Minder 5250 IR Controller

[Dylan]

I'm interested in using the 5250 IR Controller for Minder. Although it is described in the software and was on the old Jeeves controller site I have not found it listed on the CIS website or in the Trade Product Guide.

I'm yet to contact CIS but has anyone here used this module or know if it still exists?

[Forumadmin]

Hi Dylan,

Its probably available on someone’s shelf however its not a supported CIS product. The whole Minder saga is one of intellectual property, take overs and all that mess. They were around so to speak not that long ago but I have no idea where to source one at this point in time. Maybe someone can help.

Cheers

[Dylan]

Yeah, I have heard a bit about the Minder saga (as an outsider). I was at BuildExpo the other day and the CIS rep. basically said Minder was dead. It is a shame because I don't think C-Bus has the smarts to be a full 'home automation' product yet. Hopefully there will be more third party developers creating intergrated products through the C-Bus Embeded program.

I'm still after an IR interface but am also checking out some PC based solutions.

[Forumadmin]

Yeah, I have heard a bit about the Minder saga (as an outsider). I was at BuildExpo the other day and the CIS rep. basically said Minder was dead.Don't think so. If thats a Rep's idea he has it wrong. Minder 5200/CU2 is not slatedd for redundancy just yet. The 5300 would be a nice replacement however.


It is a shame because I don't think C-Bus has the smarts to be a full 'home automation' product yet. Hopefully there will be more third party developers creating intergrated products through the C-Bus Embeded program.

I'm still after an IR interface but am also checking out some PC based solutions. There is a new logic engine coming in some of the new products which will fill a few holes but I still see a Minder as an invaluble tool.

[Frank Mc Alinden]

Hi Dylan
If your after a pc based ir unit then maybe have a look at the UK based "Redrat"...I use Homevision and my FirM Zoned unit for ir distribution and have also got a cbus 2 channel ir tx unit interfaced to it and can tx ir to any of my FirMs 8 zones using the cbus touchscreen.....
Also will be shortly working on designing a cat5 based ir repeater system...

Frank

[znelbok]

There was a company (Perth based) that made a box called Thinkboxx (I think it was anyway) that claimed to have originally developed Jeeves and then after a falling out with clipsal, now produce the above mentioned unit.

They claim that it is better than minder, but I have never used or seen one. I thought I had them bookmarked but could not find it and can't find their site either.

Are they still around?

[rhamer]

The Thinkboxx people are at

http://www.smart.com.au/products/thinkboxx/index.shtml

They are the designers of Minder, clipsal just rebadge and dumb it down.

Also you can get their version of the firmware and drop it into your Minder and you get a whole heap of extra functionality.


Regards

Rohan

[Rex Withers]

That sounds VERY interesting as CIS don't seam interested in the product at all any more. Unfortunately their web site doesn't have access to any downloads if I have any success when I call them Ill put it on my web site, and give you all a link.

Wish me luck

[rhamer]

Rex,

You have to pay for it, and I can't remember the price but it was very reasonable considering the extra features you get.

It was worth it just for the SMS capability that I suddenly got with no extra hardware.

I upgraded mine and a friend did his with no problems, but it is software locked to the actual controller, so no more sharing the firmware.

Also it now uses the Thinkboxx software on the PC as well, so it realy is a new product (but it is a superset of the minder so it looks and works the same).

It also entitles you to the next release.

Cheers

Rohan

[rhamer]

Also Thinkboxx has a much better IR interface, I don't have one but a friend of mine bought one instead of the Clipsal offering.

I think the story goes as follows;

The Jeeves people originally developed an IR interface for Jeeves.

Clipsal started reselling Jeeves as Minder.

There was some sort of court action over the IR interface and its library of codes.

So Clipsal set out to do their own.

Meanwhile Jeeves became Thinkboxx (somehow) and the IR product is still available for that platform.

Don't take this a gospel but I think it was something like that.

Regards

Rohan

[Rex Withers]

Thanks for the information, when I get a price Ill post it here for general information.

[chrism]

OK... Most of what has been posted on this subject is close to the truth.

The Smart Company (who were originally in Perth) developed the Automation Controller called Jeeves. Under an agreement with Gerard Industries (in about 1996), it was decided to market the product unger the brand name of Minder in Australia and some specified territories. This moved along ok until about late 1999 when there was some serious investment into The Smart Co and they re-launched as SmartWorld Corporation. This progressed and they (Smartworld) continued to market the product (now called ThinkBoxx) in the USA and other areas including Asia and in large batches in Australia (it was ok to sell into projects). In September 2001, SmartWorld went into Administration and the IP was picked up by a group who have relaunched as SmartWorld Corp. Some of the key people in the the company are still there and are working to keep the product moving along.

As of yesterday (25/8/04) Clipsal will no longer be selling the HomeMinder product due to significant changes in conditions to when the original agreement was signed.

They (clipsal) have for some time, manufactured the Controller hardware but the software development has continued with Smart.

Back to the IR product, it was available in the old version 1 hardware (superceeded in 1998 by V2) by Clipsal but they (Clipsal) decided not to support the new product which was being manufactured by Smart. I think the fact IR was left in the Minder version was an error as all other interfaces not required were physically removed from the code.

The IRBoxx was/is an excellent product and is still available from SmartWorld Corp. as is the ThinkBoxx Controller.

I personally, have used the product since 1995 and have taught training courses for both Clipsal and Smart on this product in australia and overseas.

I am a little dissapointed two very progressive companies couldn't agree to work together as the product and the industry could be a lot further forward. I know a lot of those in the industry who know this history share my thoughts.

[rhamer]

Thanks for the update.

I agree that it is a shame that two companies could not sort it out, however this is all the more reason to support SmartWorld corp to ensure the continuing development and support of a great product.

Regards

Rohan

[Sphinta]

Thanks for the update. I have set up 2 minders, one domestic, one semi industrial so as to interface to Cbus. I will be contacting thinkbox for a software update and follow their developments as it is a great product with a lot of potential.

[chrism]

Not sure if any of you guys are interested but we've dug up a heap of the IR transmitter/receiver units in our store room and we want to get rid of them. These cost us about $150 but we will look at any offers around $50.00. We also have a few of the remote controls (learning type) used to dirve these too. They can be bouth from Dick Smith for about $50.00 but we will sell these units for $20.

The units will be stricktly Credit card transactions and will not have a warantee (sorry). I will check them before I post how many exactly we have though to make sure they work.

Let me know if you are interested

Cheers

[rhamer]

I'm always interested in a bargain, but I'm not exactly sure what it is you're offering.

Can you provide a bit more detail.

Cheers

Rohan

[chrism]

no Probs Rohan

The Transceiver is a piece of hardware with two translucent windows (one for transmitting and one for receiving) IR codes into/out of the Minder platform. It looks like a two gang switchplate and is physically connected to the RS485 Bus of the Controller. It has the ability to learn IR codes and repeat them when triggerred by an event as programmed in a scenario. The only down side of the product was a limited ability to receive codes and then do something (the codes for the receive are fixed). From memory, there are about 15 codes (mainly coloured buttons) that can be used to trigger events.

ie if 'IR Receiver' matches 'red', then include 'party light scene'.

Maybe take a look at the setup in the Minder (create the device) and you will see the level of functionality. The range of the blasting is impressive... I can switch on my air-cond. which is located about 7 mtrs away. The Aussie version (the one we have) doesn't have any IR emitter ports but it wouldn't be hard to modify the device if that was desired.

The remote control has the codes for the triggering of events. The remote is also a learning remote so it is useful in other areas too. I could learn the functions of the remote into a unit, create a file and post it if you/anyone else is interested in the codes without buying the remote. Time would be the issue then (finding some time to do it).

Hope this helps

Cheers

Chris :cool:

[rhamer]

Done, I will send you a Private message.

Regards

Rohan