MiOS - User contributions [en]

Intro Mobile Phone

2008-09-29T09:00:06Z

Admin:

You can remotely control Vera using your mobile phone using the findvera.com service. This is secure, and the username and password are always encrypted, just like when you do online banking on your mobile phone. There's nothing to setup or configure, and it takes less than 1 minute to get going.

You can also do this without the findvera.com service acting as your middle-man, although the connection is not secure and you need to be sure your internet service provider will allow you to receive incoming connections.

== What you'll need: ==

'''A mobile phone with a web browser and data plan'''

Open your web browser and go to findvera.com/mo

You will be asked to enter the username and password you created on the [[Find_Vera_Service|findvera.tab]] in Vera's setup page. If you choose to save this password on your phone, then remember that if you lose your phone you should go to findvera.com right away and change your password.

You will then see a page that is similar to the [[Dashboard|dashboard]], but much simpler with no fancy graphics or formatting so that it is can be used on a basic mobile phone. Note that you can also use findvera.com/mo from a normal web browser too. It won't be as pretty as the normal dashboard you see at findvera.com, but if you have a really bad internet connection you will see that the page loads much faster.

[[Image:Find Vera com.jpg|thumb|caption text|FindVera.Com]]]

'''iPhone / iPod Touch'''

If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, there is a special version of the remote control application that looks great, takes advantage of your touch screen, and works like a native iPhone/iPod application. To use it visit findvera.com/iphone from the Safari web browser in your iPhone or iPod.

Again, you will be asked to enter the username and password you created on the [[Find_Vera_Service|findvera.tab]] in Vera's setup page. If you choose to save this password on your phone, then remember that if you lose your phone you should go to findvera.com right away and change your password.

Then you will then see a page that is similar to the [[Dashboard|dashboard]], but designed for the iPhone.

If you want to connect to Vera using wi-fi rather than your cellular network, then look on the bottom of your Vera or on the Quick Start Guide to get the network name and password for your Vera. Then click the Settings button in your iPhone, choose networking, and select Vera's wireless network and enter the password. Then open the Safari web browser and go http://local.findvera.com/iphone . That will connect over wi-fi, directly to Vera, and does not use the internet or the findvera.com service.
[[Image:Advanced - Net & wi-fi.jpg|thumb|caption text|wi-fi connection]]

'''Blackberry and other smartphones with Java'''

Vera includes a Java app that is prettier and easier to use than the mobile phone's web browser. To install it, open your phones browser and go to: http://findvera.com/mo . Select the 'download' link to install the Java application, and answer the prompts as requested.

When the Java application starts for the first time you will be asked how you want to connect. Choose "Secure connection" to connect using the secure findvera.com service over the internet. You only need your username and password. If you want to connect within the home using wi-fi or without using the findvera.com service, choose "Direct connection", and enter "local.findvera.com" as the IP address if you are connecting over wi-fi.

The Java application lists all the rooms in your home in a tree on the left. Highlight a room and press enter to see the scenes and devices in that room. Highlight a scene and press enter to active that scene. Or highlight a camera and press enter to view the camera full screen. Or highlight another type of device and press the cursor right to navigate through the various control options for that device.

[[Image:Rooms.jpg|thumb|caption text|The list of the rooms]]

Intro Mobile Phone

2008-09-29T08:50:07Z

Admin:

You can remotely control Vera using your mobile phone using the findvera.com service. This is secure, and the username and password are always encrypted, just like when you do online banking on your mobile phone. There's nothing to setup or configure, and it takes less than 1 minute to get going.

You can also do this without the findvera.com service acting as your middle-man, although the connection is not secure and you need to be sure your internet service provider will allow you to receive incoming connections.

== What you'll need: ==

'''A mobile phone with a web browser and data plan'''

Open your web browser and go to findvera.com/mo

You will be asked to enter the username and password you created on the [[Find_Vera_Service|findvera.tab]] in Vera's setup page. If you choose to save this password on your phone, then remember that if you lose your phone you should go to findvera.com right away and change your password.

You will then see a page that is similar to the [[Dashboard|dashboard]], but much simpler with no fancy graphics or formatting so that it is can be used on a basic mobile phone. Note that you can also use findvera.com/mo from a normal web browser too. It won't be as pretty as the normal dashboard you see at findvera.com, but if you have a really bad internet connection you will see that the page loads much faster.

[[Media:Find Vera com.jpg|thumb|caption text|FindVera.Com]]

'''iPhone / iPod Touch'''

If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, there is a special version of the remote control application that looks great, takes advantage of your touch screen, and works like a native iPhone/iPod application. To use it visit findvera.com/iphone from the Safari web browser in your iPhone or iPod.

Again, you will be asked to enter the username and password you created on the [[Find_Vera_Service|findvera.tab]] in Vera's setup page. If you choose to save this password on your phone, then remember that if you lose your phone you should go to findvera.com right away and change your password.

Then you will then see a page that is similar to the [[Dashboard|dashboard]], but designed for the iPhone.

If you want to connect to Vera using wi-fi rather than your cellular network, then look on the bottom of your Vera or on the Quick Start Guide to get the network name and password for your Vera. Then click the Settings button in your iPhone, choose networking, and select Vera's wireless network and enter the password. Then open the Safari web browser and go http://local.findvera.com/iphone . That will connect over wi-fi, directly to Vera, and does not use the internet or the findvera.com service.
[[Image:Advanced - Net & wi-fi.jpg|thumb|caption text|wi-fi connection]]

'''Blackberry and other smartphones with Java'''

Vera includes a Java app that is prettier and easier to use than the mobile phone's web browser. To install it, open your phones browser and go to: http://findvera.com/mo . Select the 'download' link to install the Java application, and answer the prompts as requested.

When the Java application starts for the first time you will be asked how you want to connect. Choose "Secure connection" to connect using the secure findvera.com service over the internet. You only need your username and password. If you want to connect within the home using wi-fi or without using the findvera.com service, choose "Direct connection", and enter "local.findvera.com" as the IP address if you are connecting over wi-fi.

The Java application lists all the rooms in your home in a tree on the left. Highlight a room and press enter to see the scenes and devices in that room. Highlight a scene and press enter to active that scene. Or highlight a camera and press enter to view the camera full screen. Or highlight another type of device and press the cursor right to navigate through the various control options for that device.

[[Image:Rooms.jpg|thumb|caption text|The list of the rooms]]

Test Sequence

2008-09-24T12:21:44Z

Admin:

A test system is available to the public to prod around with Vera. The test system consists of Vera, a thermostat, a motion detector, a dimmable light connected to a lamp, an on/off switch connected to a fan which blows foil in front of the motion detector to trip it, and a wireless Panasonic IP camera. It can be accessed directly (like you would on the home LAN) at testvera.micasaverde.com, or on findvera.com with the username: testvera, password: myvera123. Following is our standard test sequence to confirm that all major functions are working:

1. Start with a new box, connect to it on the local LAN1 port and change the Net & Wi-Fi settings to use a static ip: 216.75.232.110, netmask: 255.255.255.240, gateway: 216.75.232.97, dns: 64.71.0.60. (resolves as testvera.micasaverde.com)

2. Go to the setup page, and on FindVera.com, enter: user: testvera password: myvera123 and activate

3. On rooms, enter a Bedroom and a Living Room

4. On Devices, the dimmable is "Lamp" in Living Room, the switch is "Fan" in Bedroom. Thermostat and motion are in Living Room.

5. Power on camera, wait for light to come on green. Confirm it shows up as a new device.

6. Confirm view camera works, control lights, thermostat, etc.

7. Fill in all the options for the camera: Motion Detector, 30 seconds, Lamp, 30 minutes, 20 days, check all 4 boxes

8. Create scenes: on for 30 seconds, turns lamp on for 30 seconds and off. arm home turns lamp off and arms motion detector. disarm home bypasses motion detector.

9. Choose Location

10. Add user: vera password: vera Set the SMS text and email addresses.

11. Add timer: 30 minutes on interval 30 minutes, set sensor to arm, turn fan on and off after 5 minutes, and turns light to 75% for 15 minutes and turns it off. Add another timer that at 45 minute intervals turns the lamp on to 25% and then to 60% after 30 minutes.

12. Add timer: evening, at 6pm and 8pm turns lamp on for 10 seconds and off

13. Add event: breach, type: armed sensor, users: vera, motion detector. lamp on for 10 seconds then off

14. Add event: sunset, lamp off

15. Click save. Press F5 and confirm all settings stuck.

cj (70) and vg (69) 16. Manually arm the sensor by clicking 'Arm' on the devices page. Turn on fan, which should trip the motion sensor. 30 seconds later or so the sensor should have the red "trip" icon, and you should get a notification via sms and email about the 'breach' event.

vg (72,71) 17. Login to findvera.com with testvera, myvera123. Click events and confirm you can see the breach event and the notification attempts. Click Camera, Panasonic camera, and confirm you have video archive, including every time you tripped the sensor. The date/time should be correct, and the light should be on for 10 seconds.

vg (73) 18. Go to energy and confirm you see the live usage

vg (75) 19. Go to control and confirm you see the dashboard

cj 20. Go to settings and put in your email and sms number. Unplug the access point. Within 1 hour you should get a notification

vg (41) 21. Let the access point wait for 5 hours. Confirm you can view the energy history.

ab 22. On the devices tab confirm the thermostat is reporting the time.

al (62) 23. Open a generic WAP browser on a mobile phone and go to testvera.micasaverde.com/mo. Confirm you can view the camera, control the lights, and execute secenes.

al 24. Open the browser and go findvera.com/mo. Enter testvera and myvera123, and again confirm you can view the camera, control the lights, and execute secenes.

ab 25. Open the blackberry's browser, go to findvera.com/mo and install the Java app. Confirm you have the same control, and also that the status updates if you change devices using the web page

vg 26. Go to: https://findvera.com/testvera/myvera123/3451/data_request?id=camera_control/16&parameters=get_video_frame and confirm you can view the camera

Confirm the following:
Every 30 minutes you should get a notification of the breach, because of the 30 minute timer. The timers and events should work properly, and after a while, you should see the history energy usage graphs showing how the energy usage is fluctuating in response to the 30 and 45 minute timers.

FAQ

2008-09-04T15:48:52Z

Admin:

{{FAQ header}}
==General==
===Will Vera work internationally?===
Yes. Vera's power adapter runs on all international standards, from 100 to 240 volts. Customers in the UK and Europe receive a power connector for their outlets. Other countries may need to use an adapter. Z-Wave operates on different frequencies in the U.S. and Europe. When you order Vera the Z-Wave stick is available either European or U.S. versions. Note that the Z-Wave accessories at ourline shop, like lamp modules and light switches, are U.S. only. Vera will work fine with any Z-Wave accessories you buy locally.

==Networking==
===How can it really be that easy to setup and access remotely?===
It is. Really. Just plug Vera in and then from any web browser in the home go to [http://findvera.com findvera.com]. The first time you do this you will see Vera's setup page where she asks you to enter a username and password. To do this your PC or web browser doesn't need to be connected to Vera, it just needs to be anywhere on the same home network. Once you've put in your username and password, then you can go to [http://findvera.com findvera.com] from any web browser anywhere in the world and put in the same username and password and you'll automatically be connected to our Vera back home.

===What if I don't have internet at home?===
No problem, having an internet connection is optional. Just connect your PC, Mac or other web browser into one of Vera's network ports, or connect to Vera wireless. Vera's built-in wireless comes pre-configured so if you have a wireless/wi-fi device you'll automatically see the 'Vera' network and can connect to it. You can still setup and use Vera the same. If you don't have an internet connection, though, you won't be able to access Vera remotely from outside the home, and you won't see the helper videos on Vera's setup pages.

===So Vera has a built in wi-fi access point? Those things are complicated to setup!===
Yes, Vera has a built in access point, but it comes completely pre-configured. There's nothing to setup. Just plug Vera in. Then you will see the 'Vera' network show up on your laptop or other wi-fi enabled device. Click the 'Vera' network and you'll be asked for a password. Your unique password is printed on the bottom of Vera and in the getting started guide. Each Vera has a different password, so it's secure, and you don't have to worry about your neighbor connecting to your system. And, Vera's wireless is pre-configured to use the highest-security for wireless networks, WPA2. Of course, if you know networking stuff you can change all that. But if you're a novice, all you do is plug Vera in.

===But web cameras and other network devices always require some setup, right?===
At Mi Casa Verde we pre-configure everything for you. So when it arrives at your home you just take itout of the box and plug it in. We do all the work for you. For example, if you buy a web camera from a retail store and want to have it connect to Vera's wireless network you need to configure it with some technical stuff, like the correct SSID and WPA key. But, if you buy the camera from us, we pre-configure it with all this information it needs to connect to your Vera so you just plug it in.

===Are you sure this is really secure? Can some hacker spy on me with my web cam or control my house?===
Before Vera this was a big problem because all the other IP cameras and home control systems don't use a secure network. So even though the web cam or home control box may ask for a user name and password, it's not secure. You can tell this because unless the web site starts with https:// and you see the padlock in your browser, it's not secure. That means the user name and password are transmitted all over the internet and anyone can intercept it and control your system. Banks and e-commerce companies overcome this by setting up a secure network. But this requires effort and technical expertise. So if you're connecting directly to your home system, it's not secure. We solved this by setting a secure server, at FindVera.com, to act as the "intermediary". So you don't connect directly to your home's Vera system; rather you go through the secure server. This has the side benefit of not only being secure, but being much simpler for you as well since it's fully automatic. The Vera system in your home connects to this server using a secure connection. Then when you want to control your home or view your camera, you also connect to the secure server at FindVera.com, and the server "patches" you in by connecting the two secure connections. So, yes, it really it is secure. Your username and password are protected. And nobody, including the Mi Casa Verde staff, can access your system or control your home without the password.

FAQ

2008-09-03T11:16:23Z

Admin:

{{FAQ header}}
==General==
===Will Vera work internationally?===
Yes, Vera is available with either U.S. Z-Wave or European Z-Wave. Regarding the built-in wi-fi network, although wi-fi is an international standard, Vera currently has only received government approval in the U.S. for wi-fi. Outside the U.S. the wi-fi should be turned off. Vera runs on 100-240v.

==Networking==
===How do I setup the network?===
Answer ...

FAQ

2008-09-03T08:34:10Z

Admin: New page: MiCasaVerde FAQ

MiCasaVerde FAQ