Control your home automation system in Windows Media Center
Conductor is an add-in for Windows Media Center that allows you to control your home automation
system via your ISY-99i from Universal Devices.
Universal Devices' ISY-99i is a powerful home automation tool. The Conductor software allows you
to use that powerful tool on any Windows Media Center PC or Extender in your home.
Learn more about Universal Devices and their ISY-99i
The Conductor for Windows Media Center software has recently completed its initial alpha testing and has begun a public beta.
If you're interested in participating in the test, please sign up now!
Sign up to be a beta tester now!
Using the Conductor software is fairly simple. If you've already set up your ISY with a number of
INSTEON devices and organized your devices into folders, your work is nearly done. All you need to do at
this point is install Conductor for Windows Media Center and enter the default configuration settings.
It is recommended that you set up your device folders so that they correspond to rooms in your home and
that you put each device and scene into a folder. Each folder will be listed on the top of the screen in
Conductor for Windows Media Center. As you scroll from left to right and back again, devices (and optionally
scenes) in each folder will be listed below.
Each device (and optionally each scene) will have control options based on what type of device it is. For
instance, a simple relay switch will have on/off buttons. Dimmers, on the other hand, will have bright/dim
buttons along with on/off buttons.
In addition to viewing and interacting with devices and scenes, you will also have access to your ISY's
installed modules (if you have purchased any). To see these modules, check the "Show Modules" box in the
configuration settings and they will show up as buttons on the Home Screen.
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To install, download and run the setup package. After installation is complete, run the
Conductor
Configuration Manager to set your default settings (see figure 1). It can be found in your Start menu,
in the
Conductor for Windows Media Center folder. Please keep in mind that this application must be run as an
adminstrator to work correctly. Enter settings as desired:
Figure 1: Conductor Configuration Manager
- Connection
- Device URL - The URL to be used to contact the ISY device. On a local network,
this is usually http://isy. You can also enter the ISY's network IP address. The "http://"
prefix is optional. It will be added automatically when Conductor for Windows Media Center attempts
to connect to your ISY. If you are using SSL, you can specify "https://" instead of "http://".
Note:
If you are planning on connecting to your ISY from an external network (like somewhere on the Internet),
it is highly recommended that you use SSL. By encrypting your connection, you protect yourself from the
risk of a third party obtaining the username and password used to access your ISY. Depending on
what you have your ISY doing, that could compromise you and your home's security.
- Device User Name - The user name used to authenticate with the ISY device. This
is the same user name that you use to log into the ISY's Java Administrative Conole. The default
user name is admin.
- Device Password - The password used to authenticate with the ISY device.
- Ignore SSL Errors - Check this box to ignore any SSL errors that may occur. SSL
errors can occur for a variety of reasons, the most common of which are:
- Untrusted root certificate - The certificate is either self-signed or is not from
a trusted Certificate Authority (CA).
- Address mismatch - The certificate is valid, but was issued for a different address
than the one you are using to access your ISY. This can happen when you access your ISY via its
IP address or if you use a different host name to access your ISY from your internal network as
you do when you access it from the Internet.
Note:
While it is certainly convenient to ignore SSL errors, it isn't without risk! SSL certificates are
used to verify that you are indeed connecting with the device/address that you intended to connect with.
If SSL errors occur, that means that the address cannot be confirmed. In other words, SSL errors are
for your safety and peace of mind. By ignoring them, it's possible that you could be connecting to
the wrong device, so do so at your own risk.
- Registration
- Registered User - The registered user specified in the registration email that
you received from Conductor Automation when you purchased Conductor for Windows Media Center.
- Registration Key - The registration key in that same email.
- Options
- Hide Disabled Devices - Devices that are marked as disabled in the ISY's
Administrative Console will not be displayed when this box is checked.
- Hide Masked Devices - Devices with a name starting with a "~" (tilde) prefix
will not be displayed when this box is checked. For example, a device named "~Kitchen Light" would be
hidden if this box is checked.
- Show Scenes - Scenes will be displayed when this box is checked.
- Show Programs - The Programs section will be displayed when this box is checked.
- Show Modules - Supported modules will be displayed when this box is checked.
Currently, the following modules are supported: Energy, Security (basic), and WeatherBug
- Use Generic Images - When checked, generic device images will be displayed in
ISY Control Center rather than pictures of the devices.
- Sort Folders - Folders loaded from your ISY will be sorted in alphabetical order
when this box is checked.
- Sort Items - Similar to the Sort Folders option, when this box is checked devices,
scenes and programs will be sorted in alphabetical order.
- Optimize for Mouse - Experimental. When checked, minor changes to the application's
layout and functionality will take effect to make it easier to use with a mouse.
- Debug Mode - When checked, a scrolling debug section will be displayed. This
section will display additional debugging information in real time. It will also enable the debug
log, which can be used when asking for support.
- Weather ZIP Code - Enter a ZIP code here to be used for loading weather forecast
information from WeatherBug. These forecasts will be displayed on the Weather and Home screens.
- Dim/Bright Rate (%) - By default, dimmable INSTEON devices will dim or brighten in
roughly 3% intervals. To change that, choose a percentage between 1 and 100 here.
When you are satisfied with the settings you have entered, click the Save button to save
your settings.
Note:
Conductor for Windows Media Center stores separate settings for each Media Center user,
including separate settings for each Media Center Extender. When the Conductor for Windows Media Center add-in
is started for the first time, it makes a copy of the default settings. If you update the default settings after
running Conductor for Windows Media Center on a client, please keep in mind that your changes will not be saved
on that client. Your new settings will only apply to future clients and extenders.
If you would like to reset the client settings for all users and extenders, click the Clear User
Settings button. This will clear all user and extender settings. When Conductor for Windows Media Center
is run by those users or on those extenders in the future, they will use the default settings that you have
specified in the Conductor Configuration Manager.
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The Conductor for Windows Media Center add-in will be installed into its own menu category in the main menu of
Windows Media Center. After entering your settings using the Conductor Configuration Manager, start Windows Media
Center and navigate to the "Home Automation + Smart Grid" section of the main menu. Select Conductor to run the
add-in.
Upon starting up, Conductor for Windows Media Center will attempt to connect to your ISY-99i using the
connection details you provided. If it cannot connect, it will tell you as much and send you to the Settings
Screen so that you can update/correct your connection settings.
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Once the add-in has started up and connected to your ISY, you'll see the Home Screen. This screen will display
a number of buttons depending on the settings you have chosen and which modules you have installed on your ISY.
For instance, if you check the box next to "Show Programs" in the settings, you'll see the Programs Button. If
you check "Show Modules," the Home Screen will display buttons for the following modules, if installed:
Additionally, the Heating & Cooling Button will be displayed if you have any INSTEON thermostats installed
and set up on your ISY.
In the top left-hand corner of screen, you will find some navigation buttons. These buttons can be found on
every screen, and can be used to take you back to the Home Screen, to the Settings Screen or to the Info Screen.
If you've enabled debug mode, you will also find a button to go to the Debug Screen, which will show a real-time
list of communication events and debug messages.
Figure 2: Conductor for Windows Media Center Home Screen
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At minimum, you'll see the Lighting & Devices Button on the Home Screen. Choosing this button will take you
to the Lighting & Devices Screen. On this screen you will see a list of your devices grouped by folder. The
folders will be listed from left to right across the top of the screen (see figure 3 for details).
Devices will be listed from left to right below the folders. If you've enabled debug mode, a scrolling list
of debug messages will be displayed near the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. If you have enabled
modules in the settings and you have the WeatherBug module installed, the current temperature will appear in the
bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
Figure 3: Conductor for Windows Media Center Lighting & Devices Screen
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The Energy Screen is a place where you can monitor your current energy usage in real time, see estimates for
what that energy usage will cost you, and communicate with your utility company. Since your ISY is connected
to your smart meter, it can send and receive messages from the utility. Not only can you see the latest important
messages, you can opt-in to load control requests that may save you money.
Note:
This screen requires an ISY Orchestrator series device and a smart meter from your utility company.
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If you have one or more INSTEON thermostats installed in your home, you can use the Heating & Cooling Screen to
monitor their activity. You can also control your thermostat on this screen, adjusting its mode, heat/cool
setpoints, and fan state.
Figure 4: Conductor for Windows Media Center Heating & Cooling Screen
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Use the Security Screen to monitor your connected security system's arming and ready status. Currently that is all
you can do here, but expect this screen to be expanded further as the ISY's security module becomes available.
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On the Weather Screen, you can view the current status of the weather information gathered by the ISY's WeatherBug
Module. Additionally, you can also view WeatherBug forecast information for your ZIP code (if you've entered it in
the Settings Screen).
Note:
This screen requires the Weather module.
Figure 5: Conductor for Windows Media Center Weather Screen
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View and manage your ISY's programs on the Programs Screen. Here, you can view, run, or stop any of your programs.
To access this screen, check the box next to Show Programs on the Settings Screen.
Note:
Programs must be placed into folders in order for them to be listed on this screen.
Figure 6: Conductor for Windows Media Center Programs Screen
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Conductor for Windows Media Center requires the following hardware and software:
- Windows 7 Media Center (included in Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional or
Ultimate. Windows XP Media Center Edition is not supported. Windows Vista support is currently a work in
process and will hopefully be available soon.)
- Universal Devices ISY-99i - Firmware 2.7.9 or higher (IR or PRO support not required. ISY-26 is not supported)
- INSTEON serial PLM (required for the ISY to communicate with your INSTEON network)
- Optional: Windows Media Center Extender, Version 2 (Some version 1 extenders are not supported)
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If you have trouble with Conductor for Windows Media Center or have any questions, comments or feedback, there are a number of ways that you can contact us:
- Post to our UDI Forum - Universal Devices Inc. is generously hosting our discussion forum. You are encouraged to
post your questions or feedback here as others may be able to help (and getting your problem solved may help others).
- Email Support
- Send Us Your Debug Report - If you are having trouble, please go to the settings and turn on Debug Mode.
In debug mode, Conductor will log its activity. Then, when a crash occurs, please start up the Conductor Configuration Manager
application. Under the Support tab, click the Send Debug Data button to send us the logs,
along with any comments that you think might help us determine what is going wrong. If you want us to contact you, please
provide us with a valid email address.
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