Home automation with the Commodore 64

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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It took some work, but the experiment was successful!

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

To connect the Commodore 64 to the home network I therefore used a WiFi modem connected to the user port. I used the CCGMS software to receive and send the commands to the home automation system.

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

The Control Casa home automation system can be accessed remotely by connecting with a normal browser to surf the internet. Obviously the Commodore 64 does not have this possibility, but it only offers the possibility to send and receive text strings through a terminal such as CCGMS.

It was therefore necessary to implement a TelNet server inside the home automation system control unit, to transmit data in text format, without images and completely bypassing the HTTP protocol.

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

Lastly, I also added a few colors, supported by the Commodore 64.

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

Using the appropriate Commodore 64 WiFi modem commands, I then initiated the connection to the Control Casa home automation system, indicating the IP address (of the internal network) and the door of the home automation system control unit.

Commodore 64, home automation, connection to Control Casa

Connection to home automation with the Commodore 64: successful!

I must admit that it took me a few hours of work to implement the TelNet server in the Control Casa, but in the end the experiment was successful: I managed to control the home automation system with the Commodore 64!

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

After entering the password of the enabled user, all the modules that make up the home automation system are then listed.

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

It is possible to navigate between the various pages that list the modules of the home automation system by pressing the button RETURN.

To select a module, you must enter its numeric address, followed by RETURN. The page relating to the selected module is then displayed, showing which inputs and outputs are active. Commands are also available that allow you to turn on the lights, 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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