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Homer
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| Posted: 31 January 2010 at 3:32pm | IP Logged
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Picture this:
I walk into my lounge, which strangely does not have a tv in it, and say "Computer - Sky on".
1. The electric screen drops down from the ceiling, covering the windows.
2. The projector turns on.
3. Sky turns on.
4. The AV amplifier turns on.
5. The lights dim down (No CFL's here  .
With me so far ?
This can already be done with Harmony, and will be my project this year.
Next, we have the forthcoming Harmony IR component:
"Computer - Channel 106" and "Computer - Volume 30%"
Marvellous. I've not had such a burst of imagination since I was a child
Hmm, I also have my motorised satellite system to bring in to this "Computer - Sky off" and "Computer - Manhattan on".
Now all I need to do is sort out the practicalities of it  Well at least it will get rid of the multitudes of remote controls currently found on my side table 
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Rob Iles
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| Posted: 31 January 2010 at 11:39pm | IP Logged
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Amazing how quickly imagination becomes reality isn't it!
As you say, 1 through 5 can already be achieved with existing components.
IR is coming online (restricted Beta) soon, so I'm sure yoy'll love to work on that.
As for the motorised dishes, do they currently operate under digital control, or is it a case of tweaking dials to home in on them (don't laugh - I've no idea!!)
If it's digital - dry contact output, job's a good one!
:-)
re:many remote, I've found myself using a (very) old sony receiver remote (for the STR-DB940 if anyone cares), to switch on TV, Amp, and set TV Input to MCE PC. It also has a volume control, but this is not often used.
"his n hers" MCE remote controls handle the TV/Scheduling etc. (Please, let there be a new version of WebGuide soon!!! are you reading, Doug?) ;-)
PIRs take care of "passing traffic" - enter the hallway, lamp comes on.
....sorry, rambling.
be interested to here how the sat dishes are controlled though.
Rob
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Homer
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| Posted: 01 February 2010 at 6:06am | IP Logged
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Hi Rob,
After initial setting up of the motorised satellite system, its just another sequence of IR codes to choose a satellite and then a channel. Receivers nowadays use intelligent motors, and can calculate the position of visible satellites using the USALS system (Using your Lat/Long), so you don't even have the fiddle setting them up that you used to have. I've been installing motorised systems for myself and friends for around 15 years, and it just gets easier. Well, when I say easy, I have no instrumentation, and I have to guess where an invisible arc in the sky is to start it all off
Now didn't I read somewhere else that Doug had been pinched by MS and may not be doing WebGuide for Win7 ?
Computer - Off !
Edited by Homer on 01 February 2010 at 7:00pm
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Rob Iles
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| Posted: 01 February 2010 at 11:07am | IP Logged
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Cool - Harmony IR will be fine then. No need for the Harmony-Azimuth-Drive-Component! :s
MS employed Doug (and presumable purchased webguide at the same time), so that he could continue to develop it alongside their internal teams.
Whether that was just a spin on "buy him so he can't get in the way of our business model", or a genuine statement of intent, I really don't know.
I'll ask him - if his old email address still works!
Rob
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Rob Iles
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| Posted: 01 February 2010 at 11:10am | IP Logged
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Well that was easy, from the website
"Note: WebGuide does not support Windows 7. Unfortunately, there are far too many changes in Windows 7 (and Fiji/TV Pack) that prevent WebGuide from being easily updated to work. Rest assured that the remote access scenarios WebGuide enabled are still near and dear to my heart and that I'm doing everything in my power to advocate for them across Microsoft."
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Harmony : Projects
Topic: The projector room
