Obvious Obscurity

Download: s60pyX10bt.zip [browse contents]
Thanks to jimmy at-domain retzlaff.com for x10.py

Note: if you get this to work on your system, please send me an email or leave a comment. I don’t yet know of anyone who has used this other than myself.

This is a Python for Symbian Series 60 app for controlling x10 modules using a X10 “firecracker” serial interface transmitter via a bluetooth serial connection to x10server.py running on a general-purpose computer (such as windows/linux/mac box.) For those who don’t know, X10 is a company that makes a variety of control modules for home automation (turning lights on and off, etc.)

Note that this is a crude prototype created in a few hours and is not for the faint of heart.

For more information on X10 and the “Firecracker” remote control see:

• http://www.x10.com/products/x10_cm17a.htm
• http://www.averdevelopment.com/python/x10.html
• http://www.geocities.com/ido_bartana/Firecracker_protocol.htm

Although I use windows com ports in the examples, this should work for any OS supported by pySerial that can emulate serial ports for bluetooth connections.

To set your system up to use your s60 device as a bluetooth remote control, you need to:

• Have the following installed on your PC:
  • Python 2.3 (I’m using 2.4 but 2.2 or later should be ok)
  • pySerial http://pyserial.sourceforge.net/
  • x10.py (included) from http://www.averdevelopment.com/python/x10.html
• Have the following installed on your bluetooth-enabled Series 60 device:
  • Python for Symbian Series 60
• Create a bluetooth serial “port” on your pc which accepts input from a connected bluetooth device and sends the input as output from a serial device in the OS. For example, under windows you might create a local serial service named “X10 Remote Control” that is associated with com7. When something connects to this service (such as x10control.py), output from the device will show up as input from com7.
• Attach your firecracker to a port (say com1 if you’re using windows.)
• Run: x10server.py com1 com7 where com1 is your firecracker serial device and com7 is the serial device associated with the bluetooth “port”.
• Edit command_list in x10control.py to include the modules you use and descriptive names, etc.
• Install x10control.py on your Symbian Series 60 device.
• Run x10control.py and select the system you ran x10server.py on. Then select “X10 Remote Control” as the service.

To manipulate your modules:

• “click” on an item in the list to send the associated command or toggle that module on or off (some items like “All On” don’t toggle.)
• For lamp modules, highlight the item and use left/right to dim/brighten the lamp.

That’s it! Let me know how you like it.