Home automation with the Commodore 64

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I am very passionate about technology, both modern and vintage. I asked myself: is it possible to control home automation with the Commodore 64?

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Ci è voluto un po' di lavoro, ma l'esperimento è riuscito!

First step: connect the Commodore 64 to your home WiFi network

In this article, I explained how to connect a WiFi modem to the Commodore 64. The same modem was used to connect the Commodore 64 to the home automation system Control Casa.

Commodore 64, modem wifi, bbs, internet, nodemcu

Per collegare il Commodore 64 alla rete di casa ho quindi utilizzato un modem WiFi collegato sulla user port. Ho utilizzato il software CCGMS per ricevere ed inviare i comandi all'impianto domotico di casa.

Second step: set up a TelNet server on the home automation system

L'impianto domotico Control Casa è accessibile da remoto collegandosi con un normale browser per navigare in internet. Ovviamente il Commodore 64 non ha questa possibilità, ma offre solo la possibilità di inviare e ricevere stringhe di testo tramite un terminale tipo CCGMS.

E' stato quindi necessario implementare un server TelNet all'interno della centralina dell'impianto domotico, per trasmettere i dati in formato testo, senza immagini e bypassando completamente il protocollo HTTP.

A second trick was to convert the character table. In fact, the Commodore 64 uses the PETSCII character set, which is different from the ASCII character set that is supported by modern devices.

In fact, in the first experiments without the conversion of the character table, capital letters were swapped with lowercase ones, as well as there were problems with some special characters.

Commodore 64, character table, ascii cbm, U5 2332A, character ROM, petscii

Per ultimo, ho inserito anche un po' di colori, supportati dal Commodore 64.

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Third step: connect to the Control Casa home automation system control unit

Utilizzando gli appositi comandi del modem WiFi del Commodore 64, ho quindi avviato la connessione al sistema domotico Control Casa, indicando l'indirizzo IP (della rete interna) e la porta della centralina dell'impianto domotico.

Commodore 64, home automation, connection to Control Casa

Connection to home automation with the Commodore 64: successful!

Devo ammettere che ho impiegato qualche ora di lavoro per implementare il server TelNet nel Control Casa, ma alla fine l'esperimento è riuscito: sono riuscito a comandare l'impianto domotico di casa con il Commodore 64!

Home automation with the Commodore, 64, connection to Control Casa

Dopo aver inserito la password dell'utente abilitato, vengono quindi elencati tutti i moduli che compongono l'impianto domotico di casa.

Commodore 64, connection to Control Casa modern home automation, wifi modem, home automation with the Commodore 64

E' possibile navigare tra le varie pagine che elencano i moduli dell'impianto domotico premendo il tasto RETURN.

To select a module, you must enter its numeric address, followed by RETURN. The page relating to the selected form is then displayed, which shows which entrances and exits are active. The commands are also available that allow you to turn on the lights, the sockets, etc ...

Home automation with the Commodore 64, control of light sockets, shutters loads, home automation system

In addition to the commands relating to the individual modules, it is also possible to start the activities, which are then programs implemented in the Control Casa that allow you to perform sequences of operations involving multiple modules.

Commodore 64, home automation, sockets, lights, loads, shutters, Control Casa, Control Manager

Controlling your home with the Commodore 64 is a lot of fun: it's like playing a great video game that surrounds you completely!

Commodore 64, home automation, Control Casa modern home automation system connection, wifi modem

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