- Integrates INSTEON and X10 power line technologies
- Supports IP addressed IR interfaces from GlobalCache and BitWise
- Supports whole-house wireless
- Multiple Schedules created by a visual scheduling tool
- Unlimited number of programs to respond to events - constructed in a graphical manner from over 60 different actions
Essential Info
Home Control Assistant (HCA) is a Windows based home automation program that works with a variety of automation interfaces to control lights, appliances, irrigation, HVAC and more. With HCA's Scheduling and Green Mode features you can easily save money, reduce electrical usage, conserve water and improve safety by automating your home.
The Home Control Assistant runs on any computer that uses the Windows XP, Vista or Win7 operating system. It works with automation interfaces to control lights and appliances in your home using X10, INSTEON, UPB, Wireless and Global Cache IR technology.
HCA can be installed in a home with existing automation hardware. HCA can "spider" through all your installed INSTEON network and find all the devices and add them to your home design file. If you are using UPB, HCA can import the network from the UPB setup program. A new automation solution is easy to create using the built-in Wizards for creating a new file, adding devices, creating new schedules, and new programs. Once you have defined all the hardware, adding schedules and programs is simple using the Visual Tools provided.
Additional Features
Integrate into the HCA user Interface views of other applications: security, power management, and cameras using HTML views
Send email and SMS messages as part of a program action
Create and view INSTEON scenes in a graphical manner and remotely program those scenes into INSTEON devices
Bridge power line technologies by using multiple power line interfaces simultaneously. Create bridge maps to automatically translate between different technology commands
Powerful "whole house modes" for quick power saving programming
Background design checker quickly locate design problems
Configurable Alert Mechanism for handling exceptional conditions
Many tools for creating, viewing, modifying, and documenting the design
Configurable logging to keep track of sends, receives, schedules, and program actions
HCA is well documented in an over 600 page User Guide
Manuals/Software
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HCA 10 supports these INSTEON products:
Two Different Versions
Need support for UPB, HVAC, and a Web Interface? HCA 10 Plus.
Try before you buy
A 30 day trial of HCA Plus is available for download so you can evaluate HCA before you purchase. With a time limited trial, you get a copy of the software that is fully functional - no program actions are disabled.
After you download and install you can use the evaluation for 30 days. At the end of that time you will be unable to run the program. The software used to time limit the executable is very sensitive to attempts to bypass its security. If you change the date on your computer after you install HCA you may not get the full 30 day trial period.
On Windows Vista or Windows 7, the first time you execute HCA after you complete the install you must do it as an administrator in order to set the time lock. Right-click on "HCA" after you browse to it from the Start button and select "Run as Administrator".
A good way to start with HCA is to look at the sample file "MyHome.HCA" installed in the Samples sub-folder of the HCA folder in your Documents area.
A fully functional version of HCA 10 can be downloaded here.
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