Question 1

05/15/2020: New Release and New Videos Available

Accepted Answer

A new release (051520) is now generally available and can be downloaded from the Support Page of our website. We've added support for a range of new BLE beacon sensors (including several energy harvesting EnOcean sensors), vastly improved BLE beacon support, and added limited support for the ON Semiconductor RSL-10 multi-sensor. See the release notes in the install package for full details.
 
We've also published new videos featuring sensors from EnOcean, Nordic Semiconductor, and ON Semiconductor, as well as expanded our MQTT Dashboard Example video series to include a new playlist high-lighting support for Microsoft Azure Power BI Dashboards. See the OmnIoTVideos Youtube channel for a full list of installation, "how to", and example series playlists.

Question 2

01/05/2020: At CES and New Release Available

Accepted Answer

A new release (120819) is now generally available and can be downloaded from the Support page of our website. We've added support for several new sensors and now also support BLE beacons (i.e. non-connected sensors). See the release notes in the install package for full details. 
 
This coming week, Jan 7-10, we are at CES in Las Vegas. Contact us directly through our Contact page if you would like to set up a meeting or to schedule a demo.

Question 3

12/19/2019: New Installation Quickstart Videos

Accepted Answer

We've added a new playlist to our OmnIoT YouTube channel (OmnIoTVideos). The playlist consists of three videos which will take you through (1) Preparing a Raspberry Pi for your SoftHub installation, (2) Installing the full OmnIoT SoftHub Platform and its components, and (3) Running a simple configuration file to confirm all installed components are functioning properly.

Question 4

10/04/2019: Upcoming Event, IoT Tech Expo Santa Clara"

Accepted Answer

We will be at the upcoming IoT Tech Expo on Wed., Nov 13, in Santa Clara. If you would like to set up a private meeting, please contact us through our website's Contact page. We will be happy to schedule a meeting at your convenience.

Question 5

09/27/2019: New Videos Available - Remote Device Control Available example

Accepted Answer

We've added a new example video illustrating how you can control devices actuated via GPIO's from remote cloud dashboards. In the video, we show a live demo followed by a review of the configuration file used in the example. Check out the video HERE.

Question 6

08/21/2019: New Videos Available - Publishing to Thingsboard/Ubidots Dashboards

Accepted Answer

We've added some write-up's and accompanying video's to take you through the process of getting your sensor data to either a Ubidot's or Thingsboard dashboard. Both examples also go through the process of setting up and subscribing to control topics to allow your SoftHub to be remotely controlled by either company’s dashboards or mobile apps. We'll be adding additional examples for other third party MQTT capable platforms in the future. If you have one you would like to see please let us know via the Contact page on the OmnIoT website.

Question 7

07/31/2019: General Release (190618) is now available

Accepted Answer

A new release (190618) has been uploaded on our main website. This release introduces full MQTT support allowing the SoftHub to publish data to, and be remotely controlled by, dozens of MQTT compliant third party cloud platforms and dashboards. Be sure to check out the MQTT Introductory Video series on out YouTube channel (OmnIoTVideos) for lots of examples and "how to's". In this version we've added the following -
 
(1) The SoftHub - New MQTT Communications Manager component. A new component has been added to the SoftHub to allow for MQTT connectivity. Users can now connect to one or more MQTT brokers as their applications dictate.
 
(2) The SoftHub - New MQTT Action Objects. This release adds the new "PublishData" and "PublishReport" Action objects. These objects allow the user to publish sensor or report packets (respectively) directly to remote MQTT brokers.
 
(3) The SoftHub - Extended Options Files. These files allow users to configure all standard MQTT parameters, ensuring connection compatibility with most, if not all, third party MQTT brokers.
 
(4) The SoftHub - JSON Filter/Format Files. These files allow users to reformat outgoing JSON packets on the fly to ensure data format compatibility can be met for most, if not all, third party MQTT brokers. 
 
(5) The SoftHub - User Defined Event objects. A new type of Event object is introduced, the "User Defined Event" object. These objects can be used in conjunction with the new MQTT functionality to remotely control the SoftHub from cloud based dashboards or mobile apps. Any Action object (or combination there of) can be triggered remotely including the ability to execute any system command or script via the recently introduced "Execute System Command" Action object.

Question 8

06/18/2019: Release Candidate 190618 available as Beta

Accepted Answer

The beta page has been updated with the a new release. In this version we've added the following -
 
(1) The SoftHub - New MQTT Communications Manager component. A new component has been added to the SoftHub to allow for MQTT connectivity. Users can now connect to one or more MQTT brokers as their applications dictate.
 
(2) The SoftHub - New MQTT Action Objects. This release adds the new "PublishData" and "PublishReport" Action objects. These objects allow the user to publish sensor or report packets (respectively) directly to remote MQTT brokers.
 
(3) The SoftHub - Extended Options Files. These files allow users to configure all standard MQTT parameters, ensuring connection compatibility with most, if not all, third party MQTT brokers.
 
(4) The SoftHub - JSON Filter/Format Files. These files allow users to reformat outgoing JSON packets on the fly to ensure data format compatibility can be met for most, if not all, third party MQTT brokers.
 
(5) The SoftHub - User Defined Event objects. A new type of Event object is introduced, the "User Defined Event" object. These objects can be used in conjunction with the new MQTT functionality to remotely control the SoftHub from cloud based dashboards or mobile apps. Any Action object (or combination there of) can be triggered remotely including the ability to execute any system command or script via the recently introduced "Execute System Command" Action object.

Question 9

06/10/2019: New Videos Available - MQTT Introductory Series

Accepted Answer

With the new 190618 release of the SoftHub we've added full MQTT support (see the 190618 release announcement for a full list of features). To help you get started we've also uploaded a new MQTT Introduction video series to our YouTube channel. We'll take you through several examples as well as delve into the details of the configuration files used. In a nutshell, getting your data to the MQTT broker of your choice couldn't be easier. From start to finish you can easily deploy in literally under and hour!

Question 10

03/02/2019: Release Candidate 190302 available as Beta (initial MQTT support)

Accepted Answer

A new release candidate has been uploaded and is available via the rc download page. This release introduces a first cut of MQTT support. Currently only tested with Azure IoT (see the video HERE) we plan a more generalized version to be added directly into the SoftHub in the next month or two. Let us know of any questions/concerns:
 
Release 190302. This release introduces the following new features -
 
(1) The SoftHub - JSON report packet format. This release adds JSON as an additional output format for report packets in addition to Binary and XML.
 
(2) The Packet Capture Service / Logfile Decode Utility - JSON packet decode support. Both the Packet Capture Service and Logfile Decode Utility now provide JSON as an output format for all processed packets.
 
(3) The Packet Capture Service / Logfile Decode Utility - Initial MQTT support. A new module is provided which allows the user to publish processed packets directly to third party MQTT servers.
 
(4) The SoftHub - Null report packets. You may now create report packets with no content. This provides the user with a low overhead way of publishing detected "events" by simply correlating the event to the null report's Id.
 
(5) The SoftHub / Packet Capture Service / Logfile Decode Utility - Full decoding of binary report packets. The SoftHub now outputs binary report packets in a format that allows both the Packet Capture Service and the Logfile Decode Utility to fully decode them directly into either JSON or XML.
 
(6) The Packet Capture Service / Logfile Decode Utility - Bypass decode processing. The Packet Capture Service's configuration file now accepts "NONE" as an allowed output decode format, bypassing all decode processing. Similarly the Logfile Decode Utility will default to no processing if both the "J" and "L" options are omitted on the line command. In either case the user will still receive the raw packet however the decoded packet will show up as a string of length zero.

Question 11

01/22/2019: The OmnIoT SoftHub wins award from hackster.io and NXP

Accepted Answer

The SoftHub has won as award in a recent contest put on by NXP and hosted by hackster.io. We added support for the new NXP "Rapid IoT" multi-sensor, and created a quick demo to show it in action. You can see the video HERE.

Question 12

01/19/2019: General Release (190119) is now available

Accepted Answer

A new release (190119) has been uploaded on our main website's Support page. This release introduces the following new features and bug fixes -
 
(1) New Sensor support:
Dialog Semiconductor DA14585 multisensor IoT platform (BLE)
NXP Rapid IoT multisensor platform (BLE)
Phoenix Sensors WEPS04 water pressure sensor (BLE)
Sensirion SHT31 Smart Gadget (BLE)
Vernier GDX-TMP temperature probe (BLE)
 
(2) New action object support:
Init BLE Write, allows writing directly to any BLE sensor's write-enabled characteristic
Init BLE Read, allows reading directly from any BLE sensor's read-enabled characteristic
Enable BLE Notifications, allows direct control of any BLE sensor's notify-enabled characteristic
Disable BLE Notifications, allows direct control of any BLE sensor's notify-enabled characteristic
Execute System Command, allow user to initiate background execution of system commands/scripts
 
(3) Modified state objects:
Sensor Data Value, now allows user to set default value as well as "stale data" time limits
 
(4) New Tools/Modules
Packet Capture Service, added new executible line command "OmnIoTLogDecoder" to decode raw packet data log files. This command provides an easy way for the user to log data locally in bulk on their SoftHub device and import or analyze the raw (binary) sensor data at a later time.
 
(5) Bug fixes:
Intermittent sensor disconnect/reconnects (BLE only), some sensors would disconnect and reconnect intermittently at 10 minute intervals due to an erroneous watchdog setting.

Question 13

01/18/2019: Back from CES

Accepted Answer

Lots of new IoT technology at CES this year. Still no IoT edge products on the market designed for out-of-the-box deployment. We're hoping to get the SoftHub on more hardware platforms in the coming year as well as add additional sensor support. If you have something you'd like us to support, please get in touch with us via the Contact page of the OmnIoT website.

Question 14

12/13/2018: Upcoming Event, CES, Las Vegas"

Accepted Answer

We will be at the upcoming CES convention from Jan 9-11, in Las Vegas. If you would like to meet to discuss how the OmnIoT SoftHub may be of benefit to your organization, please contact us through our website's Contact page. We will be happy to schedule a meeting.

Question 15

12/11/2018: Initial beta version of the SoftHub Platform available

Accepted Answer

We are happy to announce that the initial beta version of the OmnIoT Softhub Platform is now available for download on the Support Page of the OmnIoT website. We highly recommend reviewing the document titled "Introduction: The OmnIoT SoftHub Platform", also available on our download page, before installing the software on your computers. We'll add updates in this news feed as new release become available.

Question 16

10/12/2018: New Videos Available - Developers Crash Course Series

Accepted Answer

We've added a two-part video series aimed specifically to developers. This playlist goes through a live example and then does a deep-dive into the logic used to create the example. If you have a technical background this series will give a good insight into how the SoftHub operates in minimal time.

Question 17

10/02/2018: New Videos Available - The OmnIoT SoftHub Demo Series

Accepted Answer

Get a preview of the SoftHub and some of its functionality on our YouTube Channel, "OmnIoTVideos". The series goes through several live example scenario's meant to hi-light different categories of the SoftHub rule engine's capabilities. For each example presented we also quickly go through the corresponding configuration file used. You can see the full playlist Here. Topics include:
 
Simple Packet Forwarding
Using Timers and Conditional State Logic
Sensor Data Thresholding, Alarms, Email and SMS
Flags, Logging, and GPIO inputs and outputs
Counters, Averagers, Cache, and Custom Packets

OmnIoT News and Events