Control KNX through iPhone

Controlling KNX from Iphone (or Ipod Touch) is both fun and easy. Yes, you will need an KNX/IP-device since the Ipod communicates through IP. Im using it with a IP-router but i would guess that an IP-interface is just as good.

There are some different KNX-apps on Appstore but the only one i have tried is Iknx from Openremote. The others existing today need other kinds of hardware and i prefer to use my existing KNX/IP-router.

Then you can control KNX through normal web-interfaces provided by KNX/web devices. Then you just use your browser as normal. Some KNX/Web-devices has prepared designs to fit Iphone.

To be honest i need to say that the Iknx-app is a little "buggy" at the moment but i hope it will be better in the future. It takes to long time to add group-addresses and sometimes your changes is not saved. But when configured, it works perfect.

hey, looks interessting. I've also been looking for a good iPhone KNX control for a quite some time. Already tried one - wasn't convinced. Ill definitly check out the mini version and see if I like it. If the quality is right, its not too much of a hassle to set it up and the price is ok I'll give it a shot.

For Iphone you can use ayControl from easyMobiz (see http://www.easymobiz.at/en/products/aycontrol). You can get on iTunes store a simple version for 15.99 US Dollars (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/aycontrol/id330434834?mt=8) In this case you need a KNX/Ip router and a Wif router in your home LAN.

Sorry I was extremely busy the last days... Not only providing brand new and hopefully exiting ayControl price models for the Light & Building. But also with new roadmaps, features...

So where should I start?

• For 12,9€ or 15,99USD (current price) you get a fully working solution of the iPhone KNX visualization which can be used up to 6 controls. We consider this as an fair deal for everyone who want's to professionally control KNX via iPhone. Just consider how much standard KNX pushbuttons are priced. Of coarse ayControl can offer much more than standard KNX pushbuttons ;-) E.g. Multimedia control, gestures, learning mode, RGB control and many more....

• Ok we know people often want more than 6 controls. So we have been creating professional extension packages to be used together with the iseo Designer PC software which imports KNX group addresses from ETS. These extensions can be purchased at easyMOBIZ and from an growing list of international distributors.

There are currently 3 extension options. Silver (up to 72 controls), gold (up to 144 controls) and an unlimited platinum version.

• The new prices for these extensions start clearly below fixed touch panels like let's say an standard MT701 but you / your clients get significant more design and comfort...

• Sorry exact prices can be only given to our registered integrators and distributers.

If you want to know more - have look at the iPhone KNX Remote in Action page to see if this App might fit your customers need.

In case you are interested in ayControl or you want to distribute it, you might consider registering for an free ayControl KNX info package so you get an info package howto start conveniently, stay up to date and enquire prices and conditions. You also will be informed (every 6-8 weeks) about new features, helpful building automation stuff and KNX tips&tricks.

If this is interesting I might be able to give you more info soon after the L&B...

Hope this helped! BR Rudolf

When we started designing our iPhone KNX control solution, more than 2 years ago, we initially thought the browser solution would be our way forward. We made a plenty of tests with the iPhone and after a while we were totally disappointed by the results. Yes technically it worked, but it didn't feel good enough (it was not responsive enough and the current building status wasn't reflected in time )

As a result in my opinion there are two totally different scenarios for users who want to control their KNX installation with the iPhone or iPad

1. If (mobile) device independence is key to you, but usability is not that important: You can use any of the browser solutions (like the N151 and other mini or object servers) which render and transmit the whole page from these small server devices. This leads to slow-going but (mostly) browser independent solutions. (Fine for seldom usage with different mobile phones)

2. If you want a intuitive, convenient real-time solution then you need a native app: Then you should forget about browser solutions and get a native app.

Thus if the goal is to control the KNX installation once a week - go for a browser solution.

If you regularly want to control your lights, blinds, hvac, door opener and want real time control and status, convenient dimming etc, directly from your iPhone or iPad e.g. while sitting on the sofa or from your office, then you should look for a native app. I bet the browser solution will likely annoy you after short time.

(This might be especially true, if you ever feel an superior quality knx native app for iPhone / iPad like our ayControl.)

/Rudolf

with N151, i can't use switch/dim function because my browser doesn't support long press, so for dimm, i use value function to dim. tried opera instead safari, same thing on iPhone.

The Siemens N151 is an EIB/KNX IP Viewer with an integrated Web server. You just need a a javascript enabled Web browser for the display of the web configuration page and the display of the operating pages.

Internet Explorer 6.0 [Win2000]/ 7.0 [WinXP]/ 8.0 Firefox release 3.0.14 [Win2000]/3.5.2[WinXP]).

The following additional browsers were tested successfully: Safari 4.0.2 (x86) Nokia 5800 (Mobile Browser) Google G1 (Mobile Browser) Iphone (Mobile Browser)

This way, you can use not only iPhone but many other phones to control your KNX installation.

I also have the same problem with the IP Viever N151 does not work well with Ipad with long press. I've tried several web browser for Ipad no chance. May be that (long press function) was programmed in the Flash and not in java.

What are you looking to do/control? Only Lights and Blinds? Or other functions as well? Do you need a Weather Station function? Do you need IP Cameras?

From my experience, you have a wide array of solutions for this requirement:

1. OpenRemote: (http://www.openremote.com) Uses a normal PC as a server and connects using any KNXnet/IP Router. (Recommend Siemens and/or anything other than ABB due to their non-standard handling of KNXnet/IP) This is a cheap-ish way of doing it if you want to DIY, but be aware it's still Beta Software so some features may not work and/or may not work as you want them to. :) It'll only do Lighting and Blinds at the moment, from what I know. Take a look.

2. Blue Comm' Azur's ProKNX: (http://www.proknx.com) Two different versions, one only iPhones/iPads/iPods and one that adds Philips Pronto communication, as well. Nice for the flexibility and priced very well in the market. Apps and Prontoscript Modules are free, you have full control with Pronto but only Lighting/Blinds Control with iPad/iPod. (You can view Heating, but can't change it)

3. Empure KNiX-Port: (http://www.empure.de/ENG/products/knix+port/knix-port.html) Same as the ProKNX, nicer GUI but roughly twice the price. (Can control HVAC, though, as opposed to just viewing.)

4. easyMOBIZ ayControl: (I think you can find a link on this page ;) Comprehensive iPod/iPad App. Allows IP Cameras, as well, from what I gather. I'm not too familiar with it yet but it looks solid. It's not clear from their website what hardware is required to connect it to KNX, though. (i.e. It looks nice, but how does it ACTUALLY work?)

5. Bab-Tec EIBPort: (http://www.bab-tec.biz) Full-on Visualization unit, DIN-Rail Mountable. Reasonably priced considering all it does. (Logic, Scenes, NTP Time Clock for the Bus, Timers, TCP/UDP Command Sender, etc., etc., etc.) Quick/easy to program, updates are live on the machine, and you don't need other hardware to make it work as it connects directly to KNX and IP. (Other than an external 24VDC PSU, which is cheap as chips) Has a dedicated iPod/iPad App that you can purchase to make it work with that.

6. GIRA HomeServer: (http://www.gira.com) Similar to the Bab-Tec, small format PC Box. Roughly 1.5x more expensive, though possibly more full-featured/complex. Takes longer to program, for me at least, but is a good solution. Have a dedicated iPod/iPad App that you can purchase to make it work with that. Requires some method of connecting to Bus, though KNX IP Router seems the most reliable from my experience. (Either RS-232 or IP Router add bucks to the price, so that cost needs to be kept in mind)

The problem with running anything that isn't made specifically for AJAX is that you'll find things that don't work from time to time. Not quite sure why that is, but we had that problem when designing a custom GUI for a Home Theatre running on the Webserver of a DKT Group Freeway. It works, but it's not as elegant/successful as a purpose-made unit.

Hope this helps.

Jean-Pierre

I also have the same problem with the IP Viever N151 does not work well with Ipad with long press. I've tried several web browser for Ipad no chance. May be that (long press function) was programmed in the Flash and not in java.