I do with my iPhone/iPad?
- Switch on the SqueezeBox and Loewe TV to listen to music

But enough words. It's picture time!


This menu is created by the Mac mini and sent to the TV using the RS232 module.
Using the green key on the Loewe Assist I can switch on the "Vloerlamp".
The TV will send this command to the Mac mini and then Indigo will do it's magic to switch the light on.
Next the status on the TV screen is updated so I can see that the light is on.
(Or I can take a look at the light )


Here's another example where it shows lights and appliances in the garden. But it also shows the outside temperature.

Loewe have done a very good job on this RS232 interface. It's not perfect, but it has a lot of potential.

[DanielaE]

Sehr interessant - und ein tolles Ergebnis!

Wenn ich mal so weiterüberlege, dann sollte das doch die Fritz!Box mit dem Heim-Automation Add-On der aktuellen Firmware (oder Freetz) ebenfalls hinbekommen ...

[Primus]

My dealer gave me documentation from Loewe to "talk" to the TV over RS232.

After a lot of hours writing some programming code, I have now (almost) integrated my Loewe TV into my Home Automation setup.

This menu is created by the Mac mini and sent to the TV using the RS232 module.

Loewe have done a very good job on this RS232 interface. It's not perfect, but it has a lot of potential.

Sehr interessantes Projekt.
Was beinhaltet die Dokumentation?
Womit hast du programmiert?
Ist das gezeigte Menü fertig oder muß das auch programmiert werden?

[macpro]

Sehr interessantes Projekt.
Was beinhaltet die Dokumentation?
Womit hast du programmiert?
Ist das gezeigte Menü fertig oder muß das auch programmiert werden?

Die Dokumentation zeigt wie mann die RS232 Interface programmieren kann.
Ich habe Python genützt für das Programm weil Indigo damit zusammen geht.
Für die letzte Frage ist das Antwort "Rot"

[Primus]

Vielen Dank für die Antworten.

[meggert]

Echt starke Leistung!

[fswerkstatt]

Sehr schön!

[dubdidu]

Applaus!!!!

[macpro]

Today a little "fight" with the SqueezeBox and the Individual. But I have won. For now.

The SqueezeBox is connected to the Individual on the Digital In bus. I also have a pair of L82HF speakers directly connected to the SqueezeBox to get music in the dining room as well.
To play music via the SqueezeBox, I have to power on the SqueezeBox, start the TV in Radio mode, wait about 30 seconds for the TV to start up, select the Digital In channel, set the volume to a default value and switch of the screen.

Pressing the "Audio" button on the Assist remote is now enough to perform all those steps.

But wait, there is more...

Pressing Volume Up and Down on the Assist sends a command to the SqueezeBox to change the volume.
Pressing << or >> on the Assist tells the SqueezeBox to change the song.

When I use the Assist to change to a normal radio channel, the SqueezeBox is stopped.
Moving back to the Digital In channel starts the SqueezeBox again.


Pressing the "TV" button on the Assist changes the Individual back to TV mode as normal, but also stops the SqueezeBox if it's playing.


In Indigo, I have defined so called "Control Pages". Those are web pages that can be displayed on many devices, including my iPad. When I go to the Control Page for the SqueezeBox, I can power on and power off the SqueezeBox. But now it will also control the Individual and power it on or off if needed.

[matthiasg]

Hallo macpro,

kannst du diese Doku von Loewe RS232 weitergeben ich wäre sehr daran interessiert, da ich im Haus eine SPS-Steuerung verwende.

Gruß Matthias

[macpro]

@mathiasg: Diese Doku kannst du bei deine "Freundliche" bekommen.


@Loewe: I've found a strange behaviour.
When the Individual is on in "tv" mode, this data is received from the Individual when I press the Power button on the Asssist remote:

Code: Alles auswählen

status standby off pipoff recoff
>

That is ok and what I expect.

But when the Individual is on in "audio" or "radio" mode, the following data is received from the Individual when I press the Power button on the Asssist remote:

Code: Alles auswählen

prog 9
>

Then nothing for about 7 seconds, followed by

Code: Alles auswählen

status standby on pipoff recoff
>
status standby off pipoff recoff
>

When this happened, the audio channel was -12 (digital audio in). So "prog 9" is the channel for "tv" mode, which means the Individual first goes into "tv" mode and then into "standby" mode.

Is there a special reason why this happens or is it a bug?

[macpro]

A small update on the latest integration efforts.

It's possible to get the info on the current program that's viewing on TV.
So I'm now collecting al this info.

In my Home Automation system (Indigo on the Mac) I've created a couple of web pages to control lights etc.
But it also shows info from the TV:



Whenever I change the channel or a new TV program starts on the current channel, this info is sent to my Mac.

The page above is 24/7 visible on an iPad mini that's used as a Home Automation controller.

[macpro]

A second update I made a couple of months ago: a Raspberry Pi with camera is mounted at the front door.
Another Raspberry Pi is connected to the Individual on HDMI port 3. This Raspberry shows the video stream from the Raspberry at the front door.

Whenever a visitor comes to the front door, the PIP window is opened so I can see who is at the front door. And then decided if I want to open the door or continue watching the movie.

[blume333]

Kann mir jemand eine liste mit den rs232 befehlen zukommen lassen.

möchte meinen loewe tv mittels rs232 fernsteuern

[macpro]

I made a small movie that shows how to close the curtains and turn on the lights.
I'm no Spielberg, so it's not Oscar quality.

Watch the Loewe in action