Vera UI7 Basics User manual

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Setting Up & Using A New Vera System (UI7 Basics)
Welcome to Vera! Getting Started
Last Updated: Sep26, 2014 10:29AM UTC
Welcome to Vera Smarter Home Control
Congratulations on your selection of Vera for home or small business automation and control. If you're
completely new to smart home technolog y, you'll be amazed by the convenience, the power, and
peace-of-mind that Vera provides. Whether you're automating lights, keeping tabs on your kids,
keeping your small business safe, checking in on loved ones, saving on energy, maximizing comfort, or
all of the above and more, Vera makes it easy.
You are about to enter an astounding world of convenience and added security. Vera will enable you to
keep an eye on your home or small business, and automate many tasks like shutting off lights and
locking up when you leave. Vera can provide you with alerts when trouble is detected, and you can
check in on your home or small business from anywhere in the world. Vera is an amazingly powerful
platform that easily expands to do practically anything you could want it to do in providing home
control, automation and security.
If you've got a new Vera to setup, just follow the easy steps in the Quick Start Guide, and then the
onscreen instructions that appear on your computer. Then, once you're up and running (or if you
already are) you can jump ahead to the next article, which begins by explaining how to use your Vera
system. (See Meet The Vera UI7 Dashboard.) The Vera Dashboard, shown below, is what you'll see after
your system is setup.

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The Vera Dashboard, shown above, enables you to control everything from your laptop or tablet from
practically anywhere in the world! Mobile apps let you also control everything from your smartphone.
This article is the first in a series of support documents that Vera provides to help you set up and use
your Vera system. If you experience any difficulties along the way, please do not hesitate to contact
Vera tech support for quick, comprehensive and friendly assistance.
As with all the articles in this series, the idea here is to provide some deeper background and guidance
and help for special circumstances, which is a long way of saying you probably don't really need to read
all these articles to get up and running, though we certainly encourage you to read everything!
Vera provides easy-to-follow Setup Wizards that make installation quick and simple. Follow the
instructions in the Quick Start Guide for fast access to this onscreen step-by-step guide.
Initial Setup of Your Vera
A Vera "system" consists of a Vera Controller, which forms the heart of the system, and one or more
Devices such as light controls, smart door locks, smart thermostats, motion sensors, video cameras,
alarms, door/window sensors, smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and more.
Vera Controllers are available by themselves, and as part of packages, known as Vera Solutions, that
combine several of the most commonly needed Devices with a Vera Controller to focus, for example,
on saving energy, providing home security, or equipping a small business.
Vera Controller and Vera UI7: The Heart of Your Vera System
As you probably know, Vera works with a wide range of "third party" Devices such as Cameras,
Thermostats, Door/Window Sensors, Smoke Detectors and much more. What makes it a Vera System
are two crucial components at the heart of your system -- essentially the central hardware and the
software:
Vera Controller (hardware) - the information processor and communications hub of your system
Vera UI7 (software) - the user interface and control systemthat determines how everything works
Vera UI7: Fun to Use, Yet P owerful and Easy!
Vera UI7 is convenient and powerful smart home control software that runs your Vera system. Access
and control your system using a computer, or using mobile apps. You will need a computer running a
browser for the initial setup of you Vera system. The Vera Dashboard, which is the main control and
operation panel for your Vera system, will be accessible after completing the initial
setup. (Technically, Vera UI7 is firmware that resides on the controller itself. It is accessible from your
local LAN or WiFi network via a browser, mobile apps, and also from the Internet.)
Depending on yourparticular Vera Controller, Vera UI7 may come pre-installed,oryou may need toupgrade your
controller froman earlier version.
Getting StartedSetting UpA NewVera System
To get started you'll need to first unpack your Vera Controller and the Devices that came in the
package (or that you purchased separately.) Identify what each item is, set the Devices aside for the
time being, and take a look at your Vera Controller.
Since there are several models of Vera Controllers available, the best way to identify the specific
connections you'll need is by looking at the Quick Start Guide that came with the Controller and
following the Setup Wizard.
Speaking generically for all the Controller models, however, here are the steps you'll follow:
First, using a computer browser visit www.getvera.com and click on "Control" and then "Remote Access"
as shown below:

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Using the Login Screen to Setup a New Vera
Next, you'll start setting up your Vera Controlle r. Do not enter a username or password here. Instead,
click on the button that says "I have a new Vera to setup!"
You'll next be asked to identify the Vera Controller model you'll be setting up. Click on the drop down
list of model numbers to see all the choices. Each has a picture to help you quickly see which
Controller you have.

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Next you'll be reminded to connect your Vera Controller to AC Power and your Wi-Fi Router, with
specific details here depending on which Controller you have.
Here, for example, is what you'd see with the Veralite Controller.

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After the Controller is powered up and connected to the Internet, and its panel lights are li t (or not lit)
as indicated in the instructions, click the Continue button. Note: The Controller will usually require several
minutes to initialize before the lights stop blinking, so please be patient.
Identifying Your Controller
On the next screen you'll be asked to enter the Serial Number and "Mac Address" for your Controller.
This information can be found on a label on the bottom of your Vera Controller.
Note: Vera values your privacy! The control software needs this information to find your Controller on your home
network, and Vera needs this information to supply the proper firmware updates for your particular Controller
model.

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After selecting Next the setup wizard will try to locate the Controller on your network, and assuming
you've entered the information correctly, you should next see a screen that looks like this. (If you get
an error message, carefully check that you've entered the Serial Number and Mac Address correctly,
and try again.

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Meet The Vera UI7 Dashboard
Last Updated: Sep25, 2014 08:05PM UTC
Vera UI7 is Vera's most capable and easy to use user interface (UI) ever. You use Vera UI7 to setup and
control your Vera system. Your entire Vera system may consist of many Devices. Vera UI7 brings them
all together. With Vera UI7 you never have to fumble to s witch between one device's app and
another's, because all are controlled and viewed from a single, easy interface. Best of all, Vera UI7
enables them to interact with each other too. Vera UI7 is the "front end" of your Vera system, the part
that you see and interact with. This is the main screen of Vera UI7 is called the Vera UI7 Dashboard.
Easy, Powerful Control of Your Home or Small Business
Vera UI7 is an extraordinarily powerful yet easy to use app for controlling your home or small business
premises. The Vera UI7 Dashboard is built around convenient ways to quickly check in and control many
things in your home all at once, such as turning off all the lights, locking all the doors, etc.
The Modes, highlighted below, make it easy for you to quickly change all the settings in your home or
small business when you enter or leave or go to bed.
The Shortcuts, highlighted below, enable you to adjust many related settings all together, such as to
adjust all the lights or lock all the doors.

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With Modes that let you change all your settings at once, Shortcuts, and Dashboard Cards that provide
a quick overview of your entire system, using Vera is easy and simple, even for complete newcomers to
home automation. Vera UI7 also delivers the full power advanced users need, with the ability to create
your own custom Scenes. Whatever you want to do wi th smart home technology, Vera UI7 wi ll make it
easy and fun.
The Vera Dashboardis where you:
•Set upand configure your Verasystem
•Control and keeptabs on your entire home or small business system
•Add more Users to your Vera account
•CreateScenes to automatically trigger events, such as turning on lights when a door opens
•Set upNotifications about activity inyour home or office
•Monitor andcontrol your energy usage
Assuming that your Vera controller is already connected to your home network, your account is setup,
and you have completed the initial Setup Wizard (adding Devices into your system), let's get down to
the heart of controlling your Vera system -- the Vera Dashboard.

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Login
To get to the Dashboard you must first Login. You can access the Login screen at the top of the
GetVera web site at www.getvera.com. Click on Control, then Remote Access. A new window will
appear with the secure Login screen.
We suggest saving your login page as a bookmark for convenient access to your system.
After logging in successfully, you will be asked to select which Vera Controller to connect to. (If you
have only one Vera system, there will be only one choice.) Select Connect.

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It may take several seconds, or up to a minute to connect to your Vera Controller. Once the connection
is established, you should next see your Vera Dashboard.

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The Vera Dashboard
The Vera Dashboard is a web-based interface that provides the control center for things you want to control and monitor
with your Vera system. It can be accessed at home orvia the Internet fromany web browser orInternet-enabled phone.
It's secure too -- the Vera systemuses the samesecurity mechanisms as banks do for online banking.
Aftergetting a systemsetup with several Devices installed and Favorites selected,here's what the Vera Dashboard looks
like:
Don't worry if your Vera Dashboard doesn't quite look like this yet, the next articles explain everything
you need to know about setting up and using your Vera Dashboard.

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Main Controls: My Modes, My Shortcuts, My Favorites
Last Updated: Sep25, 2014 08:06PM UTC
My Modes
Modes provide the fastest, easiest way to operate your Vera system and to quickly change settings on
many different Devices. After initial setup, your Vera system is always in one of the four Modes:
Home, Away, Night or Vacation. The Modes are pre-configured with 'typical use' default settings for
maximum convenience, but as explained below, each Mode may be completely customized to make
your Vera System do what you want it to do..
Switching between Modes is the main way toeasily control your Vera System. The Modes provide very
powerfuloperating conveniences. Switch to Night Mode, for example, and your Vera Systemcan automatically
lock alldoors, dimall downstairs lights, set the thermostat lower and check to make sure all windows are closed.
All with a single click.
Selecting My Modes
Here's how the four My Modes choices are used:
Home is for when you're home and awake. Choose Home Mode when adding new Devices too.
Away is for when no one is home. Your systemcan save energy in this mode byshutting down heating orcooling,
while also making sure your home is locked up.
Night is used for late night (after bedtime). Night Mode can help keep your home secure, by locking
doors and checking security sensors. Night Mode can help your home save energy by dimming or
shutting off lights and changing thermostat settings to reduce heating or cooli ng.
Vacation is for when you're gone for many days. Your lights can switch on and off at various times to
make your home appear "lived in" (to enhance security by deterring burglars), while also maximizing
energy savings.

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Each Mode comes pre-configured with default settings for each of your Devices, and you can customize
the settings for each Mode (see Customizing Modes).
Select Mode with the Dashboard or a M obile App
Modes are always selected manually from the Dashboard or a Mobile App. Night Mode
does not automatically activate, you must select it. (Lights and other devices can change automatically
based on timer or sunrise/sunset times using the Scene feature. Scenes and Modes work together, as
explained later.)
Customizing Modes
You can change the settings within each of the four Modes by pressing on the right arrow button:
This launches the Configure My Modes menu, shown below. Click the switch under each Mode from Default
to Customand customize the settings for that Mode. (You can always return to the Default settings later just by
clicking again.)

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The settings that you can customize wi ll depend on which Devices you have in your system. If you have
Lamp Dimmers, for example, you'll be able to adjust light settings for each Mode. (The system will only
offer settings for Devices that have already been included in your system.)
My Shortcuts
My Shortcuts are On/Off Controls for All Switches and Door Locks. These controls enable you to quickly
turn on or off all your light switches or lock or unlock all your door-locks:

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If a number is displayed over the Device icon it indicates how many of that Device type wi ll be
controlled by this button. (In the example shown below, 8 door locks will be locked when "Lock All" is
pressed.)
My Favorites
The Dashboard My Favorites displays your favorites Devices for easy access, much like you'd pin
something to your bulletin board. The more Devices in your system, the more convenient this becomes.
You can quickly check the cameras, door locks, or whatever else is most important to you. Click "Add

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Favorite" to add Devices to the Favorites section.

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More Dashboard Features: Status, Dashboard Cards,
Weather & Notifications
Last Updated: Sep25, 2014 08:07PM UTC
Now that you're familiar with the main controls of the Vera Dashboard for quickly operating your
system (My Modes, My Favorites and My Shortcuts) let's look at some more features of your Vera
Dashboard.
Weather Widget
The weather widget displays the temperature and current weather from the selected location (use
Settings to change.) It also displays the local time in 12 or 24-hour time format.
Notification Bar
The notification bar will show the most recent events that happened on your system. In the example
below, the notification says the 4-in-1 sensor detected motion about one hour ago.
And in this second example below, a Door/Window Sensor just tripped 4 seconds ago.

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Dashboard Cards
Vera Dashboard Cards provide a quick overview of the current state of you r entire system. After setup
is complete, the left card will show the status of your Devices, and the right card wi ll show the status
of your security sensors and if any of them have been tripped.
During the initial setup the cards will appear grayed out, as there are not yet any devices added to the
system:
Once you’ve paired your devices you’ll see the card colors changing to Green or Red. Green means that thestatus of
yourdevices is OK, and red indicates something requiring your attention, as shown below.