JDS Technologies HomeRunner RBI User Manual - page 3
3 HomeRunner RBI User Manual – Rev 1.03a
Welcome to HomeRunner RBI!
HomeRunner RBI is a stand-alone home automation controller consisting of both hardware and
software. Once programmed, your HomeRunner RBI runs on its own processor (no computer is
required) and serves (broadcasts) your control screens to the internet as a Remote Browser Interface
for control from your phone, tablet, computer or any web-enabled device (no “app” is required – just
log on).
The controller connects to one of your network router ports and to the included plug-in power line
modem with the provided cables. The HomeRunner RBI software is a Windows-based application
for programming and advanced control of your HomeRunner RBI system and will run on 32-bit and
64-bit Windows operating systems (XP, Vista, Windows 7). It provides a platform for configuring
the controller, creating and publishing control screens (for your iPhone, iPad, etc.), defining
connected devices, programming if-then conditional and time-based events and much more. The
HomeRunner RBI software also offers advanced graphical and control functions when used as a
Graphical User Interface.
HomeRunner RBI supports both Insteon and X-10 technologies and has an RS-232 Serial port for
connecting a supported security system or other serial device. A variety of Insteon and X-10 devices
are available to enable control of lighting, heating/cooling, audio/video, irrigation, and other
household functions without the need for additional wiring. Support for these devices is being added
and will be posted as updates on our web site.
HomeRunner RBI also includes a “Stargate Link” for interfacing with legacy Stargate-IP or
CommStar-IP controllers and all connected peripherals (thermostats, security, IR-Xpander, etc.) via
the Web Xpander.
HomeRunner RBI can be controlled from any computer, (pc or Mac, desktop, laptop, tablet, netbook,
etc.), smartphone (iPhone, Droid, etc.), web-enabled or wi-fi device (iPad, iTouch) as well as from
any Insteon or X-10 controller, wired and wireless.
With HomeRunner RBI, you can transform any picture into an interactive control surface in minutes!
You can create any number of control screens using image files (jpg, gif, bmp, etc.) for the
“backgrounds” and “buttons.” Individual objects within each picture (lights, appliances, etc.) can be
defined as “buttons” to control the selected object when pressed. (You can also simply select a
background color for each screen and select from the library of preset button images.)
You can use any photos, download pictures from the internet, scan pictures from magazines or draw
your own. Buttons will reduce in size slightly when clicked or touched using the HomeRunner RBI
application, giving the appearance of a button being pressed. You can change the background and
button images at any time. Once you have created your control screens, you save them all as a
“layout” in the HomeRunner RBI “Layouts” folder (C:\HomeRunnerRBI\Layouts). When you launch
the HomeRunner RBI application, it will recall the last layout that was running.