CUL or CUNO?

[Alexvanhoboken]

I recently implemented several FHT80B-3 and replaced (almost) all the thermostat knobs. I also bought the FHZ1000 to control the heating system from 1 place. It took me a while before I was satisfied and I had to return a few items because they were faulty. But now I want to take it a level higher and connect the system to my pc/server. First I thought to buy the FHZ1300PC for that but reading these post I reconsider and go for the CUNO. But there are quite a few options when buying a CUNO, who can help me with this? For instance:
- Do I need HF-shielding (extra € 10)
- What antenna is advisable
- Why should I need a 'massenspeicher'? and I dont see it on the board, where is it?
- What's Onewire?
- If I want to connect it to ethernet only, I probably do need the option 'Power of Ethernet'

Has anyone already experienced with the CUNO?

[jrkalf]

You might be able to send forumsmember Kroonen a PM and see if he replies to that. He's got a CUL device.

Funny thing about CUL it's shorthand of it's features: CC1101 USB Lite
So for the CUNO it's: CC1101 USB Network Onewire

This basically means it's the same device, yet the CUNO has a RJ45 network connector, so you can hook it up anywhere you have a LAN cable leading to. And it has the option to connect and use Onewire as well. Onewire is a protocol for domotics as well, more info can be found in THIS part of the domotics forum.

If you're going for a CUNO (I'm going to get one as well), I'd advise to look at a look at a antenna. I've heard from Herr Kroonen that the wire antenna isn't that great, I'm personally going to use a 1/4 wave antenna. Not sure it it's the best one, I lack knowledge about this, but I'm going for it.

HF shielding: I'm not sure what level of protection it's going to bring. It will probably insolate the motherboard and radio equipment for some sort of radio interference, so it only receives a clear signal from the antenna. Usefullnes, are to estimate with my knowledge.

The Massenspeicher, darn... find the ENGLISH flag icon on the righthand side halfway the page, reading it in english makes it a lot easier.
Massenspeicher == Micro SD slot. I haven't found it on the pictures as well, nor am I going to take the option. The onboard system has a 2MB cache for backlogging any messages.

Onewire, if you don't need it, you can skip it for now. Remember that if you want to implement it later on, you'll be lacking this feature on this small and amazing device.

Power over Ethernet, be carefull here. If you don't have a network switch being able to send PoE, you'll probably can't use this feature. In the average homeswitch situation, this indeed isn't an option.
You'll probably need to buy the € 7,50 psu. Or if you know the power requirements and have a spare psu that might do as well

[Alexvanhoboken]

Thanks Jelle for your advice and I just ordered the Cuno with more or less the specs you've mentioned (shielding, case, antenna, power). While waiting for the delivery (i expect after 10/1) I'll be reinstalling my server

[jrkalf]

No problem. I've decided to go for a CUNO as well.
Especially since I have a stairs closet where I have my downstairs switch and wifi connection. It's the best connection to hook it up and have a signal bounce through the house without being blocked by a concrete wall all the way.

I prefer the CUNO over the cul as according to the FHEM website it's possible to run it without having the server powered on as it by default has a 2MB cache for factoid messages. Hence that's where probably the Massenspeicher comes in to place when you're going to run it standalone for a longer period of time. But since I don't have it yet, time will tell.

Another thing on my todo list: create a table overview of device support by cul/CUNO/fhz in the comparison posting.

[KidE]

I've made a comparison for myself and i'll go for the CUNO for different reasons:

1) Independent platform (no need for server to be running to execute commands)
2) Status buffering in local buffer
3) All kinds of nice twits and fiddles ( not to be bored soon)

My ordered config looks like:

1 x CC1101-USB-Network-Onewire (CUNO)
- PowerOverEthernet: none
- Programming: USB (serial bootloader)
- Radio interface: CSM 868MHz
- Shield: HF-Shield
- Mass storage: MicroSD slot + 2GB card
- OneWire: inclusive 2m Kabel
- Power supply: 5V/500mA
- Firmware: none
- Cover: plastic gray
- Cables: inclusive
- Antenna: RP-SMA + 1/2 Wave, Tilts and rotate

total handeling + shipping (including a 1m SMA extended cable 170,47 euro

[jrkalf]

That's a hefty price there Ernst.
I've done it a bit more modest:

1 x CC1101-USB-Network-Onewire (CUNO) (CUNO-OEM)
- PowerOverEthernet: none
- Programming: USB (serial bootloader)
- Radio interface: CSM 868MHz
- Shield: HF-Shield
- Mass storage: MicroSD slot
- OneWire: inclusive (no cable)
- Power supply: 5V/500mA
- Firmware: none
- Cover: plastic gray
- Cables: inclusive
- Antenna: RP-SMA + 1/4 wave whip

total handeling + shipping = € 137,48

[Alexvanhoboken]

I have bought exactly the same as you Jelle
And I received a confirmation that the CUNO was on his way.

[jrkalf]

My CUNO just arrived. Just 4 days to get it delivered from Germany.

[Alexvanhoboken]

Then I hope to receive it today as well.

[Alexvanhoboken]

Ernst,

Do you have you're CUNO at work yet? I wonder if you already have some experience with the 2mb onboard and the microsd card. I've inserted a 1gb microsd card but so far no buffering is done. How can I tell if the card is working correctly? Do I have to format it?
Many questions, maybe you have an answer

[jrkalf]

If you've read the readme file in the culfw package, it'll say how to make a logfile on the onboard 2mb memory.

[KidE]

well i rercieved the package yesterday and after building/flashing the firmware i saw that the version that CUNO was displaying was 1.39 instead of the downloaded 1.40.
U tried connecting to the network with DHCp but it seems this is not functioning.

Maybe this friday i have some time tio play with it a little more to see if i can het the thing to work

[jrkalf]

The lack of proper dhcp was my experience as well. If you read the cuno troubleshooting post you'll find the instructions for configuring the static ip.

[Alexvanhoboken]

I had the same problem, the included compiled CUNO firmware is still v.139. You have to compile it or ask someone for the version, that's what I did

About the 2 MB memory or the microsd card, I can't find any information how to use or check it.
What readme is this? The readme included in the CUNO firmware doesn't tell much.

[jrkalf]

http://www.koeniglich.de/culfw/README
^^
it's the same readme file as in the package. search for "r<filename>"

I can't explain much about it yet, as I've not used the option just yet. I have to wait till my cuno is back from germany