Dr KNX: ETS4 and PC Stability Issues
By Dr KNX. Dear KNXer, KNX Association has a team of software experts who test ETS versions before each release. A version will only be released after a number of standard tests have been conducted on all officially-supported Windows versions. See www.knx.org/knx-en/software/ets/ets4/installation/index.php. These tests are always done with a freshly-installed version of Windows; this is […]
UK VAT Rules Change Paves Way for Zero-Rated KNX Installations in New Builds
The HMRC in the UK recently published Notice 708: Buildings and Construction – August 2014. For the first time intelligent lighting (not including remote control hand sets) has been recognised as ‘ordinarily incorporated in a building’. What does this mean in reality? According to Andy Ellis, MD of Household Automation Ltd and long-time campaigner for […]
Product Article: The JUNG F50 Range of Push-button Interfaces – an Impressive Combination of Design and Technology
By Andrew Taylor, JUNG. In 1912, Albrecht Jung GmbH & Co. KG was founded in Schalksmühle, Germany. Over the last 100 years, the company has become established as a specialist in electrical switches and systems under the motto ‘Progress as a Tradition’. Having its own subsidiaries and represented by a number of agencies all over […]
Business: Lessons that KNX Manufacturers Can Learn from the Big Players
By Jesús Arias García, KNXin. I got so excited about an interview with Tony Fadell by the UK edition of Wired magazine, that I put aside the article I had already written for this month, and offer you this instead! For those unfamiliar with Fadell, let’s just say that he played a big part in […]
Solutions: Is DIY Home Automation Damaging for KNX?
By Sophie Thomas, Ivory Egg. There has been a definite surge in public awareness surrounding home automation recently, thanks to the likes of Nest, Hive, and most recently, Apple HomeKit. No doubt some systems integrators will sigh with a heavy heart each time more so-called ‘smart home’ technology is announced, as they fear the end-user’s […]
Best Practice – Logic Modules on the Bus
By Simon Buddle, KNXtoday. As many small systems integration companies grow, the likelihood is that each year they will add another product or technical capability to their armoury. This gradual growth enables us to navigate successfully through the shark-infested waters of the larger project. Over-stretching a company in resources or technical capabilities, by trying to […]
Technology: KNX over IP – New Solutions for KNX Installations
By Dr. Thomas Weinzierl, Weinzierl Engineering GmbH. While KNX has grown into the most important building automation standard, Ethernet has evolved into a universal communications solution that can also be employed in automation systems. Because of their different system characteristics, KNX and Ethernet complement each other well. The advantage of the KNX bus is that […]
Dr KNX: Updating ETS4 Despite a Proxy-Related Issue
By Dr KNX. Dear KNXer, KNX Association decided to allow ETS updates only for valid licenses, in order to avoid the illegal use of ETS. Depending on its configuration settings, ETS checks for available updates either automatically or manually. Before installing such an update, ETS checks whether any installed licenses are valid. If there is […]
Dr KNX: Using a KNX USB Interface with Windows 8.1
By Dr KNX. Dear KNXer, The update from Windows 8.0 to 8.1 saw a ‘USB Sleep Mode’ feature added in order to save energy. Unfortunately KNX devices do not support this feature yet, and are therefore simply switched off by Windows 8.1. The only workaround is to switch this newly-introduced ‘USB Sleep Mode’ feature off. […]
Country Profile: KNX New Zealand
By Colin Price, Ivory Egg. KNX New Zealand was formed in 2014 by ABB, Siemens and a handful of enlightened KNX engineers. Its aim is to promote KNX as an open protocol to the New Zealand building trade. There are a few projects that have been completed with KNX over the last few years in […]