Links

This page contains useful links that you might wish to use that I have discovered during my time working on these automation projects.

I will attempt to make sure these links remain operational, but this is not really under my control.  From here, I generally point to the ‘home page’ of a site, rather than an explicit article.  However there are exceptions and please note that these are more likely to ”fail” over time, compared with home pages.

I have started a new page containing links to automation sites operated by private individuals, you can find these here.

Note: These are external links to third parties, I accept no responsibility or suitability for the content of these sites.  Using the information is at you own risk and subject to their terms.

The links below are roughly divided into groups by matching topic.  Sometimes links could appear in several locations.  Each link will open in a new window/tab.

Bar-codes

• BeeTagg: Free Symbian 60 software to use with your camera phone to read QR/Datamatrix/beetagg 2D bar-codes. Web can also generate bar codes for you.  Can also store a range of vCards that you can link to via QR Barcode.
• Nokia: Details on using your Nokia mobile with bar codes.
• Upcode: Free Symbian 60 software to use with your camera phone to read QR 2D bar-codes.
• ZXing Project: Free web generator with having to link through sites like BeeTagg.

Communications

• Asterisk : The Open source PABX core software by Digium.
• AsteriskNOW: A web based appliance version of Asterisk, also by Digium.
• Elastix: A web based appliance of Asterisk with many web applications combined into a single install.
• FreePBX: The now de-facto standard web interface for Asterisk.
• Grandstream: Makers of Enterprise VOIP phones, but also have a range suitable for home use and Video phones.
• iRedMail: A system to create and install an advanced email system onto a bare linux system.  Also has ISO version with pre-configured system.
• Trixbox: Another Asterisk based appliance, but intended to run on their own hardware.  A general version is available.
• VOIP-Info.org: A very useful news and technical site about many things VOIP.

Energy Saving

• Build It Solar: A web site full of DIY Energy Saving projects (US biased, sorry).
• Current Cost: A UK company that supply electrical supply monitors.  Some with serial/USB interfaces (no own software).
• efergy: A UK company that supply electrical supply monitors.
• Energy Saving Trust: Energy saving tips and ideas.  This link is for the Scotland version, there is a link to take you bake to the England/Wales version.
• The Owl: A UK company that supply electricity supply monitors.

Fax

• Hylafax: A very popular Open Source Fax handling system for receiving and sending.

General

• AlternativeTo: A site dedicated to (mainly) OpenSource software for Windows/Mac/Linux as an ‘alternative’ to costly mainstream programs.
• PortableApps: A web site devoted to Windows applications that can be installed and run directly from flash/thumb/pen drives,
• Source Forge: A huge library of Open Source projects for you to download.
• Ubuntu: The Debian Linux distribution I generally use for automation.
• Virtual Box: The open source Virtual Machine by SUN.
• Webmin: The open source web administration interface for Linux.

Government / Official Body

• Biomass Energy Centre: A ‘one stop shop’ to provide information to anyone in the UK with an interest in biomass derived solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and associated conversion technologies.
• DEFRA: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
• Forestry Commission: Range of Leaflets, Guidelines and Regulations.
• Info Scotland: Information on Scotland’s Campaigns from the Scottish Government.
• Natural England: An independent body to protect and improve England’s natural environment.
• NEF: National Energy Foundation.
• Pesticide Safety Directorate.
• Scottish Forestry Commission: Serves as the forestry directorate of the Scottish Government.

Home Control

• efergy: A UK company that manufacture electrical supply monitors, complete with USB interface.
• Enocean Alliance: Self powered monitoring and building control.
• EuroX10:  EU supplier of X10 items.
• EZAutomation: A UK distributor of a US designed, very modular PLC system with a good selection of I/O and control panels.
• Georg Luber: Articles for the developer of KNX related systems.
• Hager Group: Automation solutions for home and industrial.
• HobbyBoards: A US company that make a good selection of 1-Wire boards in kit and ready assembled.
• Marmitek : Supplier Home Automation components and systems.
• Mister House: An open source master control program for home automation.
• OWFS: ‘One Wire File System’, an open source Linux driver that converts One Wire devices to text files.
• Priscilla: An open source program that supports X10, EIB/KNX etc.
• TheOWL: Another supplier of electricity monitor for the home.  Based in the UK.
• Thermokon: Manufacturer of environmental control sensors and panels.
• Zone Minder: An open source package for controlling an capturing video images.  I have been unable to get this working as yet.  This is probably more down to me than the product itself.

On-line Stores

No or limited technical data, just places to buy stuff.

• My eStore @ Amazon.co.uk.

Podcasts / Publications

Printed, Audio and video podcasts/publications that maybe of interest to you.

• Going Linux – RSS.
• Elektor Magazine – A good technical magazine of news and electronics for the hobbyist.

Programming

• CodeIgniter: A PHP Framework for rapid system development.
• Heyu: A command interface for controlling systems such asX10 from PHP etc.

References

Technical Pages.

• Opternus: Siemens KNX chips and technical articles.
• KNX: KNX Standards.
• X10

Short Rotation Willow Coppice (SRC or SRWC)

• DEFRA: Growing Short Rotation Coppice – Best Practice Guides.
• Forestry Commission: Scottish Grants Scheme – Short Rotation Coppice.
• Forestry Commission: Short rotation Coppice in the Landscape.
• Forestry Commission: Woodfuel Information Pack.
• Wales Biomass: A short set of articles introducing this method of fuel production.

Software/Utilities

• Hidden Start: Utility to start windows programs without a console.
• VBoxTool: A utility to control Sun Virtual Box VMs at startup of Linux.

Weather

• Open2300: An Open source utility to gather data and control WS23xx series weather stations.