I'm looking for the simplest way to gain HVAC control from my 9600. Ideally I'd like to find something that has a standard wall mounted control but can be controlled via TCP/IP and provide two way communication. It only needs to be single stage heating and cooling, single zone. I'd like it to be a standalone product, so anything that requires multiple interfaces really doesn't appeal to me. One remote temperature sensor would be nice, but it's not necessary. I've extensively searched the forums and can't find much. I've looked at everything that Philips has released ProntoScript modules for, but they all look like messy and expensive solutions for such a simple task.

Does anybody have a simpler solution, preferably something with a script available since I have very little/no ProntoScript knowledge? I'm completely willing to pay for such a module, but I'm turning up with nothing!

Much thanks in advance!

I believe RCS has a solution that might be good for you especially if you have a multizone system

They provide a thermostat and a control box and a hub.

Each thermostat replaces the existing wall thermostat. Using the existing wiring you place the control box at the HVAC unit, connect the thermostat to the control box and then the control box the the HVAC system. The control box has a RS485 output (think RS232 for hundreds of feet with no issues) The hub handles multiple control boxes and ends up with a single RS232 port, or if you only have one Zone, then a simple RS485 to RS232 adapter from Black Box will do the job.

the advantage of this approach is

1) uses existing wires, nice looking theromostats
2) opertes by itself, i.e. the thermostats work as before but no auto setbacks
3) The pronto can control and interrogate the system and issue a setback command.

Ray,
I am pretty much in the same boat. I have a simple system and just want to control it. I have looked at Aprilaire and others but am currently leaning towards Honeywell. I haven't found anything that is direct IP.

Again their system is larger than I need and does have a central control box like the others. But is is fairly small and it looks like it will work with existing wiring. Check out the VisionPro IAQ and W8735A1005 Serial Adapter. The whole setup with second temp sensor can be had on the Internet for around $300.

I'm hoping to get one for Christmas. If I do I will be happy to share the Interface I write.

Thanks for the solutions so far guys. After posting, I came across a company called Proliphix. They manufacture direct IP thermostats. Is it possible scripts could be written to control such an item? I'm really trying to stay away from a multiple component system as well as RS-232 control.

[Link: proliphix.com]

Writing a script to control one of their thermostats does not seem like a difficult task. I would do it but I do not have such a thermostat to test with and that is always the rub. It would be trivial if the pronto had a Web browser but it does not. All data will have to be gotten through HTTP GET, but there are a finite number of screens and they will not change in format so page scraping is a definite possibility. It would be nice if they had some sort of XML mode but the one I looked at the Net10e did not.

I did a TSU9600 using the Aprilaire script and it works great on IP, for a single thermostat. Two-way temp display on the remote and all of that.

I think it was the Aprilaire 8870. However, I think the main control is via RS-232 but it displayed the room temp on the Pronto so there appears to be some portion which is operating as if it were all IP-based.

Dave

I was looking at the Net20e since it has remote temperature sensing, but I would assume the two are identical except for that feature. Maybe I'll have to pick one up and send it along to you to whip something up. ;-)

Ray - Sure, let me know. [email protected]

However, these scripts are very precise and the one I used is in the Pronto library. It is exclusive to the Aprilaire 8700. I have no clue if it will work on other models.

YMMV - Dave

Actually, that was in response to Barry, your post must have snuck in there while I was typing my reply.

However, I am interested in your setup. So you say you have an Aprilaire 8870 that communicates via RS-232 AND TCP/IP? There are physical connections for both methods on the 8870?

AFAI remember, there are physical RS-232 connections. But somewhere in the ProntoScript it sends the room temperature to the Pronto 9600 in an IP-sort of way, I assume, since it shows up on the 9600 screen. It can only do this via 2-way TCP/IP, as far as I know.

It works quite well and has been in production for 10-12 months, with no issues.

Thx Dave

I have a Honeywell kit and it communicates via IP with a Netstreams system I have in place. There is no RS232 connection in place. The Honeywell kit plugs in via a cat5 into my switch.
Is there a Philips script available, or did anybody managed to integrate it?
Thanks in advance.

What is the model number of the Honeywell piece?

Interesting. Looks like they may require Power Over Ethernet to operate, but they do offer injectors. You may want to check that out because it is another box unless your switch provides POE.

It is a box that the sensibleheat.co.uk guys sell.
It communicates wirelessly with the Honeywell Hometronic Manager, gives a web interface, and has full control over IP with my Netstreams system.

A power injector is not a problem. When I mentioned multiple components, I was talking about a scenario such as the Omnistat2. To gain control of that I would need not only the thermostat, but an Omni system controller to talk to the thermostat, and then to get the pronto to talk to the Omni system controller I would need an RFX9600. That's a lot of additional gear just to get basic control and feedback from a single device.