Hello all,
I really didn't know where to put this, but a unique situation had arisen. After being dark for two years I wanted to resurrect my show at my old location which is my parents house. I want to be be able to control the show from a remote location or put it on a timer. While I have an idea of how to do this partially some questions have come up.
This is what I have:
Dell Dimension 4600 running Vixen version 2
Renard 24 channel controller.
Renard 48LSD RGB controller.
Signstek ST-05B FM transmitter.
For the latter three items I know I can easily just hook them all up to a standard outlet based timer and turn it on before the show starts and turn it all off when it ends.
The problem lies in controlling the computer. While I know a schedule can be set up for Vixen the issue is that I do not want to have the computer running day and night. I think Vixen can be set up to shut the computer down at the end of the show, but what about turning it on? Could a computer be set to put itself into a suspend mode at a certain time and then turn itself back on at a certain time?
While I do like the idea of remote control over a timer, I don't know of the complexities of going this route. My main concern is inclement weather and if a severe storm is predicted, I would like to have the ability to tell the show to NOT turn on. Fortunately, I do have Z-wave control capability at the remote location, but again, this would only take care of the controllers and the FM transmitter, not the computer (I don't want to just snap the power off on the computer as I know that is bad for the operating system). I know a quick way around this problem is to just turn off the controllers and the FM transmitter and just let the computer run its course and shut down on its own as per timer control above. So it would be timer run but with the option to remotely turn the system off. Again, this end I would have taken care of since the house is already Z-wave control ready.
So basically what I am looking at is a way to timer control the computer and to have it turn on and shut down properly.
Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank You,
Geo
I really didn't know where to put this, but a unique situation had arisen. After being dark for two years I wanted to resurrect my show at my old location which is my parents house. I want to be be able to control the show from a remote location or put it on a timer. While I have an idea of how to do this partially some questions have come up.
This is what I have:
Dell Dimension 4600 running Vixen version 2
Renard 24 channel controller.
Renard 48LSD RGB controller.
Signstek ST-05B FM transmitter.
For the latter three items I know I can easily just hook them all up to a standard outlet based timer and turn it on before the show starts and turn it all off when it ends.
The problem lies in controlling the computer. While I know a schedule can be set up for Vixen the issue is that I do not want to have the computer running day and night. I think Vixen can be set up to shut the computer down at the end of the show, but what about turning it on? Could a computer be set to put itself into a suspend mode at a certain time and then turn itself back on at a certain time?
While I do like the idea of remote control over a timer, I don't know of the complexities of going this route. My main concern is inclement weather and if a severe storm is predicted, I would like to have the ability to tell the show to NOT turn on. Fortunately, I do have Z-wave control capability at the remote location, but again, this would only take care of the controllers and the FM transmitter, not the computer (I don't want to just snap the power off on the computer as I know that is bad for the operating system). I know a quick way around this problem is to just turn off the controllers and the FM transmitter and just let the computer run its course and shut down on its own as per timer control above. So it would be timer run but with the option to remotely turn the system off. Again, this end I would have taken care of since the house is already Z-wave control ready.
So basically what I am looking at is a way to timer control the computer and to have it turn on and shut down properly.
Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank You,
Geo
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