The Smartest DIY Home Improvements

• Do I have to leave my computer on at all times for HomeSeer to work?
• What can I do with it?
• What else do I need to buy to start automating my home with HomeSeer?
• What do I get when I purchase HomeSeer?
• Will I have to pay for updates?
• Will I have to pay for upgrades?
• What makes HomeSeer different from other Home Automation software?
• Does HomeSeer include any hardware?
• What kind of environment is HomeSeer suited for?
• Can I download timers and macros into the CM11A?
• Can I do any "If then Else" type logic?
• Is there support for any voice recognition?
• Does HomeSeer expose any COM interfaces that allow the retrieval of device status or allow the addition of my own if-then-else logic?
• What programming language is HomeSeer written in?

Yes. HomeSeer must be running at all times, as it is your home automation controller. Since it uses many resources in your PC such as sound, Internet access, email, etc. your PC must be running.

• Set your lights to come on at sunset and off at sunrise
• Set lights and appliances to go on and off at different times based on whether you are home or not
• Access all your lights and appliances remotely via the web
• Control your lights and appliances via email
• From work or on the road you can access YOUR email via any web browser. Stop using those free email accounts to get at your mail
• Send and reply to your email via the web
• Control your VCR from the web
• Have your computer speak when your email arrives and tell you who it was from
• Automatically respond to email
• Speak to your computer and have it execute commands, like launching programs, reading mail, controlling lights and A/V equipment.
• Control your heating and cooling system and keep track of how long the system has been on.
• Interact with Microsoft Agent characters without using the keyboard to listen

You will need a computer interface (or interfaces) for the technology you wish to use (X-10, Z-Wave, UPB, etc) and devices that work with that technology (controllable light switches, appliance modules, thermostats, etc). Starter kits featureing Z-Wave hardware are available from our online store. The kits include everything you need to get started. Unsure what Z-Wave is? Read HomeSeer's Z-Wave FAQ.

When you purchase the software, we will ship you a CD along with a 16 page getting started guide. The CD will be the latest release of the HomeSeer Software, and will also contain a registration code and serial number. If you've downloaded the trial version of HomeSeer already, you can use the registration code and serial number to convert your trial version into the complete retail version. After you enter this information into the program, you will no longer see the startup "Trial" dialog and the software will never expire. The manual is available in HTML, WinHelp format in the download version.

Also on the CD:

• A full install of Internet Explorer 6 which is customized with a button to access the HomeSeer web server.
• Full documentation on VBScript
• Extra voices for text-to-speech
• Trial version of HomeSeer Phone

Updates are defined as new releases of the software that are identified with fractional release numbers. For example, versions 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 are are all updates to version 1.0 and are all considered part of the version 1 series. All updates to the software are free for registered users. Updates will be posted periodically on the download page. Registered users will receive email notifications when an update is available.

Upgrades are defined as new releases of the software that are identified with whole integer release numbers. For example, version 2 series releases are all considered upgrades from version 1 series releases. Users will be required to pay for upgrades should they choose to upgrade from one version series to the next.

HomeSeer includes a built-in web server, giving you access to all your devices from anywhere in the world using any web browser. The program works great if you have a DSL or a cable modem internet connection. Simply leave your computer running, enable the web server, and you're all set! If you don't have a full time internet connection, you can still dial in to your computer and access your devices.

HomeSeer is a software package only and does not include any hardware. See the HomeSeer HS2 Compatability table for a supported hardware list.

If you have dedicated internet access (i.e. with a cable modem) and want to control and monitor your home while you're away, then this is the software for you. Through a built-in web server, along with send and receive e-mail capabilities, you are always connected. Since the application is much easier to use compared to other home automation programs, it's great for the novice user just getting into home automation. The program does not require a dedicated internet connection, and works great as a standalone automation controller.

This feature was supported in early versions of HomeSeer by using a a software add-on from HAWizard Software. However, this add-on is no longer sold or supported by the author.

Yes. HomeSeer supports Microsoft scripting. Microsoft scripting is a language independent scripting engine. There are scripting modules available for Visual Basic (VBScript), Java (JScript), and Perl (PerlScript). HomeSeer includes VBScript and JScript. VBScript is a powerful scripting language that gives you all the logic you'll ever need. A simple logic statement might be:

if hs.IsOn("B2") then
hs.ExecX10("B3","OFF")
else
hs.ExecX10("B3","ON")
end if

You can get more information on the VBScript programming language at: Microsoft VBScript Documentation

HomeSeer supports the latest SAPI 5 voice recognition from Microsoft. Voice commands may be assigned to events. Devices may have voice commands generated automatically so you can say things like:

turn off the living room light
dim the kitchen lights to 50%

Yes. HomeSeer provides a COM interface that allows you to get the status of any device, as well as the amount of time since the device status last changed. It also supplies an event that notifies you of any change in device status as well as any events that were triggered. Methods are available to send X10 commands also. See the documentation for HomeSeer which is available on the Manuals tab.

HomeSeer is written in a combination of Visual Basic and C++. It uses very few third party controls to increase reliability. The application was designed to be reliable, and will run for months on a properly configured PC dedicated to running HomeSeer.