-
This is a super program. I've used it for the last couple of days and had lots of fun with it. Any chance you want to make it a colabrative effort with members here and make it even more robust?
OP:
Edit 06/17/2007 by Bill (the author):
This thread mainly applies to BXVC (http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm) (my earlier voice command software written in JScript). Some of it will still be useful to users of BVC (http://www.wgjohns.com/bvc.htm) (my newer voice command software written in Visual BASIC) therefore I have left this thread intact. However, since BVC (http://www.wgjohns.com/bvc.htm) has now been released, I have created a separate thread to discuss BVC (http://www.wgjohns.com/bvc.htm) specifically. You can find it here: BVC (Bill's Voice Commander) (Visual BASIC version) (http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=15753.0). Enjoy! See you in the new thread! :D
Thanks everyone, but I finally decided to start my own thread.
If any "community organizer" could help, it would be great to merge the other BXVC threads into this one.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks TTA!
Original Post #2:
tuicemen
This is the cat's meow! I'm really impressed with this addon, as I was with Dispatch.
Original Post #1:
I've just finished playing with BXVC (Bill'sX10VoiceCommander)
http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm
Layout hasn't changed much in the latest version. There are some added features which make it work very well with X10dispatch and its notifications, very Hi tec and profesional sounding here now. I get very good range with my Labtec Pc desktop mic but that could be just its placement. In any case this Freeware is worth the time to download and test run. AHP doesn't need to be running for it to work. :)
-
nadler,
Thank you, I'm doing my best considering
I'm trying to do this mostly with JScript
and whatever software and API's most of us
already have or can get for free.
As far as collaboration, I guess that
depends on what you mean. I'm always
interested in suggestions. I have already
added many new features, bug fixes and
such, suggested by users. I like sharing
ideas with other programmers about this or
any other projects. If you mean co-
authoring, e-mail me and we can discuss
it. I mean, I could use the help. This
thing has gone from a hmm... I wonder if I
can make these things work together?
project to having a life of its own (well,
not quite literally... yet?)
In conclusion, help from anyone is
appreciated but, I'm kind of a control
freak (what programmer isn't?) when it
comes to "my" projects. If you can deal
with that, let's talk. :)
-Bill-
bill@wgjohns.com
-
Well, Mr. Bill (Bill's X10 Voice Commander)
is up and running. I had a local software
problem we think and Mr. Bill has me up and
running !
What a neat program !! I can now forget
looking for the remotes and trying to
remember what house code the outside lamp is
on or trying to remember the other house code
for the vacuum charger. All I do now is walk
to the door of the computer room and speak
(quietly I might add) "Vacuum Charger Off"
and VIOLA..it turns OFF ! My wife gets
nervous when she is in the bathroom,
wondering if I will be saying "Master Bath
OFF"...hehe I am having a ball !
This is a NEAT program, If you have not
installed it yet, go get it.. do it.. You
will have fun and it is very useful and so
easy to use.
Regards,
SteveRF
-
This is a sweet program. How Can I find a
list of voice commands that it recognizes?
How do I set it up to recognize newly
created voice commands?
Thanks,
Tyler
-
Tyler perhaps Bill will post the commands on
his web page when he updates it. there was a
Post in the SDK section which had some of
the recognized commands but it has vanished
along with other posts. I know some it will
respond to:
turn On/Off, activate/deativate, computer,
please,run,stop
You can't add recognized commands Yet but
suggest them to Bill and posibly he'll add
them.
-
Thanks Tuicemen...Yes hopefully some
commands can be posted here.
-
The commands are (these are all default)
Attention phrase: Computer
(Device Name) Turn ON
(Device Name)ON
USE (Device name)
Start (Device name)
(Device Name) turn off
(device name) OFF
Don't use (device name)
Stop (device name)
I've noticed that the "STOP" and "USE"
commands are recognized more then the rest.
Ex:
Just say " Computer, start lamp" to turn on
the lamp
-
Great program Bill ! It's working very well
and it's easy to modify the script. XML
language is quite easy to understand. Though
i would like to see french recognition i dont
know if you can find the way to do it. I
believe it would be done through the langID
number but i dont find the french one
anywhere. Otherwise keep up the good work !
-
Hello ALL,
Sorry I haven't been too responsive
lately. I've been migrating from my laptop
to a "Franken-puter" I've been building
from the best parts I had around and some I
inherited.
Anyway, I'm back and listening and thanks
to tucimen and others for helping answer
some of the questions I haven't benn able
to get to.
Let's see...
Commands:
activate, deactivate, turn on, turn off,
use, don't use, start, stop, brighten, dim.
Just use them as you would when talking to
a person. "Computer turn on the
(device)". "Computer turn the (device)
off."... etc.
Mostly, just say it naturally as you would
to a person. The only strict requirement
is that you get the program's attention
first by speaking the "attention phrase"
(which defaults to "computer" but you could
change it to "genie with the light brown
hair" if you wanted to).
The "dim" and "brighten" commands are
presently broken. BXVC accepts them, but
doesn't send the "percent of full
brightness" value that AHP needs. All I
can say is I'm working on it.
bill@wgjohns.com
-
Hyrules,
Thanks. Unfortunately I'm limited by the
languages included in the SDK at this
point. Eventually I would like BXVC to be
multi-lingual, but I honestly don't have a
clue how to do it at present.
You sound like someone who can who can
decypher the speech SDK stuff. Let me know
if there is a way you can figure out. I'm
sure the langID tag has something to do
with it, but I believe the speech engine
must also include support for that language
and as far as I know the one included in
the SDK doesn't (What do we expect for
free? :)"
Also, I believe the XML for the grammar is
based (maybe only loosely) on the S.A.L.T.
language tags specified by the World Wide
Web Consortium (http://www.w3.org).
As always, feel free to e-mail me at:
bill@wgjohns.com.
bill@wgjohns.com
-
This thing is fun, thanks Bill!
I want to use the remote microphones on my
X10 camera(s) as voice control inputs. That
way I can have remote voice control from
anywhere I have a camera. Has anyone tried
this and made it work? Just patching the
camera receiver audio into the mic lack
didn't work so I suppose I'll have to take a
closer look at signal levels.
thanks
Andy D.
-
Andy D,
I could be wrong but I do not believe the
signal out of the video/audio receiver is
audio. I think it is an RF signal and
therefore not usable by the sound card
input. The signal from the receiver is
designed as an input to a TV and therefore
would need to be demodulated before it
could be used by the sound card input. A
quick way to check it would be to plug a
headset into the output and see if it is
intelligible.
Jim
-
The RF receiver I have provides 3 outputs,
RF, video, audio. The video and audio
outputs are on phono plugs and are
compatible with TV and VCR aux inputs.
Andy D.
-
Andy,
If you take the audio output from the
receiver into either the microphone or line
input of the sound card and select the
camera can you hear the sound from the
camera in the computer speakers? Make sure
you have the desired input selected and the
level turned up.
Jim
-
I had the camera in the same room as the
computer and got audio feedback (squeel)
unless I turned down the speaker volume, so
there is audio getting into the mic jack.
I assume I just have to get microphone level
set right. I would have prefered to use a
line input jack but my computer doesn't seem
to have any. It's an HP Pavillion without a
separate sound card.
I was mostly curious to see if anyone else
had tried this. It seems like the perfect
way to get voice command inputs to the
computer.
Andy D.
-
Andy,
To eliminate the feedback, open up the
volume control panel to the Play Control
panel and look for the slider for
Microphone (if you don't see it, click the
top menu "Options" then sub-
menu "Properties". Make sure the "Adjust
volume for" section has "Playback"
selected. In the "Show the following
volume controls" box, scroll down and find
the Microphone and make sure it's checked
then click "OK")
Make sure "Mute" is checked on the
Microphone slider.
Again this is all under the "Play Control"
panel, not the "Recording Control" panel.
-Bill- (of BXVC)
bill@wgjohns.com
-
wouldnt the squeel disappear when the mic and
speakers were in diffrent rooms or
outside/inside? the problem should take care
of itself (if the camera is normaly
outside)and only inside for testing/adjusting
levels....... my 2
-
-Bill- (of BXVC)
Nice update 0.42
Although I haven't tried all the new
features, I do like the stop/start listening
feature.
-
Every time I try running version .42 I
get “An error has occurred in the script on
this page” error.
Just wondering if anyone else is having
this problem. I ran the upgrade not the
full install. I was running version .40
previously and it is still working.
Jim
-
Jim,
The upgrade is not a stand-alone program. It is just a zip file that contains the four (actually two and their backup copies) files I changed to add the new features. You should unzip it or copy the files from it into the same folder BXVC 0.40 lives in and allow the files to replace the existing ones. Then if you run BXVC as normal it should work and include the new commands.
If you still can't get it to work, e-mail me.
Hope this helps,
-
Thanks to all of you for trying Bill's X10 Voice Commander (BXVC)!
For those of you who haven't e-mailed me, the latest version is now posted on the web at:
http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm
If you already have version 0.4 or above you can save yourself some time and effort if you just download the upgrade as it won't overwrite your configuration or device list (it's also smaller because it doesn't contain the face graphics or audio files).
Otherwise, download the full version.
(continued)
-
New features:
Brighten & Dim commands that actually work!
Say: (attention phrase) brighten (or dim)
(device name) by (or to) (0-100) percent
(optional). If you say "to" the value is
absolute (the device dims to 0 and then
brightens up to the stated value). If you
don't say "to" the value is relative (the
device brightens or dims by the stated
value from its current setting). If you
don't specify a value, the device brightens
or dims by 10%. Other brighten or dim
commands are turn up (down), increase
(decrease) ((light) output (or level) of).
Well, as always, just say it however you
like and if it doesn't work let me know and
I'll try and fix it. :)
Tell the program to be quiet!
Say: (attention phrase) "be quiet"/"shut
up". Also
try, "deactivate"/"mute"/"disable"/"turn
off"
(the) "audio"/"voice" "response"/"feedback".
Tell the program to be speak up!
Say: (attention phrase) "speak to
me" /"speak up"/"talk to me". Also
try, "activate"/"reactivate"/"unmute"/"enabl
e"/"turn on"
(the) "audio"/"voice" "response"/"feedback".
Tell the program to start or stop listening!
Say: (attention
phrase) "start"/"stop" "listening".
As always, thanks for playing with BXVC and
keep in touch!
-Bill-
bill@wgjohns.com
-
Bill,
I got it working by downloading the full
version of .42 into a new folder and then
copying the device list and config files
into this new folder. All is working fine
again. Thanks for the great program. The
bright and dim commands work great.
Thanks,
Jim
-
Bill
GREAT PROGRAM!
I just started to explore it, but am VERY
IMPRESSED.
I seem not to have any audio out though.
I'm sure it's something I doing wrong in my
Windows setup or the BXVC program. The
Commands are working ok. Any ideas?
-
Bob R,
If you haven't already found a solution...
Under "Manage Audio Output", make sure you
have a device selected in the "Output" list-
box. Make sure the volume bar is set at 90
or so, and isn't muted. Click the "Save
Configuration Settings" button (under the
faces). Exit the program and run it
again. Click the "Test Voice" button and
see if it talks now. Otherwise, e-mail me
at bill@wgjohns.com for further trouble
shooting.
-Bill- (of BXVC)
bill@wgjohns.com
-
I just got AHP ordered, and I am SOOOOOOO
looking forward to trying BXVC. I have a
question though. If I can wire individual
microphones to each room of the house, is
there a way to use voice commands for each
room separately? Like perhaps use different
"Attention Phrases" for each room, like
"Bathroom" for the bathroom, "Living Room"
for the living room. That way, you could have
your light modules set up to a house code in
the bathroom, and that way you could say
"Bathroom Lights On" and only the bathroom
lights would come on. Or "Living Room Lights
On" and the living room lights would come on.
For all I know, BXVC is already capable of
doing this and I just don't know it since I
can't play with it yet!
It would definitely be neat to wire some
microphones throughout the house to be able
to control each room independently.
Also, is there a way to use custom words that
will trigger a certain house/unit code? Let's
say I have a coffee pot with an appliance
module set to a1. Is it possible to set the
software up to accept the word "coffee" in
order to use a phrase like "House, coffee on"
which would start the coffeemaker?
I sure am looking forward to playing with
this software. And I know that even though my
wife keeps looking at me funny with some of
the things I have tentatively planned, once I
get it done she will OOOOO and AAAAAHHH over
it. I'm one of the lucky one's...my WAF is
always high no matter what goofy project I
tackle! LOL!
-
Bart
the attention phrase is used Just to get
the computers attention.
So you woulds say "House bathroom lights
On" This Only turns on the bathroom lights.
All will become clearer once you play with
it. You should be able to add microphones
to each room but it would pick up more
noise for BXVC to sort threw.
-
Hey Tuicemen! Thanks for the reply. So it
sounds like that BXVC can decypher codes
that would correspond to different rooms,
which is GREAT! I knew it would
accept "House, lights on" and it would turn
on whatever was set to turn on to a basic
lights on command, but I wasn't sure if you
could make it room-specific. Sounds like you
can.
Here's my next question...BXVC can trigger
x10 events (lamp modules, etc), but can it
be used to trigger PC events (like opneing a
specific program or audio file)? It would be
cool to be able to say "House, play music"
and the PC would load a playlist and begin
playing music. What would be even COOLER
would be song-specific commands like "House,
play Oh Christmas Tree" and that song would
begin playing. Or perhaps load a video file,
like "House, Play The Matrix" and the movie
the Matrix would begin on the PC.
Of course, if this is possible to do, some
possible conflicts that could occur would be
in you happen to have 2 different movies
that happen to have the same title, or 2
different audio files that happen to have
the same title. I guess for the music
scenario, I suppose you could include the
artist as part of the command...if BXVC has
the ability to understand many many many
words.
Can't wait to play with it!!
-
Bart
You can do everything you wish if you
combine X10dispatch into the mix.(another
awesome free program) without it you could
set up AHP to open a program or batch
file but think you need the smart macros
plugin for that and thats not free! :)And
you still might need X10dispatch. You can
read more about this freeware and other
homeautomation stuff here:
http://www.accessha.com/forums/
-
Thanks again for the reply. This just keeps
sounding better and better. I can't wait to play!
Soooo, here's my next set of questions. Once
you issue the attention phrase, is there a
set amount of time that BXVC will respond to
a command before you would have to reissue
the attention phrase again? Also, is there a
way to have a specific automatic action taken
ONLY by giving the attention command? Also,
once a command is given, can you give another
command right away without using the
attention phrase again (2 seperate commands
but only using the attention phrase once to
initialize the commands)?
Here is the scenario I'm wanting to do. I
would like to give the attention phrase and a
WAV file playback immeddiately...so it would
go something like this (attention phrase is
'House')...
me:"House"
WAV played:"Hello. What can I do for you"
me:"turn on light"
Would it be possible to break it down like
this? It would just be something neat to do,
like to have the kids show off to their
friends that not only can they make the house
do things by voice, but that the system will
actually talk back to them (even if only a
simple "What can I do for you" response after
the attention phrase is given).
If not, I guess there is a way to do it. It
wouldn't be quite as cool as the cut-n-dry
example above, but it would be close. It
would go something like this (attention
phrase would be 'House')...
me:"House. Hello." (in which 'hello' would
trigger the following WAV file)
WAV played:"Hello. What can I do for you."
me:"House. Turn on light."
In the above example, in the last command
given, you would need to use the 'House'
attention phrase again, since it was given in
the first command and the program
responded...unless it is possible once the
first attention phrase is given and the Hello
WAV file is played, that BXVC would still
accept another command without the attention
phrase. I know I'm spl;itting hairs here, but
I figure if it is possible, I want to do it! LOL!
Naturally, you could simply say "House. Turn
on light" and that action would still be
taken. I just thought it would be cool to
have the inital interaction between you and
the house. The kids would LOVE that!
-
Short answer is yes!I'm not sure of the
time limit but there is one. I have my
attention phrase reply with a wav file but
you could set it up to reply with "Yes
Bart, What would you like me to do?"
you don't need AHP to play with the voice
recogintion part just to send x10 commands.
down load it and set it up the way you'd
like then once you have your AHP Hardware?
software you'll be ready to go.
-
Oh, cool! I didn't even think about playing
with it just to trigger PC events! Thanks
for pointing that out!
At x10dispatcher, there are 2 different
downloads for Soundpacks (Soundpack and
Soundpack2). What are these used for?
Thanks again for all of your answers to my
questions! You've been very helpful!
-
Okee...here's my next thing. I've got BXVC
and Dispatcher installed. Been playing
around with BXVC and it seems pretty easy to
use. Now, what I want to know is, how do you
use it to make Dispatcher trigger a specific
audio file? I played around with Dispatcher
a bit and can't figure out how to tie it all
together.
Keep in mind, I do not yet have AHP
installed. Is that something I need to have
installed before I can trigger an audio file
by using a voice command?
Heheheheh...just giving the attention phrase
and having the PC respond back already got a
big OOOOOOOOOO from the wife and kids. This
is going to rate high on the WAF!!
-
Both will tie together with AHP. You need
to be able to send x10 commands,
x10dispatch will see them and respond to
them with an alert of any number of things
including activating a program. have fun
setting everthing up. Once you have AHP
everthing ties together nicely.The AHP
software doesn't need to be running but you
need the files included for everthing to
interface with the hardware.
-
Tuicemen,
Thanks for pinch-hitting on these
questions. I think my DSL has been messed
up the last couple days.
Bart,
If you speak the attention phrase and don't
immediately follow it with a command, BXVC
will give you 20 seconds to speak a command
without having to repeat the attention
phrase and in the meantime it will respond
as you have asked it to under "How should I
respond when I hear the Attention Phrase?"
Also, when you set up your X10 modules, try
to give each module a different
housecode/address combination, that way you
can address each one individually.
When giving "human" names to modules I like
to get specific, like "Master Bedroom
Lamp", "Front Porch Light" or "Livingroom
Light" that way the name of the device
specifies the room it is in.
Hope you all enjoy BXVC and have happy
holidays if I don't post again before then
(and even if I do!)
bill@wgjohns.com
-
Cool stuff, guys! You have NO idea how much
I appreciate all the help! Now if you can
just figure out how to tie these programs in
with my remote card starter! LOL!
Even though my x10 stuff is not here, I do
have the download for AHP. I am assuming
that I can go ahead and install it just to
get BXVC and Dispatcher to work together,
even without the cm15a plugged in.
Also, when I was talking about being able to
voice command to load individual songs, I
guess the most you can do this way would be
256, since there are only 256 available
codes. Obviously this would leave zero codes
for modules and stuff. Is this how you have
to activate everything? By unique x10
house/unit codes with BXVC and Dispatcher?
Even an individual song file has to
correspond to a unique x10 house/unit code
in order to have BXVC respond to the command
and to have Dispatcher trigger the audio
file. Is this correct?
-
Bart,
Oh... sounds like you figured that out
already.
ALL,
I should have Version 0.43 on the site in
24 hours or maybe less. Not much has
changed, some more variations on brighten
and dim commands, and you can now ask about
the current date and time. I'm sure
there's more, but I'll be darned if I can
think of what right now... I need a
vacation or maybe a new job (any offers?) :)
-Bill-
bill@wgjohns.com
-
Bart,
I know there is a scripting interface I can
use to get BXVC to control Windows Media
Player, I just haven't experimented with it
enough yet.
For now, I guess the answer to your
question would be yes, each song would have
to have an X10 address of its own.
-Bill-
bill@wgjohns.com
-
Hmmm...I installed AHP and I can't get it to
load a program by voice. I'm wondering if it
has anything to do with that I don't have
the cm15a installed yet and the drivers
weren't loaded. Maybe the drivers need to be
installed before everything works correctly.
Here's what I did. In BXVC I created a new
device called 'song' and associated it to
a1. In Dispatcher, under the x10 trigger
tab, device code a1, command on, run command
C:\Documents and
Settings\HP_Administrator\Desktop\song.mp3.
As far as source tranport, I tried both plc
and rf. None of the other boxes have
anything in them.
I give the 'Song On' command and nothing
happens. Is there a step that I missed or am
I needing the cm15a drivers to function
properly?
Here's something else. At x10Dispatcher,
there is a download file called
ahscript_setup.exe. When I try to install
it, nothing happens. I click run and nothing
happens. Hmmm.....
-
Something else I just thought of, too. Next
to the 'run command' box, when I
click 'test' nothing happens.
I did try a different audio file that was a
WAV, just in case Dispatcher has a problem
playing mp3's. No dice...
-
Here's a little more info about my problem.
When I use the 'test' button next to the
file I have entered in the 'run command'
box, here is an error that is showing up
when I look at the status window...
2:37:05 AM: Error Launching Command :
System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception: The
system cannot find the file specified
at
System.Diagnostics.Process.StartWithShellExec
uteEx(ProcessStartInfo startInfo)
at System.Diagnostics.Process.Start()
at w.c(String A_0)
Lack of drivers from not having x10 hardware
installed yet? *scratching head*
-
Bart for your questions on X10 dispatch try
looking
at:http://www.accessha.com/forums/forumdispl
ay.php?f=28
Dave monitors this section of the board and
is quick at replying there may be a bug in
the latest release which you have found
although it maybe just that you don't have
the CM15A yet .
Bill not a problem! I'm looking forward to
the next release (an early Christmas
present?) Thanks ! Hopefully I'll have one
for everyone as well. I'll e-mail you a
sample.
-
Thanks! I'll go make a post over there and
see what Dave has to say.
I have a question about BXVC. Is there a way
to minimize BXVC to the system tray so it's
not showing in the task bar while running?
If not, there is a good suggestion for ya!
-
Just click on the button top right hand
corner. But it would be nice if it auto
minimized on startup. I think I suggested
this but if not good suggestion! We'll see
whats in the next release. :)
-
All,
BXVC 0.43 is on the website:
http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm
(there should be no spaces in that but there might be if you copy it on this forum so be careful!)
Expanded commands for dimming, added commands to ask for the date & time eg. "(attention phrase) what time is it?", and now if you say "thank you", "thank you very much", etc. within 20 sec. of a recognized command the program will respond! Also added some more start & stop listening commands, "Shut up", "Listen to me". And yes tuicemen an option to start minimized (Sorry Bart, it still takes up space on the Task Bar, but I'll work on the System Tray thing.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
(Happy New Year too)
-Bill-
bill@wgjohns.com
-
Bill, you so RULE!!! I only got to play with
the time/date and the 'Thank You' feature,
but I LOVE it! What I really like about
the 'Thank you' feature is that the response
is always something a little different...not
just the same 'You're welcome' every time.
That gives it a nice little variance! Great
work!
Now, about that system tray...hehehhehe
-
I have a question about BXVC in
general...will BXVC work using ActiveHome
(not Pro) and a cm11a? Or must you have Pro
with the cm15a? I have an extra 11 laying
around and I could hook it up in my son's
room on his own house code just to play with
and have fun with lights and a fan.
-
Bart,
First, thanks for the kudos.
Second, unfortunately I don't have a CM11A
to play with, so I don't know if it will
work with the scripting interface in Active
Home Pro and I don't have Active Home. My
best suggestion is to hook it up and see
what happens (and let me know! :) ) I'm
always open to suggestions and always
trying to support more hardware and
software, but my finances are limited so I
can only work with what I can get ahold
of. That's one major reason BXVC is
written in JSCRIPT as a HTA... it may be
limited but it's FREE!
Let me know what you find out,
-Bill-
bill@wgjohns.com
-
Awesome Bill!
Your hard work is not invain! Nice adds, I
like the new look as well ! :)
Happy Holidays!
-
Bill:
Excellent stuff.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you
too.
-
I finally realized that the black-on-blue
color scheme was hard to read on a standard
monitor (I was using a laptop as my
development system when I first started
this). I also thought it might be easier
to follow if I grouped related sections by
color. I know the GUI needs work, but I
get so involved in the code and making it
do more that I tend to neglect the GUI.
Promise it'll get better (someday).
-Bill-
-
I have an idea, and I was wondering if anyone has tried this, or if anyone has an idea for this. Using BXVC to control things like stereos, TVs, etc, using the VCRCommannder2. I can already see the set and how it would be done, with the exception of one element...getting the house/unit code to transmit RF (not PLC) from the PC. Does a CM15A have this functionality to be able to transmit a code both PLC AND as RF? Or perhaps a Firecracker unit would do? And if Firecracker would work, would the Firecracker software be able to get the command from BXVC?
The setup would be easy...just trying to find that one missing link. Being able to transmit a house/unit code as RF (like a motion sensor can do) from the PC.
-
Bill, Nice piece of software! Reminds me of HAL.
Alas, I've switched to the SmartHome 1132cu
usb controller, (the AHP CM15a just never
worked well.) and can no longer use the AHP
software to program timers and macros.
Any chance you might be able to support ther
1132cu usb controller?
Cheers, Todd K.
-
Todd K.,
E-mail me and I'll see what I can figure
out. I don't feel it's appropriate to
discuss competing hardware on X10's forum,
but I am interested in supporting as many
controllers as I can figure out how.
-Bill- (of BXVC)
bill@wgjohns.com
-
Bill.. and all..
I'm still waiting for my X10 stuff to come
(should be here today)... WOO HOO!
I installed AHP and BXVC and am VERY
impressed with both. I love the Star Trek
sounds used as the defaults in BXVC.. nice
touch. :)
I was wondering how to trigger macros with
BXVC and I think it just occurred to me,
please correct me if I'm wrong on this:
Create a macro in AHP and set the trigger to
say A5.
In BXVC, create a new device (at the bottom
of the page) called something like 'Living
room lights" and give it the ID of A5.
The if you do the "Computer use living room
lights" it should activate the macro?
Please correct me if I'm wrong on that, but
it makes sense.. of course I don't have any
hardware to test it. ;)
-
Hey all!
Been messing with BXVC and really love it..
thought it'd be cool to have mics all over
the house for the voice command but wasn't
sure how to do it.
Just had this idea..
Get one of the wireless intercom systems,
take one of the feeds off of that into the
sound card (with some modifications).
That way if you wanted to send a voice
command just speak it through the intercom..
not ideal, but may be something to try. :)
-
showson1
thats exactly how I do it !
computer activate <name of macro>
-
Well, I downloaded the .zip file on Bill's
site and exreacted the files - no
executable!!! how do you run it without an
executable?
-
Dan,
Just double click the .hta file.
-
Did that. Nothing happened except WordPad
opened and displayed the contents. What was
supposed to happen?
-
10:02 PM (EST) tried again. Re-downloaded the
.zip file, extracted it with WinZip. Double
clicked on the .hta file. Same thing happened
again. Notepad opened and displayed the
contents of the .hta file. I'm tending to
forget about it. If I can't run BXVC, how can
I evauluate it?
-
Dan,
Sorry to hear you're having such trouble
getting BXVC to work. It sounds like
Windows isn't recognizing the .hta
extension. Please e-mail me with some
information like what version of Windows
(and which service pack) are you running.
What version of Internet Explorer (and is
it your default browser). Anything else
you think might be important or different
about your system.
Always willing to help,
-Bill-
bill@wgjohns.com
-
The e-mail was sent this AM. I don't think
I'd use it a lot, i just wanted to try it
out. As I said in the e-mail, BXVC is the
first program I've seen (going back to the
DOS days) that didn't use the .com or .exe.
-
One question for everybody: How did you run BXVC?
-
Dan,
It sounds like you have an association
problem opening a .hta file.
Try right clicking on the "Bill's X10 Voice
Commander.hta" file and choose "Open with"
from the sub-menu, choose "Microsoft (R)
HTML Application host"
That should work. If so, go back and repeat
the above steps but this time select:
Choose Program, find the "Microsoft (R)
HTML Application host" then check the box
below that says: Always use the selected
program to open this kind of file. Then
click OK.
Good luck, Rob
-
No such animal anywhere, even at Microsoft.com.
Want to try again?
I did get BXVC to open in Firefox and IE, but
it refused to find the speech engine and gave
more that 6 error messages.
-
PS from Rob ....
I had the "Conflict" with X10 and my garage
door opener. My fix was to select None for
the transceived house codes on the CM11A.
I'm using my old "Active Home" transceiver
for my main house code and a TM751 for a
second house code. All my macros are on a
third house code which the CM11A runs
perfectly. My computer is on 24/7 with the
USB plugged into the CM11A and my range is
about 165 feet on my main house code.
Everything is working without a glitch for
two weeks now. (knock on wood) My thanks
to: James, Roger, Billy and Dan who guided
me through my dilemma.
A special thanks to "Gertrude" who controls
everything via " Bill's X10 Voice
Commander" Thanks Bill.
-
Dan,
When you right click the .hta file and
choose "open with", and then "choose
program", can you scroll to even
find: "Microsoft (R) HTML Application
host" ? If not, I'm not sure what to have
you try next but, I'll keep looking for an
answer for you.
Rob
-
I can't find "Microsoft (R) HTML Application
host" anywhere, including Microsoft. It's not
on my XP Home system. I searched MS for it,
and it's not there (at least under that name.
This is getting to be a frustrating search
for a freeware program. I think I'll pass
from here on.
-
OK Dan,
try this. Right click the .hta file.
Choose "open with" then "choose program.
Then go to "browse" go to your
C:\windows\system32 directory ... then
scroll to the file: mshta.exe, click on it,
then "open" then "OK"
See if that works.
Rob
-
Although I've never had a problem opening
Bill's program, I decided to try Rob's
suggestion:
Try right clicking on the "Bill's X10
Voice Commander.hta" file and choose "Open
with" from the sub-menu, choose "Microsoft
(R) HTML Application host"
got as far as clicking on "open with",
and "Microsoft (R) HTML Application host"
was listed as the first "recommended"
program on the list.
I'm running XP Home SP2.
I think Dan has a "ghost in the machine"
situation. ;-(
Cheers and good luck, Todd K.
-
That worked!!!
Now I can play with it!!!
Thanx!!!
-
Glad I could help.
Rob
-
Thanks to Rob, Bill, and everybody who
helped. The file associations are set, and
the program works!!!! The speech engine is
working, the sounds are working.
Now I can try it out.
-
Thanks to everyone for the help trouble shooting Dan's file association problem! You saved both of us considerable time and frustration.
-
Been playing around with BXVC and like what
it does. I've added some, but not all of my
modules to it yet (I will only add the base
ones, not the special ones that only show up
during the Chrsitmas season.) but I did add
the macro I have on A5 OFF that turns off all
lights on housecodes A, C, F, & K to BXVC and
it shut off all the lights by saying
"computer, run A5 OFF"
BXVC is neat, and I'm learing more every day!
-
Dan,
...and you were about to give up too.
Rob
-
Yeah, but you and Bill helped me out. Since
with the program running right (Your tip was
the thing I needed.) I can play with it.
-
Correction from Rob on: 1/4/2006
Where you see (CM11A) ... that should read:
CM15A.
PS from Rob .... I had the "Conflict" with
X10 and my garage door opener. My fix was
to select None for the transceived house
codes on the (CM11A.) I'm using my
old "Active Home" transceiver for my main
house code and a TM751 for a second house
code. All my macros are on a third house
code which the (CM11A) runs perfectly. My
computer is on 24/7 with the USB plugged
into the CM11A and my range is about 165
feet on my main house code and second house
code. Everything is working without a
glitch for two weeks now. (knock on
wood) My thanks to: James, Roger, Billy
and Dan who guided me through my dilemma.
A special thanks to "Gertrude" who
controls everything via " Bill's X10
Voice Commander" Thanks Bill.
-
How can we see a demo of the program?
-
Bill (of BXVC),
I'd really like to play around with the
voice program, but I have a couple issues
that I have to clear up before it will let
me.
First, in my BXVCO_42 folder, there are the
files:
Copy of Bill's X10 Voice Commander.hta
Copy of BXVC Configuration.xml
Copy of BXVC Device List.xml
Copy of BXVC SR Grammar.xml
Are these supposed to be there? If not, they
could be a problem?
Also, being that .xml files are being used,
should the "confirm open after download" box
be unchecked in the "xml document" file
types? (it is) Should the "xls stylesheet"
content type be "text/xml" (like the "xml
document" is), and should it's "confirm
open after download" box be left unchecked?
I'm running Win98 and IE6 and it seems like
I may have a problem with .xml files,
because I'm also having similar problems
with AHP.(slowdowns, freezes, crashes). The
original ActiveHome ran fine on my computer,
and I believe it didn't use xml files...
-
Ok -- I got this thing and so far it looks
like one cool piece of work -- BUT (always
the but -- right?) it does all sorts of
things like tell me the time and date and
repeat the word abort and let me build a
table of stuff I want to control and
basically do anything that doesn't require it
to actually control the real world. As soon
as I give it a real-world voice command that
is recognized, the computer totally locks up
and refuses to do anything right (even if I
shut down BXCV with ctl-alt-del, 'end task')
until a reboot. Dunno why or if I missed
something in the required config processes.
OPSYS is winME ( on a laptop) and all pieces
of this seem to be there and working -- just
that BXCV reports no probs but all goes
ta'hell when it's supposed to actually do
something. -- anyone got any ideas? Oh yeah,
FWIW - I am using AHP 3.187 or so -- is that
to old a version mebee ?
As a second question -- does anyone know if
the format for talking to the cm15a and for
talking to the cm19a RF link thing is similar
enough so that Bill's magic proggy could be
used via rf to talk to a cm15a?
-
Russ,
BXVC can be found at:
http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm
(there should be no spaces in that but there might be if you copy it on this forum so be careful).
-Bill- (of BXVC)
-
Frank,
A. There is a newer version of BXVC on my
website (0.43) not that that will solve the
problem.
B. Yes, those files are supposed to be
there. Basically you think the main files
may be corrupt, you can replace them with
the copies.
C. The .xml files (in BXVC anyway) are just
read and written as text files so I don't
think any xml settings in Windows or
Internet Explorer should cause problems for
BXVC. I just liked the <start-tag><end-
tag> formatting to make them easier for the
program to read.
D. If you are only having problems with
BXVC when it sends a device command, the
problem is most likely because AHP isn't
working propperly on your system. (BXVC
uses part of AHP to send device commands,
so if AHP doesn't work, device commands in
BXVC won't work either).
-Bill- (of BXVC)
-
AN ASIDE:
My CM15A doesn't seem to like being plugged
in to a USB 2.0 port.
Anyone else notice this problem?
-Bill- (of BXVC)
-
Ok, found it at you website, downloaded it
and when I started it got this message. Can
not initialoze speech API. I downloaded and
installed the Microsoft Speech SDK 5.1 What
else am I missing?
-
Bill,
I noticed that too. When I got AHP, I
plugged the CM15A into a USB2 port. It was
reconized by windows, but a couple of days
later it vanished and AHP couldn't find it. I
swapped it with another device to a USB1 port
and AHP and the CM15A have been happy since.
For X10 PRO: Is this USB1 over USB2 a
recognized problem? I never gave it much
thought, and when Bill metioned it, a bell
rang in my mind. I've never seen a device
that's port specific before.
-
Bill,
Thanks for the response.
I'll d/l the newer version after I iron-out
some of my problems.
However, I've only been able to get far
enough into the program to try the x10 part
of it a coupla times. Even when I try to
just "converse" with it, everything slows to
a crawl, usually after it says that it
recognized the command, and goes back
to "listening" without actually doing the
command.
Just for the heck of it, how are the files
types for the xml and xsl configured on your
computer? (from my last post, the checked-
unchecked thing.) If the xml file
recognition can't be a problem, I must have
a deeper problem that I'll have to diagnose
and repair.
As Tyryn said, these lock-ups require a
complete reboot. A write/read to a text file
doesn't seem like it could cause such a
problem. What "could" be going wrong?
-
Frank,
On my system (WinXP Pro w/SP2) the "confirm
open after download" box is checked in
the "xml document" file type and unchecked
in the "xsl stylesheet" file type.
I don't know where to find the text/xml
setting you mentioned.
Which version of Win98 are you running ("98
or 98SE)?
How much RAM is installed?
-Bill- (of BXVC)
-
Russ,
You mean you got that message AFTER you
downloaded and installed the Microsoft
Speech SDK 5.1?
-Bill- (of BXVC)
-
Tyryn,
I'm sorry. I posted to you yesterday, but
it seems to be missing.
BXVC uses part of AHP to send X10 commands
through the CM15A, so the answer to your
second question is "probably not".
Does AHP crash your system when you try to
control things with it?
-Bill- (of BXVC)
-
Bill,
I already had Speech SDK 5.1 installed and
received the error message so I installed
it agin and still no luck. Still getting
error message.
-
Answer to Bill --
AHP has been running fine and controlling
things just dandy up to this recent mess --
I'm currently suspecting it to be corrupted
and ready for a re-install -- I'll let y'all
know what happens after I get time to do that.
-
Actually, AHP was working fine until I went
to the 'about' or whatever they call it to
get the version number to include in my first
post, it automatically said tht new version
3.199 was available and I could upgrade right
then and there -- the upgrade is what made
this particular system get stupid.
-
After all the problem posts about BXVC, I
want to report that BXVC is running just fine
on my system. I'm running WinXP SP2, AHP 3.99
and commands are working perfectly, both in
BXVC and AHP.
My AHP has no plug-ins installed as I have no
need of them. I'm beginning to wonder if
anybody who has massive problems with BXVC
also has all the plug-ins for AHP? The
problems may be something wrong with one or
more of the plug-ins corrupting the base AHP
installation.
Just a thought.
-
Russ,
Send me an e-mail and tell me about your
system (Windows version, how much RAM
memory is installed, what version of
Internet Explorer (and is it your default
web browser), etc.).
We'll figure it out.
-Bill- (of BXVC)
bill@wgjohns.com
-
My two cents ....
Like Dan, I'm running I'm running WinXP
Pro/SP2, AHP 3.199, and ALL the Plug-ins.
BXVC works with no problems.
Rob
-
Dan,
I'm running WinXP Pro SP2, AHP 3.199 with
the Smart Macros plug-in.
No problems (knock on wood).
-Bill- (of BXVC)
-
That was an interesting evening -- seems an
uninstall of AHP leaves all sorts of stuff
uncleaned from registry. I'm now back to
where I was a couple of days ago and running
AHP 3.199 with all the plugins. Now, all the
pieces seeem to work fine by themselves but
any attempt to control the real world with
voice still results in a total system lockup
requiring reboot to cure it.
Out of curiosity, Bill, is there anything in
your code that requires specific installation
directories for the AHP stuff? You know, like
standard c:\program files\... sort of
placement -- a default installation was not
done here as I run all apps from the D: drive
in this laptop. Didn't know if there might
be something along those lines what was
contributing to the current connumdrums.
-
Tyryn,
Fortunately or unfortunately, it shouldn't
care.
I take it that when you use AHP to send
commands you don't have the lock-up problem?
-Bill- (of BXVC)
-
I don't think what drive BXVC is on is the
problem. My BXVC is on my drive D:, in a
folder called BXVC (what else?) It works
perfectly.
-
Bill - you take correctly -- AHP and plugins
seem to work fine for controlling things,
plunking macros and timers in the interface,
etc. - it's just when BXVC identifies a valid
command (and presumably wants to send it via
AHP to a CM15A) that things lock up.
Unrecognized or commands that work internal
to BXVC such as time and date all seem to
cause no problems and function with the
expected results.
-
Bill asked,
"Which version of Win98 are you running
("98 or 98SE)? How much RAM is
installed?"
-Bill- (of BXVC)
Bill,
I am contending with a dinosaur because I
originally believed that I'd be able to
keep/adapt this machine to run only my home
automation some day. Needless to say, my
beliefs have changed. With the advent of the
new technologies updating media control,
home system monitoring, and security, and
their resultant integration with home
automation through the use of the PC, I've
decided that using the limited resources of
my current set-up would be impractical.
And, as I believe that my current problems
with my 'puter would be better directed to a
forum for the woes of machines out of a
distant era, I'll refrain from continuing on
in this thread.[unless I can be of help, of
course :)]
But, not being one to "spare the details"...
I'm running:
Win 98 4.10.1998
Gateway 2000 266mHz PII
224MB RAM FAT32 USB1.1
IE 6.0.2800.1106
See... I told you it was a stump. hehheh!
[no reply necessary, unless, of course, it's
only to chuckle out loud... :)]
thanks for your interest,
Frank
-
Frank,
Don't feel too bad, I think we've all had
the same idea at least once, "I wonder if I
can use that old computer as something
other than a door-stop?" :)
(Anyone need some old 286, 386 or 486
systems?)
The main reason I was asking 98 or 98SE is
the Win98 USB drivers were buggy and they
really didn't do anything to fix them until
they released Win98 SE. Unfortunately, I
think 98SE was only released through the
OEM channel to companies building computers
with Windows preinstalled.
Sounds like a great excuse to buy a new
computer to me. ;)
Has anyone else got BXVC and AHP running on
a Win98 (not 98SE) system?
-Bill- (of BXVC)
-
Win98 SE was sold as an upgrade to original
Win98. I upgraded my win98 to SE by that
method. I used AH all through 98, since the
CM11A used com2 to communicate. When I
upgraded to XP, AH began to misbehave and
lose the 11 (that's been noted before), so I
switched to AHP. My AHP is straight vanilla,
no add-ons. I don't need them as I have a
single macro that kills all the house lights
(on 4 different house codes) with a single
key press on a M-460. (A5 OFF). If I was
still running 98 I probably would not have
gotten AHP, AH ran fine and did what I wanted.
-
ALL,
Just thought I'd let you all know that I
just got an e-mail from Russ and it turns
out that his problem with BXVC was due to a
failed install of the MS Speech SDK.
Fortunately he found a utility called XP-
Lite (you'll have to ask him about that)
that let him cleanly uninstall the MS
Speech SDK and then re-install it and now
BXVC is up and running!
I must say, I LOVE finding out it's not MY
software causing these problems! (Whew) :)
Also, I've uploaded a text file of
recognized commands to my BXVC web page.
Pardon the crudeness of it but, if you pay
attention to the lines at the top of the
file you should be able to figure out my
shortcut annotation.
Thanks all,
-Bill- (of BXVC)
bill@wgjohns.com
-
Tyryn,
I'm not ignoring you, I'm just not sure
what to suggest. There seems to be a
problem with BXVC communicating with the
ActiveX (COM) control installed with AHP,
but I have no clue why.
Send me an e-mail anyway and we'll see what
we can sort out.
-Bill- (of BXVC)
bill@wgjohns.com
-
ALL,
Also, F.Y.I. I have moved the BXVC download
page to:
http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm
This should help eliminate the problem that
the old address was so long that when I
posted it here it ended up wrapped and
people kept copying the spaces and not
finding the page.
-Bill- (of BXVC)
-
Bill-- Never thought you were ignoring me
and I understand the puzzlement -- besides -
I haven't had time to tinker with this the
past few days anyhow. Here's some more info
that might give someone some ideas - hence
here instead of private mail.
FWIW - IE version is 5.50.4134.0100
I usually use Netscape 7.2 as my default
browser but it is configured to use IE to
open .hta files-- now, when I open BXVC by
double clicking it in the directory it seems
to open fine and sorta do it's thing as per
previous postings - so - just for the heck of
it I tried doing an 'open with' on it using
IE and things weren't so pretty -- the load
crashed with the wonderfully non-cut&pastable
error of --
Line 1079
File not found
Opening debug in the MS development
environment (run mode) gleans second report
of essentially the same form -- i.e. --
Exception of type "MS JScript error: File Not
Found" was not handled.
Further exploration shows the line referenced
to be --
var f = FSOObj.OpenTextFile (FileName, For
Reading);
in --
function LoadConfigurationFile(FileName)
Ultimately I dunno what this all might mean
since it seems to me it should make no
difference if the .hta is opened by
association to IE via netscape or if it is
opened with IE directly -- but whadda I know.
Any how - just one more piece of stuff to add
to the data heap -- any ideas would be
appreciated.
Tyryn
-
Tyryn,
Most web-browsers restrict access to the
local file system by design, so the errors
you got when attempting to open it in I.E.
are to be expected.
BXVC is a Hypertext Application (HTA) and
must be opened with the MS HTML Application
Host. If it doesn't show up as an option,
search the Windows\System32 folder for
mshta.exe, that should be the
default "open" association for .hta files.
-Bill- (of BXVC)
-
Tyryn,
You might also need to update your Windows Script Host support. Follow the link below and make sure to download the correct file for your version of windows.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/downloads/list/webdev.asp?frame=true
As per usual, there are no spaces in that link, so edit them out if you cut and paste from this forum.
-Bill- (of BXVC)
-
Tyryn,
It seems you may be having the same problem
Dan had.
Try this. Right click the .hta file.
Choose "open with" then "choose program.
Then go to "browse" go to your
C:\windows\system32 directory
(in WinMe, C:\windows\system) directory
... then scroll to the file: mshta.exe,
click on it, then "open" then "OK" See if
that works. Rob
-
OK - silly me - I did know about browser
restrictions and MSHTA -- jes slipped my mind
for a moment. Did upgrade the windows
scripting as suggested but that apparently is
not the problem - I didn't really think it
was anyway. Here's me next experiment which
I think proves something Bill said a while
ago about the interface to the ActiveX X10
object having probs.
Looking through Bill's script there appears
to be only one place (as it should be IMHO
:-)) where the X10 object is referenced
(either for dimming or other (default). Out
of curiosity I temporarily commented out the
X10Obj.SendAction lines (shown below) in the
default case and intentionally didn't speak
any bright or dim commands with results that
BXVC seems to do all it's supposed to -- as
perhaps expected -- I guess that means I now
gotta figger out what's going on with X10
scripting stuff since that seems to be where
the kibosh is.
As usual, I'm open to ideas and suggestions :-)
Thanks, Tyryn
Lines temporarily commented out were --
X10Obj.SendAction( "sendplc", deviceaddress +
" " + cmd );
X10Obj.SendAction( "sendrf",
deviceaddress + " " + cmd );
located in the default case of this business.
-
Is BXVC running OK at this point? Once you
have the MSHTA running, BXVC should work.
-
Dan -- it appears to be -- i.e -- it listens,
recognizes phrases, talks, can do the date
and time jes fine and only blows up (locking
computer completely) if a command actually
tries to access the X10Obj. Once it has
locked up, if I get things back with
CTL-ALT-DEL and end the hta task, things work
again EXCEPT AHP which will not start until a
complete reboot is done. Based on the
scramble that the 3.199 update caused me, I'm
suspecting I may have some wrong registry
references still hanging around but I havent
proven that one yet.
Tyryn
-
What version of AHP are you using?
BXVC works fine with 3.201.
-
I notice BXVC doesn't have the option for sending RF that might be a sugestion for an add as it is an easy one to do. AHP can send RF and the SDK will alow builds with that option!
-
To use BXVC to control a stereos, TVs, etc, using AHP, all you need is to plug the device into an Appliance Module (use the right AP for the load the device uses), assign a housecode/unit for each one and define it in AHP. Then define those modules in BXVC and you have voice control.
-
Dan there is a problem with that setup.
Most new tvs,stereos,vcrs if not all are instant ON meaning they have power going to them continualy to keep setings. You have to push the button or use a remote to start it working (it is realy already on) Your method would only start the warm up and instant on feature, losing all presets.
What Bart is sugesting would solve that problem and I've used my VCR Commander to do this on a small scale( turn my monitor to video input for cams when motion detected). ;) :)
But a way around adding RF to BXVC is to have it triger a macro that sends RF to the IR device (in my case the VCR Commander).
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An RF signal capture would be nice, capture an RF command on your PC to be resent at will, I read a little message about converting IR to RF and back to control everything using RF within the UR74A remote control.
I have yet to try this, but I have a powermid I will try in the future, basically you could use the UR74A to send only RF for everything (even the IR commands), transmit RF to a RF reciever (X10 RF duagter brd)and convert back to IR and control your stereo or TV ect from anywhere.
This WOULD BE a new product for X10 using existing hardware they have for sale, if it works could sell a UR74 & powermid reciever to give full RF capabilities to your stereo & TV anywhere in your home, just how do you capture those signals to your PC so it can be sent via RF using your CM15A then transit it to the powermid which is setup to convert RF to IR and control your IR equipment?
the AHP program and SmartMacros has the ability to send an RF command using the CM15A.
does the VCR Commanders send the RF signal strait to the IR emmitters? or does it only send the on off via whats programmed?
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VCR Commander takes any RF signal and converts it to any IR signal that you specify! Problem is it is limited to 2 commands eg. record/stop :'(
Works fine for where I have it in the office! :) ;)
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well if the powermid doesnt do it, Ill have to try make the TM751 RF to IR converter.
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I just was informed from Bill that BXVC has always sent a duplicate RF signal for PLC so I guess the RF end of the problem is solved! ;) 8)
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Boy... ignore the forums for a little while and not only do they change, but they altogether move! ???
Thanks, Tuicemen for alerting me to this thread.
Yes, BXVC has always sent both PLC and RF for every command.
I don't have a RF Commander so I don't know if it takes any special parameters to the SendRF function of the CM15a. Anyone have any documentation or want to donate one? :)
I am searching for a hardware interface (would prefer one with a Com or ActiveX driver like CM15a) so I can tell BXVC to "Turn up the TV" or "Change to channel 5" or "Let's watch a DVD".
Any suggestions?
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Would a remote that can be programmed through a computer or connect for onscreen display/programming give the codes?
AHP & CM15A can send raw commands as RF Commands, would just need to save them in a computer?
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Would a remote that can be programmed through a computer or connect for onscreen display/programming give the codes?
AHP & CM15A can send raw commands as RF Commands, would just need to save them in a computer?
Not an answer... but maybe related questions...
Where does the difficulty lie in transmitting IR from a PC? Aren't there IR emitters that can be hooked-up thru a port or a card?
I remember seeing a handheld remote that accepted voice commands like "volume up" and "channel down" last year at a J.C. Penney's store. It was like $35, so it can't be too "High-Tech". I don't think we're too far off the target.
Couldn't a Powermid Receiver Transmitter then receive this IR to make a dependable connection to wherever you have it [the Receiver] located? Having said that, can a Powermid Transmitter be hooked-up to a PC? Doesn't a Powermid change IR to RF, then Back to IR? Maybe while it's in RF, the RF can be "conditioned"?
Wow! :o Alot of questions.... sorry 'bout that. Just food for thought... ;)
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:o YIKES!
Having actually read my previous post, I can see that I've only served to confuse the issue... ???
The bottom line that I was hoping to convey was:
If, indeed, the Powermid Transmitter receives IR, then converts it to RF (to send to the Powermid Receiver)... couldn't the "IR reception step" by the Transmitter just be omitted? And instead, be forced to send RF data that is created by code that is formulated/conditioned on the PC?
I don't know if this would involve a hardware mod, or a software tweak. But, in my mind ::), it seems like it would be possible.... or not. heh-heh! More food for thought... need sum'pin to wash it down.
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A million IR codes 40khz to program in, or download somewhere? somewhere there are codes that are programmed into each remote you buy now that you enter a code to transmit certain codes to your equipment.
we either need a reader to capture codes on your PC, or someplace to download the codes that are already created and preprogrammed into all universal remotes.
X10 programs each code for all your listed devices into thier remotes? how? where are the codes from?
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A million IR codes 40khz to program in, or download somewhere? somewhere there are codes that are programmed into each remote you buy now that you enter a code to transmit certain codes to your equipment.
we either need a reader to capture codes on your PC, or someplace to download the codes that are already created and preprogrammed into all universal remotes.
X10 programs each code for all your listed devices into thier remotes? how? where are the codes from?
Are these the sort of things we should be investigating?
Codes, software, etc...
http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/files/rcfiles.cgi?area=prontong
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Someone earlier in this thread asked about multiple mics (in multiple rooms).
Someone else said "should work but will add 'noise' to the input (ambient noise from multiple rooms).
So, here's a couple of questions and a suggestion for "tinkering geeks".
1. XCam addressable power supplies -- I know that at least in groups of 4 they are designed so only one will be ON at any given time (V-1 ON means V-2 to V-4 go OFF). Is this true if you put 16 of them on a single house code (ie. Turn V-1 ON and V-2 to V-16 go OFF automatically).?
2. In lieu of the above, is it possible to use the AHP software or one of the add-ons to simulate the same functionality? Ie. V-16 ON == V-1 to V-15 OFF, no way to turn on 2 units in the same house code.
OK, assuming one of the two above suggestions is possible.
FM transmitters the size of a U.S. quarter coin can be built for about $5 - $10 including a small surface mounted electret mic.
One could build a handful of them all tuned to the same "dead air' frequency and use a cheap FM radio with a headphone jack for output connected through a line-level converter to reduce the speaker-level output to line-level for plugging in to the sound card.
Put one in each room and power them with (XCam addressable supplies [1 above]) or (wall-warts plugged in to appliance modules [2 above]). Use motion sensors to turn them on as you enter the room and set the "off delay" to the max possible so they stay on. They will go off when you enter another room and cause the mic to be turned on.
Only one mic powered on at any given time so no extra noise.
With multiple family members you would have to find another control method or a way to leave them all on and reduce ambient noise. The circuitry used in noise cancelling headphones might be something to play with but would require mounting every mic between a small set of speakers.
With a bit of extra circuitry one could build a transmitter/mic capable of up to 300' transmissions in a package about the size of a deck of playing cards. Operate it with batteries and attach it to a KR22A to send a V-1 ON and kill the other mics and you would have a portable device that would be available even where there was no installed mic. Impress the neighbors by telling your house to turn on the Christmas lights while standing in the front yard. Use a timer circuit to turn it off after 30 - 45 seconds to conserve battery power. Tie the "power-on" button to the KR22A V-1 ON button to force you to hit it when you want to use the device.
Gerald
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Dimmable compact fluorescents are available - I can't comment on their suitability or if the bulb life is reduced if dimming is used. I believe that they are available from Home Depot.
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phorce1: Another option for multiple mics in different rooms would be to use the one in each cam along with a motion sencor to trigger that cam in the previous thread someone there had suggested this and was trying it out. I also read somewhere that you can improve the mic sensitivity of the cam mic with a small cone making it more directional. As a side note I cleaned up some of the multiple posts on this and the previous thread so both are not so cluttered. ;)
I was talking with Bill and it looks as he is converting his program to VB 2005 same language as Dave's X10dispatcher and my AlertDialer are using. This should allow for even more options! ;) Can't wait for it! ;) :) Forgot to ask when he was expecting to release or how far allong he was! :( :-[
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Get one of the wireless intercom systems,
take one of the feeds off of that into the
sound card (with some modifications).
You wouldn't even need to do any modifications as long as you just wanted to send a command the mic would pick up the command from the intercom just as it does from the computer speakers now with sounds from X10dispatcher,AlertDialer or any wave file. ;)
Sounds like the easyest solution so far! ;) :)
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phorce1: Another option for multiple mics in different rooms would be to use the one in each cam along with a motion sencor to trigger that cam
I don't want cameras in my bathrooms. :o
I was talking with Bill and it looks as he is converting his program to VB 2005 same language as Dave's X10dispatcher and my AlertDialer are using. This should allow for even more options! ;) Can't wait for it! ;) :) Forgot to ask when he was expecting to release or how far allong he was! :( :-[
That would be nice. The Java app is a bit of a hog on the system. VB should be nicer as a compiled app rather than a runtime interpreted app.
G2
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Did you ever try your intercom idea? I don’t see why that wouldn’t work as long as the speakers were clear enough. I have had the “Star Trek†ideas about walking through the house and operating every appliance with voice commands too, but I don’t know if it’s realistic. I know it can be done but the circumstances to make it work correctly are extreme.
I assume the intercom your proposing is push button, meaning you walk up to the intercom, push a button to turn the mic on and then speak into it at a very close range. If you did your modifications and wired the intercom directly into the computer, with some adjusting and trial and error, that should work well.
If you do as the other guy suggested and put your mic by a intercom speaker, that should also work as long as the area where the mic is located is always quiet. Which brings us to the pitfall of voice commands.
In order for any voice command or voice recognition software to work, your voice can be the only sound entering the microphone. Software can not distinguish the difference between voices and any other noise and in turn tries to identify commands from any noise it hears. Things like music, another person talking, a dishwasher running or a fan blowing air across the mic will interfere with the recognition. If your giving commands while any other noise is being made the computer thinks that it is hearing one combined sound and can not distinguish the voice from the noise.
I am experimenting with voice commands and active home now, in hopes of installing a house wide system while remodeling my house. I am using a fairly high quality mic/mixer/soundcard combo which I use for recording music. It is an Audio Technica condenser mic ran through a behringer mixer and that goes through a M-Audio Delta 1010 computer interface. I am getting incredible results with voice recognition with the microphone across the room which suggest that if I had mics in other rooms plugged into other channels of the mixer I would have control from other rooms the same as from here (my bedroom).
That does not work, again because of the background noise. Any open mic picks up a certain amount of noise even in a quiet room, this is called white noise, you may have heard about it from the movie, it’s what most people think is silence. Several mics combing white noise into the mixer creates a loud background noise to the software, which again ruins speech recognition. There is a way to try to combat this effect.
A tool we commonly use in the audio industry is a “noise gate†which does just what it sounds like it would do, it closes a gate or turns a mic off to keep noise from coming through. The gate is opened when a sound gets above a certain volume. A threshold level is used to adjust the gate to open at the optimum level. This simulates some one turning on only the mic in the room your giving commands in. In a quiet environment this would, in theory anyway, work well. But in reality it will only work if for instance your wife isn’t in the other room vacuuming. Then the noise of the vacuum would open the gate in that room and confuse the voice recognition.
I am using “Realize Voice†instead of “BXVC†because I use it for more than just “Active Homeâ€. If you only want to control Active Home, BXVC is incredible. I also use it to check email, play games, open other programs and to some extent navigate through windows and the web. This brings up another concern which I may put in another post. If anyone knows a good way the interface Active Home and Realize Voice I would appreciate some advice. The only way I can figure to do it is to simply record keyboard and mouse clicks. This is not very efficient and relies on the icons in Active Home to be in the same place always.
Anyway, the reason I bring that up is because Realize Voice has a pause mode (don’t know if BXVC does or not) which lets you stop voice recognition, with a voice command, in a noisy environment except for listening for one specific command which un-pauses. It can also be set to pause after a length of time with no voice recognition and it also seems to pause itself when there is too much background noise. This allows you to have voice command active all the time but paused when it’s too noisy. To use voice recognition after it’s been paused you have to first use the “Wake Up†command and then the command of your choice.
After all is said and done, we should be able to make our home appliances in every room respond to voice commands but it still is dependant on having a quiet environment.
Hope I have been of some help.
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Another idea would be to use a Bluetooth headset. With a Class I Bluetooth adapter in the PC, you can get up to a 100m (333ft) range. You should be able to configure the software to use the Bluetooth driver as the input sound source. You might even be able to use the button on the headset to tell the software to listen for a command.
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U could also use a cheap wireless lapel mic. They regularly pass on ebay for $50-$100 for a UHF model which should have the range to cover a 2000 sq ft home easily. simply locate the receiver in the middle of the home and run a balanced cable to your sound card's input...
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Both good ideas and a hell of a lot cheaper than our other alternatives. But if your going to carry a mic around with you why not just carry the remote and skip the hassle of voice commands.
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well, either the headset or the lapel mic would leave both hands free. the remote, not so much...
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This is true.
But I think what we're actually looking for is to walk into a room and give commands without having to remember to carry anything around. The technology isn't quite there yet but it's getting close. I think I can adapt what I'm working on in my room here to work in the whole house to some degree. And when the voice recognition fails I have X10 switches on my walls to use.
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I have had the “Star Trek†ideas about walking through the house and operating every appliance with voice commands too, but I don’t know if it’s realistic.
Both good ideas and a hell of a lot cheaper than our other alternatives. But if your going to carry a mic around with you why not just carry the remote and skip the hassle of voice commands.
Don't forget that in "Star Trek" they are wearing communicators on their lapel so it is conceivable that the computer is supposedly using that to hear their commands.
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Good point. Never thought of that before.
Interesting results with this little experiment I've been doing over the last couple of days. The self conscious geeky feeling I was getting from talking to my computer vanished without my noticing. Using voice commands are now coming as naturally as using the mouse.
This morning, while dressing, I was checking email and never touched the computer or a mouse. I always leave my computer on so everything is always active. And when I got home I opened the door and said “computer lights†without even thinking about it. I didn’t even reach for the light switch, kinda took me be surprise.
I guess convenience comes easy and using the computer with out having to set down and use your hands is proving to be very convenient.
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All,
Yes, I am working on a VB Express version of BXVC. It will be called BVC as I plan to add more features to it (eventually) other than just controlling X10. I have most of it worked out, but I'm still experimenting with the VB Express "Click Once Deployment" as it puts files in strange places!
If you want to get a head-start, BVC requires the .NET 2.0 runtime. If you want to run BVC on a computer that doesn't have an internet connection, you will have to find a way to get the .NET 2.0 runtime files from Microsoft and install them on the target computer before installing BVC. For information on how to do that, check the BVC web page at http://www.wgjohns.com/bvc (http://www.wgjohns.com/bvc).
I'm not sure it will be "less" of a load on the system. The real "load" is in the speech recognition engine.
I'll let everyone know when I think I've got a stable enough install to test.
Thanks for your interest in BVC (BXVC).
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specter333,
Yes, BXVC has a "pause". You must tell it to "stop listening". To get back to normal, you can tell it to "start listening" or "listen to me".
-Bill-
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All,
My main worry about using a "lapel mic" (or any other wireless mic) is interference from an outside source. Unless the wireless mic has some kind of encoding between it and the receiver, anyone who can transmit on the mic's frequency can control your BXVC!
Anyone know of a "secure" wireless mic system?
-Bill-
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Most wireless lapels made since the mid 90's don't have encryption per se, but posess a system specific communication protocol. Not for security, but so that a church service isn't interrupted by a powerful cb signal. In order to hijack your system, they would have to have the same make and model of microphone, or a transmitter that uses the same protocol (which they would have to design and build from scratch) if they are determined enough to do this or to watch you and go out and get the same make and model of wireless mic, you aren't going to stop them from getting you by not using a wireless mic. I'd guess your realatively safe with this route...
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My main worry about using a "lapel mic" (or any other wireless mic) is interference from an outside source. Unless the wireless mic has some kind of encoding between it and the receiver, anyone who can transmit on the mic's frequency can control your BXVC!
Anyone know of a "secure" wireless mic system?
Bluetooth headsets are relatively secure. There are some known small security holes but those are much smaller than the security holes in X10.
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Those are both interesting points.
One potential drawback I can see to bluetooth is I believe it only has a range of a handful of feet.
-Bill-
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My best experience has been with crown PZM mics in each room, noise gated so that only one comes on at a time, run to a mixer and the mixer output going to the soundcard input. I have 1 or 2 dead spots (hallway and laundry room) but otherwise I can say "Lexxie" (my attention word for the computer) in any place in my home and she responds. Of course I'm actually using HAL2000 instead of BXVC/AHP, but the acoustical principals should be the same.
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Hey Bigbear, I’m glad to find someone that has already experimented with multiple miking throughout the house. I am interested to know what you are using and how are your results. I had not heard of Hal2000 before now, it sounds like a good program for the situation. How is it working out for you? Does it have any issues that need to be addressed? I’m experimenting with realize voice and it does have some very inconvenient issues that have me looking for something better. I will have to look into it further when I get a chance.
You’re using crown pzm mics. I would thing they would do well at voice recognition. What gates are you using and what is the threshold set at on each channel? How do you have the mics mounted or setting and how do they look ascetically in the rooms? Do you have any problems with other peoples noise (wife, kids, radio, tv)? Are the gates inline or inserted into channels? Is there a priority gate channel?
Hope you don’t mind all the questions, I figure if you have already worked out some of the bugs then there is no reason to reinvent the process. Thanks
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Most wireless lapels made since the mid 90's don't have encryption per se, but posess a system specific communication protocol.
Actually only more high end mics have this system, lower end mics will still wipe out with anything else on the same frequency. You are pretty safe with mid to high level Shure, Audio Technica, and Senhieser mics but I would steer clear of anything made by Nady or Samson. Of course those things made for Radio Shack aren't suitable for any audio applications anyway so don't even think about it.
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I have a crown pzm 6R in each room. It's mounted on the wall I'm most likely to face when in the room. In my recording studio, it's on the wall behind the desk, in the living room, it's on the wall behind the tv, in the bedroom, it's on the wall I face when laying in bed, etc... the distance from the ceiling depends on the architectural features of the room (in the living room, there is a 45* angle slope from wall to ceiling which creates my best response). These mics were originally designed with theatrical productions in mind, so they are paintable (5 minutes to tape prep and a shot of spraypaint) so they are painted to compliment the color of the wall.
Each mic runs to a seperate channel of an ooooooooooooooold dbx unit with interchangeble modules (sorry, can't remember the model number). The threshold depends on the acoustic properties of the room. The living room is very bright and therefore has a higher threshold than the bedroom where lots of soft things absorb the sound.
The outputs of the dbx unit each go to a different channel on an old alesis 12r rackmount mixer. the channel strip eq's only have 2 bands, and I clock the hi at about 2 o'clock and the lo at about 11 o'clock with minor adjustments to match the room's acoustical properties.
The output of the 12r uses a 1/4" TRS to mini stereo cable and goes into the sound card input. The sound card output goes to a JVC stereo via a mini stereo to (2)RCA male adapeter. The stereo's speaker outputs go to a sima speaker selector and spread to the small optimus 40wt bookshelf speaker's that serve as Lexxie's voice in each room as well as a music source 4 my hot tub and my side deck (6 pairs total).
Using an ocelot and a secu 16 (supported by HAL2000, but not AHP as far as I know), I've wired contact closures on the sima so that Lexxie can control which speakers are on and which are off. The outdoor speakers only come on when I ask for them and they shut down if she plays a phone call announcement so that my neighbors don't hear who's calling me.
I will eventually upgrade my gate/mixer combo to a shure automixer which has logic control bus outs and will allow me to wire into the ocelot so that lexxie can tell which mic I just spoke thru and turn on only that room's speakers to answer.
Extraneous noise will b a problem until some significant improvements are made in SR technology. Imagine if someone taught you to recognize a few words of Farsi (not what they mean, just to recognize them) and then said "When you hear those words, raise your hand." If one person is speaking Farsi, slowly and clearly, you will very likely be able to pick out the words with pretty good acuracy. If 5 people are speaking Farsi at the same time, it becomes much more difficult. If 5 people are speaking Farsi at the same time and one of them is playing a recording of the Farsi equivalent of Britney Spears on their stereo... This is what we're asking speech recognition engines to do. Some improvement can be made by optimizing the input system (mic type, gating, eq settings) for the frequency range and volume of average human speech, but this only helps so much. The idea has been tossed around to encode music and television programs (or possibly the hardware that plays them) with a code that is outside the range of human hearing, that would cause a special microphone to ignore the sounds coming from this source, but that would be very expensive and take a long time to implement. A way around it (which I plan on setting up once I get my old house intercom system working) is to wire an interupt controller to the intercom button and use the intercom mic (overiding the open air setup) when the noise level in the room is too great. Some would say "then why not just use the light switch?" but the intecom system would still allow use of scenes and macros. Another option (as a backup to use in a noisy room) is the smarthome control maxi 4071. This is like the x10 maxicontroller on steroids and doesn't look like something you'd see on an episode of the rockford files. I'm trying to figure out how to wall mount one where the light switch used to be (using a lamp module for lights and an app module for ceiling fan - so the switch is just there to fill the whole) in my bedroom. I have one by the futon in the living room and will probably purchase another for the recording studio by the end of the year. My first attempt is always on voice and then I go to a fall back if voice doesn't work quickly enough.
An interesting note: Lexxie's performance seems to be inversely proportional to how impressive I need her to be at the moment. i.e. if I'm trying to show off for someone who's over to the house for the first time, she is less likely to work properly, but bread always falls buttered side down and your dog will only sit on command when no one else is around to see, it's just the way the universe works.
HAL has 4 levels of software, HALBasic, HALDeluxe (available in a kit at Fry's), HAL2000, and HALPro (available only thru contractors/installers). There are some problems, but I currently get about 85 - 90% acuracy, regardless of my location in the room. You have to pronounce things as if you don't speak english and are saying things phonetically (Example - pronounce Thank you as Tha-ngk Cue) to get a high level of accuracy on my system, but it's on an older computer with only an athlon 2300 and 1 gig of RAM. I'm lead to understand that a better chip significantly improves the speech recognition engine. She tends to confuse the words "on" and "off", so to get around this, I'm writing macros to respond to "Kill (unit)" as the eqivalent of Turn Off (unit). It's very timeconsuming to have to write this macro for each of 112 units, so I will be in touch with their customer support people (who are uber-responsive) to ask them to create a way to simply change that recognition phrase. The patrol their message boards hevily and always respond to suggestions from their users, but I digress. You can call HAL (Lexxie) from your cell and (with the voiceportal modem) use either dtmf or voice to control it. There is an internet interface (with included server) and even an app to allow control from my sidekick 2's browser directly. With HALi (a free add on similar to an SDK) ypu can write your own apps in perl (and I believe c++). Many user's have done so and made their apps available free of charge.
The cheap (think guitar center) nady and samson mics will reject any non protocol signals. If the signal is strong enough to overpower the matched transmitter's signal, you will experience a loss of audible signal or possibly static. The "other" signal, however, will not come thru as audio there for should not allow anyone else control of your automation. If your connection from the wireless receiver to the computer is not shielded/balanced, you may pick up audible rf from this, but the frequency range is such that you will most likely hear a tejano radio station regardless of the fact that there are no tejano radio stations within 1000 miles of your location. This is one of the great mysteries of the audio world.
Hope this helps and feel free to ask for anymore specifics you need.
PS. Sometime in the next couple of months (when my theatre is dark) I'm going to try all the mics in my rental inventory to see if any of them work beter than the pzm's. I expect I can get a slightly better result with the Audio Technica 853's that I use for hanging choir mics, but I'll post to this thread with my results...
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Those are both interesting points.
One potential drawback I can see to bluetooth is I believe it only has a range of a handful of feet.
It is true that Class 2 Bluetooth dongles only have a range of 10 m, but Class 1 Bluetooth dongles have a range of 100 m. The range is typically considered to be maximum range and things like walls can cause it to be reduced. I can't remember who makes it, but there is one Class 1 Bluetooth dongle that has an external antenna which should help in maximizing the range.
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Those are both interesting points.
One potential drawback I can see to bluetooth is I believe it only has a range of a handful of feet.
It is true that Class 2 Bluetooth dongles only have a range of 10 feet, but Class 1 Bluetooth dongles have a range of 100 feet. The range is typically considered to be maximum range and things like walls can cause it to be reduced. I can't remember who makes it, but there is one Class 1 Bluetooth dongle that has an external antenna which should help in maximizing the range.
Good to know! That's ten or twenty times better range than I thought.
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It is true that Class 2 Bluetooth dongles only have a range of 10 m, but Class 1 Bluetooth dongles have a range of 100 m. The range is typically considered to be maximum range and things like walls can cause it to be reduced. I can't remember who makes it, but there is one Class 1 Bluetooth dongle that has an external antenna which should help in maximizing the range.
Upon re-reading this I realized I said feet instead of meters so the range is even better than I first stated (there are more than 3 feet in one meter).
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Hello all!
FYI the latest version (0.45) of BXVC is now available on the website at:
http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm
What's new?
- Some internal fixes for problems almost no one has found yet.
- Rearranged the screen layout so I think it makes more sense.
- Added buttons to access the Windows "Microphone Setup Wizard", "User Training Wizard" and "User Profile Properties" without having to go hunt for them in the Windows Control Panel.
- Added a microphone input meter so you can see that the program hears you.
- Added the "Interference" status box to help you understand why the program may not have recognized what you said.
- Updated the other status boxes to make better sense.
Also, see the new Forums at:
http://wgjohns.com/forums/index.php
Have fun and let me know what you think!
-Bill-
P.S.
Sorry, not quite ready to release the VB version yet.
-Bill-
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I have deleted BXVC from my system. It will not allow me to add modules to A1, and it earased alll my old setup.
Unless you still have the prior version available, I'm done with it.
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I have deleted BXVC from my system. It will not allow me to add modules to A1, and it earased alll my old setup.
Unless you still have the prior version available, I'm done with it.
So... you downloaded the Upgrade version (not the Full version) and expanded / copied the files to the same folder you have been running BXVC from?
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Yes and it screwed up my BXVC settings, lost every module and refused to allow a new A1 module to be added.
So, bye-bye to BXVC. Loved the prior version, great to play with. Downloaded the new version, copied the files to the folder, BLOOEY!!!
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Dan,
If you've totally deleted all of your BXVC files, there isn't much that can be done about recovering your old configuration and device list.
If that's the case, my best suggestion would be to download and install the Full version and try to set it up.
If that doesn't work, I can try to send you the 0.43 version, but I'd really like to sort out the cause of this problem. So far, no one else has reported anything like this issue.
Keep me posted;
-Bill-
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I'll try that. Thanks.
I will report later.
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I got the full version off Bill's website, unpacked it and put the files in the same BXCV folder on my D: drive. Created the shortcut and created the units for A1, A2, A3, A6, F1, and F2.
EVERYTHING worked!!!!!!
BXVC is back and I'm happy!!! :)
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Dan,
Glad to hear it! :)
-Bill-
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Thanks to everyone who has used and contributed to the development of BXVC! ;D
For those of you who are interested, Version 0.46 is now available for download.
For information on what's new and download page links, please visit the BXVC Latest Version forum at wgjohns.com:
http://wgjohns.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14
or visit the BXVC web page at wgjohns.com:
http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm
Thanks again,
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Bill I've been having (day) dreams of setting up your voice commander since I 1st read about it! It sounds great!
I have more than one computer, and wondering which one I should use. Do you have and "requirements"? Speed, OS, RAM, etc?
By the way, I am also a watt saver and I use the socket rockets to turn on the compact fluorescence lights.
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Bill I've been having (day) dreams of setting up you voice commander since I 1st read about it! It sounds great!
I have more than one computer, and wondering which one I should use. Do you have and "requirements"? Speed, OS, RAM, etc?
By the way, I am also a watt saver and I use the socket rockets to turn on the compact fluorescence lights.
Best I can tell you is Win98 or better and a PentiumII\PentiumII-equivalent or later processor at 233 MHz with 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or better is recommended (based on MS recommendations for the speech engine).
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Bill I've been having (day) dreams of setting up you voice commander since I 1st read about it! It sounds great!
I have more than one computer, and wondering which one I should use. Do you have and "requirements"? Speed, OS, RAM, etc?
By the way, I am also a watt saver and I use the socket rockets to turn on the compact fluorescence lights.
Best I can tell you is Win98 or better and a PentiumIIPentiumII-equivalent or later processor at 233 MHz with 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or better is recommended (based on MS recommendations for the speech engine).
PERFECT! I have a dust collector that also exceeds the min requirements. I had used my last desktop as a FTP server to exchange some pics among family, but we are all caught up now and exchange pics at Christmas.
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Bill I've been having (day) dreams of setting up you voice commander since I 1st read about it! It sounds great!
I have more than one computer, and wondering which one I should use. Do you have and "requirements"? Speed, OS, RAM, etc?
By the way, I am also a watt saver and I use the socket rockets to turn on the compact fluorescence lights.
Best I can tell you is Win98 or better and a PentiumIIPentiumII-equivalent or later processor at 233 MHz with 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or better is recommended (based on MS recommendations for the speech engine).
PERFECT! I have a dust collector that also exceeds the min requirements. I had used my last desktop as a FTP server to exchange some pics among family, but we are all caught up now and exchange pics at Christmas.
Cool! 8) I'm always glad to hear someone has given new purpose to an old door-stop. :D
Let me know how it goes!
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Dave_x10_L : inorder to have AHP working reliable you'll want to be running XP as the OS ;) :D
Once Bill gets BVC running it won't run well on 98 either something to do with Net Framework!
Bill : Are you planing on continuing to support BXVC once BVC is released since it is realy a update to BXVC ?
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Dave_x10_L : in order to have AHP working reliable you'll want to be running XP as the OS ;) :D
Once Bill gets BVC running it won't run well on 98 either something to do with Net Framework!
Is this from experience? You're the only one I've given BVC to to test, and I haven't been able to try it on 98 yet myself. ???
Bill : Are you planing on continuing to support BXVC once BVC is released since it is realy a update to BXVC ?
I'm really leaning toward releasing one last version of BXVC (maybe I'll even version it 1.0 finally! ;) ) and then concentrating on BVC (the Visual Basic Express version) which requires the dot NET Framework 2.0. Although I can't quite seem to kick the "can I do that in JScript?" bug, so it's possible BXVC will inherit some new features from BVC anyway. Best I can say is; "Expect BXVC to fall by the sidelines with few updates once BVC is released."
Another thought... Since BXVC and BVC both rely on AHP to communicate with the CM15A, their future O/S and hardware requirements will be directly linked to X10's choices of O/S and hardware support for AHP! This also brings to mind that since the CM15A is a USB device, the minimum O/S requirement should probably be amended to "Win98 SE or above", since Win98's limited USB support may not even allow AHP and the CM15A to function properly.
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Bill: I haven't ran BVC on 98 but have ran my program and X10dispatch both use net framework 2 and both experiance some problems! Each time it seems to be related to framework so I expect simular problems with BVC, Maybe I'll get to trying it on 98 this week! ;)
I'll e-mail you the results! ;) :D
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Bill: I haven't ran BVC on 98 but have ran my program and X10dispatch both use net framework 2 and both experiance some problems! Each time it seems to be related to framework so I expect simular problems with BVC, Maybe I'll get to trying it on 98 this week! ;)
I'll e-mail you the results! ;) :D
Thanks! I'd sure like to know how (if?) it works! ;D
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Bill: I finally (see pic below) installed your BXVC software. Couldn't wait any longer... especially since I got reminded of it today. ::)
VERY NICE!!!
Look forward to playing and having fun with this. :) :D
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Bill: I finally (see pic below) installed your BXVC software. Couldn't wait any longer... especially since I got reminded of it today. ::)
VERY NICE!!!
Look forward to playing and having fun with this. :) :D
Thanks! 8)
Let me know how it works (or doesn't?) for you! ;D
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Bill: I finally (see pic below) installed your BXVC software. Couldn't wait any longer... especially since I got reminded of it today. ::)
VERY NICE!!!
Look forward to playing and having fun with this. :) :D
Puck, Bill
I just bought AHP. I can't wait for the weekend (well... thats normal for me) to play with AHP with VOICE.
Of course... keep in mind I will be learning AHP at the same time. OK.. I had AH so it's not a whole new concept for me. But it's new enough.
I already told Bill... I am wound-up about this!
Most of my X10 is in the theater lighting, security system, or the camera system. I've decided to use the Bill's X10 Voice Commander for local control of the cameras. To me this is awesome!
I've been wondering..... if I named one camera "view screen" couldn't I set in my big easy chair and say "Computer.... View screen ON". I have already set-up the system so when the cameras are activated ... if the TV is on.. the camera images appear on TV automatically.
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I've been wondering..... if I named one camera "view screen" couldn't I set in my big easy chair and say "Computer.... View screen ON". I have already set-up the system so when the cameras are activated ... if the TV is on.. the camera images appear on TV automatically.
Sorry if I'm being obtuse, but what exactly do you want to happen when you say "Computer.... View screen ON"?
Do you want it to just switch to a camera view, or actually turn on the TV or what exactly? ???
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Sorry if I'm being obtuse, but what exactly do you want to happen when you say "Computer.... View screen ON"?
Do you want it to just switch to a camera view, or actually turn on the TV or what exactly? ???
I should have been more clear.
The reason I wanted the cameras, is I can't see my driveway from inside the house. Keeping an eye out for guests, or service people can be a major pain. From my office, I can't hear or see anything.
So I set the cameras up through auto-video-detecting, four port modulators. If I send video to the modulator (Camera or DVD) it "over-rides" the cable programing and appears on the TV screen. If I want to keep an eye on the driveway, front door, etc. All I have to do is turn-on a nearby TV and [then] using my scanpad remote turn on the cam I would like to view.
I also have motion activation, which does the same thing (as the remote), as well as VCR taping and turns on an inside light and chime.
What I would like to do... is set in my chair (office or living room) and (with the TV already on) turn on the camera, with a voice command.
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what exactly do you want to happen when you say "Computer.... View screen ON"?
I am sorry Bill. I don't what I am thinking tonight. Actually, what I would like to happen is: appliance module D9 to turn ON
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what exactly do you want to happen when you say "Computer.... View screen ON"?
I sorry Bill. I don't what I am thinking tonight. Actually, what I would like to happen is: appliance module D9 to turn ON
OK, then the answer is yes! :) If you create a device named "View screen" with the address D9 and selecting the appropriate output mode (power line command, RF or both), then saying "View screen on" would issue D9 ON through the CM15A.
Obviously "View screen off" would issue the D9 OFF command.
You could also say "Computer, activate view screen" and "Computer, de-activate view screen" (if you want to get really Trekkie ;) ) ;D
P.S.
This all assumes that you set up AHP or an appropriate MACRO in AHP so that when D9 ON is triggered the appropriate X10 commands are sent. The switching of X10 cameras requires that you send OFF commands to all of the cameras and then send ON to the camera you want to view. AHP can do this if set up correctly, but BXVC (so far) only sends one command (i.e. D9 ON) so something else (AHP) must send the appropriate off commmands.
I'm working on adding MACRO sequences to BXVC so that it could send that "string" of commands directly, but I've got some work to do yet.
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what exactly do you want to happen when you say "Computer.... View screen ON"?
This all assumes that you set up AHP or an appropriate MACRO in AHP so that when D9 ON is triggered the appropriate X10 commands are sent. The switching of X10 cameras requires that you send OFF commands to all of the cameras and then send ON to the camera you want to view. AHP can do this if set up correctly, but BXVC (so far) only sends one command (i.e. D9 ON) so something else (AHP) must send the appropriate off commmands
Yep I figured as much. But was day-dreaming (I guess) as I typed. Currently, some cameras are a "two command" operation as a video sender (with a seperate module code) is involed. But the AHP can (I am guessing) handle that through a simple macro. I have a lot to learn... and looking forward to it.
But mostly looking forward to your Voice Commander, Bill.
I have other (additional) plans for the AHP and it's "suite" of software for the camera use, and that will be nice too.
But being able to cause a camera view to replace the program on the TV screen, via a voice command.... priceless.
Kirk never had it this good!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Bill: Now that the wife thinks I completely lost it, ::) she wants to know if it can recognize 2 voices. Cause right now it doesn't respond to her [but yet it doesn't get in trouble].
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[but yet it doesn't get in trouble].
LOL
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Bill: Now that the wife thinks I completely lost it, ::) she wants to know if it can recognize 2 voices. Cause right now it doesn't respond to her [but yet it doesn't get in trouble].
Yeah, and it doesn't yell at you (or worse) if you tell it to "shut up"! ;) ;D
Funny... it doesn't like my wife's voice much either! Maybe it's jealous? ??? ;)
Oddly, other than my own personal experience, I don't remember anyone else reporting this as a problem. ???
Since my wife doesn't use my computer, it hasn't been that much of an issue and so got put on my list of "intresting things to look into someday".
My best suggestion at the moment is that since BXVC uses which ever speech profile is set as the default in windows, you could try creating a new speech profile named "BXVC", set it as the default and don't "train" it.
Meanwhile, I guess I (and my wife) will have to experiment some.
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Thanks Bill... I will try your suggestion... MAYBE ;D I like having the PC only listening to me and doing as I say... kinda like having the remote. ;) :D
(plus I'm in no hurry to have a male's voice coming from my PC) :D
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Thanks Bill... I will try your suggestion... MAYBE ;D I like having the PC only listening to me and doing as I say... kinda like having the remote. ;) :D
(plus I'm in no hurry to have a male's voice coming from my PC) :D
See! It's a er... "feature", not a "bug"... Yeah, that's it... a feature! ;) ;D
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Bill: I finally...
Thanks Puck!!! (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=9548.msg56473#msg56473)
;D
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OK... after three or more weeks of planning (man-talk for day dreaming) I finally purchased the AHP. The package was here when i got home from work yesterday afternoon.
I changed the house codes on some modules, had to do some moving around with the interface. I read in one of the forum postings (Tuicemen) that I should try to get the interface up high(er) and extent the antenna OUT. I did that (and plugged in my repeater). Blam....range problem gone!
I added the modules (like in the directions) created some macros (all I could think of). downloaded them to the interface (this stuff was all in the directions). Blam....it all works cool.
But I still haven't got my Voice Commander working yet (a small API error thingy). And I still need to order the USB video thing (VA11A).
This is really cool stuff.....
(why would spell-check question thingy????)
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My Wife thought I was losing it when she caught me talking to the PC
She laughed " does it answer you?"
then she heard it respond! ;) :D ;D
I then made the pc call her on her cell phone and it blew her away!
She still thinks I'm nuts!
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Just installed and have been playing with BXVC (Bills Voice Commander).
This is without a doubt the coolest piece of software I have ever seen!
To be honest I bought AHP ...just to try BXVC. I was excited about it from the start...and more impressed with it now than I ever imagined I could be. This is truely the ultimate in home automation!
I hope X10 calls Bill and makes his software a plug-in so X10 users everywhere can enjoy this as much as I do.
Thank You Bill!!!!!!!!
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Just installed and have been playing with BXVC (Bills Voice Commander).
This is without a doubt the coolest piece of software I have ever seen!
To be honest I bought AHP ...just to try BXVC. I was excited about it from the start...and more impressed with it now than I ever imagined I could be. This is truely the ultimate in home automation!
I hope X10 calls Bill and makes his software a plug-in so X10 users everywhere can enjoy this as much as I do.
Thank You Bill!!!!!!!!
You're very welcome Dave! (blush)
For those of you who weren't chatting with us on Yahoo... STOP Watching Paint Dry / Grass Grow & JOIN TTA's "Community" Chat Today! (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=10949.0)
It appears Dave's AHP install didn't correctly install / register the scripting files BXVC needs to interface with AHP.
As a fix, I had him install the AHP SDK (http://www.x10.com/activehomepro/sdk/index.html) which correctly installed / registered the needed scripting files.
Also, Puck had an issue where his video capture software wouldn't work with BXVC running. We traced this down to a conflict between MS Speech Recognition engine and the video capture software both trying to monopolize the audio input from the same sound card. FYI he fixed it by installing a second sound card and telling the video capture software to use it while MS Speech Recognition used the old one! I didn't even know two sound cards under Windows was an option! Thanks Puck!
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Hey Bill just downloaded your newest version had .43 Works great and I like the added features. Now onto my question... Any way of adding Ninja control. Like saying "Camera 1 ON, Pan Left, Stop" Stuff like that. Right now in iWitness or with the Ninja remote you hold the pan tilt buttons down and then release to stop it. My guess would be if you said "tilt up" it would have to send out a stream of commands until you said stop.
Just a thought for a future idea. ;D
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I just re-programed my VCR commander to my TV (not the VCR), ON for ON, and volume down for OFF. the house code, I set for A2
In BXVC: I set A2, as viewscreen
Computer......viewscreen ON
BXVC makes it so. (Ok I still have to manually pick-up that heavey remote to turn the TV off.... not the point.)
Bill......your the man!
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Dave: Did the excitement of BXVC make you avatar dance? :D Or did I just not notice that before? ::)
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Dave: Did the excitement of BXVC make you avatar dance? :D Or did I just not notice that before? ::)
After I got to know Microsoft Mary.....I couldn't contain the excitement!
(http://davesdomainonline.com/images/minime.gif)
P.S I saw that look from the wife today too..... (the has he lost his mind look)
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Dave, I don't have the VCR Commander to play with, but can't you just say "Veiw Screen off" ?
KDR, I knew someone would ask for that eventually :( I'll see what I can do, but someone will have to test it for me 'cuz I don't have any of the camera stuff and can't afford to buy more equipment any time soon. :( (nee an emoticon for turned out pockets!)
Thanks for the excitement guys, it is inspiring! I guess now I'll have to get off (back on? ;) ) my a$$ and work harder on this thing! ;D
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Dave, I don't have the VCR Commander to play with, but can't you just say "Veiw Screen off" ?
No....not with the VCR commander, that wasn't well thought out (by me).
So... I RE-thought... and connected an appliance module to my monitor (set the screensaver to the "starfield") and named it "viewscreen".
Now I can leave my office with "everything" (a macro for all the office lights, and the monitor named: viewscreen) off while I am away.
Now when I enter I ask the computer to turn lights on, and then command the "viewscreen" to be activated.
(and I don't have to clap twice)
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Bill, If you need a ninja to play with when you get ready PM me with your address and I will send you one. Not sure if the software would be need though? It would have a palmpad remote with it though. :D
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Bill, If you need a ninja to play with when you get ready PM me with your address and I will send you one. Not sure if the software would be need though? It would have a palmpad remote with it though. :D
Thanks for the offer KDR. 8) I'll keep that in mind. I still have a fair bit of work to do on other stuff before I get around to the camera stuff though. :( When I do get to it, I'll probably just start out by sending you my "attempts" for you to try out. ;)
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I've been experimenting with BXVC the last couple of days and it works great. I'm using the BXVC software along with AHP to controll lights, appliances, etc. through the microphone and speakers attached to my computer. My real interest was to see how well BXVC worked with AHP and then to look at how to integrate "wireless" microphones/speakers into my environment. I've read several posts, on this forum, concerning the use of "wireless" microphone/speakers to control x10 devices. So I learned enough just to be dangerous!!!!
Now my question. Has anyone, experimented with wireless intercoms along with BXVC and AHP? I've looked at a bunch of wireless intercoms and have found the Radio Shack
4-Channel 900MHz Wireless Intercom at http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=wireless%20intercom&origkw=wireless%20intercom.
Here is how I think it would work. The Radio Shack intercom has a connection for an external device. I would plug the cable from my PC sound card into the intercom. That would be intercom (unit 1). I would put another intercom (unit 2) next to my microphone that is attached to my PC. Intercom (unit n) would be placed in various rooms. BXVC commands can be directed through intercom (unit n). Intercom (unit 2) will broadcast the command to my microphone that's attached to my PC. BXVC and AHP would react to the command. BXVC responses would be sent to intercom (unit n) through intercom (unit 1).
Hopefully, my explanation is clear enough that I can elicite some thoughts. Or, if there are better alternatives ... I would like to hear them too. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and suggestions.
There are some shortcommings with this hardware but most are aesthetic. I would like to have the intercom flush mounted on the wall. Also, I would like to have the intercom be voice activated.
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Now my question. Has anyone, experimented with wireless intercoms along with BXVC and AHP? I've looked at a bunch of wireless intercoms and have found the Radio Shack
4-Channel 900MHz Wireless Intercom at http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=wireless%20intercom&origkw=wireless%20intercom.
Hopefully, my explanation is clear enough that I can elicite some coeliciton it's potential to work. Or, if there are better alternatives ... I would like to hear them too. Thanks in advance to your thoughts and suggestions.
There are some shortcommings with this hardware but most are aesthetic. I would like to have the intercom flush mounted on the wall. Also, I would like to have the intercom be voice activated.
Well Don I am in! I could say I've thought a little about doing this.... or I could tell the truth and say I have laid awake nights thinking about how to do it!
I think your on the right track with intercoms. I was thinking "baby monitors", the prices are low.... several styles to choose from, and they are designed to "lay quite" and await sounds for long periods of time.
I was searching at the Walmart site just today: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4241545
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I use the 43-3102's every day for voice in Homeseer.
The monitor thingy was useless - its for a weather radio or something. I just connected a mini plug to the speaker on the receive unit and plugged that into LINE_IN (yes it matters) on the PC. This gives you volume control over the input and it's correct adjustment is absolutly CRITICAL to good VR.
They won't all work at once, well the closest one to the "base" will - mostly. So, I opened 'em up and soldered a wire across the talk switch (easy) now when they come on they come on in "talk" mode. Put 'em on a quiet appliance module and have a macro to turn off the others as the one you are using turns on - and you're cooking. HAVING TO PRESS A BUTTON BEFORE YOU CAN TALK IS SILLY! (Why not use that button press to run a macro?)
The quality? With the notes above and many years of reading about these things, I believe mine works as well as anyones. No VR switching of songs while they are playing, even a loud TV can be a problem. Other people taliking in the room - forget about it.
HTH - YMMV
GLT
EDIT: Note my house is small - so no range problems. It should work as well or better than you computer microphone works. However I can get a good 10 feet w/ these in a quiet room - and 5 in a noisy one. It is all in the volume in setting. Computer mics are designed to be used close up.
I use X-10's "soundpower" (and its cheap now) and a couple of RS ceiling speakers for the "response" from the computer. The intercoms did not work well for this (cut off words? been a while)- and even if they did you get back to that push to talk problem.
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Haven't tried it, and it's probably not cheap, but I still like the idea of wearable bluetooth microphone / headset. If you want the computer's audio output all around the house, there are several options out there for transmitting audio wirelessly.
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Bill -- I've looked at Bluetooth and it was going to be my first choice to experiment with. It turns out to be a little cheaper than the intercom solution. I just wasn't sure I wanted to wear a head set in order to communicate with BXVC. Plus, it limits other people from using BXVC unless you have multiple head sets.
Dave X10 L -- I hadn't thought about baby monitors, although I'm not sure I want the imagine of "Fischer-Price" associated with my "sophisticated" house of the future!!!! (ha, ha).
glt -- Thanks for all the suggestions regarding the use of the Radio Shack (43-3102) intercom. I like your idea about soldering a wire across the talk switch so that they come on in the "talk" mode. I haven't purchased any of the intercoms yet so I don't know how easy it is to solder the wire. I may ask for help later on if I purchase the intercoms.
EDIT: Note my house is small - so no range problems. It should work as well or better than you computer microphone works. However I can get a good 10 feet w/ these in a quiet room - and 5 in a noisy one. It is all in the volume in setting. Computer mics are designed to be used close up.
I'm encouraged by the fact that you can be 5-10 feet from the intercom and it still works satisfactory. And that you had no range problems within your house.
I use X-10's "soundpower" (and its cheap now) and a couple of RS ceiling speakers for the "response" from the computer. The intercoms did not work well for this (cut off words? been a while)- and even if they did you get back to that push to talk problem.
You mentioned earlier about soldering a wire across the talk switch ... didn't that eliminate the need to push to talk problem? Also, on a scale of 1-10 (1 being the worst) how bad was the cutting off words? Could adjusting the speech rate within BXVC help (assuming you were using BXCV)?
Thanks everybody for the ideas. More thoughts are welcome.
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"You mentioned earlier about soldering a wire across the talk switch ... didn't that eliminate the need to push to talk problem? Also, on a scale of 1-10 (1 being the worst) how bad was the cutting off words? Could adjusting the speech rate within BXVC help (assuming you were using BXCV)? "
The wire solder is EASY, just take off the cover and attach a wire to each end of the switch.
The intercom cannot "talk" and "listen" at the same time. So if you solder the wire then that intecom can no longer listen.
It's coming back...... The input on the intercom is signal activated, so when a signal comes on. it senses it , turns on the "talk" mode and sends to the other intercoms. That takes a few seconds.
My response to the attention phrase is "yes", and that would never come out. BTW an attention phrase is mandatory, otherwise events would occur all the time from the TV etc. HS has an attention phrase option (mine is "Wake up Michelle"), don't know if BXVC does or not. Both use the built it XP speech tools, so it should be easy to add.
Training is very important as is using line in for the voice input. If you use mic. in XP will constantly adjust the "gain" fouling everything up. Setting the volume control on the listening intercom to the best level for recognition is also critical.
See the good reviews of that intercom on th RS site - seems people with very large houses like them. When I record my input with the XP sound recorder I am amazed at the clarity. Better than a 900MHZ phone.
GLT
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When I record my input with the XP sound recorder I am amazed at the clarity. Better than a 900MHZ phone.
I did a little experiment with those little hand-held CB radios tonight. It didn't go well. I think GLT has a good point about CLARITY.
Though it may be easy enough to get "sound" to the PC it will/does need to be a similar representation to the mic that it works with now. Apparently GLT has found a good solution. I am glad to know there is a solution out there.
However... I am going to try (as another test) adding an additional mic in a 2nd area, next. In doing my little (CB Radio) test, I was reminded of just how well the computer mic works.... even in a low voice, from several feet away. I will let you know how that goes.
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Yes, I still think the Radio Shack intercoms have some merit. I've read some reviews on the Radio Shack website concerning the clarity and range of the 43-3102's. I think my setup that I described earlier will work. GLT has validated part of my ideas in his discussions. I still haven't purchased any of the intercoms. I might get a chance to swing by Radio Shack this weekend.
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Don H
I just tried two microphones plugged into the computer at the same time. I used an adapter to get the two inputs. I used a 20 foot stereo extention cord (same as for power extention on my wireless Xcam) and ran a mic into the next room.
It worked, but not as reliability as one mic, one room. I really think you and GLT have the right idea.
I will still have to fish some wire, as I do want to hear the computer voice and wav files.
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I haven't experimented with anything yet, but what I'd like to do is use microphones connected to my other PCs on my LAN.
Did a quick search and found this program: MyPhone 0.2b12 (http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Network_and_Internet/Conferencing_and_Collaboration_Tools/MyPhone.html) Might play with it this weekend to see how it works.
There has to be a way to transmit your voice from other PC's mics to the one with BXVC.
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glt,
Yes, BXVC requires an attention phrase for most commands. There are also verbal commands to mute / unmute the microphone.
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Good to hear....
Note I did my XP voice "training" using the intercoms - best to train with what you are going to use.
There are more elegant solutions - like an AP800(?) mic mixer and expensive in wall/ceiling mics. But as I've said, I've read a lot on this subject and I don't think they are any better than this solution. If you get a clear voice signal to the computer - that is the best you can do.
BTW RS is great on returns, and they are clearly great intercoms. So what's to lose?
As to x-10's "soundpower" - mine has been in the (hot Florida) attic for about 4 years w/ no problems. BUT... they are 2.4 GHZ - guess what happens when you turn on the microwave?
BRRRAPPPPPP.....
Solved by a CR Magnetics power sensor, a powerflash (or is it a universal) module, and by putting the soundpower on a applliance module. Confused yet?
( http://www.crmagnetics.com/newprod/search_result.asp?CATEGORY=ALL&PRODUCT_ID=CR3110-3000 )
Wired is always better than wireless - IF YOU CAN. (I can't.)
Sound output is really bigger to me than voice input. Although I do have to ask "Michelle" for the latest weather, stocks of interest and the ever skewed news. And of course bathroom guests are subjected to my idea of appropriate music. (Well, its better than "body" music.) (Powered by the lowly x10 "ActiveEye", as are most things in my house.)
I use AT&T's voices for all verbal responses, TTS, etc. Don't think you can buy them anymore. Bill may have some ideas or search here for alternatives: http://board.homeseer.com/forumdisplay.php?f=653
And finally, real home automation geeks don't take voice seriously. I mean with the proper combination of occupany sensors, timers and macros, temperature sensors etc., what do you need to talk to the computer for?
To me, its just fun.
GLT
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I haven't experimented with anything yet, but what I'd like to do is use microphones connected to my other PCs on my LAN.
There has to be a way to transmit your voice from other PC's mics to the one with BXVC.
There's another option for you Bill!
I know it can be done! ;) :D ;D
Tricky part is your part, "the coding" ;) :D ;D
**Cheers**
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The newer version of HS uses a distributed voice application so you can speak on any mic. connected to a computer on your lan. Seems that is a more problematic part of their program - but it can be done.
I use the old version of HS.
GLT
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I ordered a wireless microphone (FM) online the other day. Also I ordered a dongle and Bluetooth headset. Hopefully, I will at least learn something.
I am going to attemp to use a wireless Xcam (this weekend) to see if that works.
I also haven't given up on hardwire mic's.... and am currently searching for a small pre-amp.
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I purchased two Radio Shack intercom units yesterday to see if I could talk/listen to BXVC. This was to test out my assertion (see below).
Here is how I think it would work. The Radio Shack intercom has a connection for an external device (audio source). I would plug the cable from my PC sound card into the intercom. That would be intercom (unit 1). I would put another intercom (unit 2) next to my microphone that is attached to my PC. Intercom (unit n) would be placed in various rooms. BXVC commands can be directed through intercom (unit n). Intercom (unit 2) will broadcast the command to my microphone that's attached to my PC. BXVC and AHP would react to the command. BXVC responses would be sent to intercom (unit n) through intercom (unit 1).
BXVC commands were easily received by unit 2 (as described above). However, I was unable to receive BXVC responses through unit 1 (as described above). I was hoping, by connecting the intercom (it has an audio connection plug) to the PC sound card, that I would get the response sent to the intercom instead of the PC's speakers. But, that didn't work. I also tried connecting the intercom to the PC's headset connection. That didn't work either.
glt -- you mentioned in one of your posts ...
I use the 43-3102's every day for voice in Homeseer.
I just connected a mini plug to the speaker on the receive unit and plugged that into LINE_IN (yes it matters) on the PC. This gives you volume control over the input and it's correct adjustment is absolutly CRITICAL to good VR.
This didn't work either. So I'm at a loss right now. Seems like I should be able to connect (the intercom) to either the "audio line out" connection on my PC or to the "headset" connection on the PC's monitor. So it's back to the drawing board.
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Wait --- I'm back testing the Radio Shack intercoms again. It turns out I needed a audio adapter (stereo to mono) for the intercom end. That's why it wasn't getting any sound through the intercom. So now I can get the BXVC response through the intercom. Now more testing, to see how I want to set everything up. Stay tuned!!!! ... if you are interested ;D
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I just connected a mono mini plug to the speaker on the intercom (which would work on mic in.)
Yea, I guess that is a mono to L/R (stereo) adapter I am using for LINE-IN on my Creative MP3+ external USB sound card.
Sorry for leaving that out!
Remember the volume input level is critical - adjust in very small increments until you get the best results. I DID train a lot using the intercoms.
Good Luck!
Ooops looks like I missed the whole point - still will leave the info though. I think you will get a lot better response if you wire in the intercom to the sound card -but for now you can still return if you have range problems etc.
GLT
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I have just gotten an idea.... and would like any feedback I can get.
Could I use phone wire to connect a small microphone (computer mic type), and if yes to what length?
I am still thinking of some hardwire solutions for whole house voice control. I would like to get a hardwire microphone and small speaker (for BXVC/computer sounds feedback) near the door to my garage. The speaker isn't as big a problem, as I figure I can reach this (and most areas) through the cold air return, duct work.
However speaker location is important. It might be helpful/easier to use two of the (extra wires in my case) already strung and waiting at the phone plates. I could put together adapters, and use the handy wires to plug-in the microphone, however it would mean at least a sixty foot extention.
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Could I use phone wire to connect a small microphone (computer mic type), and if yes to what length?
Hey Dave: you should have no problems with length restrictions within your house for a wired mic using phone cable. The XCAM's still have good sound reception at 60'. ;)
...as I figure I can reach this (and most areas) through the cold air return, duct work.
I don't know what the building codes are for this, and hopefully some other member can shed more light on it, but I don't think it's advisable to run wires through duct work (albeit low voltage), but you might want to check with your insurance company before doing this... just in case.
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...as I figure I can reach this (and most areas) through the cold air return, duct work.
I don't know what the building codes are for this, and hopefully some other member can shed more light on it, but I don't think it's advisable to run wires through duct work (albeit low voltage), but you might want to check with your insurance company before doing this... just in case.
Actually, I wasn't thinking about the building codes, I should remember to do that.
But what I meant, and should have been more clear about is: distributing sound via the cold air (return air) duct-work.
I did this once (many years ago) with a siren. By mounting a small speaker (or siren) in or ON a centrally located (or easy to get to) area of the "return air" duct, you can get pretty fair sound distribution. Not music quality or anything, but enough to hear a BXVC wav.
P.S. Though codes do vary considerably, they at least sell (a special high-temperature) CAT5 in this area for HEATING ducts.
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Hopefully not OT for this forum BUT both HAL and Homeseer use the unused pair of phone wires for voice communication to the modem (Voice Portal).
They both have wiring diagrams on their sites for how to do this.
They are YOUR wires - see who pays if wires IN your house break.
Use 'em for whatever you want - or course considering safety and building codes.
"The cause for the fire was a microphone connected to the phone wires." Golly, I kind of doubt it.
GLT
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glt good idea!
Hopefully not OT for this forum BUT both HAL and Homeseer use the unused pair of phone wires for voice communication to the modem (Voice Portal).
Can you post a link for the lazy users that can't find it for them selfs! ;) :D
Most people have more than one phone jack in the house!
As long as they only have one line there will be a free set of wires at the jacks! ;) :D
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The only problem I can see is possible power interfirence in the phone lines. In standard four wire telephone cable, red and green are tip and ring, the two halves of the talking path. Black is ground and yellow is power for lighted phones.
If you want to use phone wire for voice communication for BXVC, pull separate cables for it.
BTW, if anybody doesn't know, ringer current is 92 volts DC. That is why Bell System banned telephones in bathrooms for years. 92 volts can kill you!!
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Your wish is ....
- HAL FAQ: Can I use the phones in the house to talk to HAL? (http://automatedliving.com/cf/faq/faqdetailp.cfm?ds=automatedliving&faqid=24)
. - HomeSeer: Way2Call / PCI Modem Wiring Diagram (http://www.homeseer.com/products/pop-ups/phone_wiring_diagram.htm)
GLT
P.S. I believe black and yellow are for an optional second line (#) and are unused typically. And, yes ringing voltage is substantial, please disconnect before doing any work. I am QUITE willing to be corrected. Also, it is always preferred to have seperately pulled and dedicated wires for anything, and always to avoid wireless . If I could find anyone willing to do that in my concrete block (top row FILLED concrete) house, I would be more than willing to pay. Out here in the sticks, I can't find anyone who will change an outlet. I've tried.
For the lawyer types: Do NOT attempt this (or anything else) at home. Hire a professional if you are unsure about anything. If you harm youself I am NOT responsible (and will probably call your Mother and tell on you)!
[TTA Edit: Added descriptions to LINKs.]
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Dan: That is definitely something to be aware of (if your not a tech type). I think the idea though is to isolate the yellow & black at the phone's junction box so they are just free wires. However, I don't know what (if any) voltage will be induced into those wires when the phone rings.
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Good point Dan!
Some may not be able to use this idea but if one has the 2 free wires it is easy to tell at least in my area the phone company doesn't even connect these at the main junction box at the house. ;)
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Hopefully not OT for this forum BUT both HAL and Homeseer use the unused pair of phone wires for voice communication to the modem (Voice Portal)...
IIRC, the HAL Voice Portal Modem needed the 2nd pair (or a 2nd run) as a RETURN to the DEMARCATION POINT. I'll explain:
The HAL Voice Portal Modem allows one to pick up any touchtone telephone in the home and, IIRC, press a certain key to tell the modem "Listen up - this is going to be a HAL Voice Command, not an outgoing call". Thus, if where your phone line enters the house (aka Demarcation Point, IIRC), you're running parallel lines all over to your extensions, that won't work any more. Your phone line from the street must go *ONLY* to the HAL Voice Portal Modem, then the output jack on the modem goes back (over BLK/YEL) to your Demarcation Point and *THAT* connects to all of your telephones (putting the modem in SERIES with all of them and the Phone Co.).
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The only problem I can see is possible power interfirence in the phone lines...
The output from an unamplified microphone is *VERY* low - maybe microvolts? IIRC, the Off-Hook voltage on the phone line is ~5V. I'd worry about CROSSTALK when the phone was in use.
If you want to use phone wire for voice communication for BXVC, pull separate cables for it.
With all the inherent problems of "Voice Training", etc..., I'd want to keep the microphone wire *BOTH* separate and SHIELDED.
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glt:
Those links bring up another good option! I wasn't crear on using the extra lines .
Although BXCV can't use a modem yet! the idea of using a cordless phone is cool!
you'd need a voice modem to do that though ::)
humm maybe another option for you guys to play with ;) :D
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Thanks for on the feedback guys!!!!
Though I had thought of using the "no longer needed" 2nd phone line (once for the modem) and separating it at the phone junction box, which is (handily) located near the rear door (garage) entrance. I decided against that. After some consideration I decided it would be better to just run a new line (of CAT5).
Though where I need the microphone to be, is only about 12 feet from the computer, I had to run about 60 feet of CAT5 to get there. I ran the wire then soldered the male and female stereo plugs (from RS) to the ends.
I installed a desktop computer microphone (slightly modified) at the ceiling, near the bottom of a flight of stairs. Near the top of the stairs is a landing with a door to the garage, (the stairs continue up to the main floor).
It works! However not as well as the microhone at the desk. It's not as sensitive, I have to speak louder, and I get some errors. I think if I get matching microphones (replace that mic with one as good as the one on my desk) I will be OK.
I can now come home and as I enter the house say "computer" (hear the chime wav) and say "lights on". The lights above the landing come on.
If I am descending the stairs to the home theater I can say "theater on" and lights come on in the theater.
After I create some macros, so as to activate a series of events, based on these commands, this should be awesome.
I love BXVC
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Dave, good to hear!
I installed a desktop computer microphone (slightly modified) at the ceiling, near the bottom of a flight of stairs. Near the top of the stairs is a landing with a door to the garage, (the stairs continue up to the main floor).
I think that this might be just a freak thing that its working. I was going to try it then came to the conclusion its not going to work. I don't have stairs and a landing by any of my garage doors. NOW WHAT?
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Dave: That's great you were able to extend your mic.... did you parallel the extended mic with the input of your PC mic?
Since I ALSO have a landing by my garage door, I want to try it. ;)
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That's great you were able to extend your mic.... did you parallel the extended mic with the input of your PC mic?
I just used a little one male to two female's adapter. I plugged both Mic's in and then plugged it into my computer.
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That could be why your extention mic is less sensitive... with the 2 in parallel the impedance is now 1/2 of normal and the resistance of the longer wire now can become a factor.
Maybe build a small op-amp mixer for all the mics:
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Maybe build a small op-amp mixer for all the mics:
That is such a nice diagram! What software do you use?
What about adding pots on the 3 inputs to compensate for variable microphone sensitivity?
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That is such a nice diagram! What software do you use?
Thanks.... but it was easier to find it on the NET than to draw it. :D
(Here is the site the drawing came from: The Op-Amp (http://www.talkingelectronics.com/Projects/OP-AMP/OP-AMP-3.html) Look for Audio Mixer near the bottom.)
What about adding pots on the 3 inputs to compensate for variable microphone sensitivity?
I would go one step farther with that suggestion and give each input an adjustable amplifier.
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That could be why your extention mic is less sensitive... with the 2 in parallel the impedance is now 1/2 of normal and the resistance of the longer wire now can become a factor.
Maybe build a small op-amp mixer for all the mics:
I was thinking of a small pre-amp like this (http://www.hobbytron.com/CK151.html). I would modify it to except two, or three inputs. Then feed the (amped) output to the line-in on my PC. Then change my computers microphone settings to except line-in (sound card).
I think a small pre-amp would give me all the sensitivity (ampliifition) I would need. However, I like your idea of a mixer much better. I am short on skills though as far as designing and building a mixer from scratch. Have you found any kits or finished products? Or could small pre-amp be somehow "gang connected"?
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Dave: Maybe something like this would work best for the microphones UK495 - Electret Microphone Pre-Amp (Assembled) (http://www.canakit.net/Default.asp?Contents=/Include/Template/MenuCat.asp&Main=http://www.canakit.net/Contents/Items/UK495.asp)
This ECM microphone pre-amplifier incorporates a sensitive PC board mounted electret condenser microphone and two transistors. It will amplify the microphone signal and will provide an output that can be connected to any audio amplifier with standard input sensitivity like our model numbers UK153 and UK193.
(You can also do a search on the site your provided for UK495.)
Then the simple mixer circuit above could join each one and provide a line-level output.
(Update: CK495 is the cheaper do-it-yourself kit version.)
[TTA Edit: Added Cana Kit description, since, when I first read this post, I thought the LINK was just for a Pre-Amp. :-[ )
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Boy you guys have been busy and there are a lot of interesting ideas!
Microphone level signals sent over old phone lines will probably pick up a good bit of interference. Older phone lines had little "twist" to them and parallel conductors side by side like that tend to pick up "noise" from each other and are pretty vulnerable to outside signals too (even someone's bad car ignition).
Cat 5 has much more twist and helps to cut down on outside noise, but at microphone levels, I'm not sure it would work terribly well either.
The best bet is to amplify the signal as close to the microphone as possible and even then there may be matching issues.
Tuicemen, yes you can substitute pots for the fixed resistors, but a better idea is to put a pot in series with the fixed resistors, thereby using the fixed resistor as the lowest possible resistance value. If you turn the pot down to zero resistance, the fixed resistor insures that the resistance is never lower than the fixed resistor's value (never a short-circuit).
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Microphone level signals sent over old phone lines will probably pick up a good bit of interference. Older phone lines had little "twist" to them and parallel conductors side by side like that tend to pick up "noise" from each other...
Crosstalk?
Tuicemen, yes you can substitute pots for the fixed resistors...
Tuicemen?
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OOPS! Sorry TTA... got my T's crossed! ;D :-[
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Sounds Like CROSSTALK... ::) ;D :D
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Sounds Like CROSSTALK... ::) ;D :D
LOL... Yeah... that's it! I must really rewire my brain. Thinking optical fiber this time! :)
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Bill: you must have bee in Yahoo as well as reading e-mail at the same time you were posting! Too much multitasking! ???
LOL ;) :D ;D
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Dave: Maybe something like this would work best for the microphones UK495 - Electret Microphone Pre-Amp (Assembled) (http://www.canakit.net/Default.asp?Contents=/Include/Template/MenuCat.asp&Main=http://www.canakit.net/Contents/Items/UK495.asp)
Your probably right Puck. I may need to follow your lead in this as I just dont know enough about audio. However I wil keep reading, learning, and trying.
I expect my bluetooth headset and FM wireless mic (ordered online) to arrive tomorrow. More tests and trials... wil keep you posted.
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Dave: I order a couple of those mics last night... when I do get them and play with them, I'll post how it worked.
In the meantime, I'm looking forward to your hearing about your new tests.
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Dave Just a thought but if your looking to hide the mics and maybe some electronics along with it you may be able to gut a smoke detector and then hide the stuff inside it. They don't really look out of place in a room.
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Dave Just a thought but if your looking to hide the mics and maybe some electronics along with it you may be able to gut a smoke detector and then hide the stuff inside it. They don't really look out of place in a room.
That's why some places hide cameras in them. ;) :D
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When I got home I had my package from Geeks.com. The FM wireless Mic, and a bluetooth headset, and a USB dongle. I need an adapter to try the FM Mic, so I charged the bluetooth headset and tried it 1st.
Set-up was easy, but interesting. It seems to be ether-or as far as sounds and microphones are concerned.....I think. I can only do one or the other.
Range was pretty much as advertised 10 meters, with walls cutting that down some. I can't get reception in my stairway.... but think if I use a USB extention and get the dongle higher it might. (However... my USB extention is in service raising my AHP higher to improve it's reception.)
Voice clarity is awesome! BXVC works great with it. I didn't even re-train the voice, just plug and played.
The bluetooth headset is so small and light I lost it twice, and both times found it in my ear. This is CERTAINLY a good option!
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...The bluetooth headset is so small and light I lost it twice, and both times found it in my ear.
Thanks for a good laugh! :D
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I ordered a blue tooth head set and USB Dongle today!
Hope I don't lose mine Dave! ;) :D ;D
For users that wish farther range try a Plantronics CS 50-USB Wireless Headset for PC (http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=CS50-USB-DT&cat=SPK) a bit more money but a lot more range and double the battery life! ;) :D ;D
To bad they won't ship this to Canada! ::) ;)
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I ordered a blue tooth head set and USB Dongle today!
I picked-up another USB extention and placed the dongle up higher, and the [bluetooth headset] range increased greatly! I can now use it in my landing, as well as areas I hadn't expected to reach.
I can now effectively "voice control" all areas of my home where I use X10.
I think you'll be happy with your purchase Tuicemen.
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I picked-up another USB extention and placed the dongle up higher, and the [bluetooth headset] range increased greatly! I can now use it in my landing, as well as areas I hadn't expected to reach.
I can now effectively "voice control" all areas of my home where I use X10.
Good to hear my PC is on the second floor so I'm thinking I won't need to raise it but it is nice to know that option works! ;) :D ;D
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OK, all in fun BUT...................
You guys are REALLY going to spend your remaining days walking around your house WEARING A HEADSET and as you go up the stairs you are going to command AHP to turn on the light AS OPPOSED TO SIMPLY FLICKING A SWITCH? (or better yet a properly aimed motion detector or combination of motion detectors)
Did your wife or SO tell you you looked "cool" wearing that thing?
Practically speaking, ain't going to happen, may want to try another approach.
.... and I use VR every day... "Wake up Michelle, Yes, Go to sleep." (no less than 30 events follow)
Again, in fun...
GLT
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glt -- you took the words right out of my mouth. I thought about the same thing ... wondering around the house wearing a headset. But you see people everywhere wearing headsets. "To resist is futile!!!!!"
I discussed earlier in this thread about using the Radio Shack intercoms to control X10 devices through BXVC. This is working out very nicely. I've placed the intercoms in various rooms, behind sofas, under chairs, behind curtains, etc. So I too can walk around and command AHP to do things and without "strapping" anything onto my head. Plus, anyone in the household can do the same thing ... now that I've removed all the wall switches in the house (just kidding). Anyway, just a little humor.
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Actualy the Bluetooth setup is just a play toy, but there are many Bluetooth devices (http://www.bluetooth.com/Bluetooth/Connect/Products/) out there. ::) ;)
The doggel has a Sending and receiving range: up to 100m , Who knows where this will lead? ??? ::) ;) :D ;D
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Glt & Don N
Maybe I ve tied up this thread too much with the voice transmission part. But thanks for the input!
BXVC is a great program and most certainly does a great deal more then replace FLICKING A SWITCH.
Added to Voice Command with BXVC: [the features of] AHP, Macros, programmed conditions, timers, motion sensors, remote controls AND plain old switch flicking. then things look pretty automated.
I think your intercoms idea has real merit! Intercoms may very well be the one-and-only way to go. But (sorry) I am not sure that's the case. I live in a city, and have some concern about the security of the wireless transmission.
Bluetooth headset technology however IS very secure. Bluetooth intercom technology may not yet be available (however I do have a soldering iron). For now, try to imagine an intercom getting so small you could stick it in your ear (if you wanted to).that doesn't mean you MUST stick it in your ear. Just when did technology making devices smaller, become a bad thing?
I (also) think there is a lot that can be said in favor of hardwired microphones. But running new wires (in an existing structure) is a limitation itself. I currently believe a combination of input technologies may be to ultimate solution.
Several of us are reviewing the benefits (and faults) of several different technologies as a way to move voice to BXVC. I am sure we all appreciate your input. Thanks again for reminding us about intercoms.
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Glt & Don N
…. Maybe I’ve tied up this thread too much with the voice “transmission†part. But thanks for the input!
But then again....maybe not.
I tried a FM wireless microphone today. An un-secure but clear as-a-bell solution. I converted the mono, to (fake) stereo and and plugged it into the "line-in". I was able o hear myself on my PC speakers, and had to keep volume down, to prevent feedback.
I like the "sounds" from the computer... and miss that.
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I was able o hear myself on my PC speakers, and had to keep volume down, to prevent feedback.
I like the "sounds" from the computer... and miss that.
Dave: You should be able to mute the line-input from being sent to the speakers, and eliminate feedback without affecting MS Mary.
And... good to here the wireless FM mic works. :)
Love to see the neighbours face when their radio gets interrupted. :D
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To expand on that a little....
If you have the little speaker in the system tray and click on it, a set of volume controls come up that are the PLAYBACK volume controls. You should be able to mute the line-in playback from there.
If line-in is not available there, then go into options/properties and add it. Click Ok, and then mute.
Also (and this seems to confuse people) there is a set of RECORDING volume controls that are accessed by options/properties/recording/Ok. Can be fun to watch what XP does to your microphone recording volume!
All of this can also be accessed by: control panel / sounds and audio devices / volume tab / advanced button.
HTH
GLT
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Bill -- Would it be possible to sort Device Names and Listener Names in BXVC? I find that as I continue to add names to these lists they become a little unruly. This happens when I want to change house codes or unit numbers or even to change the name of a device. It would just make it a little easier, to locate a particular device, if the Device/Listener Names were in alphabetical order. Plus, it would be nice just to have all Device/Listener Names grouped for a particular Room. Now admittedly, I didn't review the previous 19 pages on this thread to see if this had already been discussed. So, I apologize if this had already been discussed.
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Thanks glt & Puck I found your advice helpful.
I had decided that my current best computer (P4, 2.8 ), was the PC to use for AHP with BXVC. I want to upgrade with a new vista system when the OS becomes available. This PC is also the one I have set-up to make DVD's and hesitated to change the settings.
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Bill -- Would it be possible to sort Device Names and Listener Names in BXVC? I find that as I continue to add names to these lists they become a little unruly. This happens when I want to change house codes or unit numbers or even to change the name of a device. It would just make it a little easier, to locate a particular device, if the Device/Listener Names were in alphabetical order. Plus, it would be nice just to have all Device/Listener Names grouped for a particular Room. Now admittedly, I didn't review the previous 19 pages on this thread to see if this had already been discussed. So, I apologize if this had already been discussed.
I had the same problem so I already have it sorting by name and that will be released in the next update. I haven't decided what to do about "grouping" devices yet and that will probably be put off until an even later update.
Sorry so short, got to get back to programming! ;D
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I HAVE HEARD.....
That VR is totally changed in Vista - which I guess means everyone s/b REALLY nice to Bill (that BXVC guy.)
Nice to have an option that leaves a little money in one's pocket. If you haven't noticed, that is becoming rare in HA.
THANKS Bill,
GLT
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And while I am thinking about it...
Although microphone in is the WORST VR option in XP (because XP continually adjusts the volume and also randomly clicks the "Mic Boost" box without asking), line-in can also be problematic.
The way that I have found around this is to go to control panel/speech/configure microphone and configure it (line-in of course) by speaking VERY softly. After this XP will leave the volume alone (at max level), allowing YOU to adjust to input volume to the best recognition level.
See ya'll in Vista, CAN'T possibly be worse! (?)
GLT
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-Bill-(of BXCV)
I'd like to request a couple of options! perhaps you've already started to add these but if not here they are[li]The option to use other VR engines[/li]
[li]The ability to open close other programs by voice[/li]
[li]The ability to close BXVC by voice[/li]
[li]I know in BVC you say you have the option to use other faces although I never seen that in the version I'm testing ??? but this would be a cool add!
other users besides my self could create other faces to give a good variation[/li]
[li]Along the faces Idea perhaps the ability to call them up with voice eg: stating Mary brings up the female face & voice stating Sam would bring up the males face and voice![/li]
[/list]
Just some crazy thoughts! ::) ;) :D ;D
Cheers
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I HAVE HEARD.....
That VR is totally changed in Vista - which I guess means everyone s/b REALLY nice to Bill (that BXVC guy.)
Yeah, I've "heard" that too. :( >:(
Eventually I will have to re-write major portions of the code to support Vista (I'm guessing).
My take on it for the time being is that most people "upgrading" to Vista will find that they have to purchase a new "beefier" computer to run it well and that being the case, why not dedicate the "old" computer to home automation? At least until all of us "starving programmers" can catch up. :)
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-Bill-(of BXCV)
I'd like to request a couple of options! perhaps you've already started to add these but if not here they are[li]The option to use other VR engines[/li]
[li]The ability to open close other programs by voice[/li]
[li]The ability to close BXVC by voice[/li]
[li]I know in BVC you say you have the option to use other faces although I never seen that in the version I'm testing ??? but this would be a cool add!
other users besides my self could create other faces to give a good variation[/li]
[li]Along the faces Idea perhaps the ability to call them up with voice eg: stating Mary brings up the female face & voice stating Sam would bring up the males face and voice![/li]
[/list]
Just some crazy thoughts! ::) ;) :D ;D
Cheers
Another Tuicemen laundry list! ;) I swear, sometimes I think Tuicemen has a better idea of where this program is going (should go) than I do! :o ??? Not that that's been a bad thing so far... Thanks Tuicemen! ;D
The option to use other VR engines
AFAIK (and that's never enough :) ) BXVC should be compatible with any speech engine that follows the Microsoft specification as outlined in the Microsoft Speech SDK 5.1 (however it appears most follow an earlier specification if any at all).
The ability to open close other programs by voice
Once I figure out how... maybe not until the Visual BASIC version is released. :(
The ability to close BXVC by voice
Woops! I kept thinking I had done that already! Will do! 8)
I know in BVC you say you have the option to use other faces although I never seen that in the version I'm testing ??? but this would be a cool add!
other users besides my self could create other faces to give a good variation
The ability to select user created faces has always been my intent, but I had never made it easy. In the next release, all of the faces are stored in a sub-folder named "Face Graphics" which itself has sub-folders named for the face i.e. "Male Face" "Female Face" "My Face" etc. It automatically searches the "Face Grapics" folder at program start up (and maybe every so often when running ;) ) and updates the Face Selection Buttons accordingly! 8)
So start creating faces! There are no requirements on size, color pallette, etc. But, at present, they must be in the .gif format (only way I know of to provide for transparency). Each face must be a set of 7 pictures named as follows:
- Mouth Closed.gif
- Mouth Medium.gif
- Mouth Narrow.gif
- Mouth Open 1.gif
- Mouth Open 2.gif
- Mouth Open 3.gif
- Mouth Open 4.gif
Save them in a folder named whatever you want the face's name to be.
Once the new release of BXVC is out, copy that folder into the new "Face Graphics" folder along side the default "Male Face" and "Female Face" folders and BXVC should automatically add your custom face to the list of faces![/b]
Along the faces Idea perhaps the ability to call them up with voice eg: stating Mary brings up the female face & voice stating Sam would bring up the males face and voice!
How about this idea for a future release? User definable "Personality Profiles" that allow the user to define a "Name" to respond to, select an appropriate "Face Graphic" and an appropriate "Voice" as well as other possible options. Then when you address BXVC with that "Personality"'s "Name", it would change to that "Personality" for all future responses (that is until you addressed it with another "Personality";s "Name"). Yeah... I like that! 8)
Whew! Now back to my regularly scheduled programming. :D
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Another Tuicemen laundry list! ;) I swear, sometimes I think Tuicemen has a better idea of where this program is going (should go) than I do! :o ??? Not that that's been a bad thing so far... Thanks Tuicemen! ;D
Hey no problem Bill
I find my self I tend to get fixated on one option and forget about adding others!
Sometimes the real easy adds programers tend to miss! ;) :D ;D not that my list is all easy adds! ;) :D
But I always find my self telling BXVC to close!
Ms Marry doesn't always stop listening! ::) ;) :D ;D
She likes to talk to my keyboard! :D ;D ::)
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Dave_x10_L:
Here's the next item (http://www.physorg.com/news3417.html) you can test looks better then the ear piece!
If you find where to get it let us know! ;) :D ;D
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Dave_x10_L:
Here's the next item (http://www.physorg.com/news3417.html) you can test looks better then the ear piece!
(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/xmasl.gif)
(http://www.physorg.com/newman/gfx/news/socom200511.jpg)
Two to beam up Scotty!
Before another bulb blows out!
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Dave_x10_L:
Here's the next item (http://www.physorg.com/news3417.html) you can test looks better then the ear piece!
If you find where to get it let us know! ;) :D ;D
Ditto! I saw that article a while back. It's obviously what many of us are looking for. I still haven't been able to find much about price, availability, etc. :'(
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Since the article was 2005, I suspect Siemens isn't ready to go "prime time" with it. 2006 is just about over and not a peep about about it yet, or what the device will be called.
As for TTA's comment - Wrong show. Nobody in STOS ever wore a com badge. The communicator was either hung on the belt or carried in the back pocket.
Hey, sounds like the cell phone I carry in my right front pocket. Wonder if i can call the Enterprise with it? :)
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Dave_x10_L:
Here's the next item (http://www.physorg.com/news3417.html) you can test looks better then the ear piece!
Hey TTA you can do the same thing with the bluetooth! If thats what your into. And I can still actually hear the "sounds" from BXVC, and BXVC can hear me, from about three feet away.
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Congratulations Bill!
This topic has now more than doubled the welcome topic as most replied to and is approaching twice the most viewed also!
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Hey TTA you can do the same thing with the bluetooth! If thats what your into. And I can still actually hear the "sounds" from BXVC, and BXVC can hear me, from about three feet away.
Humm tryed mine like that Dave very cool!(never though of doing that but never played with the volume setting on it) ::) Have to turn the volume up full but beats stickin it in my ear! And You don't have to touch it before you speak unless you have it turned off! Actualy the device TTA posted the pic (of my link) is BlueTooth as well! ;) :D ;D
but bet it will be more than $19!
Dan Lawrence:
Actualy Siemens has released something like this and is in use in hospitals ! Doesn't look like this but it is also Bluetooh.
:D ;) Two to beam up! ;) :D
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Congratulations Bill!
This topic has now more than doubled the welcome topic as most replied to and is approaching twice the most viewed also!
Holy Cr... oops... I mean... WOW! :o :o :o :o ???[/b][/i]
;D ;D ;D Thanks everyone! ;D ;D ;D
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(http://www.geocities.com/taketheactive/Images/XmasLites.gif)
;D Just in time for Christmas! ;D
Bill's X10 Voice Commander (aka BXVC) Version 0.47 is now available for download.
For information on What's New, Download Page LINKs and more, please visit:
- Bill's X10 Voice Commander Home Page (http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm)
- BXVC Announcements (http://wgjohns.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=10) at The Forums at WGJOHNS.COM (http://wgjohns.com/forums/index.php) and read about the Latest Version (http://wgjohns.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14)
Thanks again to everyone who has used and contributed to the development of BXVC! ;D
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! :D . . . . . . . . . . (http://www.geocities.com/taketheactive/Images/christmas022.gif) (Hidden camera photo of Bill working feverously in his shop! ;) )
[TTA Edit: Added description to LINKs (and a little Holiday Color!). ]
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;D Just in time for Christmas! ;D
And an excellent present for us all Bill. I already have her ...er it up and running too. She...it.. looks great too! I tried a custom command .....what a hoot. Now when I say Honey I am home Ms Mary says... hello Dave.
You do great work Bill. Thank You and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
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I also have Version 0.47 up and running!
The custom commands are what this program needed! ;) :D ;D
As Dave_x10_L stated " What a Hoot!" ;) :D ;D
Good Job Bill
Thanks for the early present ;) :D ;D
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Thanks Bill....
MERRY CHRISTMAS ...to you too :)
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Thanks guys! :D
Also, thank you TakeTheActive for getting me to sign up for Yahoo Messenger! ;D
BXVC 0.47 hasn't even been out for 24 hours and already I'm learning new tricks that BXVC will do that I hadn't even considered!
I just had a long YIM chat with david3336 and as usual, I'm impressed with the creative ways people come up with to exploit the new features!
david3336 came up with the idea that if you can define a Custom Command with a Trigger Phrase and have it "Speak a custom phrase." then (with a little creativity and forethought) you can design a "conversation" with BXVC! To make it all the more realistic, set "This command requires the Attention Phrase:" to "No" (CAUTION: this can cause unexpected voice responses at odd times!).
So, in other words, you can impress your friends by sitting down and having a nice little chat, argument, etc. with BXVC! :D
Thanks david3336! 8) ;D
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Nice work Bill. Great added features.
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(http://www.geocities.com/taketheactive/Images/NewsFlash.gif) *** BREAKING NEWS! *** (http://www.geocities.com/taketheactive/Images/NewsFlash.gif)
- Although each Custom Command can perform only one action, it is perfectly legal to define two or more Custom Commands with the same (that is exactly the same) Trigger Phrase, allowing multiple actions for a single spoken command!
- The Trigger Phrases must be exactly the same (best to use copy & paste).
- The Custom Commands will generally fire in the order they were created (Best to click down the list and see what order BXVC sees them in).
If you use this trick to send multiple X10 commands, they will most likely overlap and not perform as expected (better to build a MACRO in AHP and send a single X10 command to trigger it).
This is just a useful work-around until I wrap my head around the complexities of building an internal MACRO language for BXVC.
[TTA Edit: Created a LIST for better readability.]
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With the holidays nearly behind me I ventured out to try yet another way of getting my voice to the Voice Commander.
GLT had explained (earilier post) in detail how to use an intercom - makinig some modifications.] Knowing that would work (thanks to GLT and Don H) I decided to try a cheaper alliterative using the same mod.
I purchased Walmart's least costly The Safety 1st Crystal Clear "baby monitor." (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=893599) I figured at $17 (thats US dollars for my Canadian friends) I couldn't past up the trial.
First just to make sure it worked I plugged in the receiver in my office and the transmitter in another room, with a TV playing for sound. I returned to my office to check for static/interference/clarity. I was honestly impressed at the sound quality.
I then placed the receiver near the desktop microphone, returned to the transmitter and commanded lights on and off as easily as if I was at my desk.
I still plan on following GLT's directions for modification and connecting the signal via the input jack, as he described. And for anyone thinking about the appearance of a baby monitor..... I also tested it with the transmitter hidden under an endstand beside my easychair, with the same results.
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...I purchased Walmart's least costly The Safety 1st Crystal Clear "baby monitor." (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=893599) ...
Just a reminder for anyone that tries this...
Make sure that the monitor you choose doesn't use 2.4 GHz or your likely to create new problems for yourself.
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...I purchased Walmart's least costly The Safety 1st Crystal Clear "baby monitor." (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=893599) ...
Just a reminder for anyone that tries this...
Make sure that the monitor you choose doesn't use 2.4 GHz or your likely to create new problems for yourself.
Your right steven r.
I chose the 49Mhz, and luckily it was also the cheapest. I would also avoid the antenna-less units, as some use the powerline to transmit the FM signal.
I should have mentioned that I had tried antenna-less intercoms 1st with poor results. My X10 apparently interfered with (or absorbed) the intercom transmittion leaving me with no signal. And pressing the [intercom] call button caused some (X-10) lights to flicker.
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;D Happy New Year! ;D
Bill's X10 Voice Commander (aka BXVC) Version 0.50 is now available for download.
For information on What's New (basicly a bug fix :o ), Download Page LINKs and more, please visit:
- Bill's X10 Voice Commander Home Page (http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm)
- BXVC Announcements (http://wgjohns.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=10) at The Forums at WGJOHNS.COM (http://wgjohns.com/forums/index.php) and read about the Latest Version (http://wgjohns.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14)
Thanks again to everyone who has used and contributed to the development of BXVC! ;D
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! :D . . . . . . . . . . (http://www.geocities.com/taketheactive/Images/christmas022.gif) (Hidden camera photo of Bill working feverously in his shop! ;) )
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How do you use BXVC (Bill's X10 Voice Commander)?
I find the most interesting ideas come from the end-user (that's you!) and I hope some of you will share what you have done (and how) with BXVC (http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm).
I have already heard some really neat ideas and some I didn't even realize BXVC (http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm) would do... AND I WROTE IT!! :o
So, please join in at The Forums at WGJOHNS.COM (http://wgjohns.com/forums/index.php) and tell us about the creative ways you use BXVC (http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm) in the thread: How do you use BXVC? (http://wgjohns.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=28)
Thanks in advance for sharing your creative ways of using BXVC (http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm) with me and your fellow users! :D
And the first across the finish line is... Dave_X10_L !!! Thanks for the write-up Dave! ;D
:D Who will come in second? :D
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(http://www.geocities.com/taketheactive/Images/NewsFlash.gif) *** BREAKING NEWS! *** (http://www.geocities.com/taketheactive/Images/NewsFlash.gif)
Thanks to a donation from GLT (having the distinction of being not only the first, but so far the only donation), I have just ordered a USB-UIRT IR transceiver to try out and attempt to add support for.
Translation... Hopefully very soon BXVC will be able to control your TV, VCR, etc. that you now control with an IR remote! ;D Edit 07/02/2007: So far, I have been unable to translate the code needed to control the USB-UIRT into a ActiveX control form to make it compatible with BXVC. For this and other reasons I have translated BXVC into Visual BASIC as "BVC" and most future enhancements will only be made available in BVC.
The need to push this to the top of my to-do list became all the more obvious upon reading the thread: Yes, I'm new, just my story (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=11458.0) .
To coin a phrase; "soapbox mode on"...
This also brings to light that of all of the Home Automation bulletin board sites, this is one of the only ones that doesn't have a dedicated section relating to helping people with physical disabilities understand and acquire technology that would greatly improve their quality of life by allowing them to do the "simple things" that most of us take for granted.
To most of us, Home Automation is just a convenience, but, to the physically disabled, it is frequently a necessity!
So... once I get the IR working, enjoy! However, as you do so, remember Hollon67's post is what brought it to the top of my to-do list, and even then I wouldn't have been able to afford what I needed to make it happen without GLT's generosity.
In the mean-time... how about we pester X10 for that dedicated section for helping the physically disabled?
With the assumption that all of the "big wheels" of X10 are kept abreast of the goings-on in these forums (as we have been led to believe)... How about some BANDIT style deals (for equipment and software that is up-to-date enough to actually be useful) for people with physical disabilities? You choose the criteria for qualifying of course. Just thinking that, as someone suggested to me a while back, you could really use the PR!
If anyone still needs a reason to help out in whatever way they can, just remember "time is the great equalizer" and we will all need this stuff someday!
... Soapbox mode off.
Thanks for listening.
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AN ASIDE:
My CM15A doesn't seem to like being plugged
in to a USB 2.0 port.
Anyone else notice this problem?
-Bill- (of BXVC)
An update to the USB2 problem discused here: I recently did some USB device relocation and moved the CM15 to a USB2 port. AHP didn't throw the "can't find the interface" hissy fit. It's been fine. I suspect X10 fixed that in one of the updates between 3.201 and 3.204.
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AN ASIDE:
My CM15A doesn't seem to like being plugged
in to a USB 2.0 port.
Anyone else notice this problem?
-Bill- (of BXVC)
An update to the USB2 problem discused here: I recently did some USB device relocation and moved the CM15 to a USB2 port. AHP didn't throw the "can't find the interface" hissy fit. It's been fine. I suspect X10 fixed that in one of the updates between 3.201 and 3.204.
Thanks for the update Dan! :)
Unfortunately (fortunately?) my system has been working so well for so long that I'm scared to change anything unless I have to, especially while I'm working on a difficult software project. Anyone else feeling brave? ;D
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Hey Dave,
you should really get some BETTER voices! ..............You WON'T be disappointed!
GLT
Your right (and you haven't seered us wrong yet) I've already thinking about that.
My setup is still VERY MUCH a work in progress. I started this project during the holidays, and events have delayed me. But things seem to be moving along smoothly now. The "passive" sound system (computer speakers turned up LOUD) worked well for chimes and beeps, but unsatisfactory for voices. I will be working on the sound distribution this weekend. I remember reading that you use the X10 sound power, and may order that (again.... you haven't seered us wrong yet). But I want to run a test as I am using a lot of the 2.4 bandwidth now.
Text aloud or a similar product is also something I am thinking about. But for now...... I am creating macros .... putting remotes out of sight, and learning how to let the house run itself.
P.S. Bill : While reading a little on USB-UIRT seems people found it difficult to learn some remotes to it, but were really happy w/ it overall - "rock solid". Progress update?
Good idea! how about an update Bill.
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*** IR Control Update! ***
Where to begin?
The USB-UIRT is a good piece of equipment, but that is all it is... a device and a driver (imagine buying a CM15A with the SDK and no AHP). Worse, the driver is a common .dll file and not an ActiveX control or COM component (like comes with the AHP SDK). :(
The bad news:
Unless I (or more likely someone else at this point) can create a scripting compatable interface (or wrapper) for the USB-UIRT's .dll file, it is highly unlikely that BXVC (written in JScript) will ever support the USB-UIRT. :(
The good news:
My initial experiments with talking to the USB-UIRT using Visual BASIC 2005 Express Edition are extremely promising. I have in fact succeeded in having it learn an IR remote code and then transmit it, successfully controlling my TV!
The only big headache at the moment is that the USB-UIRT driver performs all of its "magic" while running on a background thread. This is good because it doesn't keep the main program from responding while the USB-UIRT "does it's thing". The headache comes in when trying to receive information from the USB-UIRT driver and display it on a Visual BASIC form. The Visual BASIC form is running in its own thread and transferring information between the two threads is (shall we say) difficult in the extreme? I think I have almost worked it out, however, I thought that two or three weeks ago too. :(
You may say; "Why is that good news? You still can't talk to the USB-UIRT in the JScript language that BXVC is written in! What good is that?"
The REALLY GOOD news:
Due to the many limitations of JScript that I have encountered, I have already re-written BXVC in Visual BASIC 2005 Express Edition! The Visual BASIC version, dubbed "BVC" or "Bill's Voice Commander" (as I intend it to support more than just X10 control), is fully functional and was (until the latest release of BXVC) capable of doing everything BXVC does. It should be fairly easy for me to translate the new capabilities of the latest BXVC release into BVC. As a matter of fact, some new features of BXVC were actually translated back from BVC (like finding and choosing a Face Graphic from a picture). Plus, IMHO the user interface is much more "professional" with drop-down menus, tabs that group configuration settings and such into logical groups, browsing for audio files instead of having to type them in by hand, etc. 8) :D Visual BASIC also gives much more access to Windows internals than JScript does, which will make possible many more advanced features that I have been unable to add due to JScript's limitations!
More bad news:
The Visual BASIC version may not work on Windows 98 due to the requirements of the installer generated by Visual BASIC 2005. I will have to test this and let you know.
At the risk of sounding selfish and / or greedy, I think it qualifies as bad news that sales of X10 stuff through my web site over the last year have barely earned me enough to pay for the web site, and that for all the rave reviews of BXVC by users, the only donation toward further development to-date has been the one GLT made! ???
I really don't expect or intend people to pay HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS (as some similar software costs), but really guys -n- gals, are you saying this is worth nothing to you? I suppose I could put out a hobbled "trial version" and require a specific payment for a "full version" (again like others do), but I (naively?) hope that people that find the program useful will be willing to support it rather than see it "dry up" because I have to devote my time to my "day job" so that the bills get paid. If there is a reason you haven't donated (like you or your bank are "allergic" to PayPal) please email me and let me know. I have considered renting a PO Box for people that can't or don't want to trust PayPal, but that is just an added monthly expense if no one is interested in sending a check.
That's the update folks!
Now back to arguing with the IR driver. :'(
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Hey that pay-pal isn't at all like I thought it would be! I didn't even bother with getting a pay-pal account. It was just like making a regular secure Internet purchase.
I just clicked the donations link at your Web Site (http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm), and typed in the card info.
Thanks for the software Bill!
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Hey that pay-pal isn't at all like I thought it would be! I didn't even bother with getting a pay-pal account. It was just like making a regular secure Internet purchase.
I just clicked the donations link at your Web Site (http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm), and typed in the card info.
Thanks for the software Bill!
Thank you, thank you and thank you Dave!
First, for all of the emotional support! With every post, email and IM reminding me that my efforts ARE appreciated. ;D
Second, for pointing out something that I thought was obvious and apparently isn't. You don't have to sign up for a PayPal account to use the donation link on my site. The link takes you to a web-page on PayPal's system that will allow you to donate from a PayPal account, or donate by filling in credit card information like any other online purchase. As I stated on my site, this is all processed securely by PayPal. I have no access to your credit card information. I do get to see the email address you fill in (which I probably already have since many of you email me), the name you fill in (no one else's business so I won't tell and again if you have emailed me I probably already know), and the amount you have sent.
Third, for your donation, which (since you asked) was plenty generous and greatly appreciated! :D
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Bill,
Tuiceman has an email activation system for payment - maybe ask it how well it works. I was hoping mostly for cheap IR to add to cheap VR - making an inexpensive assisted living system possible. IR is probably the key to the whole picture (I see Tuiceman adding VR to the dialer program), so maybe IR could be part of BVC's "plus" package.
Be careful of licensing though, I mean X-10 apparently has few programmers left and the next "must have" plugins would surely be VR and IR control. How can you sell to (or work for) them when you have already licensed your product to users? Just a wild idea.
GLT
Good points all!
It would be wonderful if X10 would pick up BXVC or BVC as an "official" plug-in, although, I hate to lose creative control and have X10 decide what features I can and can't add and at what price. For instance, would "Custom Commands" have been another $50 module like "Smart MACROs"? (shiver)
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In the interest of fairness, I feel I should state that there are at least a couple of you who have offered to make donations who can't use PayPal for various reasons. I understand, for instance, that Bank of America cards aren't allowed by PayPal (or maybe Bank of America has an issue with PayPal). I couldn't even use my Bank of America card to "validate" my PayPal account or make a test donation to see if the donation link worked!
I'm sure you can understand that I don't want to give out my physical address if I can help it. There are scare stories all of the time about stalking, identity-theft, etc. In that "perfect world" I keep talking about, this wouldn't be an issue. Unfortunately, in the "real world" we are always hearing; "He was such a nice man... he always helped me carry in the groceries and walked my dog when I was on vacation... I just can't believe he... (fill in your horror here)".
I mean, really, would you post your physical address here (or anywhere publicly accessable on the internet)?
Is it in your profile? How many people you "know" here have you given it to?
I'm guessing the answers are "No", "No" and either "None" or "One or two".
Going with the addage "Trust everyone, but always cut the cards." I will get a PO Box. ;)
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In the interest of fairness, I feel I should state that there are at least a couple of you who have offered to make donations who can't use PayPal for various reasons. I understand, for instance, that Bank of America cards aren't allowed by PayPal (or maybe Bank of America has an issue with PayPal). I couldn't even use my Bank of America card to "validate" my PayPal account or make a test donation to see if the donation link worked!
For what it's worth, I've used my Bank of America card with PayPal for years. Maybe the problem is a new one.
I don't use Bill's program mostly just because that's not the type of interface I'm currently interested in using for X10. I do feel it's an excellent program and I actively watch this forum discussion. For what the program does, its well worth a donation if you use it. I'd feel guilty, if I used it and didn't make a donation. e.g. How many programs have you paid for that give you level of support that Bill has given this program? Give Bill a break and at least make a donation so he can take his wife out for dinner instead of having her believe he's married to the computer. It's embarrassing to think he actually had to make a plea for donations.
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I know I am NOT the first person to open a garage door with X10. Heck, I don't even think I am the first to do it using BXVC!
What I did do was setup the unversal module in a macro (no 1st there ether). So that if the X10 camera in the garage isn't ON, the door won't open. I thought that was a nice little safety feature.
Now... once I get Tuicemens AlertDialer added in my setup (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=4776.0), I will be able to "voice command" a phone call for help, and open the door, to let help in. Meanwhile, I will just use it to open the garage door for my stepdaughter, when she pulls in the driveway.
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I know I am NOT the first person to open a garage door with X10....
...What I did do was setup the universal module in a macro (no 1st there ether). So that if the X10 camera in the garage isn't ON, the door won't open. I thought that was a nice little safety feature.
That's a clever idea. I've never felt like I could trust the security of opening my garage door with X10. I like your idea, however.
I do use X10 to close my door but have it wired so it only will close the door and not open it.
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I've never felt like I could trust the security of opening my garage door with X10. I like your idea, however.
I do use X10 to close my door but have it wired so it only will close the door and not open it.
Puck and Bill (of BXVC) opened my eyes about "security" in using X10 to open a garage (in another thread) (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=11897.msg67887#msg67887). So... I will be beefing-up my X10 garage door opener with an additional appliance module, that the universal module will plug into.
I am also going to put that module on an AHP timer (30 sec). Which will give me ample time to (voice command) open or close the door. Then (just to beat security into the ground) I will create a macro on a couple unused ON codes to trigger the module OFF. That will make it difficult to take an X10 remote and go through the codes to open the door.
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How do I get a single ON from a motion sensor?
Now that my BXVC system is working well... and with the new voice... speaking well, I want her to say more. I setup an ActiveEye (MS16A) motion sensor at my front door. Then I set a BXVC listener, to "listen" for the house-unit code ON signal that the motion sensor would send, when it sensed motion. The BXVC listener was set to respond to the (fornamed) ON signal with the custom reply "You have a visitor, at your front door".
After I set this up, I stepped out my front door (then back in) to listen to the announcement. It seems as though the motion sensor sends more than one ON signal... as my new voice told me a few times that I had a visitor at my front door. I don't a warning.... I just want a simple announcement.
Is there some macro, or something, or someway I can get a single ON .....or should I say a single: "You have a visitor, at your front door".
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Dave, you could try having the motion sensor trigger a macro, have the macro trigger something to do the voice and then put in a short time delay. The first on should trigger the macro and the rest are skipped over since the macro is running. You will have to play with the delay. Maybe the macro turns on a dummy module and then after the time delay resets it.
(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)----KDR
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If your motion sensor's house code is on a Transceived house code, try a non-transceived one. The double trigger could be from the original RF and then from the transceived PLC(?)
Just looked at BXVC and you can select it to respond to RF, PLC or both. So if you have it set to both, try setting that to just one.
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Dave, I experimented with that a couple of months ago and had the same problem. I set up a dummy macro to set a flag when the motion sensor is triggered on. The voice would "play" if the flag was clear. With the flag set, the voice would not play. When the motion sensor is triggered off, I would clear the flag.
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Hey thanks guys!
Before I read Don N's post about flags. I set up a two (ghost) module, conditional macro (the flag sounds simpler). The sensor is the trigger, the trigger turns on module one, delays a sec, then turns on module two, delays 15secs, then turns OFF module two. The condition was that the second ghost module had to be OFF for the macro to trigger. I set BXVC to only listen to line signals, that does avoid the hearing the signal twice.
I had made a stick-in-the-ground stand that holds the ActiveEye module. I stuck the stand with the sensor beside my front door and returned to my office. As I walked in my office I heard "you have a vistor at the front door". Thankfully.... my wife was out shopping with her daughter.... and I had the driveway cam on. I could clearly see the traffic was triggering the motion sensor.
I moved the stand with the motion sensor to the lamp post and faced it towards the house, and away from traffic now kate/seven/Jerri says "there is activity in the driveway" But she only says it when there IS, and then only every 15 seconds.
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I just set-up my 2nd BXVC computer!
I decided (during a storm) that a computer dedicated to Home Automation would be the way to go. I had originally set-up AHP and BXVC on my "good" desktop that I also use to convert home movies to DVD.
I picked-up a broken (old, slow and infested with spyware) P3 with 256 DRAM and a 20 gig HD. I reloaded the Operating System, called X10 (I dug up my original invoice 1st) and they emailed me a link to RE-download the AHP software. I installed BXVC and used a flash drive to copy and then paste the files from AHP (ahx files) and BXVC (xml files).
I spent the most part of two evenings fine tuning the microphone (baby monitor) inputs and "training" the speech recognition. BXVC worked ok... but not as reliably as the (previous) better computer.
Today I decided to add another memory strip, bumping the memory (DRAM) up to 512 mb (I bought the old memory strip at a flea market). That seemed to smooth out the computers (and BXVC's) performance. I think I could also see improvement with a better sound card. But I am not sure it's needed as of yet.
15April update
After much tinkering, adjusting, updated (soundcard) driver downloading, speech training, and frustration... I decided the soundcard doesn't need replaced (ok I also tried a new soundcard too). I had forgotten how time consuming (about 12 hours) setting up, fine tuning, and training the speech recognition can be. But it was well worth the time spent. BXVC is working like a charm.
Now all I need is to find a good sale on a UPS (battery back-up power supply). Then maybe order a line filter to protect my X10 signal.
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Ok I have read all 23 pages...
I *think* my MS SDK of Speech is FUBARED.
I don't see a mike in the system tray....
I am using the Instant on X10 CMOS cameras as very sensitive mikes... which can double as web cams for my chats....
I'm using the Eagle Eye's and macros to turn off all other cameras and only the local room On, to make it easy to have one mike....
All that is working, including feedback @ the BXVC box if the speakers are turned up too loud...
So, I need to un-install MS speech and re-install to get a little mike in the system tray? BXVC "sees" the sound card, and the wizard shows it as zero input on speaking....
TIA...
Very anxious to get this going ;-)
FYI, just got my first 2-way lamp modules.... what a difference.....
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Tcat
You may not see a Mic in the tool bar if your Language tool bar is disabled!
Make sure in your sound settings that you Mic is not disabled. ;)
Right click on a blank spot on your tool bar and a pop up will appear with toolbars being the top option click on it then go down to language bar and check it!
One test I always use to debug sound problems is to open the windows sound recorder and try creating a sound file with it! if it won't work the problem is in your soundcard configuration not the MS Sound SDK.
You can find the sound recorder if you click on Start, go to Programs, then Accessories, then Entertainment! ;) :D ;D
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Tcat
If BXVC doesn't "gripe" that it "Can not initialize the speech..." when you start it up, and clicking the "Test Voice" button makes it talk, then most likely the MS Speech SDK is properly installed.
The fact that the Microphone Setup Wizard doesn't show any input when you talk, says that Windows isn't "hearing" the microphone. Since you can hear the microphone through the speakers, it is most likely that the microphone is disabled (muted) under the Record or Speech tabs of the sound card's volume controls.
P.S.
To eliminate the feed-back, you need to mute the input the microphone is on in the Playback tab of the sound card's volume controls. ;)
Hope this gets you pointed in the right direction!
Let me (us) know.
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Hey Bill &Tuicemen! What stars! :)
First Tuiceman... Language Bar was the trick! Nice...
Bill... I see the X10 Video Receiver *really* is a line in voltage. I cannot get the volume low enough on the controls to use the mike in... Besides an attunator, how do I get the speech engine to look at line input, not mike? That will put me over the top. Yes, the voice from Mary works fine...
Thanks to both of you!
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Go to Windows Control Panel and check for Speech settings. It should allow you to pick which device (i.e. sound card) and which line (i.e. microphone, mixer, etc.) the Voice Recognition listens to.
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YUP! Got it up before I FUBARED it :-\ Learning... LOL
THANK YOU
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I'm wondering if there is an overview in one of the many messages that can improve my understanding of BXVC? For example, I don't get "new listener". I assume that is My Voice, but it could be an alternative to the AHP module? I'm slowly getting there... Pretty cool stuff for the total $. I'm close to figuring out BXVC, flags, etc....
Bill I need to put some $ in Paypal and send some to you.
After all this will be the companion Phone control !
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I'm wondering if there is an overview in one of the many messages that can improve my understanding of BXVC? For example, I don't get "new listener".
The "listener" is a GREAT feature! It "listens" for X10 signals and responds as you determine. I use it two ways.
1. BXVC "listens" for motion sensor signals and announces visitors
2. I created pretend modules and set them with timers in AHP. The "listener" listens for the modules and replies with custom announcements. creating a talking clock (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=12205.0).
I need to put some $ in Paypal and send some to you.
I was surprised, I didn't have to join paypal or anything like that! Just clicked the link on Bill's Web Site and entered a credit card number. Just like making a purchase... from paypal.
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AH!!! I get it! That would be a great feature to use! Will Play! Thanks!
Any other tips, thoughts out there? Maybe we could get a thread for newbies like me!
"I was surprised, I didn't have to join paypal of anything like that! Just click the link on Bill Web Site and enter a credit card number. Just like making a purchase... from paypal."
Humm... no. Just because I am paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me. I lost $996.18 for 3 weeks in PayPal via the scammers and Air France bogus ticket... I got it back after hoop jumping .... I lost the CC # to a small web site while buying sushi stuff... No, I only use paypal for that reason. At least I do get my money back after a month... I teach computer security... The bad guys are big business... Google my name, Tcat... you will see I work hard, but we have to be right 100% of the time. The bad guys, only once...
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Tcat
Yes, in hind-sight, I probably should have named that "X10 Listener", "Signal Listener" or even "Event Listener". ::)
The idea is that BXVC monitors all X10 signals received or indeed sent by the CM15A and can be told to respond to them.
As Dave_x10_L pointed out, not only does this allow you to have BXVC respond to signals received from "real" modules like motion sensors, palm-pads, etc., it also allows you to create complex MACROs in AHP and have them issue a command to a "dummy" module within AHP thereby triggering a response from BXVC!
I find your response about Pay-Pal interesting. Many people have refused to donate through the link on my site because they don't trust Pay-Pal! That, and for some unknown reason Bank of America cards refuse to work with Pay-Pal (I couldn't even register mine with Pay-Pal as proof of my identity!)
Anyway... payment through a Pay-Pal account is easier on me, and if I didn't trust them, I would never have given them all of the information they require to prove I am me and allow me to accept donations through their service! :o
I assume ;) that you finally got it to recognize your camera mic's?
Play away! It's really great to hear what others are accomplishing with BXVC!
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YES! I did get the PIR units to turn on and off the various cameras so BXVC can hear me!
MS speech is not up to Dragon Naturally Speaking, but given a limited set of commands, its certainly good enough.
The mikes in the CMOS cameras are incredibly sensitive.
Too bad The cheap Dell/e-machines box Ate XP today. No not even system restore is bringing it back.
May have lost the PCI bus...
A different thought... since you are creating in .Net V2, prehaps a section to call a batch file or shortcut?
Being able to say "launch Fire Fox" when I get up and start making coffee would sure be a time saver!
PayPal is not the greatest thing since sliced bread... AND given the Big Business of Black Hats, it's a step forward.
They have the resources for security as they have over 100 million accounts. Across the pond, no charges, and no interest paid.
So they have quite a few dollars for investing in "the float".
I have to prep and deliver speaking to a bunch of MS folks... so I will be off this project for a few days...
Thank you all for such a great community!
Tcat
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YES! I did get the PIR units to turn on and off the various cameras so BXVC can hear me!
Glad to hear it! ;D
MS speech is not up to Dragon Naturally Speaking, but given a limited set of commands, its certainly good enough.
The mikes in the CMOS cameras are incredibly sensitive.
Yes. :( This is one of the reasons I have pretty much given up on the idea of having BXVC allow the user to speak into text-boxes (like speaking a new device name instead of having to type it in). It is just not very good at accurately recognizing free-form dictation.
Too bad The cheap Dell/e-machines box Ate XP today. No not even system restore is bringing it back.
May have lost the PCI bus...
Ouch! :o
A different thought... since you are creating in .Net V2, prehaps a section to call a batch file or shortcut?
Being able to say "launch Fire Fox" when I get up and start making coffee would sure be a time saver!
Actually, this is a fairly frequent request that is (sadly) still buried in my "to do" pile. ::)
I have to prep and deliver speaking to a bunch of MS folks... so I will be off this project for a few days...
Thank you all for such a great community!
Tcat
Good luck, and thanks for being a part of the community! :)
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I had tried to get Kate to play "doorbell" and announce visitors when they approach my front door. I just didn't have a good place for a motion sensor, and traffic on the road would cause false triggers. Nobody wants to hear "you have a visitor at the front door" in the middle of the night.
Then today I was opening a new package of CD-RW's and got this ideaI cut off those locking "ears" from the CD case, and spray painted it black. I lined the back (inside) with Velcro, drilled a drain-hole at the bottom of the case, and nailed it to a stake. I used self stick Velcro on the back of the motion sensor, programed it and stuck it inside the CD case.
No more traffic related false triggers!
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Dave_x10_L:
Cool! 8) Like putting "blinders" on a horse! :D
Watch out for those leaves though! ;)
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My "couple days" turned into weeks and 21,000 miles of air travel. ::)
Back in MX. Today I did a write up for the CompTIA DHTI+ exam and managed to work in quite a bit about BXVC and X10.
Wireless speakers arrived in my run.... so now I can "hear and be heard" <a pun on one of my presentations> all around the house....
In the next couple days I will play with IM and BXVC with the whole house concept.
In an unrelated note, I did get a couple of the 2-way lamp modules. They are really slick! Too bad they are dropped from the lineup.
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OK, 24 pages later I understand a little bit more about BXVC. I have a couple of questions:
- 1.) When is BVC coming out?
Just curious, I have yet to play with BXVC (I prefer java to .net, but it sounds like the new version is better)
- 2.) Can you get local weather information loaded into BXVC so that you can ask:
- "What is the temperature outside?" or
- "Is it supposed to rain today?" or
- "What's the forecast for the next few days?" etc
- 3.) It would be nice if you can have a "Status" category, where you can add standard and custom phrases. Additionally, BXVC would use an internal flag (boolean) to control Status announcements.
For instance, suppose you have a few standard announcements like speak the time every hour (during the day or both day / night), announce the current weather information, next 1/2 day weather information, and top 5 news stories (from a decent source, NOT FOX!). Let's also assume that you define some custom announcements like "Your garage door is still open - remember to close it", etc. If you instruct BXVC to set Status to ON, then every hour these announcements will come on. You can turn the announcements off by saying "Status Off" OR "Standard Status Off" would only play the custom announcements, "Custom Status Off" would only play standard announcements, etc.
Bill, I applaud your initiative and devotion. I will gladly send you a donation to support this project, even if I end up not using it (I hope I do though, it sounds cool - pun intended :) As a programmer myself (when duty calls), I completely understand the amount of work and time you put into it.
[TTA Edit: Added WHITESPACE and formatting to improve readability.]
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Maybe we can all give a hand to Bill with a little $ and thin slice the .Net project into bite sized chunks so it can get done in some timeline less than building the 8th wonder of the world?
I can throw a few bones and maybe some names for coding help....
The program is killer cool. I wish I was home more to use it. (As I prepare for a new class in Silicon Valley) it would be nice to have that computer reminding me time is slipping...
I would *love* to see an option to MS Speech. I have licenses to Dragon, Via Voice, Voice Xpress, etc...
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Maybe we can all give a hand to Bill with a little $ and thin slice the .Net project into bite sized chunks so it can get done in some timeline less than building the 8th wonder of the world?
The program is killer cool.
Agreed!
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WOW!
I can't believe how long it has been since I posted a "progress report" about my development efforts! :o
So, here goes...
I have translated BXVC into Visual BASIC Express and so far, it (aka BVC) works great! 8)
BVC is currently in alpha-test by three people and again, it seems to work great! It even appears to work on Windows Vista without having to install the MS Voice Recognition SDK! 8)
BVC is basically a "more Windows like" version of BXVC.
BVC includes "standard" Windows features like:
- Installs to the "Program Fiiles" folder.
- Creates Desktop, Start Menu and Quick Launch icons (optionally).
- Creates an uninstall entry in Control Panel's "Add or Remove Programs" list.
- Drop-down menus.
- Configuration settings grouped by function under separate "tabs".
- "Browsing" for files instead of having to type in a file name and / or path.
Other changes include:
- Backup and restore of "User Settings", including configuration settings, Device List, Custom Command List, Listener List, user imported Audio Files, user imported Face Graphic sets, etc. (The current alpha-test version doesn't do this, but I am almost finished adding the "final touches" to the development version.)
- Imports "User Settings" from BXVC, including configuration settings, Device List, Custom Command List, Listener List, user imported Audio Files, user imported Face Graphic sets, etc.
- Face Graphic sets can be easily "imported" from within BVC instead of "manually" copying and pasting files and folders.
It has taken much longer than I expected to translate, but that is partially because I am such a "perfectionist" and want everything to work even better than the original BXVC! So, it hasn't been just a matter of translation, but more like "translate and improve". Yes, I could have released BVC a while ago, and most users wouldn't have minded some "manual importing" of files, however, me being me, I want to get it "right" the first time!
While I have had some success getting basic IR functions working in Visual BASIC Express, there are a number of things I need to add to BVC before IR will be usable. A big one is "command sequences" (more or less "simple MACRO's") as each IR command that requires more than one keypress on the remote (like change to channel 244) will have to send a sequence of IR commands.
... More to follow! ...
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Wow, this sounds fantastic. As a current user of BXVC, I look forward to integrating BVC. And as a "purchaser" of BXVC, I have no problem in donating additional funds to Bill for his efforts in building BVC. Something we should all consider. An early thank you!!!!!!
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Well, I tried BXVC last night and I must say, I was pretty impressed, even though I knew exactly what to expect. I added a custom phrase "Who is the most beautiful woman in the world?" and Butler (that's what I call it) says "Why Daphne, of course!" :) (Daphne is my wife). Needless to say, that brought a smile to her face. Up until that point she was worried that I lost my mind. She still thinks that I lost most of my mind, based on the looks I get, but at least Butler tells her she's beautiful, hehe.
I also have x10dispatcher running, but I use it mostly to play custom wav files (like "garage door is open", "welcome home", etc) based on motion sensors / security sensors activity. My question is - can I only use BXVC and eliminate x10dispatch from the mix? I like x10dispatch very much, it is very neat, but it seems that the two apps overlap in this area. I could very easily have BXVC play either a pre-recorded wave file or simply tell it what to say when it "hears" an x10 event...
Anyway, I'd like to hear your opinion about that.
Bill, can you tell me if you have any plans to incorporate any of the features I mentioned in one of my previous posts in a future release? Also, I can help testing BVC - I wouldn't mind installing and running it on my machine - can you email it to me (azzar0@yahoo.com)
Thanks,
Azzar0
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............ Up until that point she was worried that I lost my mind. She still thinks that I lost most of my mind, based on the looks I get..............
I remember that look! Seems that all of us BXVC users have seen it. But now my wife wouldn't want to be without it, she even brags about BXVC. We both enjoy the look on guest's face's when they see BXVC demonstrated. And the wife particularly enjoys the voice announcements (similar to what you have planned) over the traditional X10 chime.
Check out the "improved voices" (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=12224.0) and the Talking clock (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=12205.0Talking clock) to make more use of the voice announcements. I think.... there is a way to use AHP macros to create a voice alarm clock..... but I haven't gotten to that yet.
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[ I think.... there is a way to use AHP macros to create a voice alarm clock..... but I haven't gotten to that yet.
Absolutely! In AHP you can have, for instance, a dummy module (say D10) set to come on at 7:30 AM (or whenever you want to wake up). In BXVC, you can set up a listener for D10 ON, which will then play a custom audio file OR just make an announcement. The problem with that approach is that you will have to have speakers in your bedroom and you'll have to remember to mute Butler (or whatever you named YOUR BXVC ;D)
You can also set up a macro that turns on the speakers just before the announcement / audio file and then back off, etc.
Speaking of audio files, however, I CAN'T GET BXVC TO PLAY THEM - HELP, PLEASE!
So I setup a listener, and asked it to play an audio file. The file path and name is E:\X10_BXVC_Audio_Files\close_pantry_door.wav.
Whenever the listener kicks in, I get an error message: "Cannot play audio file:"Audio Files\E:\X10_BXVC_Audio_Files\close_pantry_door.wav"
It seems that BXVC is adding the "Audio Files\" prefix to all audio files - is there a way to change that?
Thanks,
Azzar0
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[ I think.... there is a way to use AHP macros to create a voice alarm clock..... but I haven't gotten to that yet.
...................................
Speaking of audio files, however, I CAN'T GET BXVC TO PLAY THEM - HELP, PLEASE!
............................... I get an error message: "Cannot play audio file:"Audio Files\E:\X10_BXVC_Audio_Files\close_pantry_door.wav"
It seems that BXVC is adding the "Audio Files\" prefix to all audio files - is there a way to change that?
Where-ever it is you put BXVC (you can put BXVC anywhere) go to its folder/files. Open the folder named: "audio" (or is it "audio files"?)". Then place your "door.wav" in that folder. Then where you've typed: Audio Files\E:\X10_BXVC_Audio_Files\close_pantry_door.wav" ..... replace that with: door.wav.
BXVC will automatically look in it's own audio files for the door.wav
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[ I think.... there is a way to use AHP macros to create a voice alarm clock..... but I haven't gotten to that yet.
Absolutely! In AHP you can have, for instance, a dummy module (say D10) set to come on at 7:30 AM (or whenever you want to wake up). In BXVC, you can set up a listener for D10 ON, which will then play a custom audio file OR just make an announcement. The problem with that approach is that you will have to have speakers in your bedroom and you'll have to remember to mute Butler (or whatever you named YOUR BXVC ;D)
You can also set up a macro that turns on the speakers just before the announcement / audio file and then back off, etc.
Speaking of audio files, however, I CAN'T GET BXVC TO PLAY THEM - HELP, PLEASE!
So I setup a listener, and asked it to play an audio file. The file path and name is E:\X10_BXVC_Audio_Files\close_pantry_door.wav.
Whenever the listener kicks in, I get an error message: "Cannot play audio file:"Audio Files\E:\X10_BXVC_Audio_Files\close_pantry_door.wav"
It seems that BXVC is adding the "Audio Files\" prefix to all audio files - is there a way to change that?
Thanks,
Azzar0
The short answer is "no".
The longer answer:
BXVC in it's present incarnation "assumes" all audio files are stored int its "Audio Files" folder. Therefore for it to play an audio file, you actually have to place a copy of the audio file in BXVC's "Audio Files" folder.
That is another improvement I made while "translating" BXVC to Visual BASIC... BVC not only lets you "browse" for an audio file to play, but it can play audio files from ANY folder! You still have the option of manually copying the audio file to BVC's "User Data\Audio Files" folder to make them easier to find, but that is no longer "required" to make it play them. In a future update, I will add a pop-up question asking if you want to copy the audio file to the "User Data\Audio Files" folder whenever you select a file that hasn't already been copied into that folder, thus eliminating the need to "manually" copy the file.
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1) when is BVC coming out? Just curious, I have yet to play with BXVC (I prefer java to .net, but it sounds like the new version is better)
I have gone from "soon" to "very soon!" ;)
I actually wanted to re-write BXVC in Java so that it could run on more machines and OS's (like Apple and Linux)! There are (were?) three big road-blocks to that idea:
1) I couldn't find any USB support in Java (at least not without "buying" someone else's code library.)
2) There wasn't (still isn't?) any useful information on talking to the CM15A without using the (Windows only) AHP software.
3) The MS Voice Recognition engine I am familiar with only works under Windows. (CMU Sphynx looks promising for a Java port, but who wants to wait that long? i.e. "eighth wonder of the world timeline!") ;)
2) can you get local weather information loaded into BXVC so that you can ask "What is the temperature outside?" or "Is it supposed to rain today?" or "What's the forecast for the next few days?" etc
Not yet. However Tuicemen and I have had a few discussions about how to do this and it indeed looks do-able, I'm just not sure when I'll be able to get to it.
3) It would be nice if you can have a "Status" category, where you can add standard and custom phrases. Additionally, BXVC would use an internal flag (boolean) to control Status announcements. For instance, suppose you have a few standard announcements like speak the time every hour (during the day or both day / night), announce the current weather information, next 1/2 day weather information, and top 5 news stories (from a decent source, NOT FOX!). Let's also assume that you define some custom announcements like "Your garage door is still open - remember to close it", etc. If you instruct BXVC to set Status to ON, then every hour these announcements will come on. You can turn the announcements off by saying "Status Off" OR "Standard Status Off" would only play the custom announcements, "Custom Status Off" would only play standard announcements, etc.
I agree, future versions will need some form of boolean flags. Of course, MACROs to use the flags will be necessary too. Also, it needs several forms of "memory", like remembering module status, a "conversation memory" so if you say "Turn up the TV" and it does, you can say "Turn it up more" and it will know you're still talking about the TV, etc.
So many "to do's", so little time! :(
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Maybe we can all give a hand to Bill with a little $ and thin slice the .Net project into bite sized chunks so it can get done in some timeline less than building the 8th wonder of the world?
I can throw a few bones and maybe some names for coding help....
Any donation ($ or code) is greatly appreciated! ;D
Code wise, it would have to be in the form of "donated code" i.e. no royalties expected, or we would have to hammer out some sort of agreement as to what people expect in return for their code contribution. While I support the idea that "more heads are better" and the sharing of code advances the project, I don't want to get into the sort of situation David Mark did with "My House" (click here for one of his posts on the subject (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=11259.msg64490#msg64490)).
The program is killer cool. I wish I was home more to use it. (As I prepare for a new class in Silicon Valley) it would be nice to have that computer reminding me time is slipping...
Thanks! :D
I would *love* to see an option to MS Speech. I have licenses to Dragon, Via Voice, Voice Xpress, etc...
BXVC and BVC support any speech engine that is MS SAPI 5.x compatible. Had I known SAPI 4.x was the most common, I would have coded for it. However, it looks like most "future apps" will need to comply to MS SAPI 5.x as that is what Windows Vista supports. That said, there are a great deal of resources out there that only support SAPI 4.x (recognition engines, voices, etc.) and if anyone can give me any help in sorting out the differences in the API's I would be glad to try and support SAPI 4.0! Heck, that would even allow adding in features of MS Agent! 8)
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"Code wise, it would have to be in the form of "donated code" i.e. no royalties expected"
Of course. I am a bit of a SME on this matter. Code donators are "published". I have launched more than a couple folks as full time book authors this way....
That is the "pay". :)
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"Code wise, it would have to be in the form of "donated code" i.e. no royalties expected"
Of course. I am a bit of a SME on this matter. Code donators are "published". I have launched more than a couple folks as full time book authors this way....
That is the "pay". :)
Errr... HUH? I hate to admit it, but the batteries in my "Uneversal Translator" must have finally died! I must have forgot to change them when DST kicked in! ;D
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I should know better than to add something when I am working on another project :-\
I've written a # of books. I think I am on #'s 35 and 36 (ETA-i.ORG) Computer Service Tech and Computer Network Service Tech. They are books about passing certification tests. <That is what I do, write about computer tests, teach how to take tests>
I did several books where folks wrote say, a chapter. They we're *promised* to never get a dime. However, they we're "published". Really! Nice hardcover and trade cover books. AND they are given away on the Internet too. http://certiguide.com/apfr/index.htm
So the folks who "gave" away their efforts, got to put on their CV/Resume they are published. That puts them to the front of the line in job interviews.
The only guy who didn't see a major jump forward in the career path was the guy who wrote the Safety chapter. He works for a nice gov agency and didn't want to leave town for a new job. I don't think it hurt his performance review though since he was now "an author".
I'm in quotes with "an author" because I have discovered if your code or writing is "in the wild" you get this massive respect in the HR world that is beyond any understanding I can explain. So "free" becomes quite the career boost since it goes on the CV/Resume and people can confirm "I did that".
Maybe it has something to do with being visible... I don't know. But it works. 8)
FYI, same deal with the Security+ book. Just fewer folks.
Tcat
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Where-ever it is you put BXVC (you can put BXVC anywhere) go to its folder/files. Open the folder named: "audio" (or is it "audio files"?)". Then place your "door.wav" in that folder. Then where you've typed: Audio Files\E:\X10_BXVC_Audio_Files\close_pantry_door.wav" ..... replace that with: door.wav.
BXVC will automatically look in it's own audio files for the door.wav
Well that explains it... I'll do that when I get home tonight.
Thanks!
Azzar0
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That is another improvement I made while "translating" BXVC to Visual BASIC... BVC not only lets you "browse" for an audio file to play, but it can play audio files from ANY folder! You still have the option of manually copying the audio file to BVC's "User Data\Audio Files" folder to make them easier to find, but that is no longer "required" to make it play them. In a future update, I will add a pop-up question asking if you want to copy the audio file to the "User Data\Audio Files" folder whenever you select a file that hasn't already been copied into that folder, thus eliminating the need to "manually" copy the file.
I still dislike (for lack of a better word) .net BUT GET ME THE BVC ASAP :) I'll take even the pre-alpha version, the least I can do is test it for you. And trust me, I will be doing a lot of testing. I want to get my wife to talk to "Butler" too ;) and my kids eventually - talk about system stress!!! :)
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Bill is on Yahoo messenger almost nightly!
If you catch him there you can get the program (BVC) real quick!
I think that is the only way Bill is handing it out right now as testers can quickly report the bugs to him via messenger! ;)
I must say every one will be impressed when it is finally released it is very solid! ;) (at least in my tests)
Note: when you create a yahoo account use your same handle that you use here, if it is taken add " _x10 " to the end of it
that way Bill and the rest of us there will know who you are! ;)
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Great! My Yahoo messenger ID is azzar0, so it should be easy. I take it yours is tuiceman and Bill's is BXVC?
I'll try to get on later tonight to chat with you guys.
Thanks!
Azzar0
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One more question - is it possible to have BXVC start up automatically when Windows / AHP starts? While I'm asking this - is it possible to start AHP automatically when Windows starts? I tried using the Start Up shortcut (and dragged activehome.exe) but it doesn't work. I already setup my Windows XP account to autmatically sign me in, but now I have to figure out how to start these things so that if the computer reboots (autmatic updates, etc) I won't be disconnected...
Thanks,
Azzar0.
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Bill is billofbxvc
I'm tuicemen_x10 I've sent you a contact request. ;)
You Probably won't catch me as I'm heading to the cottage so as the wife gets home!
Yes it is possible to have AHP and BVC start with windows I even think BXCV can although it Has been a while since I used that! ;)
Basically right click on start, then click on open click on programs,click on start!
Now right click in the window scroll down to new and click on it, click on shortcut, in the window that opens browse to the location of AHP and click OK ;)
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Bill is billofbxvc
I'm tuicemen_x10 I've sent you a contact request. ;)
You Probably won't catch me as I'm heading to the cottage so as the wife gets home!
Yes it is possible to have AHP and BVC start with windows I even think BXCV can although it Has been a while since I used that! ;)
Basically right click on start, then click on open click on programs,click on start!
Now right click in the window scroll down to new and click on it, click on shortcut, in the window that opens browse to the location of AHP and click OK ;)
billofwgjohnscom also works to get to me! ;)
Yes, you can create a shortcut to BXVC's program file the same way. Browse to wherever you put BXVC and find the file "Bill's X10 Voice Commander.hta" (the ".hta" may not show depending on your Windows settings. ;) ).
P.S.
AHP does not have to be "running" i.e. "visible" for BXVC or BVC to work. AHP will have to be "running" if you have created any MACRO's in AHP that "run from computer" only.
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Tcat:
Thanks for the clarification!
Yes, I see your point now. Especially in the acedemic and scientific communities, being "published" is a BIG feather in your cap!
I do my best to acknowlege ALL contributions ($ or code), although I must admit I have fallen a bit behind on that.
To bring us up-to-date (I think), I would like to thank:
Don N, steinie44, and "Mr. Y." (since I can't seem to link you to your X10 nic!) for their $ contributions! 8) ;D
I would also like to thank Tuicemen (yet again!) for his wonderful new "Operator" Face Graphic set which he has graciously given me the permission to include in future releases (if, and only if, I remove the "old" one ;) )! 8) ;D
Oh, yes and of course Dave_x10_L for his continuing "emotional support", as well as his ongoing effort to create a "manual" for BVC! 8) ;D
Eventually, I will include a "credits" list in BVC as well! ;) :D
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Dave_x10_L for his continuing ongoing effort to create a "manual" for BVC!
Eventually, I will include a "credits" list in BVC as well! ;) :D
I just emailed Bill a draft of the BVC manual for editing.
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Not sure if this is the correct place for this question, but here it goes:
I am planning on upgrading the microphone system used with B(X)VC. I am currently using Dave_X10_L's 'poor man' microphone approach (baby monitors), but I would like to use something a little more sophisticated to see if it makes a difference. I am currently looking at 2 options for audio mixers: 1) SHURE AMS8000 http://www.shure.com/stellent/groups/public/@gms_gmi_web_ug/documents/web_resource/us_pro_AMS8000_ug_27A8273(QC).pdf
and/or 2) CROWN SMX-6 http://www.crownaudio.com/pdf/legacy/iqmuxhm.pdf.
For microphones I am planning on using 3 or 4 AMS22 http://www.dealtime.com/xPF-Shure-Low-Profile-Microphone-with-20-Cable-and-Male-XLR-Connector-Wired-for-AMS-Shure.
Which audio mixer is better (and why)? I noticed that SMX-6 requires software to configure the various settings and the one I found does NOT have the software. AMS8000, on the other hand, doesn't require any software (at least I didn't see it specified anywhere).
Thanks!
Azzar0
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if anyone can give me any help in sorting out the differences in the API's I would be glad to try and support SAPI 4.0! Heck, that would even allow adding in features of MS Agent! 8)
I might be able to help there Bill as I have a version of X10wavplayer which uses sapi4 and MS Agents! I also have a version of my operator face as an agent! ;) :D ;D
I'll add it to the Pile for that rainy day! ;) :D ;D
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Not sure if this is the correct place for this question, but here it goes:
I am planning on upgrading the microphone system used with B(X)VC. I am currently using Dave_X10_L's 'poor man' microphone approach (baby monitors), but I would like to use something a little more sophisticated to see if it makes a difference.
This sure is the correct place! bigbear1969 already supplied this info back in post 172 (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=9918.msg53755#msg53755). His description is extensive and complete.
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if anyone can give me any help in sorting out the differences in the API's I would be glad to try and support SAPI 4.0! Heck, that would even allow adding in features of MS Agent! 8)
I might be able to help there Bill as I have a version of X10wavplayer which uses sapi4 and MS Agents! I also have a version of my operator face as an agent! ;) :D ;D
I'll add it to the Pile for that rainy day! ;) :D ;D
LOL! Me and my big mouth! ::) I think that "pile" has fallen over and attempted to crush me on several occasions lately! :o
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Not sure if this is the correct place for this question, but here it goes:
I am planning on upgrading the microphone system used with B(X)VC. I am currently using Dave_X10_L's 'poor man' microphone approach (baby monitors), but I would like to use something a little more sophisticated to see if it makes a difference.
This sure is the correct place! bigbear1969 already supplied this info back in post 172 (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=9918.msg53755#msg53755). His description is extensive and complete.
I read that post many times Dave. Unfortunately, bigbear1969 hasn't been online in a year. Also, he describes his setup, which is slightly different than what I am looking at. His mixer is gating ( only ONE mic open at any given time), while the one I am looking at does gating differently, by comparing front mic noise level to back of mic noise level. If front sound is louder (by more than 9 dB I think) then it switches that mic on. You could end up with MULTIPLE mics on, but for my application that would be OK. In any event, I believe classic gating is better for speech recognition in general, but given the price and the technology, this mixer (AMS8000) might work just as well. I'll try it and see what happens. I am sure you'll want to see how a professional mic setup helps with BVC :) I will let you know
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I am sure you'll want to see how a professional mic setup helps with BVC :) I will let you know
Your right... and I will be following your posts! I like the idea of a hardwired set-up.
I did considerable research and testing before adapting the Baby Monitors. The entire time there was another member (glt) that kept posting that the correct solution was a certain model of intercoms that worked great in his set-up.
I know there are many ways to skin this [mulitable microphone] cat. I also know I learned a lot from glt's posts. I tried to incorporate everything I learned at one place (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=12202.msg67395) to save future users any hassle they don't need. UNfortunately, I am not an "audio guy" so I also know there is MUCH more knowledge out there still to be shared.
I have become convinced.... that it really isn't as hard as it might seem to do a multiple microphone set-up. My baby monitors work near flawlessly. As I am sure glt's intercom set-up does also. I am confident you won't have any trouble getting the results your looking for.
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I am sure you'll want to see how a professional mic setup helps with BVC :) I will let you know
Your right... and I will be following your posts! I like the idea of a hardwired set-up.
I did considerable research and testing before adapting the Baby Monitors. The entire time there was another member (glt) that kept posting that the correct solution was a certain model of intercoms that worked great in his set-up.
I know there are many ways to skin this [mulitable microphone] cat. I also know I learned a lot from glt's posts. I tried to incorporate everything I learned at one place (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=12202.msg67395) to save future users any hassle they don't need. UNfortunately, I am not an "audio guy" so I also know there is MUCH more knowledge out there still to be shared.
I have become convinced.... that it really isn't as hard as it might seem to do a multiple microphone set-up. My baby monitors work near flawlessly. As I am sure glt's intercom set-up does also. I am confident you won't have any trouble getting the results your looking for.
I like your idea and I thank you very much for your research and hard work putting your how-to together, Dave - it's awesome! I was up and running and able to set up a "proof-of-concept" mini system in no time at all because I just implemented your solution. It does work, but I have a wide open space in my family room and the TV is almost always on. My computer always seems to pick up random phrases from the TV and it thinks I asked him to wake up when in fact I didn't. And then he goes into the never ending "Can you please repeat?" routine, which gets old after a while. This is only because the microphone, while very sensitive, picks up everything and is unable to distinguish between "valid sounds" and not-so-valid-sounds. The microphones I purchased use a proprietary technology to separate background noise from actual speech by picking up sounds in front of it only. So everything that is in front of the microphone, at an 120 degree angle, gets transferred into the mixer and gated through. The rest of the sounds, coming from the sides and behind the microphone, are discarded. I really hope this will eliminate the unnecessary TV sound pick up that is going on right now. But we'll see. In any event, I will let you know what I come up with. I am still waiting for confirmation on the mixer, which I haven't yet been able to purchase.
Thanks,
Azzar0
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This is a problem I have never posted about before. I should have.... but I have not.
Microphone adjustment is of course VERY important. I adjusted the microphone (BOTH the baby monitor receiver volume, AND the line-in volume on the computer) with the TV on, and the channel on the news (lots of talking). I adjusted the volume (this takes trial, error and TIME) till I could barely hear the TV and BXVC didnt read anything from it.
I have the baby monitor microphone unit facing a corner in the room away from the sound broadcast by the TV (and me). This allows the TV sound to "break-up", making the sound waves shorter, BEFORE they reach the microphone. However (when properly set-up) it still hears me loud and clear.
I made the finished adjustments (on the computer with the line-in UNmuted) with the TV on, and my wife talking on the phone.
When I could clearly hear my wife talking to her sister, but couldn't hear the TV..... I knew where the "sweet-spot" was at.
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This is a problem I have never posted about before. I should have.... but I have not.
Microphone adjustment is of course VERY important. I adjusted the microphone (BOTH the baby monitor receiver volume, AND the line-in volume on the computer) with the TV on, and the channel on the news (lots of talking). I adjusted the volume (this takes trial, error and TIME) till I could barely hear the TV and BXVC didnt read anything from it.
I have the baby monitor microphone unit facing a corner in the room away from the sound broadcast by the TV (and me). This allows the TV sound to "break-up", making the sound waves shorter, BEFORE they reach the microphone. However (when properly set-up) it still hears me loud and clear.
I made the finished adjustments (on the computer with the line-in UNmuted) with the TV on, and my wife talking on the phone.
When I could clearly hear my wife talking to her sister, but couldn't hear the TV..... I knew where the "sweet-spot" was at.
I will need to make adjustments as well, I think the level is too high on mine right now. Thanks for your clarification.
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I just added some more info over at Bill's Forum (http://wgjohns.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=97#97) about microphone set up.
Not a bad place to "share" info about Bill's X10 Voice Commander (http://www.wgjohns.com/bxvc.htm).
(Fixed the name on the link to BXVC) ;)
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Finally! BVC is released!
For information, see the new thread: BVC (Bill's Voice Commander) (Visual BASIC version) (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=15753.0). Enjoy! See you in the new thread! :D