I started out looking into Remote controlling my audio/video whole house setup and for whatever reason got stuck with a PC product that uses a plug-in for a Global cache GC-100 which I got for a steal on e-bay. I now know about the IRTrans and iRed but it is a little too late and more costly to get rid of my setup with the GC-100 which works flawlessly so far. I would like to expand my Home Automation using a mac product, specifically Indigo. I have been reading the Forums trying to keep up before I get drawn into this HA fraternity. I noticed a few posts that suggested that there was a plug-in for the GC-100 in the works but no real progress. This for me is a stalling point as I would like to incorporate my whole house audio/video setup using the GC-100. So ............... is there anything in the works for the GC-100 in the near future, or has anyone else made any head way. I have my fingers crossed as this is the only hold up to getting my starter package.

Thanks,


Paul

Hi Paul,

The GC-100 is not yet supported by Indigo. That said, I personally have one and would love to see Indigo support for it in a future build. It won't be in 3.0, but perhaps in the next release.

Regards,
Matt

Please,please,please!!!! That would be great, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for an early release .

Thanks,

Paul

Well - Took the plunge and ordered my Fathers Day present to myself and I was instantly hooked, I got the starter kit and have already made plans to get a couple switches. Just wanted to give this thread a little bump because now that I have made the step I would really love to get a Plug-in for the GC-100. Not being pushy, but just wanted to push for this one and keep it in the fore front.

Paul

This is something that would be great to integrate with Indigo.
It uses Global cache for serial and IR communications.

http://www.airremote.com

Hi Bob,

Thanks for that link. I hadn't seen that before. Very interesting. Looks like it will directly communicate from the iPhone to the GC-100. I wonder how much they plan on charging for the iPhone app. They already claim to have Crestron / AMX integration, so Indigo integration should definitely be possible.

Regards,
Matt

Hi Paul,

thepainter wrote:...I would really love to get a Plug-in for the GC-100. Not being pushy, but just wanted to push for this one and keep it in the fore front.

Thanks for the request. It definitely helps us to know how many folks would like to see it supported so we can adjust its priority on the ToDo list appropriately.

Regards,
Matt

I wonder how much they plan on charging for the iPhone app.

I think I saw it listed for $99 with the GC going for approx. $150

What does the GC-100 need to to open a port with the Global Cache API and send an ASCII command line?
Is there a mac based program that can do this or could Serial bridge be modified to recognize the TCP socket?

API
Command and Data Structure
Communication with the GC-100 is accomplished by opening a TCP socket on Port 4998. All commands and data, with the exception of serial (RS232) data, are communicated through Port 4998. Port 4998 is used for such things as GC-100 status, IR data, relay activation, and reading digital input states. All information, with the exception of serial data, is communicated by comma delimited ACSII text strings terminated by a carriage return (↵).
Serial data is communicated over Ports 4999 and higher. Serial connections with the lowest module number will communicate over Port 4999; serial connections with the next higher module number will communicate over Port 5000; and so on.

Serial Bridge is specifically for using AppleScript to perform RS232 communication. It cannot currently communicate to the GC-100's serial port over a TCP socket.

There are several languages well suited for performing TCP socket communication. I would recommend either Python or Perl. Ruby would well, too.

I still have on my ToDo adding list support for the GC-100 and several other hardware modules. But most of those will have to wait until Indigo's plug-in architecture is further developed.

Regards,
Matt

Hi Matt

Just wondering if you have got anywhere yet with support of the GlobalCache kit. The new iTach devices are really tempting now that they include the IR learning capability you previously had to pay extra for with the GC100 - and now have WiFi options too.

Even if you no longer plan to support this - it would be good to know.

Still loving Indigo

thanks for your continued improvements. If only we had Insteon in the UK..

regards

chris

hampers wrote:Hi Matt

Just wondering if you have got anywhere yet with support of the GlobalCache kit. The new iTach devices are really tempting now that they include the IR learning capability you previously had to pay extra for with the GC100 - and now have WiFi options too.

Even if you no longer plan to support this - it would be good to know.

Still loving Indigo

thanks for your continued improvements. If only we had Insteon in the UK..

regards

chris

We're still planning what features are going into Indigo 5.0, but it will include the ability for 3rd parties to add devices via a plugin API, so even if we don't add it natively it's possible that someone else will.

We're definitely aware of the iTach hardware - it does look good. We're also evaluating other HA technologies (ZigBee, Z-Wave, etc) that we hope will help our European customers (as well as customers in other parts of the world).

Other than the wireless option, how do the iTach devices differ in functionality from irTrans?

Add me to the chorus. This would be great!

support wrote:Serial Bridge... ... cannot currently communicate to the GC-100's serial port over a TCP socket.

Matt: I know this is an old thread, AND that SerialBridge is heading for it's final pastures someday soon. But, have you seen socat? From the socat man page:
Socat is a command line based utility that establishes two bidirectional byte streams and transfers data between them. ...the streams can be constructed from a large set of different types of data sinks and sources...

I was able to create link a udp connection to serial device with the following command:
socat GOPEN:/dev/ptyp0,ignoreeof UDP:10.0.0.100:1234

With that done, I could use cu to open /dev/pttyp0 and listen to my alarm panel. This would allow a simple means for users familiar with SB to access IP network services and communicate with devices like the GC-100.