In-room Programming of HomeWorks Interactive

In-room Programming of HomeWorks Interactive

Introduction: Most everyone is familiar with the RF modems that we have recommended in the past for in-room programming. This application note provides ideas on other in-room programming methods that may be employed at lower cost and with greater ease. There is an acronym list at the end of this document.

Method 1:

This method is for installers/programmers who are familiar with the installation and programming of phone systems, or have a good relationship with the phone installer onsite. Lutron Hotline personnel are not trained to handle phone system questions, so please do not attempt this method if you are a phone system novice.

Most high-end homes have KSUs or PBXs in them. Many KSUs provide analog ports for use with modems, cordless phones, etc. In the house where I was programming the HWI system, the Panasonic KXTD series KSU had what Panasonic calls XDP jacks on the back of their proprietary phones. These jacks provide an analog port (extension) on the back of each digital phone. There were also rooms in which "normal" (non-proprietary) phones were connected to analog extensions on the KSU. To further clarify, the term "normal" or "non-proprietary" refers to the types of phones that can be bought at any Wal-Mart or Radio Shack.

Down at the HWI system, I connected a modem to the processor to allow me to program it using the phone system. I connected the modem to an analog extension on the KSU (note - the extension was programmed in the KSU to NOT ring on incoming calls from the CO lines). Next I went into a room that needed scene programming and plugged my laptop modem into the XDP jack on the Panasonic proprietary phone. If the room had an analog phone, I unplugged the analog phone and plugged the laptop modem into the wall jack the phone had been connected to. I followed all of the standard instructions in the HWI Help menu on using a modem, and dialed into the system using the extension number for the analog port that the HWI modem was connected to. After making my adjustments and uploading the programming, I clicked on "Hang Up" in the terminal screen and moved to the next room. Since the phone number is retained as long as the HWI software is open, it was as simple as plugging into an analog phone jack (or XDP port) in the next room and clicking "Dial" to get my connection back.

In the above configuration, all of the CO lines were available for other uses while I was programming – all my "calls" to the processor were intercom (i.e. within the system). In order to prevent an incoming call from connecting to the modem that was attached to the processor, I configured that analog port such that it did not ring for any of the incoming CO lines (DIL 1:N, which is function 603 and 604 in the Panasonic KXTD-308 manual).

If I wanted to be able to program from off-site, a number of possibilities exist:

1. The processor's analog extension could be set up to be accessed from a CO line by going through the auto attendant. I wouldn't recommend putting it in the outgoing message - make it a "hidden" extension. In the "Enter Number to Dial" box in the HWI utility, use commas to generate a delay between the number to be dialed to reach the residence and the number to be dialed when the auto attendant answers. This delay will allow time for the auto attendant to answer before the laptop dials the extension. With the typical laptop's modem, each comma in the "Enter Number to Dial" box will generate a 2 second pause.

2. If the voice mail system is configured to allow direct dialing of an extension after the voice mail system picks up, the extension could be accessed by dialing the residence, pausing until the voice mail system answers, and then dialing the extension.

3. The processor's analog extension could be set up for delayed ring (use a value of 3 or greater) on the same CO that the homeowner's fax machine is on. The delay must be greater than the number of rings that the fax machine takes to answer the incoming call. On the Panasonic system that I was using, this was done in DIL 1:N, which is function 603 and 604 in the Panasonic KXTD-308 manual. This would allow the homeowner to allow/disallow access to the modem by turning off/on the fax machine. When the fax machine is on, it will answer incoming calls before the processor extension rings because the processor's extension is configured for delayed ring. When the fax machine is off, the processor's modem will answer after the delayed ringing period. In the HWI software, in the "Enter Number to Dial" box, it may be necessary to increase the timeout period to allow for the fact that the processor's modem is on a delayed ring extension.

Method 2:

This method is for homes that don't have KSUs or PBXs. Phone system expertise is not required. Some basic knowledge of telephone wiring practices is very helpful.

Most of your customers that don't have KSUs or PBXs have at least two phone lines for the home. Down at the HWI system, I connected a modem to the processor to enable programming via modem connection. I connected the modem to one of the phone lines (in this case, the one that the homeowner normally used for his computer). There wasn't a phone jack by the processor, but since the processor was in the same room as the Telephone Company network interface box, it was real easy to wire a phone jack to a location near the processor. After the processor's modem was connected, I went into a room that needed scene programming and plugged my laptop modem into one of the other phone lines in the house. I followed all of the standard instructions in the HWI Help menu on using a modem, and dialed into the system by dialing the phone number of the phone line that the processor modem was connected to. After making my adjustments and uploading the programming, I clicked on "Hang Up" in the terminal screen and moved to the next room. Since the phone number is retained as long as the HWI software is open, it was as simple as plugging into a phone jack in the new room and clicking on "Dial" to get my connection back. As I moved through the house, I had to make sure that the phone jacks I plugged my laptop modem into were not wired to the same phone line as the processor was.

In the above configuration, two phone lines were tied up whenever I was connected modem-to-modem. The line connected to the processor was not useable for incoming calls because the modem always answered on the first ring, but could be used for outgoing calls anytime the modem-to-modem connection was not active. I was able to leave the modem connected to the phone line for the week that I was making programming changes since the homeowner only used the line to dial out to his internet provider, but I disconnected the phone line from the processor's modem thereafter. I told the homeowner that he would need to plug the phone cord back in for me if he wanted me to dial in to make changes.

Programming from offsite is accomplished the exact same way it is done from onsite, with the possible exception of needing to add the area code to the phone number.

Acronyms:

KSU: Key Service Unit or Key System Unit - a name that is commonly applied to a class of phone system that is typically used in large homes and small businesses.

PBX: Private Branch Exchange - a name that is commonly applied to a class of phone system that is typically used in large corporations.

XPD: eXtra Device Port (registered trademark of Panasonic) - a feature available on most Panasonic systems that puts an analog phone jack on the back of the digital proprietary phone that allows the connection of a standard phone, modem, fax, etc.

HWI: HomeWorks Interactive

CO line: Central Office line - this is what is commonly referred to as an "outside line" when a phone system exists in the home. If no phone system exists, all of the phone lines are "CO lines".

Notes:

Questions regarding this application note should be directed to Glen Kruse or Tim Roper (gkruse@lutron.com or troper@lutron.com). Hotline personnel are not trained to answer telephony questions.

Last Revised 10-14-99