HCL limitations

[Guest solarium]

Hello all,

I'm a new customer of the HC-lite.

I'm a little disappointed, because of the limitations of the HC Lite software.

I was thinking that the LUA code was not mandatory to be able to use and play with my Zwave devices, or others connected objects (netatmo, withings, etc)

But once associated with :

- a fibaro Wall plug

- a fibaro smoke

- a fibaro motion sensor

- a fibaro door sensor

I feel ... sad ... about the possibilities.

- No debug availlable for scene or virtual devices.

- Only single HTTP request possible for virtual devices

=> Need to deport scripts to another server ... to make an authentication ...

- No way to create custom graphs of anything. (only the power of my single wall plug ...)

- Did not found the Smoke Graph (like

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)

- lots of difficulties to configure IP camera with a password (had to remove the password)

but no way to record a screen ? (there is a button, that do nothing)

I see that the HC2 users can play with a V4 beta... When HCL will be able to play also ?

HCL without plugin is just ... like a waste of money for me.

Thank you for your responses.

[Nickwren 4]

So tired of the false promises of functionality and waiting for the holy grail that is v4. Look elsewhere like me.

[j.nowacki 5]

solarium, you can use PUT, GET and POST request with HCL, with authentication as well.

HCL will not get any alpha/beta releases, there are only stable versions on that platform.

HCL is meant to serve for basic control over your house, if you need some more advanced features maybe you should consider migrating to HC2.

[kep 0]

(...) I'm a little disappointed, because of the limitations of the HC Lite software.

Hi!

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At first glance I was similar... But after few hours with Fibaro and my IT experience I found out that it is not so bad and for home use HCL is pretty enough. I'd like to have ability to use LUA at least.

- lots of difficulties to configure IP camera with a password (had to remove the password)

but no way to record a screen ? (there is a button, that do nothing)

There is way to configure cam with password - no problem. If you need help let me know or write topic with this problem and cam specification.

You can not record video unless your camera support it. Buttons should be configured specific for given camera model. Button with camera icon sends screenshot to your mail (if configured).

- Only single HTTP request possible for virtual devices

=> Need to deport scripts to another server ... to make an authentication ...

Fibaro supports many HTTP requests - just write them as multiple buttons. Basic http authorization is supported too.

- No debug availlable for scene or virtual devices.

You can use external web debbugers - in example "Fiddler2".

[Guest solarium]

solarium, you can use PUT, GET and POST request with HCL, with authentication as well.

HCL will not get any alpha/beta releases, there are only stable versions on that platform.

HCL is meant to serve for basic control over your house, if you need some more advanced features maybe you should consider migrating to HC2.

Hello j.nowacki, thanks for your answer, but it does not make me happy.

I speak about a REAL authentication, like Oauth, and not a basic auth.

- I want to add my Netatmo weather station to the HLC.

- I want to add my Netatmo Thermostat to the HLC

- I want to add my Withings captors in the HLC .

But nothing is possible.

You dont answer me to the question : "When will V4 with plugins appear in HLC ?"

If you offer me a free HC2, i will accept it with pleasure.

But i just paid a little less than 300Euros for the HCL, you understand that i will not paid 600 euros more, just because you say that i have to pay more. (What is the next step ? the fibaro ultra that will cost 1200 euros?)

Fibaro announces that the only différence between HLC and HC2 is "No Lua, No Siri like, And no Voip".

A a new user, i see that HLC is a poor copy paste of the HC2, with a lots of limitations, that makes it unusable.

[ Added: 2014-11-13, 16:51 ]

Hello Kep, Thank you for your constructive answer!

I created a topic for my Camera in the "Configuration and management FIBARO System" forum.

The problem with basic authentication is that it does not resolves my problem.

My systems are using authentication based on cookies, or oauth tokens.

=> I need to be able to follow a session, and not just to make a single request.

If I need to create a PHP script, hosted on a dedicated server at home, to be able to use the Fibaro HCL, i do not need an HCL, i've already a raspberry with Zwave.

But for now, my rasberry allows me to do a lots of things, that are not possible with a fibaro HLC, that costs just 3 time more.

Fibaro is really good in marketing (Descriptions of products, Videos on Youtube), but after that, nothing is working like it was presented.

PS, if you look a little deeper, you will see that you can create Lua scripts

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[Guest shapa]

"nothing is working like it was presented. "

Welcome to the club. You are not alone

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I've got HC2 + 2xHCL and don't know how to get rid of this sh1t.

Had no time to fight with Fibaro, but soon will make some official request to make a refund.

You should try Indigo6 (so powerful...) in case you've got mac or Vera3 + UI7 (again, much more powerful than HCL and don't have any stupid limitations).

[Guest solarium]

Hello j.nowacki, still waiting for some answers !

- You dont answer me to the question : "When will V4 with plugins appear in HLC ?"

- No way to create custom graphs of anything. (only the power of my single wall plug ...)

- Did not found the Smoke Graph (like

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)

[sergiobaiao 5]

PS, if you look a little deeper, you will see that you can create Lua scripts

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can you explain how?

[j.nowacki 5]

solarium, answering your questions:

Update for HCL will be available soon after stable release for HC2, sorry, but no timelines are available for now

Graphs for e.g. temperature and smoke will be included in next version.

Devices you mentioned will be part of that update as well, in a form of plugins.

We have never claimed that HCL contains more features than HC2 - hence it can be viewed as more compact version of HC2 with some limitations.

Things like multiple http requests are not needed in basic home control system, hence were not included in HCL but can be achieved in HC2.

[osban 0]

Why cant select main temperature sensor as smoke sensor??

Or how can do that.?

[chrispec 0]

Hi j.nowacki,

In HCL V4 release, will lua be available ?

[HomeSystem.sk 69]

Hi guys,

just to tell you something you should already know. If you have option to buy HC2, which is the main home center from Fibaro, please do not expect the same functionality from the LITE version, which is ment to be for basic users. It is obvious, that Fibaro must take some of its functionality away, because if not, what would be the selling point of HC2? Just imagine - buy HCL for 275 or buy HC2, which is exactly the same but cost 300 more...

You people are acting like this is something not normal. Just look at the phones. Samsung Galaxy 4 and Galaxy 4 mini. Noone ever expected the same experience with that mini version, because it is ment to be for completely different customers. The same with Fibaro. If you want home automation to play with a lot, Fibaro is giving you clear advice - get HC2. If you want to control your home automaticly and remotely, get HC Lite - the cheaper version which allows more people to have it with some compromises.

And people, if you are buyng home automation, ask your reseller for information. Every good reseller should give you informations like this. And if he did and you still wanted to save that 300, then SHSH.

I spend half an hour with every client explaining him, why is this 300 wort it and why will he understand it if he will play with the system.

And chrispec - why would they?

[Guest solarium]

Hello HomeSystem.sk

Sorry to not agree with you opinion.

My point about limitation is linked with a product, that costs 300Euros, but is'nt finished.

And as you can see, the 600 Euros one isn't finished too (For my blockings points: No official plugin is working : Sony: Down, Netatmo:down after 3hours).

So no, it's not normal to sell an alpha product at this price.

I would love to test functionalities, provide my support to fibaro for new functionalities, but not at this price.

[MalvinYNJ 4]

+1 in a spend less, expect more topic

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[Kuba13 49]

Maybe most of these problems with HCL could be worked around by one of three ways:

 

1) use slightly more advanced hardware (you know MORE than 128 MB RAM and simmilar ROM)

 

2) Figure out and implement a way of warning detailing restrictions of virtual devices and or scenes. (this one cant be dismissed)

 Infact given that HCL is treated as starting point i would have it tap into some sort of database on cloud and in order to provide tutorial on how to use this device, its functions and each page (with optionall button or checkbox to swap it off, but have it still be avalible in speciall thumbnail incase user runs into problems)

If warning is not enough maybe prohibit scenes that are too complex?

 

3) allways separate updates, as evidenced by 4.082Beta what works on HC2 might be pretty  desasterous on HCL (i do not know how bad it was since my exposure to its HCL itteration was very limited).

 

 

(edit - i apparently can not count, changed two to three to fix it)

Edited July 4, 2016 by Kuba13

[jakub.jezek 371]

Well, HCL is very limited by hardware.

 

1) HC2 is comperativly more powerfull than HCL. So Fibaro could make it similat to Raspberry Pi (Atleast Raspberry PI 1 model B) HW. HC2 has 16x more RAM and HC2 is overpowered for more few years.

 

2) There could be lighweight LUA editor for diagnostic purpose. There can be just some functions, e.g. Fibaro:getValue(000,"energy"), Fibaro:getValue(000,"value"), ....

3) I would recommend to make more stable versions and more hotfixes.

 

4) It laks GSM Gateway and power battery

[Sankotronic 2,370]

Maybe in the past power by battery sounded interesting, but nowadays not any more. What is the purpose that HCL or HC2 is powered by battery when router and connection to the internet is lost? I think that with cheap UPS's available on the market that can keep power for home center and router for long enough time is much better solution than some battery attached to HCL or HC2 in that matter.

 

Planning before buying is important for everything and home automation especially. When I wrote previous sentence then I was not only referring to current wishes but also eventual future expansion. I would never buy cheaper startup solution like HCL and then expect that it does things like controlling all kind of appliances around my house.

 

Common people, why are you trying to make HCL better than it is with more RAM or whatever? Do you realize that that kind of upgrade will also upgrade the price? For someone who just want some basic automation with few sensors and actors HCL is just perfect device in my humble opinion, but if you want more then you have to pay more.

 

So please, stop crying about HCL not good enough like HC2 because you sound really ridiculous.

[Kuba13 49]

Maybe in the past power by battery sounded interesting, but nowadays not any more. What is the purpose that HCL or HC2 is powered by battery when router and connection to the internet is lost? I think that with cheap UPS's available on the market that can keep power for home center and router for long enough time is much better solution than some battery attached to HCL or HC2 in that matter.

 

Planning before buying is important for everything and home automation especially. When I wrote previous sentence then I was not only referring to current wishes but also eventual future expansion. I would never buy cheaper startup solution like HCL and then expect that it does things like controlling all kind of appliances around my house.

 

Common people, why are you trying to make HCL better than it is with more RAM or whatever? Do you realize that that kind of upgrade will also upgrade the price? For someone who just want some basic automation with few sensors and actors HCL is just perfect device in my humble opinion, but if you want more then you have to pay more.

 

So please, stop crying about HCL not good enough like HC2 because you sound really ridiculous.

 

HCL is however not marketed as hobby kind of device and that is why people keep bying it and reign complaints on our heads its ridiculously frustrating.

 

I allso provided multiple choice on that whole ordeal. Come to think of it HCL ought to include better marketing of the device as i just realised. It should be treated as and markted as for hobbyists and people who want to learn of smarthome rather than fully functionall gateway.

 

 Bessides i am fairly convinced that buying as outdated memory chips as HCL has could not be cheaper than buying some chinese chese massproduced ones. (unless offcourse those chips are taken from corpses of old computers in junkyard or something like that).