RCS Home Automation??

[Techvet]

I've browsed through this forum from time to time and was wondering if there are any forum members who are using RCS HA controllers. I have seen some references to folks using RCS thermostats and an occasional reference to the RCS cousin (JDS Stargate), but the handful of searches I've done would seem to indicate that the RCS HA community is either small or very quiet. Perhaps I'm wrong, so I figured I'd ask.

To get started, I'll post what comprises my HA system:

RCS CS48 Controller
RCS ZCV4 - 4 zone HVAC Controller
RCS 485 Hub
RCS KPG8 LCD Keypads (x4)
GE/Caddx NX8E Alarm System
UPB Network comprise of 31 devices (all Simply Automated)

Regards,

Techvet

 

[upstatemike]

I think that the reason the RCS community is so small/quiet is because RCS really has not done that much recently in the HA area and all indications are that they are only going to fund it to the extent that it supports their HVAC business.

The reason I say this is that since RCS acquired the manufacturing rights to Stargate hardware (the CS48 is just a Stargate Lite with slightly different ROM) they have been dropping items from the catalog at a fairly rapid pace and are not investing in any replacement products. So far they have stopped manufacturing the Stargate telephone/voice board, the timecommander, the timecommander plus, and also the I/O expander boards used by both Stargate/CS48 and Timecommander.

The long promised touch screen is no longer shown on their web site and it is not clear if it was ever really offered for sale anyplace.

Rumored new generation controllers have not been produced and even the rumors have stopped.

No effort has been made to update the KPG8 or KPL7s for years and the only new products have been thermostats.

I have a stargate and the JDS version of the KPG8 but I am worried that these will reach end-of-life before any viable replacement comes along. I was hoping the Elk M1 would develop into that new platform but it doesn't look like it is going to get there anytime soon. (no equivalent for KPG8 and does not support remote thermostat control from Elk keypad, no OR logic, no nested logic, no prescaling on analog inputs, limited math functions, etc.)

If you know of some RCS activity in the HA area that would put a more positive light on the situation then please share it because I have pretty much lost hope in any long term future for RCS, and by extension JDS.

 

[Techvet]

Thanks for responding. My RCS system is still fairly new (first hardware was activated less than a year ago) and so far it has worked pretty much as I intended. I've had a few minor snags along the way: a mid-August electrical storm knocked out the ZCV4 and the RS485 Hub, the replacement ZCV4 had a defective RS485 interface that took over 3 months to sort out, and there is an ongoing issue with the recognition of UPB links. RCS Tech Support was a bit slow at first, but they have come on very strong since January to help diagnose the ZCV4’s RS485 issue and the UPB issue. Overall I'd have to give them very high marks. Right now the only lingering issue is the UPB link recognition and we’re making fast progress on that one.

I wondered about the arrangements/relationship with JDS and you've pretty much covered that. The telephone board was a neat option that I sort of looked at. Funny, but at the time I purchased, I could have gotten it. However, JDS asked such a premium for their JDS-specific KPG8 equivalents that it seemed to not make much since. JDS now says the reason the boards are no longer available is because the primary chip on the voice board is no longer made. Truth or not, I probably don't miss what I never had and the WebXpander is a much better fit for me anyway.

I too have noticed that some of the other components are no longer available. I never knew much about the TimeCommander units and the I/O board is pretty much part of the CS48 anyway. I currently use 2 of the 8 analog inputs, 4 of 16 digital inputs and 2 of the 8 relays, so I have plenty of expansion room. I really like the way the CS48 integrates with the Caddx Alarm Panel and the UPB interface, but with that my three RS232 ports are used up, so I'm sort of at a dead end for any future RS232-dependent expansion.

I was wondering where the LTS78 touch screen went as well. I saw lots of talk about it up until the middle last year and it seems to have faded away. I don't recall ever seeing it listed for sale, but will try to ask about it in my next correspondence with tech support. On one hand, touch screens seem to be pretty pricey items and that alone would keep it out of reach, but then again it would be nice to dream... .

I looked at the ELK hardware, but it looked a bit more complicated and left a few gaps as you noted, but it seems to have a very loyal and seemingly happy following. For my part, I have enjoyed the seemingly robust programming offered by the RCS system and I anticipate staying a loyal user for some time. Nevertheless, it’ll be a shame if they give up on future development.

 

[upstatemike]

I agree with you on the price of the JDS version of the KPG8 but I bought some used ones that made it a little easier to take. As far as voice board, sometimes think I am the only person on cocoontech who prioritizes voice announcements but as far as I am concerned that is what home automation is all about. My stargate talks a lot and I wouldn't have it any other way. I also have the Web Expander and like that as well.

I also have an CADDX NX8e that I bought about 5 years ago but never installed. Much the way you felt the Elk looked complicated, I looked at the setup for the CADDX and just keep putting it off as something that looks like a PITA. Also with 4 I/O expnders I have 80 opto-isolated inputs (and am using 76 of them) so I don't really need the CADDX for general expansion... yet.

I also have an Elk that I bought a year ago and have not installed yet. I'm planning to convert my fire panel over to the Elk M1 and also tie the M1 to an ISY-99 for insteon control. I'm hoping to do some basic Stargate to Elk integration using ascii on a spare serial port of each system.

As for UPB; if the built in support is causing you grief you might consider that PCS makes a UPB interface that plugs into the TW523 port on the CS48. The CS48 will think it is talking to X-10 modules and you avoid the issues in the UPB part of the controller firmware.

 

[Techvet]

I'd probably have used the voice board if I had purchased it. My family is prettty maxed out on the system as it is, so voices might push them over the edge!

The CADDX is actually quite easy to set up. I just followed the RCS App Notes. 3 minutes of programming and bamm, it worked on the first try. The interface cable RCS claims to make does not exist, but you can buy the Caddx interface cable then use an adapter. Truthfully, sourcing that blasted cable was probably the hardest part.

4 I/O expanders... 76 inputs... wow! I'm impressed! I've got to get a better imagination!!

Which PCS module are you referring to? I have one of their UPB PIMs that has a modular plug. I could never get it to work with the CS48 (using COM Port2), so I use it for configurating UPB hardware only and have a SA PIM tied into the CS48. Never thought of plugging it into the TW523 port. For their part, RCS is working hard to fix the UPB issue which I think is a firmware problem in the CS48. A proper fix will serve all very well. I was on the phone Firday with their engineering staff, so I'm optimistic.

 

[upstatemike]

Which PCS module are you referring to? I have one of their UPB PIMs that has a modular plug. I could never get it to work with the CS48 (using COM Port2), so I use it for configurating UPB hardware only and have a SA PIM tied into the CS48. Never thought of plugging it into the TW523 port. For their part, RCS is working hard to fix the UPB issue which I think is a firmware problem in the CS48. A proper fix will serve all very well. I was on the phone Firday with their engineering staff, so I'm optimistic.

It is a Pulseworx PW513. I don't use UPB so I can't vouch for it first hand, I just know it exists as an option. Maybe somebody else here has actually tried one?