What is SOMFY automation?
SOMFY is a French company, a world leader in the manufacture of specialized motors and electronic devices for residential and commercial areas. The SOMFY motorized systems are easily integrated with security, heating, lighting and other systems, providing complete automation of your home or the buildings.
The motors for outdoor sun protection devices are cable, RTS (radio technology) and io-homecontrol® (two-way wireless radio-communication protocol)
- The cable system controls are connected with the motor through electric cables which transmit your commands to the motor. This is a traditional solution for automation of your home. In this case, the control unit is installed near the motor.
- The RTS technology (Radio Technology Somfy®) is a control platform which functions on the basis of radio waves, does not have electric cables and users can control their awning from any place in a 20-metre radius, even through a wall. The installing is faster and damages on the walls are avoided. The RTS motor receives only one-way communication from the radio transmitter. It is used mainly for residential and small building automation. Products controlled with the RTS technology can be regulated from a distance through the control unit TaHoma®, but unlike io-homecontrol®, in this case there is no two-way exchange and command confirmation, which makes its use through the Internet not secure enough.
- Io-homecontrol® is an innovative wireless technology for connecting to your home, which is designed for a wide range of household equipment of world leading brands. A communication protocol has been developed with them (among them are Somfy, Philips, Velux, Renson, Hitachi, etc.). In this way you can connect a large number of motorized devices.
By adding a TaHoma® box and sun, wind and rain sensors, io-homecontrol® provides greater comfort, security, energy saving, and improves your equipment effectiveness.
- A remote control device is enough for opening, closing, turning on and off, heating, lighting, air conditioning, etc.
- Every user command is always checked and confirmed through a sound or audio signal.
Unlike RTS, the io-homecontrol® technology can have a two-way information exchange. The two-way exchange is very important for the remote propulsion of the systems via the Internet because the customer receives confirmation of his/her command and knows in what condition the facility is.
What are the functions of TaHoma®?
The application TaHoma® allows you not only to use remote control operation of separate products with a smartphone, tablet or computer, but also plan the operations of your facility with customized Scenario programmes (for simultaneous operation of several products), Programme (for planned operation of the products and scenarios, and their automatic execution) and Smart (for creating algorithms by using sensor).
It is necessary to connect the box to the Internet using the supplied cable, activate it via www.somfy-connect.com, then install the free application on your smartphone and connect the products.
Integrated protocols: io-homecontrol® and RTS
