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[HA Dave]

I had an idea... but I wasn't the first to have it.... I never am.

The idea is to plug a USB Bluetooth dongle into my Home Automation PC. The USB Dongle would allow the PC to see BlueTooth devices.. like CELL PHONES. So when I am home... and/or my wife is home AHP would know it (or not) and run the appropriate macros. Since my ideas are rarely original... I started searching to BUY this application.

Well it looks like HomeSeer has already thought of that and they call it Bluetooth Connector. I called HomeSeer... (a side note: They answered the phone on the 2nd ring and Mark seemed very knowledgeable) and they call Bluetooth Connector a third party software... but said it only works with (the $199.00) HomeSeer software.

Does anyone know anything [more] about this... I am somewhat clueless. But I really want this technology in my HA setup.

[Tuicemen]

It would be interestingto see the range on this most cell phone only have a 10 meter range!
BlueSoleil makers of Bluetooth dogles and software have a SDK which is probably how the  Homeseer plug-in was made.
I've downloaded the free SDK but have yet to see what can be done with it!

[Alan V]

You may be better off using a Class 1 Bluetooth dongle and a Class 1 Bluetooth headset like the one below:

http://www.callpod.com/products/dragon

Class 1 purports ~100 meter range (YMMV).  I'm not aware of a cellphone that uses Class 1, but there might be some out there.

[Tuicemen]

Alan V Most dongles are Class 1.
I know for a fact Dave's dongle is that as I have the same one!
But I agree what ever Dave desides to use, it must be a Class 1 for 2 way support!

[HA Dave]

Range isn't really an issue. All the dongle needs to do is SEE the phone. Even at 35 feet... thats a 70 foot circle.... I can live with that.

[Tuicemen]

Range isn't really an issue. All the dongle needs to do is SEE the phone. Even at 35 feet... thats a 70 foot circle.... I can live with that.

I thought 35 feet would be more then I needed for Voice recognition too Not the case walls (more so floors) seem to cut the range by more then Half!

On Another note I had a chance to look at the Bulesoleil SDK nothing of any use to me as it has no VB samples!
I need a visual example to get my brain working! 
On the bright side the service pack 1 update for Visual Studio 2008 express editions has some Buletooth sample code maybe this will be usable to me
It is more for Vista so  not sure if it will work in XP
 

[HA Dave]

I thought 35 feet would be more then I needed for Voice recognition too Not the case walls (more so floors) seem to cut the range by more then Half!

True... but your talking about low power commucation from a headset. As you remember... even when you could no longer talk TO the computer... you could still hear it (way it worked for me). When it comes to the dongle actually (just) seeing and ID'ing the phone... that is much simpler. Although I may need to use a USB extention cord to get the dongle up higher I don't expect range to be an issue (I could be wrong).

[dellzip]

It would be interestingto see the range on this most cell phone only have a 10 meter range!
BlueSoleil makers of Bluetooth dogles and software have a SDK which is probably how the  Homeseer plug-in was made.
I've downloaded the free SDK but have yet to see what can be done with it!

any luck with this?

[Tuicemen]

It would be interestingto see the range on this most cell phone only have a 10 meter range!
BlueSoleil makers of Bluetooth dogles and software have a SDK which is probably how the  Homeseer plug-in was made.
I've downloaded the free SDK but have yet to see what can be done with it!

any luck with this?

I did look at it but since there were no VB examples I filed it
I did Notice the Service pack 1 for the net 2008 has bluetooth examples in VB.
Althought with my limited Bluetooth Hardware I was unable to get it to work!
If someone were to dig into it that had a few different Bluetooth devices I'm sure this would be the  route to go as it is free!
 

[Tuicemen]

For those interested!
As the cold weather sets in I seem to find more time!
I've found some BT sample code (Not in VB but C#)
I converted the code with out a sucessful build
So I took to the task of learning C#
After some time I got a successful BlueTooth finder coded.

I now have a program (BlueWatch) in beta testing and hopefuly a release version by Christmas 2009!

[Knightrider]

I know I'm going to want this BlueWatch program, but don't have a dongle.  Anyone want to point me to one?

[Tuicemen]

There are many out there just make sure it is a class 1 (100 meter range)  your going to want maximun range.
you can try Dealextream or ComputerGeeks
 

[HA Dave]

I know I'm going to want this BlueWatch program

Everyone is going to want BlueWatch!

I've been beta testing Tuicemen's early versions. The program is simple, clean and has been working well. Still a beta but with LOTS of promise. For many people this could be a complete Occupancy Sensing solution.

Getting the Home Automation computer to know who is home when... has always been a difficult and/or costly problem. Merely exploiting the BlueTooth connection in (most) cellphones could be a quick easy solution.

[Brandt]

vCrib does this and its free.

[Tuicemen]

vCrib does this and its free

last time I checked it didn't support the CM15A.
If it does now that certainly would be the better route to go with all its features!