Extending geofence functionality

By default geofences will trigger every time the mobile device enters or leaves the specified area regardless of any other information such as time of day or the state of other sensors.

The good news is we can extend geofence functionality using community apps. Virtual On/Off Switches, Combination Switch, and House Modes Plugin.

Community apps are developed by third parties and their compatibility can not be guaranteed by Environexus. We will provide support to the best of our ability but can not modify the plugins.

Switchboard

Switchboard provides a simple interface for extending geofences with multiple potential functions including who is currently home and as a time restricted geofence scene trigger.

The use of this virtual switch also allows us to have multiple devices geofence triggers all map to the same scene, avoiding the new to modify multiple devices when you want to adjust what happens on arrival.

Installing the app

Installation must be performed using the web interface of your Nero gateway and not the My Nero mobile apps. Login from https://mynero.environexus.com.au/

1. From the dashboard go to Apps and then Install Apps.
2. Wait for the list to load and then enter Switchboard in the search box and click Search.
3. The first result should be the Switchboard app. Click on Details and then click Install on the next page.
   
4. Wait for the dialogue to tell you it is safe to exit this page. Do not exit or close the page until this message appears.

Once the app is installed you will have a new device called Switchboard. If you want to create multiple go to the Device Page (click the green arrow to access it) click Add One or Add Five. You can create as many duplicates as you need, for example one per person. Name the switch something meaningful so you remember what it reflects.

You can also modify whether a switch should auto reset or be hidden from the UI from the Status tab in the device page.

Use the switch with a geofence

This step must be performed on your mobile device.

1. Follow the steps to create a geofence triggered scene for iOS or Android already on the Help Centre.
2. When you get to the Actions step add your virtual switch to ON as the only action.
3. Save your scene. You will only be able to see this scene on your device. If you need to set it up on multiple devices perform the same steps on each.

You will now have a scene that turns on the virtual switch whenever the geofence triggers in the direction you configured. This now gives us a more flexible scene trigger for the main scene.

1. Create a scene according to your needs (refer to the scenes area for assistance). Set the virtual switch used in the steps above turning on as the scenes trigger device.
2. To limit this to only happen during certain times click on the clock icon and then configure to your requirements.
   
3. Add a delayed action to your scene that runs after all the other actions that turns the virtual switch back off. This ensures that multiple people arrived home in close succession don't retriever the scene multiple times. We recommend a delay of at least 10 seconds for this step of the scene.

Using Switchboard to track who is home

If you want to create automations triggered specifically based on someone arriving or leaving home or only run when certain people are home (use combination switch for this added feature) this can be achieved as well.

Create as many virtual switches as you have users and set their enter geofence trigger to turn the switch on and their exit to turn it off. You will now have a switch that is on when that person is home and off when they are not home.

Why would you want to know who is home? You may want to have certain scenes that only run is the parents are home and be disabled if only the kids are home. Switchboard combined with Combination Switch provides a great deal of power to the scene engine that isn't available by default.

Combination Switch

Installation must be performed using the web interface of your Nero gateway and not the My Nero mobile apps. Login from https://mynero.environexus.com.au/

1. From the dashboard go to Apps and then Install Apps.
2. Wait for the list to load and then enter Combination in the search box and click Search.
3. The first result should be the Combination Switch app. Click on Details and then click Install on the next page.
   
4. Wait for the dialogue to tell you it is safe to exit this page. Do not exit or close the page until this message appears.

Once the app is installed you will have a new device called Combination Switch. If you want to create multiple go to Apps then Details for the Combination Switch entry and click the Create Another button. You can create as many duplicates as you need.

Use the switch with a geofence

To use Combination Switch with a geofence you will also need to install Virtual On/Off Switch as per the directions above. Without this, combination switch won't know anything about your geofence.

1. Open the Combination Switch device page (green arrow) and then select Configure.
2. Add the devices that you want to track the state of. In this example image we are tracking the state of the virtual switch and a light sensor.
3. Set the number of items that need to be "true" for this switch to turn on. If all items should be true then enter the total number of items, such as in the example.
   
4. Click Back and then Save Changes under the device name. We recommend giving it a suitable name so you know what functions it performs.

Now that the switch is created you can use it as a scene trigger. For example if you want to trigger an action when someone arrives home but only if the light level is below 500 lux then you now have a trigger for it. You can also apply time restrictions to it just like you did with the Virtual Switch.

House Modes Plugin

Installation must be performed using the web interface of your Nero gateway and not the My Nero mobile apps. Login from https://mynero.environexus.com.au/

1. From the dashboard go to Apps and then Install Apps.
2. Wait for the list to load and then enter House Modes in the search box and click Search.
3. The first result should be the House Modes Plugin app. Click on Details and then click Install on the next page.
   
4. Wait for the dialogue to tell you it is safe to exit this page. Do not exit or close the page until this message appears.

Once the app is installed you will have a new device called House Modes. It will show the same state as the current mode on the dashboard.

Use the switch with a geofence

House Modes already has a function to automatically switch between Home and Away modes based on whether there is anyone home. Adding this plugin allows you to combine the house mode with Combination Switch or to change the current house mode as part of the scene actions.