Vox commando (and other software) as a house alarm

[MrWolf]

Hi James,

Only issue is that The alert is generated by Ispy and Ispy immediately starts recording before Vox gets alerted.

I'd end up with a hard drive full of useless video of me walking into my room.

Unless I'm miss-understanding you?

-P

[jitterjames]

No. I was just responding to your "Just need to find a way to get Ispy to wait 20 seconds before alerting so when I initially walk through the door it doesn't immediately start telling me it's going to call the police and chop my head off etc.  "

My solution was to address that.  As for delaying the video, if it's not part of I spy, I don't know what you can do other than auto-cleaning the video folder, or doing without the video all together.  I don't actually have I spy installed here.  Do they not have some kind of hotkeys for turning stuff on and off? 

When you initially started this thread, it seemed that you just wanted a motion trigger alert sent to VC, and that part is working, correct?

[jitterjames]

by the way, you can do some basic stuff (turning things on and off etc) using command line params.

example to turn all on:

Code: [Select]

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?>
<command id="1048" name="ispy all on" enabled="true" alwaysOn="False" confirm="False" requiredConfidence="0" loop="False" loopDelay="0" loopMax="0" description="">
  <action>
    <cmdType>Launch.RawParam</cmdType>
    <cmdString>C:\Program Files\iSpy\iSpy (64 bit)\iSpy.exe&amp;&amp;commands "allon"</cmdString>
    <cmdRepeat>1</cmdRepeat>
  </action>
</command>
Maybe you can find a way to use this.  Here is a reference for all the command line commands that you can use.

http://www.ispyconnect.com/userguide-commandline.aspx

One of them allows you to start recording, another to close the program etc.

[MrWolf]

Thanks mate. Definitely very helpful.

Far less dirty than my current solution if I can get it up and running, will give it a go later.

I think I have a plan for the delay which will involve your suggestion to have the files auto delete after a period and some if statements in VOX which I will undoubtedly need help with

II shall try write it myself, you never know, I might actually manage to write something without disturbing you for a change :p

Thanks again mate, will let you know how I get on and will make a video tutorial once I get it working in case others fancy it.

-P

[MrWolf]

Nope, it is impossible that my tiny brain can achieve anything without disurbing you (but I am learning as I go so the disturbances should become less).

I tried to follow some old instructions you gave me to set an alarm and cancel an alarm.  You said to set a variable, so I have done this...

Code: [Select]

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?>
<command id="1028" name="Hi honey I'm home 2" enabled="true" alwaysOn="False" confirm="False" requiredConfidence="0" loop="False" loopDelay="0" loopMax="0" description="">
  <action>
    <cmdType>TTS.Speak</cmdType>
    <cmdString>Hello commander, please confirm security clearance within the next 10 seconds or the alarm will be triggered</cmdString>
    <cmdRepeat>1</cmdRepeat>
  </action>
  <action>
    <cmdType>Results.SetVar</cmdType>
    <cmdString>DoWakeEvent&amp;&amp;True</cmdString>
    <cmdRepeat>1</cmdRepeat>
  </action>
  <action>
    <cmdType>VC.SetEventTimer</cmdType>
    <cmdString>15&amp;&amp;Intruder alert</cmdString>
    <cmdRepeat>1</cmdRepeat>
  </action>
  <event>Camera.Motion</event>
</command>
and this...

Code: [Select]

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?>
<command id="1025" name="Turn the alarm off" enabled="true" alwaysOn="False" confirm="False" requiredConfidence="0" loop="False" loopDelay="0" loopMax="0" description="">
  <action>
    <cmdType>EventGhost.Send</cmdType>
    <cmdString>switch the alarm off</cmdString>
    <cmdRepeat>1</cmdRepeat>
  </action>
  <action>
    <cmdType>Sound.PlayWav</cmdType>
    <cmdString>\VOX\Sounds\acknowledge.wav</cmdString>
    <cmdRepeat>1</cmdRepeat>
  </action>
  <action>
    <cmdType>Results.SetVar</cmdType>
    <cmdString>DoWakeEvent&amp;&amp;False</cmdString>
    <cmdRepeat>1</cmdRepeat>
  </action>
  <phrase>Turn the alarm off, switch the alarm off</phrase>
</command>
and this...

Code: [Select]

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?>
<command id="1008" name="Intruder alert" enabled="true" alwaysOn="False" confirm="False" requiredConfidence="0" loop="False" loopDelay="0" loopMax="0" description="">
  <if ifBlockDisabled="False" ifNot="False">
    <ifType>(A)==(B)</ifType>
    <ifParams>{Var.DoWakeEvent}&amp;&amp;True</ifParams>
    <then>
      <action>
        <cmdType>TTS.Speak</cmdType>
        <cmdString>Intruder alert!  Intruder Alert! Your photograph has been sent to a remote e-mail account, The owner of the premises has been notified of your un-authorised axess.  The police are on their way.  Evacuate immediately!</cmdString>
        <cmdRepeat>1</cmdRepeat>
      </action>
      <action>
        <cmdType>EventGhost.Send</cmdType>
        <cmdString>Intruder alert</cmdString>
        <cmdRepeat>1</cmdRepeat>
      </action>
    </then>
    <else>
      <action>
        <cmdType>TTS.Speak</cmdType>
        <cmdString>Welcome back commander</cmdString>
        <cmdRepeat>1</cmdRepeat>
      </action>
    </else>
  </if>
  <event>Intruder alert</event>
</command>
Figured that was right, but a lot of it is guess work based on my lack of coding experience.

What am I doing wrong?  I figure it's something to do with the first part of my IF statement (A==B)

-P

[MrWolf]

Never mind, solved it immediately after!

I did something myself!  Are you proud

I had the Variable part and the true part backwards.  I feel like a king!

-P

[Kalle]

Hi MrWolf, I hope you will make a short video 

[MrWolf]

I most certainly will

Finished tweaking now.  Got it working perfectly so that when I walk in the room Vox welcomes me home but says it will trigger the alarm in 10 seconds if I do not give my passphrase.  When I give the pass phrase it bypasses the alarm and switches my Projector on, dims the main lights and does the usual routine.

If I don't give my passphrase it makes a horrible noise, the main lights flash and TTS warns the intruder that they are being filmed, that the owner has been emailed and that the police are on the way.  It sends me an email and 'Ispy' films them and sends the footage to my dropbox account!

I tagged on the starting of the webcams to the shut down sequence that turns all my lights and projector off.

I used James suggestions to have Vox switch the cameras on too so it is far cleaner than it was.

Thanks James for all your advice!

Just need to create Eventghost events so that the alarm can be turned off with my phone and with the missus' phone too.

Video will be made this Friday afternoon hopefully if I don't end up going to the gym, otherwise it will be next Wednesday as I'll need a good clear evening where my good lady is out.

-P

[Kalle]

I most certainly will

Finished tweaking now.  Got it working perfectly so that when I walk in the room Vox welcomes me home but says it will trigger the alarm in 10 seconds if I do not give my passphrase.  When I give the pass phrase it bypasses the alarm and switches my Projector on, dims the main lights and does the usual routine.

If I don't give my passphrase it makes a horrible noise, the main lights flash and TTS warns the intruder that they are being filmed, that the owner has been emailed and that the police are on the way.  It sends me an email and 'Ispy' films them and sends the footage to my dropbox account!

I tagged on the starting of the webcams to the shut down sequence that turns all my lights and projector off.

I used James suggestions to have Vox switch the cameras on too so it is far cleaner than it was.

Thanks James for all your advice!

Just need to create Eventghost events so that the alarm can be turned off with my phone and with the missus' phone too.

Video will be made this Friday afternoon hopefully if I don't end up going to the gym, otherwise it will be next Wednesday as I'll need a good clear evening where my good lady is out.

-P

Wow, that sounds all really cool - no hurry!

[jitterjames]

I am so proud, that it brings a tear to my eye.  I imagine this is how a father feels when his daughter takes her first steps, or gets married, or wins a Nobel prize.  So, so proud, and yet also sad to know that in a way, she doesn't really need her daddy anymore. 

[jitterjames]

Also looking forward to the demo, whenever it's ready.

[MrWolf]

 

Thanks daddy, but I'll likely still need your help for a good while yet.  I'm not quite all growed up.

Can't wait to demo this.  Even Neesha said it was impressive, and she thinks we should just use a remote for everything

-P