Protocol Mixing...

[andyclimb]

Does anyone know if it is possible to run more than one protocol at once.  I have FHT heating in the house, but would like to expand the automation to include lights etc...  the FS20 range although cheap is not bi directional, whereas the homematic is.

How much do these to interfere with each other...?  is this wise, or should I move to 433 Mhz....

I've currently got a raspberry pi, and would like to set up a range of temperature sensors, humidity sensors, relays etc... preferably wireless.  I was thinking that these items would be perfect....


XRF wireless RF radio UART RS232 serial data module XBee shape
http://shop.ciseco.co.uk/xrf-wireless-rf-radio-uart-rs232-serial-data-module-xbee-shape-arduino-pic-etc/

The communication over serial is apparently very simple...

All Ciseco provided personalities use LLAP as the radio communication protocol to and from sensors and actuators. LLAP is a lightweight automation protocol in which sequences of 12 characters are exchanged.

Each message has the following format:  aXXDDDDDDDD  where

"a" is lower case and shows the start of the message
XX is the device identifier (address A-Z & A-Z)
DDDDDDDDDD is the data being exchanged.
Note: Only the first "a" character is lowercase, the remaining message always uses uppercase.

more can be found here: http://openmicros.org/index.php/articles/85-llap-lightweight-local-automation-protocol

Does anyone know if FHEM has a module that might work with this/ or experience with it?  

Sorry for so many questions...

Andrew

[fiedel]

Hi Andy,

you can read here, what protocols and devices are supported:

http://fhem.de/commandref.html
http://fhem.de/commandref.html#CUL

In general, you have tree "protocol familys", who are exclusive:

    SlowRF
    To communicate with FS20/FHT/HMS/EM1010/S300/Hoermann devices @1kHz datarate. This is the default.
    HomeMatic
    To communicate with HomeMatic type of devices @20kHz datarate
    MAX
    To communicate with MAX! type of devices @20kHz datarate

E.g. if you want to use FS20 and HomeMatic at once, you need two CUL- Sticks.
One in SlowRF- mode and one in HomeMatic- Mode. If you want to use 433 Mhz Devices in addition, you´ll need a third CUL- Stick.

Imho the XRF wireless RF radio or LLAP is not supported yet.

Best regards

Frank

[Zrrronggg!]

One in SlowRF- mode and one in HomeMatic- Mode. If you want to use 433 Mhz Devices in addition, you´ll need a third CUL- Stick.

That might not entirely be true, as at least Intertechno 433 can be used with CUL in SlowRF *or* HM Mode, as the Intertecho Modul cannot receiver and therefore can be switched to the correct frequency  just long enouht to send the command (and then switch back). Of course with reduced range due to misstuned antenna etc.

Furthermore you may also combine a CUL in SlowRF with a HM-LAN-Konfigurator for HomeMatic.

How much do these to interfere with each other...?

In theory they do of course. But as the CUL is only allowed to send 1% of an hour (as *any* 868 Mhz device, due to regulations) which is only 36 seconds, in reallity most of the time there is radiosilence.
So pratically  using both protocolls at the same time works very well and many if not most FHEM user do just that. (including myself)

is this wise, or should I move to 433 Mhz....

You could use 433 Mhz deviced also, especilly since the Intertechno Switches are quite cheap, and you may use any CUL/CUNO to send commands to them, even if that CUL is normaly used for FS or HM.
But no need to do that to avoid collision with FS20.