Sunday, July 18, 2010

Home Automation with SageTV and HomeSeer - InControl

HTPC and Home Automation enthusiasts rejoice.  SageTV, the popular multi-platform HTPC now has the ability to control your Home devices such as lights, garage doors, fans or any HomeSeer-connected device right from your SageTV user interface.

The SageTV 7 plugin, called "InControl" is a HomeSeer 2.0 plugin that provides an interface between SageTV and the HomeSeer, home automation system. The plugin provides a 2-way, instant interface between SageTV and HomeSeer. The graphical user interface in SageTV lets you control and monitor all of your HomeSeer devices and provides optional messaging/notifications from HomeSeer to your SageTV user interface.

InControl Plugin Described:

InControl is a $29.95 plugin for HomeSeer and SageTV. It provides a real-time interactive interface between SageTV and Homeseer. With InControl, you are provided with easy to use, graphical interface in SageTV to control and monitor any HomeSeer devices. In addition, you can use HomeSeer to broadcast messages to SageTV.
Features:

  • Control and/or monitor any device in HomeSeer from within SageTV
  • Send messages and alerts from to Sage from HomeSeer with Events or Scripts
  • Custom graphic library included for SageTV
  • Secure connection with SageTV via HomeSeer user id and password
Requirements:
  • SageTV 7.0.8 or higher
  • InControl For Sage Plugin (available through SageTV plugin library)
  • HomeSeer 2.0 or higher
  • InControl For HomeSeer Plugin (available through HomeSeer store and updater)
  • HomeSeer and SageTV must be on the same PC or connected via a network

Screenshots:

Main Menu from the SageTV/InControl Screen:

InControlMain

InControl Messaging Directed to SageTV Menu:

InControlMessage_lg

InControl Settings Page:

InControlSettings_lg

Device Settings:

InControlHSPluginDeviceSettings_lg

Plugin Configuration from HomeSeer

InControlHSPluginSettings_lg

More information can be found at the HomeSeer Forums and SageTV Forums

They’ve already put out 2 updates to the first public version which is a good sign that new features will continue and the plugin will be well maintained by the developer.