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Heyu Discussions GitHub service has been set up as a potential successor of the heyu_users forum we are missing after Yahoo closed it. Anonymous read-only acccess is available to everyone. Would you like to post user support requests or other messages, please consider opening an account on GitHub. Don't count on prompt response though, it may take time for the former heyu_users group members to learn about the new service, join and start watching your posts.
Introduction
HEYU is a text-based console program for remotely controlling lights and appliances in the home or office. The complete source is made available under the GNU GPLv3 license.
Heyu uses the CM11A computer interface to send and receive X10 control signals over the AC power lines to modules which can turn On, Off, or Dim attached lamps or appliances. It can store a schedule of timed events in the CM11A memory for execution when the computer is turned off or disconnected.
Heyu supports an optional W800RF32A, MR26A, or RFXCOM RF receiver connected to a second port as an auxiliary input device for RF signals from X10 and other supported transmitters.
Heyu can also use an optional CM17A interface to transmit X10 RF signals.
Features
Highly configurable and able to transmit and receive any X10 signal supported by the CM11A.
Monitor and/or log all X10 signals on the power line.
Maintain a record of the state (On, Off, Dim level) of modules based on received or transmitted X10 signals. A variety of different lamp and appliance module types are supported as well as specialty modules like RCS-compatible thermostats and remote thermometers, and shutter motor controllers.
Decoders are included for RF signals received by a W800RF32A or RFXCOM receiver from security remotes and sensors and from RFXSensor Temperature, Humidity, and Barometric Pressure sensors, and with a RFXCOM 433.92 MHz receiver for RF signals from RFXMeter Power, Water, Gas, and Pulse sensors, Digimax thermostat, KaKu remotes, and Oregon Scientific, Electrisave, and Owl CM119 sensors.
Execute scripts or commands based on received or transmitted X10 powerline or RF signals and the recorded states of modules.
Upload schedules of timed events and macros to the CM11A memory for operation without a computer.
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Events may be scheduled for execution at local clock times or relative to the times of daily Dawn or Dusk.
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Schedules may be uploaded for the calendar year, or alternatively for a period beginning on the current date and extending a year into the future.
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Event dates and times are automatically adjusted for Leap Years and periods of Standard and Daylight Time.
Control multiple CM11A interfaces connected to different serial ports on the same computer.
With an optional CM17A device, transmit X10 RF signals to a transceiver for conversion to power line signals (possibly on a separate branch of the AC line), or to an X10 RF receiver connected to a different computer. Any of the 64K different RF signals supported by the CM17A may be transmitted.
Heyu is developed and maintained under Linux. Compile options for Mac OS X (Darwin), FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, SunOS/Solaris, SCO Unix, AIX, NextStep, and OSF have been implemented with the aid of the Heyu User Community.
The CM11A is manufactured by X-10 (USA) Inc and sold as such and as part of their CK11A ActiveHome kit. It is also sold rebranded as the IBM HD11 Home Director and the RCA HC60CRX Home Control Interface. It plugs into an AC socket and connects to the computer via an RS232 serial port. (A USB-Serial adapter can be used for computers which don't have an RS232 port.) It has a clock with battery backup and a 1 KB non-volatile memory for stored timers and macros. Compatible 230 Volt devices are sold outside North America as various CM11x models; in the UK as the CM12U.
Heyu also supports the CM10A (IBM HD16), an older device similar to the CM11A but without clock or battery backup, and marketed as an early version of the IBM Home Director.
The W800RF32A RF receiver is manufactured by WGL & Associates. This device can receive X10 RF signals from standard, entertainment, and security remotes and sensors. In addition to the US/Canada version, an international version, the W800RF32AE, is available which operates at the X10 RF frequency used in Europe and elsewhere.
The RFXCOM X10 RF receiver from RFXCOM is a USB device but incorporates an FTDI USB-Serial chipset and maps to a serial port. It can receive X10 RF signals from standard, entertainment, and security remotes and sensors, and is available in both 310 MHz US/Canada and 433.92 MHz International frequency versions. The International version can also receive signals from RFXMeter sensors, Digimax thermostats, and Oregon sensors.
The X-10 MR26A receiver can receive X10 RF signals from standard and some entertainment remotes, but not security remotes or sensors.
For users in North America, Heyu optionally integrates support for the X-10 CM17A "Firecracker", a small serial dongle which transmits X10 RF signals. (The CM11A and CM17A coexist on the same serial port - no additional port is required.)
Heyu does NOT support the X-10 CP290 interface, the Smarthome PowerLinc 1132B interface, or any USB-only interface like the X-10 CM15A "ActiveHome Pro".
Support for Heyu is no longer provided via the heyu_users forum at Yahoo groups. Heyu developers respond to bug reports (and feature requests to some extent) posted on Heyu Issues at GitHub. Heyu Discussions at GitHub is a potential successor of the heyu_users forum. If acceppted by the Heyu User Community, members of the Community may start receiving and responding to Heyu as well as X10 and Home Automation questions and problem reports as before. New releases of Heyu will be announced there.
Current activities can be followed on the Heyu project page at GitHub. Some old development related information can still be found on Heyu development space at Assembla site.