Setting up basic z-wave network

Hi everyone,
I thought I knew a thing or two about technology until I tried to read up on home automation and got really lost. Here is my question, if someone could please help.

For now, all I really want to do is set up my Schlage (Trane) thermostat for wireless control. I do not have a wireless bridge. Is it possible to do this without a wireless bridge (if I have a router, computer, etc.)? If not, what is the cheapest total option to get this set up, other than not setting up the wireless portion.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

The cheapest/simplest is the $9.99 Radioshack deal on the GE LCD Z-Wave remote. It supposedly works with thermostats, but I don't use these remotes.

Another option is to use a free PC program called Premise: http://www.cocoontech.com/wiki/Premise
However, you'll need to buy a primary controller (I use the ControlThink stick with Leviton's free software) and a Leviton VRC0P ($60-$80). This will allow you internet control of your thermostat for a cheap price and doesn't require a subscription.

The VRC0P Premise driver is here:
http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18200&st=45

etc6849 said:

The cheapest/simplest is the $9.99 Radioshack deal on the GE LCD Z-Wave remote. It supposedly works with thermostats, but I don't use these remotes.

Another option is to use a free PC program called Premise:
However, you'll need to buy a primary controller (I use the ControlThink stick with Leviton's free software) and a Leviton VRC0P ($60-$80). This will allow you internet control of your thermostat for a cheap price and doesn't require a subscription.

The VRC0P Premise driver is here:

Click to expand...

Thanks etc6849 for your input! So the Leviton VRC0P is the wireless bridge? I don't see a USB port on the thermostat, so is the Thinkstick supposed to be plugged into the computer? Sorry for the dumb questions!

DaemoniteX said:

Hi everyone,
I thought I knew a thing or two about technology until I tried to read up on home automation and got really lost. Here is my question, if someone could please help.

For now, all I really want to do is set up my Schlage (Trane) thermostat for wireless control. I do not have a wireless bridge. Is it possible to do this without a wireless bridge (if I have a router, computer, etc.)? If not, what is the cheapest total option to get this set up, other than not setting up the wireless portion.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Click to expand...

You are going to need to figure out how serious you are about home automation. Do you just want to control the thermostat remotely with a hand held remote, or phone? Or do you want to automate other things as well? You basically have 2 options:

1. Hardware controller which supports Z-Wave: ELK M1+VRC0P, HAI OmniPro+VRC0P, Mi Casa Verde Vera 2 controller (built in Z-Wave support)
2. PC + Home Automation software + Z-Wave interface (usually a USB interface, can be serial): Homeseer, Elve, CQC, Premise, ... (software) + a compatible Z-Wave interface such as the Aeon Labs stick, HomeSeer Z-Troller, Leviton, ...

It all depends on how much you want to expand your system

I am currently working on a Vera 2 review, and so far, I think this is the best bang for the buck offering, while also requiring little investment. I have it running with the Schlage/Trane thermostat without any issues.

In the more distant future (5 years or so) I would probably like to do more, but for now I would just like to keep it as simple/cost effective as possible. I just bought my house so my savings are pretty much wiped out. Ideally it would be great to control things with my iPhone, would what the previous poster suggested be the best option?

There are a couple of home automation apps on the iOS list which let you control your Z-Wave network via your iphone and free software. So the only thing you would have to get is a USB Z-Wave interface. Here is an example:
http://itunes.apple....d408084651?mt=8

IMO, that would be the cheapest route. Premise is not a bad idea, but I am not sure if there is a nice iPhone interface for it.

Dan (electron) said:

There are a couple of home automation apps on the iOS list which let you control your Z-Wave network via your iphone and free software. So the only thing you would have to get is a UBB Z-Wave interface. Here is an example:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/incontrol-zwave-controller/id408084651?mt=8

IMO, that would be the cheapest route. Premise is not a bad idea, but I am not sure if there is a nice iPhone interface for it.

Click to expand...

thanks Dan, I will pick up a Thinkstick and try the program out!

The ThinkStick is a great deal for a versatile primary controller. I would recommend buying only the stick and not the stick + ControlThink software. This will save you money anyways although asihome has a good deal on the kit for $10 more.

Ok, thanks etc! Does the computer have to stay on in order for me to use the iPhone to control everything?

Yes. If you don't want to run a PC, then your best bet would be the Mi Casa Verde Vera 2 Controller.

etc6849 said:

The ThinkStick is a great deal for a versatile primary controller. I would recommend buying only the stick and not the stick + ControlThink software. This will save you money anyways although asihome has a good deal on the kit for $10 more.

Click to expand...

My understanding is that a ThinkStick requires SOME kind of software to be enrolled into a Z-wave network and to enroll other devices. So, unless you purchase some kind of automation software that includes low-level Z-wave management, you won't be able to link the Thinkstick to the thermostat.

The free "Vizia RF+ Installer Tool" software, while great for advanced Z-wave diagnostics, is VERY Leviton-centric. The latest version (1.0.4.0) crashed periodically on my Windows 7 laptop when I tried adjusting thermostat functions. It doesn't recognize sensor devices, and doesn't allow you to set up associations for any non-Leviton equipment...

Running ThinkEssentials, though, has been largely problem-free. Adding devices works, associations work, all devices get properly recognized and I've had few, if any, crashes.



That said, for basic thermostat control, it's hard to beat the GE 45601 remote. It's not super user friendly, it's a little lightswitch-focused, and it desperately needs a backlight, but it's just fine for controlling a single thermostat and a few lights. And even if there is a full home automation system in place, it's still useful as a secondary controller.

Idle curiousity Dan - is the original MiCasaVerde pretty compatible with the 2? I know they integrated the ZWave module; but even with the external one, will it still control the newer Z-Wave stuff like this? I have one gathering dust that should be put to use - it's never come out of the box!

Not sure about that one. The Vera 2 has more memory as well, so I would guess Vera 1 is not going to have all the features. To be sure, I'd contact Mi Casa Verde tho.

Premise serves html pages that are very easy to customize for the iphone. In the Premise downloads section, there's an all in one minibrowser that 123 made that includes Chucks's iphone module...

Dan (electron) said:

There are a couple of home automation apps on the iOS list which let you control your Z-Wave network via your iphone and free software. So the only thing you would have to get is a USB Z-Wave interface. Here is an example:
http://itunes.apple....d408084651?mt=8

IMO, that would be the cheapest route. Premise is not a bad idea, but I am not sure if there is a nice iPhone interface for it.

Click to expand...

Then I would get a USB interface which is supported by both Premise and that InControl app, and you can pick between the 2 Does Premise supports locks and thermostats?