Version 8

So, what’s new in the HCA 8? Quite a lot!

HCA is an extremely easy to use, yet very powerful home automation system, and Version 8 improves upon all of the excellent features in this product. The ability to control devices that use infrared now makes it possible to integrate your home theater and other audio visual systems into an automation design and control them over your home network. I have used this product since 2000 and continue to be impressed by its rock solid stability and versatility. The new web control feature turns my smart-phone, Blackberry, and iPod Touch into powerful remote controls.

-- Chris O

HCA 8 Top changes:

Insteon Visual Scene Editor. Create links between Insteon devices and remotely program them.
HCA reads Insteon device linking databases to facilitate scene creation and network documentation
HCA 8 creates an Network controller-receiver map to help you see at a glance if the network is configured as you want
Replace a failed Insteon device and re-program it with the links for the failed device and reprogram all devices that reference the old device to use the new device.
Detect and correct bad links between devices. Makes it very simple to remove a device from your network.
Improved linking tabs for Insteon devices and controllers. Using the new remote programming facilities all links between HCA and devices can be programmed with the press of a button.
Insteon Network "spidering". By reading a single Insteon device's memory, other devices can be located. Build a HCA design simple and quickly from a previously installed Insteon network.
Support the the Insteon EZ-Rain device
Support for the Insteon Thermostat adapter
Improved visibility into the internal memory of the Insteon PowerLinc
Improved program triggering from Insteon messages
Improved design checker for Insteon devices and their links.
New Web Server Component allows remote access to a HCA design from a web browser on a desktop or mobile device.
Support for the GC-100 Networked IR device in sending IR signals
Full support for IR sequences read by the Global Cache IR Learner
Support for the GC-100 relays and digital inputs
Program trigging on GC-100 digital inputs
HCA 8 updated to handle all the new UPB devices from PulseWorx, Simply Automated, Web Mountain, and the RCS thermostat
New Visual Programmer Scene element to allow activating and deactivating pre-programmed scenes. This element lets' you see at a glance the effects of the scene.
Improved security and password control
Improved printing for the Insteon network and Protocol Bridge. Makes documenting your design easier.
A new "Disable" property added to devices and controllers. Allows you to have has "forget" devices that you are working with or have removed but don't want to completely remove from your design.

Fully updated HCA 8 documentation is available for download here.

HCA is available in different flavors. You select the flavor you need for your needs.

Thank you for keeping HCA up-to-date with all the new hardware and powerline standards that are continually being developed and brought to market.

A lot of software vendors get burn-out of their product and stop improving and keeping it current. Especially when O/S change and an upgrade is needed.

You listen to your end-users and always try your best to modify or add features to HCA. I'm hoping to upgrade my system to Vista and my home automation hardware to Insteon over the course of the next couple of years.

I'll be staying with the best home automation software on the market HCA.

-- Tom C.

HCA Feature List:

	Uses with the Marrick LynX-10 (all models), LynX-PORT interfaces, UPB Powerline Interface Modules (PIM) from all UPB manufacturers, the SmartHome x10 PowerLinc, x10 PowerLinc Controller, USB Insteon PowerLinc Controller, HouseLinc, Magic Module, IRLinc, and the CM11 X10 interface.
	Runs on Windows Vista
	Visual tools for scene creation, programming, and scheduling.
	Fully compatible with the latest generation of UPB, Insteon, and X10 switches and modules.
	Works with any X10 controller - wired in or wireless remotes. If it receives powerline signals HCA can control it. If it generates powerline signals HCA can receive its commands and act upon them as you need.
	Start external Windows programs from a HCA program. Using external programs, HCA can send faxes, calls pagers, etc.
	Extensive power failure recovery features including schedule catch-up and running program continuation. Works on systems with or without uninterruptible power supplies using any of the supported interfaces.

	Many easy to follow Wizards that help guide you through each operation.
	Includes the Quick Start Wizard, a tutorial and home setup wizard. Gets you started in all areas of HCA within 30 minutes.

	No scripting language used. HCA programs (what other home automation software calls macros) are drawn using a simple drag and drop process.
	HCA programs are built from over 30 different operations including conditional testing (If-Then-Else). Switch schedules remotely, send X10 commands, even play WAV files or use text-to-speech on your computer.
	Start programs with the receipt of commands from X10, Insteon, or UPB keypads.Programs can test to see how they were started and take different actions in each case.
	Complete scheduling facilities. Schedule based upon weekdays, weekends, selected days, day of the month, or specific date. Times based upon a fixed time or sunrise and sunset plus or minus so many minutes. Devices, programs and groups can be scheduled.
	Any schedule entry can be set to happen at a slightly different time each day. Helps give your home a lived in look.
	Schedules created using either a Wizard or using a graphical time display and drag and drop.
	Select devices to add to your home from a comprehensive parts database.

Create groups of devices and programs. Send an ON from a remote and they all come on. With all members of the group having different housecodes and unitcodes, UPB addresses, or Insteon addresses they can still be controlled and scheduled individually, or together by using the group.

No limits of the number of schedules, programs, devices, and groups in your home design.

Display your home floor plans using DXF or image files. DXF files are imported from all drawing programs that can write DXF - from inexpensive floor plan drawing programs all the way up to AutoCAD.

Complete logging facilities. Log all commands sent and/or received and when. HCA programs can also log the actions taken. View the log within HCA or export the log to database programs for detailed analysis.

	Complete comprehensive User Guide provided in PDF and WORD doc files.
	Works like a Windows program should. Complete clipboard and undo support. Right-click context menus, property sheets, wizards. Carefully designed and implemented. Not software written as an after-thought just to make the hardware work.
	Runs on all modern Windows versions: 95, 98, Millennium Edition, NT, 2000, XP Home or Pro, and Vista.
	Unlimited no cost technical support from the HCA web site and email.