Does any thermostat manufacturer offer an IP-thermostat that contains
it's own web-server that's directly accessible by the end user to
program the unit and allow for direct monitoring, view temperature and
performance logs, allow for e-mail alerts, etc? These are all trivial
functions that you'll find on any $100 IP-based webcam.
Yes:
http://www.smarthome.com/3054/Programmable-Thermostat/p.aspx
It does everything you listed including the email alerts and a mini
web server built in.
Here is a screen print of the thermostats remote-control web page:
http://www.smarthome.com/images/3053side1big.gif
It has a power adapter block that you punch down the tehermostat to,
then you just run CAT5 from the power adapter to your home's network
hub (or switch).
If you've already secured your home LAN for external access half the
job is done.
I'm using similar IP devices on my network switch (cameras and
lighting control) both of these also have their own web servers for
remote access.
ISP's also generate DNS names for your home these days so you dont
even need a fixed IP address from your ISP, you can get to your home
by DNS name.
HTH
> > I've looked up the IP/Ethernet thermostats available from four
> > different vendors, and their products don't seem to allow for
> > direct web-based access to the thermostats by the end-user.
>
Yes, it seems that the Proliphix thermostat does have a useful internal
web server.
Too bad that it's over $300. Quite a rip-off (2 to 3 x the price)
compared to a significantly more complicated device like an IP-webcam.
What I'm looking for is, perhaps, not so much an internet-accessible
thermostat as much as an internet-accessible information "hub" that can
record and log stuff like temperature and furnace operation
(heat-on/heat-off), door opening and closings (by picking off the
contacts from existing alarm system), and make that info available
remotely, set e-mail alerts based on specific conditions, etc. More
along the lines of remote property monitor (but not from the POV of
being a security system).
> ISP's also generate DNS names for your home these days
What ISP's do DNS hosting for dynamically-assigned IP addresses? And
what does it cost? And will they do it for a residential vs business
broadband connection?
I have Comcast Business Class, not sure about residential.
I get about 20 Mb/s download and 3 Mb/s upload in my area with
Comcast, have not found anyone faster here. I guess until someone
wants to run fiber to my door, the phone companies around here wont do
that.
For data collection you could write a little program to wake up every
10 minutes and go "browse" the thermostat web page and log a copy of
it, inspect it for changes, etc.
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I have Comcast small business in my home and my normal D/L runs 14,800kbps,
up is around 3,500kbps
"HVAC Guy" <HV...@Guy.com> wrote in message news:4B318908...@Guy.com...
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Have you checked out http://www.inthrma.com/
we do most of what you're looking for.
Sam