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BlueWatch
is a new BlueTooth based Home Automation software that
can detect and track your BlueTooth enabled devices.
The best (and
most oblivious) use of BlueWatch
may be to simply track the presence of cell phones.
What you do with that information (or is it data) is limited
only by your own imagination.
I have set my BlueWatch
to deactivate my security alarm when I return home. And
activate my perimeter detection system when I leave. The
former... I wasn't comfortable with. But the latter is a
neat addition to my security.
Let me start
from the beginning and explain how all this works.
As part of my Home Automation setup I run a Home
Automation Computer (HA PC) 24/7. The PC runs various
HA software including X10's Active Home Pro (AHP). Many HA
users (like myself) use what is commonly called "third
party software". This "third party
software" (like BlueWatch)
can interact with X10 AHP Software.
BlueTooth
(BT) is a 2.4 GHz secure radio frequency (RF) standard used
on many, many devices. One popular use of BT is the wireless
connections like headsets made for cell phones. You may have
a wireless ear piece for your cell phone or you might use a
wireless connection in your car. This "hands free"
technology is almost required in many states.
Most although
not all cell phones have BT built-in.
This BT
technology uses a unique ID for a handshake protocol of its
own. So no one can "listen in" on your BT
transmissions. This means your phone and listing device must
register with each other... and be excepted (by you) to be
used. This same ID technology causes every cell phone to
identify itself uniquely.
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So what I
have done is plug in an inexpensive and readily available
USB BT dongle (similar or identical to the dongles used with
a computers wireless mouse) into my HA PC.
After a
quick and easy setup using BlueWatch
and my $10 dongle. My HA PC can now "see" my cell
phones BT signal. As I approach the limits of my Phones/dongles
BT range (about 33 feet) BlueWatch
detects my cell phones (2.4 GHz BT signal) unique ID and
turns ON the pre-selected X10 House/Unit code. Or, when I
leave the same code is turned OFF.
As cool
as this new technology use is... it is NEW.
Therefore it is not completely without problems which
it's creator is working on (as you read this). Some phones
or phone setting can have trouble continuing to ping or be
pinged by the dongle. Also, currently the software
"leaks" memory. This can be a problem on some
computers although there are workarounds even as Tuicemen
edits the software for improvements.
BlueWatch
is a software created by a well known and long time Home
Automation expert.. commonly known by his screen name
Tuicemen.
Tuicemen also created PC
Companion and other software products. Read
more, download a trial, or purchase Tuicemen's software
Here.
This On/Off
activity allows for limitless macros and events to be
triggered in the AHP Software... as well as within other
third party software.
The potential
here as to what can be accomplished is truly limitless. Now
simply going about my normal activities like coming and
going, can be interpreted to be Home Automation Commands.
WARNING:
Although there is a lot of bandwidth in the 2.4 GHz
frequency.... 2.4 GHz use is popular. Its use isn't
limited to BlueTooth. Many wireless home phones and even
wireless cameras and video sender/receivers use 2.4GHz.
I have experienced serious signal interference problems
with my wireless cameras (and video sender/receivers)
and the BlueTooth Dongles I tested.
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