Home Control Assistant Client
Unlike other home control systems, HCA is designed not to just control your home but also to program it. You don't need to accept the simple "control a device" from a distance offered by some automation solutions. Using HCA you can create an automation solution that responds to your needs by combining multiple device in complex scenarios involving events, time, location, state of the home, etc. These programs express your intent of how your installation should work.
In addition, you are not locked into an application that displays as it wants to. You can create the page structure you see when interacting with the HCA client on your mobile device. This can be configured on a device-by-device basis and on a user-by-user basis. For some users, the display can show a complete set of pages for each room. For other users it can display a smaller set of only selected devices. For the least technical users you can create a simple keypad like interface that offers only those actions you want to make available for them.
New in version 13: The HCA server contains facilities that work with the Amazon Alexa Connected Home system to allow voice control of device and programs.
In one inclusive package HCA provides for creation and operation of simple to complex automation designs. The top 20 feature list:
1. Integrates Insteon, UPB, and other power line technologies
2. Supports IP addressed IR interfaces
3. Supports whole-house wireless
4. Can be used in a client-server mode with multiple simultaneous read-write clients for complete local and remote access to design
5. Amazon Alexa interaction
6. Clients for Windows, Android, and iOS
7. Visual tools for scheduling and programming
8. Unlimited number of programs to respond to events. Constructed in a graphical manner from over 60 different actions
9. Supports text based scripts in any scripting language that can utilize the extensive HCA object model
10. Control interface creates a simplified control oriented user interface
11. Integrate into the HCA user Interface views of other applications: security, power management, and cameras using HTML views
12. Send email and SMS messages as part of a program action
13. Create and view Insteon scenes in a graphical manner and remotely program those scenes into Insteon devices
14. Bridge power line technologies by using multiple power line interfaces simultaneously. Create bridge maps to automatically translate between different technology commands
15. Integrates weather data from a variety of sources
16. Powerful "whole house modes" for quick power saving programming
17. Background design checker quickly locate design problems
18. Configurable Alert Mechanism for handling exceptional conditions
19. Many tools for creating, viewing, modifying, and documenting the design
20. HCA is well documented in extensive User Guide and Video series.
Download a no-cost 30 day evaluation from www.HCATech.com
Category : Lifestyle
Reviews (5)
I have been using this program 15-20 years now. It is the best home automation program.
What they DON'T tell you (at least at the time of this writing) is that you have to pay a monthly fee to use the latest HCA with Google Assistant or Alexa... Which of course is the only reason we needed it. The app appears very similar to the UPB software from PCS and we have little need for cross protocol integration (upb with insteon, etc) so basically it is $160 for software that is supposed to provide Alexa support... which it apparently does IF you pay their monthly "cloud account" fee which, at the time of my purchase (and of this writing), is not specified anywhere on their website or in the description here in the play store. This was originally a 1 star review but I updated it to 3 stars because they made it right financially due to the misleading nature of the Alexa support advertising. Still not excited about a monthly subscription requirement for any of my customers that want us to integrate their solution for voice control though.
Nice app for control of your hca smart home. Internet access to your server is really sweet.
I use it every day
It works, but the UI is awful. Hasn't been refreshed in years. There is still no setting to automatically connect to your server when launched. At least the previous version had a large "Connect" button easily located, centered, near the bottom of the screen. Then, for some reason, they decided to make it tiny, and place it in the uppermost right corner - perfect for our large screen phones, right? C'mon, HCA, show this app some love.