Web Mountain RUC-01 Remote Universal Controller — User's Guide

User's Guide for the Web Mountain Technologies Remote Universal Controller (RUC), model RUC-01 — a network appliance for controlling a home automation network (UPB, X10, Insteon, Z-Wave, ESI drapery systems) over Ethernet, either locally or remotely over the Internet.

Overview

The RUC acts as a bridge between Ethernet/IP networking and home automation protocols. Commands sent over the Internet or a local network are converted to serial commands and sent to an externally connected interface module — for example, a WMT SPIM-01 UPB powerline interface module — for transmission onto the local powerline. A second serial port allows conversion between other home automation protocols such as Z-Wave, Insteon, or the ESI drapery control system.

RUC Basic (RUC-01) Feature Set

• One Ethernet 10/100 Mb/s RJ-45 interface
• Two serial interfaces (DB9 connectors) — COM 1 & COM 2
• One power jack
• Internal webserver for all configuration and control
• Internal flash and RAM memory

The webserver includes these configuration pages, accessible from a button menu on every page: Home, Networking Config, Device Config, Admin, UPB Transmission, Dynamic DNS, Receive, Triggers, Control Panel, and Backup/Restore.

Installation Overview

1. Unpack the RUC and verify contents: RUC unit, power supply/cord, and documentation (Quick Start Guide; full manual available online).
2. Choose a location: if using powerline (UPB) home automation, locate the RUC as close to the main breaker box as possible to improve powerline signal strength. Otherwise, locate it near your Ethernet switch.
3. The RUC sits on any flat surface — do not let it dangle from its cords, which can fatigue the connectors.
4. Plug in the included power supply. The LED nearest S1 will flash a steady 1-second-on/1-second-off pattern once powered.
5. Connect an Ethernet patch cable (not included) from the RUC's "LAN" jack to your Ethernet switch.
6. Access the RUC from a browser at http://wmtruc using username wmtruc and password password (may take up to 5 minutes for the network to recognize the hostname).
7. For home automation, connect a Web Mountain SPIM-01 (or compatible PIM) to COM1 using the serial cable included with the PIM, and plug the SPIM-01 into a power outlet. Configure serial port parameters on the Device Configuration page.

Power Supply Specifications

Important: Use only the provided power supply. If a substitute is used, the output voltage must not exceed 5.5 VDC or the unit may be damaged — such damage is not covered under warranty.

Network Notes

The RUC supports 10 Base-T and 100 Base-T Ethernet over CAT5 or better cable. If no DHCP server is present, the RUC defaults to a fixed IP of 192.168.1.241 after a few seconds. If your network uses a different address space, connect the RUC directly to a PC via crossover cable set to the 192.168.1.x range first, change the RUC's IP address, then reconnect it to your network.

If you can't reach the RUC via http://wmtruc, check the serial number label on the back of the unit (a 6-digit alphanumeric string — the last 3 octets of the RUC's MAC address) and use the Ethernet Discoverer application (available from Web Mountain's website) to find its IP address.

Reset Procedures

Home Automation Triggers & Protocol Conversion

The RUC's Triggers page supports conversion between many home automation event sources and outputs, including: ESI RQ/RP (drapery control), Schedule, UPB Direct, UPB Link, Z-Wave, X10, Insteon (future), and physical Buttons — converting any of these into email notifications, or into commands for another one of these protocols (e.g., X10 → UPB Link, Z-Wave → ESI RQ, Button → Insteon). This allows the RUC to act as a universal automation protocol bridge and notification gateway.

Serial Port Reference

The RUC's two DB9 serial ports (COM1 & COM2) are DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) interfaces — the same type used on PC serial ports — providing a positive voltage on pin 4. UPB serial PIMs (such as the WMT SPIM-01) and most automation interface devices use a DCE (Data Communications Equipment) interface. Connecting a DTE device to a DCE device requires a straight-through cable (not a null-modem/crossover cable) so that DTE Transmit connects to DCE Receive and vice versa. Pins 1 and 6–9 on the DB9 connector are not used.

Warranty

The Web Mountain RUC unit is warranted for 1 year from date of purchase. For support, contact Web Mountain at info@webmtn.com or 303-627-1856. If the unit is determined to be defective within the warranty period, obtain an RMA (Returned Material Authorization) number from Web Mountain before returning it — units returned without an RMA number may be returned to sender at Web Mountain's discretion.