Posted: Monday Jun 6th, 2011 01:16 pm |
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There has been much demand for an iPhone app for Comfort. We are happy to announce the first version of the official iPhone app. This is the first version, quite a simple one, and easy to set up and use. As with Comfort and Comfigurator, we will be improving it regularly.
Please note that this app is supplied for free by Cytech for the benefit and convenience of Comfort end users without any obligation. Please use it at your own risk. Cytech Technology is not responsible for any bugs, or problems caused by correct or incorrect use of the app.
The app can be downloaded from iTunes, look for "Comfort Control" or download from iTunes http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cytech-comfort/id451998873?mt=8
This runs on iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad
Comfort System Requirements
Comfort II firmware 5.215
Download firmware upgrade from http://www.cytech.biz/comfort_ultra_firmware.html?category_id=101
UCM/Ethernet firmware 6.002
Download firmware upgrade from http://www.cytech.biz/ucm_firmware.html?category_id=101
Functions Available
- Keypad Emulation
- Zone Status Display
- Home Control Menu
- Alarm events display
Setting Up your iPhone
You must ensure that your iPhone is connected to the correct WiFi network ie the same as your Comfort UCM/Ethernet. If you connect to the wrong network you will not only fail to connect but will experience temporary lack of response from the App while it tries to connect to a system that is not there.
By connecting your Comfort system to a WiFi network you are potentially opening up a security vulnerability. Ensure that your Wifi network uses appropriate security.
The initial screen is shown
Press the KEY Icon to select the Comfort system that you wish to use. This brings
you to the Comfort Systems selection page.
Thie above screen shot shows two systems, but in the initial setup, it will be blank. Press the + symbol to add a system.
- Enter the Name of the system eg "Home", "Office"
- In WEB, enter the IP address and Port of the UCM/Ethernet on the Internet, if the system has a fixed or known IP address, and port forwarding has been set up, eg 201.203.110.117:1001. If not, leave this field blank.
- In LAN, enter the local IP address and Port of the UCM/Ethernet on the local network, eg 10.0.0.10:1001 This should be set up using the DS Manager Tool for the UCM/Ethernet which can be downloaded from http://www.cytech.biz/ds_manager.html
- Select USE LAN ON if you are connecting via the local LAN instead of the Internet (WEB)
- Tap DONE when finished to return to the Comfort Systems Selection page.
Note
The UCM/Ethernet can only accept 1 connection at a time. If another iphone or software eg Comfigurator is already connected, you will not be able to access.
Tap the chosen system eg Office to highlight it and tap Done.
This returns to the home page showing the name of the Comfort system which was selected.
To delete one of the systems in the above selection page, simply slide your finger from the blue circle to the left
Enter the user code of your system and press SEND.
If the code is correct and the phone can connect to the IP Address and port, the connection icon will turn green
The keypad page is shown with the same LED indicators as in the keypad ie Security Off, Armed, AC and Message.
If the connection symbol remains gray, it means the user code is incorrect or the connection could not be made. Check the IP Address and try again.
Please note that the UCM/Ethernet accepts only one connection at a time.
There are 4 pages along the bottom; Keypad, Zones, Home Control and Alarm. Only the Keypad Page and Alarms Page have useful information at the moment because your iPhone does not know the Comfort configuration of Zones and Home Control.
The next section describe how to load the parameters from your cclx file into your phone
Last edited on Saturday Mar 3rd, 2012 05:15 am by
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Posted: Monday Jun 6th, 2011 01:32 pm |
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Getting the Comfort cclx parameters to your phone
The Comfort App has been designed to be easy to setup. It uses the cclx file which was created using Comfigurator so there is no further programming needed.
The app needs a specially formatted file which it accesses by email. You need to convert your Comfort configuration file (CCLX) to this custom format by uploading the cclx file to our conversion website. You will need an email account that you access from your iPhone.
Using your computer (NOT your phone), follow this link to convert your cclx: http://www.cytech.biz/crl_test.php
This prompts you for the location of the cclx file corresponding to the Comfort system to be controlled.
When the email is received on the iPhone, tap the attachment in the email.
Some users have reported that the email does not reach their iPhone
Please check your junk mail filter for an email from admin@cytech.biz
If you have that experience please use this alternate site, http://www.ar777k.com/cytech/xmltest3.php
However for this site, the cclx files are limited to 1 MB and the email attachment cannot be viewed correctly in Yahoo Mail. Please use another email client
The email problems will be fixed soon
The attachment will have the same name as the cclx file but with an extension .crlccip
Tap on "Open In Comfort" The app will ask you to select which configuration to open eg "Office", "Home"
The message "Config Data Loaded - Please log in "
Now Press the Key icon to select the Comfig and log in
The Indicator LEDs on the bottom show the same status as the Comfort Keypad.
OFF Green LED
is Steady when system is not armed and flashes when there is a Trouble condition
ARM Red LED
is Steady when the system is armed and Flashes when there is Alert or Alarm Condition
AC Red LED
Is Steady when there is Power Failure and Flashes when there a Low Battery
MSG Green LED
Steady when there is a new internal message and Flashes when there is a new recorded message from the telephone.
You can arm the system by pressing the Away, Night or Day keys.
There is no indication of exit time or zones open on this page. This will be done in the next version. When armed the red ARM led will be steady.
Disarm the system by entering your user code.
This Keypad does not speak.
Go to the Zones page by tapping the icon along the bottom
The zone status are shown as Off (Closed) with a X and ON (Open) with a circle. Notice that bypassed zones are also indicated, as in Study Window and Kitchen Window.
Whats more the app will also show zones in Trouble state, ie when the zone wires are open or short circuit and Double End of Line Resistors are used
Try opening and closing doors and windows around the house. The status will change accordingly.
The different text sizes are due to automatic resizing of the text to fit into the space. This will be fixed in the next version.
Last edited on Wednesday Jun 22nd, 2011 02:17 pm by
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Posted: Monday Jun 6th, 2011 02:33 pm |
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Home Control
In the Home Control Page, you will see the Control Groups as defined in the cclx file, eg
Touch the Group to show the Control Keys within each Group, eg for Lights
The control keys in the Lights Group are shown, with the status of each light, on or off, up/down etc as defined in the Home Control Menu.
To change the state of the lights, touch the icon. This leads to the next page which shows the actions possible
The actions here are on and off, but other actions are possible like Up, Down, Open, Close, Dim etc as defined in the Home Control Menu in Comfigurator
To do the action, press the blue circle to the right of On and OFF, not the text itself. You have to be accurate to get this right - this is something that needs to be improved in the next version.
Press Lights on the top to go back to the previous page
You will see the status of the light change accordingly. This may take up to 5 seconds
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Posted: Monday Jun 6th, 2011 02:49 pm |
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admin
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The Alarms Page shows the alarm conditions that happened while the app is online. It does not show alar,s that occured nefore the app was online. This function shall be improved in the next version.
Loss of Network
Please note: any interruption to the comfort App, such as other apps gaining the foreground, will result in the App disconnecting. You will need to reconnect. This is to avoid the danger of somebody picking up your phone and resuming an open session and controlling your home without your authorisation.
That is all that has been implemented so far. We hope you will enjoy using it.
This topic will be closed to prevent it becoming too long
Please post your questions comments and feedback in another topic or at http://www.comfortforums.com/view_topic.php?id=2282&forum_id=96
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Posted: Wednesday Jun 8th, 2011 04:00 pm |
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Mike35
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Any possibility of a similar application for the HTC Andoid phone as there must be enough users who prefer this phone to the iphone?
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Posted: Wednesday Jun 8th, 2011 04:10 pm |
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Posted: Thursday Jun 9th, 2011 01:26 am |
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ident
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Of course, in due time. we have work to do on this iPhone app first
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Posted: Thursday Jun 9th, 2011 04:41 pm |
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Posted: Sunday Jun 12th, 2011 03:45 am |
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Posted: Monday Jun 13th, 2011 04:28 am |
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Posted: Monday Jun 13th, 2011 04:36 am |
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ident
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Android will be our next target
Perhaps someone can do a third party app for Blackberry
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Posted: Monday Jun 13th, 2011 08:06 pm |
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I take it that this is beta! OK there are a number of things here........
How do you know for sure when you are connected? green wireless light - go out of WLAN and nothing happens - you dont know that the app is not working the arm is still red and/or the off is still flashing .
Sound interaction - there is no sound so actually knowing weather a key has been tapped of if the comfot has reacted is hard to tell. this is especially relevent when signing off. (in fact i managed to lock our test rig to the point where i had to manual)
This app is all about reliability and will ultimately rely heavily on the customers router and network access - even trying this with a LAN becomes flackey. I think firstly you need to ensure that there is a DEDICATED UCM - I think this needs to be locked down in some way so that it can only be used for remote access (phone apps). Of course if the system UCM has been accessed by other devices then the app cannot access and the cusomer has no way of knowing simply by the app screen.
What happens in the case of dual access by different users with iphones !!!!! (I can guess! but would the customer?)
When i came out of the app and went straight back in it does not go back in with out me pressing the key and selecting the 'system'.
In truth when this app becomes established i think it will be really useful but like most apps it will probably be used a majority of the time simply to switch the security on and off...... It has to be intuitive and RELIABLE in carrying out this 'basic' function.
Once this is achieved then you are more prepared to tackle the same issues when it comes to remote access.
Excellent that cytech now have an app and i hope that the comments above are taken as helpful feedback, however in order to get this app installed in volume it HAS to be polished and work first time every time. Keep it simple get it right then build in all the wizzy bits..........
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Posted: Tuesday Jun 14th, 2011 04:05 am |
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ident
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How do you know for sure when you are connected? green wireless light - go out of WLAN and nothing happens - you dont know that the app is not working the arm is still red and/or the off is still flashing .
When you go out of wifi range, the message "Wifi Connection has been lost. Please reconnect appears" When you go back into range the message "Wifi Restored. Login again?" appears. I have just re-tested this by walking out of range. Please verify again.
Sound interaction - there is no sound so actually knowing weather a key has been tapped of if the comfot has reacted is hard to tell. this is especially relevent when signing off. (in fact i managed to lock our test rig to the point where i had to manual) We will be adding some aural feedback as well as indication of wrong code in the nextt version
This app is all about reliability and will ultimately rely heavily on the customers router and network access - even trying this with a LAN becomes flackey. I think firstly you need to ensure that there is a DEDICATED UCM - I think this needs to be locked down in some way so that it can only be used for remote access (phone apps). Of course if the system UCM has been accessed by other devices then the app cannot access and the cusomer has no way of knowing simply by the app screen.
I dont see how you can prevent other systems accessing the UCM/Ethernet, or even want to, For example you would want to use Comfigurator via the UCM rather than buying another UCM just for that. We are looking at ways to show if the app is able to connect
What happens in the case of dual access by different users with iphones !!!!! (I can guess! but would the customer?)
The UCM/Ethernet does not allow multiple connections which is probably best.
When i came out of the app and went straight back in it does not go back in with out me pressing the key and selecting the 'system'.
The last system will be automatically selected in the next version, but you will still need to sign in again. It was designed this was for the sake of security so that if someone else picks up your phone, he will not be able to access the system
In truth when this app becomes established i think it will be really useful but like most apps it will probably be used a majority of the time simply to switch the security on and off...... It has to be intuitive and RELIABLE in carrying out this 'basic' function. Once this is achieved then you are more prepared to tackle the same issues when it comes to remote access. Excellent that cytech now have an app and i hope that the comments above are taken as helpful feedback, however in order to get this app installed in volume it HAS to be polished and work first time every time. Keep it simple get it right then build in all the wizzy bits..........
Thanks for the feedback We are working on the next version and we certainly intend to keep it simple
In order to prevent this topic from overflowing to multiple pages, we are closing the topic. All comments should be posted in a new topic or in the next topic http://www.comfortforums.com/forum96/2282.html
Last edited on Tuesday Jun 14th, 2011 04:06 am by ident
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Posted: Wednesday Jun 22nd, 2011 02:16 pm |
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slychiu
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Some users have reported that the email does not reach their iPhone.
Please check your junk mail filter for an email from admin@cytech.biz
If you have that experience please use this alternate site, http://www.ar777k.com/cytech/xmltest3.php
However for this site, the cclx files are limited to 1 MB and the email attachment cannot be viewed correctly in Yahoo Mail. Please use another email client
The email problems will be fixed soon
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Posted: Sunday Jul 10th, 2011 01:13 pm |
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Posted: Saturday Jul 30th, 2011 07:43 am |
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