Pilot: Home Automation Control (iOS app)

[patoo77]

Hi. I'm suddenly getting a message saying "error while trying to connect to server" is there a problem with this?

Hmm... Are you getting this message all the time?
It usually happens when the iPhone can't connect to your server (no network coverage).

Also, are you using a self-signed certificate? I noticed some issues with it.

[LanWolf]

There is a little problem with the notification switch in the location setup. when i disable notification, it doesn't switch the selected switch when entering or leaving the area.
turn the notification switch on again, and it works again.

I suppose this is not what should happen ....
i get a notification from domoticz when the switch has been set, so i want to disable notification of pilot.

[markk]

Hi. I'm suddenly getting a message saying "error while trying to connect to server" is there a problem with this?

Hmm... Are you getting this message all the time?
It usually happens when the iPhone can't connect to your server (no network coverage).

Also, are you using a self-signed certificate? I noticed some issues with it.

I'm sorry, just noticed it may be that my DDNS had expired
I did have a message from IOS though, relating to both Pilot and Tado, telling me that these apps had been tracking my location and asking for permission for this to continue!

[patoo77]

Hi. I'm suddenly getting a message saying "error while trying to connect to server" is there a problem with this?

Hmm... Are you getting this message all the time?
It usually happens when the iPhone can't connect to your server (no network coverage).

Also, are you using a self-signed certificate? I noticed some issues with it.

I'm sorry, just noticed it may be that my DDNS had expired
I did have a message from IOS though, relating to both Pilot and Tado, telling me that these apps had been tracking my location and asking for permission for this to continue!

Ahah glad you found the issue
That message is a normal behaviour, that's how Apple handles background location services in iOS 8

[patoo77]

There is a little problem with the notification switch in the location setup. when i disable notification, it doesn't switch the selected switch when entering or leaving the area.
turn the notification switch on again, and it works again.

I suppose this is not what should happen ....
i get a notification from domoticz when the switch has been set, so i want to disable notification of pilot.

Hmm... Weird!
I will look into it

Thanks for reporting

[jaytee]

Hi. I'm suddenly getting a message saying "error while trying to connect to server" is there a problem with this?

I have this message also when I leave home and arrive at home. A few times after leaving home I tried to access my devices in the different categories and got an error message connecting to the server. If I enter the account settings menu and just klick "Done" without changing anything it works again.
Investigated this further by manually switching between 3G and WiFi by switching WiFi off/on on my iPhone when home. Sometimes I get an error connecting to the server sometimes not.

In the settings I use my public URL, Port=443, SSL=On, SelfSigned=ON, Requires login=ON, Authentication uses: username/password.
iPhone6plus, iOS 8.0.2.
Pilot 1.3.0

First time I'm using this app.

Regards
/jaytee

[patoo77]

Hi. I'm suddenly getting a message saying "error while trying to connect to server" is there a problem with this?

I have this message also when I leave home and arrive at home. A few times after leaving home I tried to access my devices in the different categories and got an error message connecting to the server. If I enter the account settings menu and just klick "Done" without changing anything it works again.
Investigated this further by manually switching between 3G and WiFi by switching WiFi off/on on my iPhone when home. Sometimes I get an error connecting to the server sometimes not.

In the settings I use my public URL, Port=443, SSL=On, SelfSigned=ON, Requires login=ON, Authentication uses: username/password.
iPhone6plus, iOS 8.0.2.
Pilot 1.3.0

First time I'm using this app.

Regards
/jaytee

Yeah, I think the problem comes from self-signed certificates... Apparently server using self-signed certificates get disconnected 10 minutes after start.
I haven't found a fix for this issue yet.

In the meantime, all I can recommend is getting a signed certificate. FYI, StarSSL provides free verified certificates.
If you try that, let me know if it fixed your issue!

[ivom74]

suggestion: When I'm in my wifi network i can connect to Domoticz.
I can access the website from outside my wifi. Is there a trick to connect to the local ipadddress (192.168.xxx) when i'm in my wifi and if
i'm not in area it connects to my Internetipaddress or domain.
Maybe it is a option to add more servers?

[patoo77]

suggestion: When I'm in my wifi network i can connect to Domoticz.
I can access the website from outside my wifi. Is there a trick to connect to the local ipadddress (192.168.xxx) when i'm in my wifi and if
i'm not in area it connects to my Internetipaddress or domain.
Maybe it is a option to add more servers?

I think someone already mentionned it in this post.
Seems very difficult to do that in-app, your server IP needs to be accessible from the outside and the inside.

[ivom74]

And if there is another serveraddress? First ping the first onem if no responds then ping the second one and connect?

Another solutions which I can make is use of a domainname instead of ipaddress. When i'm intern i must make a dns record on the router which overruled the dns pf the internet accessprovider. I think to ipadresses must be simple to use for everyone?

[thebeetleuk]

Hi All,

I'm having issues transitioning from a local connection to a remote one. At the moment I have setup local to use no username and password by using the "Local Networks (no username/password): 192.168.0.*; 127.*" option. I also have website protection as "login page". So when I move to a remote location the login fails unless I remove all protection which I dont want to do.

Domotics V2.2051, Pilot V1.3, Iphone 5s V7.1.1

Arg please help as I really want to use the location feature!!!

[patoo77]

Hi All,

I'm having issues transitioning from a local connection to a remote one. At the moment I have setup local to use no username and password by using the "Local Networks (no username/password): 192.168.0.*; 127.*" option. I also have website protection as "login page". So when I move to a remote location the login fails unless I remove all protection which I dont want to do.

Domotics V2.2051, Pilot V1.3, Iphone 5s V7.1.1

Arg please help as I really want to use the location feature!!!

Hmm... It should work :/
Are you using a self-signed certificate?

I'm not sure what could cause that issue, maybe try updating your Domoticz version?

[thebeetleuk]

Hi All,

I'm having issues transitioning from a local connection to a remote one. At the moment I have setup local to use no username and password by using the "Local Networks (no username/password): 192.168.0.*; 127.*" option. I also have website protection as "login page". So when I move to a remote location the login fails unless I remove all protection which I dont want to do.

Domotics V2.2051, Pilot V1.3, Iphone 5s V7.1.1

Arg please help as I really want to use the location feature!!!

Hmm... It should work :/
Are you using a self-signed certificate?

I'm not sure what could cause that issue, maybe try updating your Domoticz version?

Hmm. I have spent some time trying again today and it could be working now. I changed to "Basic-Autho as the login and its looking bette. All I need to do now is actually lave the house to see if its working

[thebeetleuk]

Another question... do you have a roadmap of changes you are looking to make to the app? I know you mentioned a new interface but would be good to hear the plans for the future

[patoo77]

Another question... do you have a roadmap of changes you are looking to make to the app? I know you mentioned a new interface but would be good to hear the plans for the future

Indeed, I have a few new features in the works.iPad version, touch id integration, iOS 8 widgets, among other stuff.
However, the roadmap is not fixed yet, so I can't promise anything.

I will share a public roadmap when there is a roadmap to share with you guys

[thebeetleuk]

Another question... do you have a roadmap of changes you are looking to make to the app? I know you mentioned a new interface but would be good to hear the plans for the future

Indeed, I have a few new features in the works.iPad version, touch id integration, iOS 8 widgets, among other stuff.
However, the roadmap is not fixed yet, so I can't promise anything.

I will share a public roadmap when there is a roadmap to share with you guys

Thanks. Cant wait!

Now I've been out of the house today I can confirm I have the app communicating properly. Last thing is to test some events to see if I can get the lights on when I get home. I have a feeling I might have to use a script for this rather than an Event. I'd be interested to hear what other people are using this for.

[bellissimo]

I would like to add another vote for having both 'Home' and 'Away' server settings. The app could detect if wifi was available and use the 'Home' server, or use the 'Away' server otherwise. If you could also manually switch between Home and Away, then this would cover all bases.

In order to be able to access domoticz using a DDNS from within your home network, then your router needs to have a 'NAT Loopback' feature available. Many routers do not have this option. For example, anyone in the UK who has Sky Broadband is forced to use a Sky provided router, which do not have this feature, and there is no straightforward way of getting round this without jumping through hundreds of hoops.

This makes the home and away settings critical for me.

[patoo77]

I would like to add another vote for having both 'Home' and 'Away' server settings. The app could detect if wifi was available and use the 'Home' server, or use the 'Away' server otherwise. If you could also manually switch between Home and Away, then this would cover all bases.

In order to be able to access domoticz using a DDNS from within your home network, then your router needs to have a 'NAT Loopback' feature available. Many routers do not have this option. For example, anyone in the UK who has Sky Broadband is forced to use a Sky provided router, which do not have this feature, and there is no straightforward way of getting round this without jumping through hundreds of hoops.

This makes the home and away settings critical for me.

Is there really no other way? Maybe using a NOIP provider?
I see how that can be problematic, but this is not something that should be handled in the client side. I am not even sure it's technically possible.
Might work with a combination of WIFI available + checking what WIFI SSID you're connected to... Seems like a hack more than anything else.

Anyone else has an idea?

[bellissimo]

I do use a no-ip provider. The problem is the fact that an external domain name cannot be reached within the internal network without having 'nat loopback' turned on. If there is no feature on the router to turn 'nat loopback' on, then you are stuck. This is really quite common, at least in the UK, and I don't know of any workaround without taking some drastic steps.

I don't really see it as a hack if it is the best reasonable solution. I have a couple of IP Camera apps which do exactly this, uCamPro being one.

Even a manual button which allows you to toggle between home and away servers would be good to start with, though it will also be simple to check whether you are on Wi-Fi or 3G/4G. There may also be a way of checking the SSID name, which would make it reliable enough.

Anyway, it is up to you of course. But I thought it worth pointing out that this is a fairly common problem.

[sebas]

I would like to add another vote for having both 'Home' and 'Away' server settings. The app could detect if wifi was available and use the 'Home' server, or use the 'Away' server otherwise. If you could also manually switch between Home and Away, then this would cover all bases.

In order to be able to access domoticz using a DDNS from within your home network, then your router needs to have a 'NAT Loopback' feature available. Many routers do not have this option. For example, anyone in the UK who has Sky Broadband is forced to use a Sky provided router, which do not have this feature, and there is no straightforward way of getting round this without jumping through hundreds of hoops.

This makes the home and away settings critical for me.

Is there really no other way? Maybe using a NOIP provider?
I see how that can be problematic, but this is not something that should be handled in the client side. I am not even sure it's technically possible.
Might work with a combination of WIFI available + checking what WIFI SSID you're connected to... Seems like a hack more than anything else.

Anyone else has an idea?

For Dromotica I ran into the same problem with the external ip not being reached from the local network. I ended up implementing two server settings, one local and one remote. Based on the SSID of the Wifi network you're connected to I determine which setting to use. You'll have to add the name of the SSID of your local network in the local settings. I prefill this with the name of the SSID you're connected to when you edit this setting if this has not been set yet.