Home automation server with router

Turn a cheap router into a home automation server!

This project will allow you to switch outlets/lights from your iPhone, or any browser.
You will also be able to send out serial commands remotely.

This project is based on SmartLinc.
http://www.smarthome.com/2412N/SmartLinc-INSTEON-Central-Controller/p.aspx
http://wiki.smarthome.com/index.php?title=2412_Manual_rev_2.0

Components
• OpenWRT compatible router, with serial header
• AVR microcontroller Development Board (like Arduino)
• Actuators like: RF switched outlets (433.92Mhz) with a remote

Step 1 Overview

The System
The Router runs a web server, you access it via browser.
After you push a button on the web page the router sends out a serial command,
 we process this with a microcontroller, the AVR converts it to RF protocol, injects it into the RF remote, which controls the RF outlets.

Comments

[mrx23dot]

Check out my latest project:
http://mrx23dot.blogspot.com/2012/01/cloning-upb-home-automation-system.html

[engcu90]

Hello
Great project!
I am doing it, but I have a problem that hex data is not received correctly.
First I tried to send from the router to my PC via:

echo -e "\x9B\x11\x08\x22\xC5\x0D" > /dev/ttyS0

I received: 0x9B 0x11 0x08 0x22 0xC5 0x0D 0x0D 0x0A
I receive 2 bytes in excess and I don't know why!

Then I tried to send from the router to pic, then from pic to my PC to check the received data, I get only 6 bytes but all wrong, not the data I sent.

I am using pic18f452 as I didn't use avr before..
I think the problem is the interface circuit..I used shmitt trigger, res, cap as you did but it doesn't work. Is this circuit need to be modified to be suitable for PIC?
Thanks

[ssrinivas]

hey mrx23, its a great project. I have decided to do this project as a part of my graduation project. it would be great if u help me. looking forward for some support. thanks man :)

[Eddy Dean]

looks great, but, how could this be done without WINSCP (as this does not work on my computer)?

[mrx23dot]

hi,

you can do it with PUTTY:
http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/putty.exe
but you need to know linux command line, because it doesn't have any GUI.

WINSCP should work easily on any PC
http://tinyurl.com/3ft8u62
maybe try older versions, or ask for support.

cheers,

[johan_tr2000]

Nice idea mrx23 and joejoerowley.
Can you elaborate in more detail how to set up and configure the 741 so it allowed to remote control from outside wifi network (from internet)?

[MarkV6]

Nice project, any idea how to send data the other way? For example show a temperature from the serial port to the website.

[skeegan]

Hi mrx23, This project is great- I think it could be really useful for me. I have a couple of questions regarding the schematic (please forgive my electronic ignorance:). Schematic attached-would be great if you could offer some insight. S

[mrx23dot]

hi,
- 1st 2 arrows: Schmitt trigger inverters, in one package you get 6 of them, the last 2 of them are unused (so they had to be terminated properly)

- the PSU nets are only connected logically, in the schematic
- the last one is an LED

I wouldn't recommend this project for beginners, first you should learn the basics on an Arduino.
Cheers,

[madmax2003]

Why didn't you use an arduino with Ethernet shield? In my opinion its easier than the Serial Communication between Router and arduino. What do you think?
Greets max

[mrx23dot]

Hi, using a router as an embedded system has a lot of advantages:
for ~$30 you get:
- ~17MB of free user flash space (that's a lot)
- LAN PHY, no need to get magnetics, no soldering involved
- Sweet case, SMPS PSU
- Wifi -> can't beat this with AVR :D
- Linux OS, the possibilities are endless
- upload new web pages via SSH anytime
- No hassle with IP stack
- 400 Mhz CPU
- Possible USB 1.1/2.0 support
- Pre-installed web server app

You will save insane amount of time, if you choose this route.
Serial communication was very easy, it's a state machine in C, built in one day.

Lets compare this to the widely used Arduino:
Arduino Eth Shield $40
Arduino $30 -> flash space for web pages <<1MB
+ PSU + CASE + Time^2...

It's an easy choice.

[mrx23dot]

I'm not familiar with the X10 prices, but these RF switched outlets cost about $8 each. X10 products unfortunately are not available in our country.

You can make this system much safer, if you protect your home network with WPA2.

[an4rchyy]

Would you be able to link a page for the outlets you used? I was unable to find switched outlets for 8$ and it would be great to get them that cheaply

[mrx23dot]

3 for $25

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-31164-Wireless-Control-Transmitter/dp/B0020ML762/ref=sr_1_5?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1289680424&sr=1-5

[an4rchyy]

Thank you very much! This will be a great help along with your instructable

[Skyriam]

I think X10 would be much cheaper since you skip the "Avr, RF, RF Remote" part.

[rocco]

X10 is only cheaper if you exclude the feature that costs the most - the web based control of power outlets/switches... so, that's not really a fair comparison.

[yoda112]

Nice projet. I would like to use the same router. What version of the router did you use? And what version of openwrt? Do you have any problems with openwrt?

Thank you.

[mrx23dot]

I used v1.9 HW, this might be the latest you can get in shops. For this device I downloaded this firmware:
http://downloads.x-wrt.org/xwrt/kamikaze/snapshots/ar71xx/default/openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wr741nd-v1-squashfs-factory.bin
Openwrt runs perfectly, it's very stable.

[dbzoo]

Yeah not a bad effort I did something similar with an old ADSL router - see the Home Automation Hub project. http://www.dbzoo.com/livebox/livebox

[mrx23dot]

Nice work!

[Computothought]

Liked the web page. I may borrow it.

[nfarrow]

If you had some kind of security on your router you could plug the, "RF switched outlet" to an automated door opener/gate and only give the security key & web address to only people you want over.

[nfarrow]

I had that phone at one time LOL

[joejoerowley]

Very very cool! You could even port forward the router and allow remote control from outside your wifi network! Nice project!