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Actually, the more I read about this, the more I think it's what I'm looking for. They have a great forum too.Basically all DIY. The thermostat is only 100 bucks. You can get door lucks, lamp modules, interface to security systems, etc. And I see that there are LCD wall unit packages you can get for $799 -- why the hell would I do that when I can get an iPad with a slicker interface for less. (they have iPhone/iPad apps).
I believe so. I think the latest thing is called "Z-wave" and it all basically happens, as I understand it, over an RF mesh network.
Details?My A/V guy should be meeting me this week to discuss. When I built my house I prewired everything for automation.
Doesn't seem nearly as useful to me if it can't control anything. The home automation stuff blows my mind. From my iPhone I could lock/unlock doors, set inground sprinklers to turn on, monitor security, etc. etc.
Yeah, seems more one way.
My entire house is hardwired with cat6 ethernet cable. I have one closet where all the wiring "meets" - alarm, cable, ethernet, router, etc so all I have to do is place the modem/wifi/whatever home automation hardware i have in that closet and I should be good to go after installing the software.There might be some things I'm forgetting b/c we did this a few months ago, but when I meet with the guy to go over everything, I'll add more to the thread.Details?My A/V guy should be meeting me this week to discuss. When I built my house I prewired everything for automation.
My wife is going to love you guys tonight when I get home and tell her my next project.
I'm launching into this full bore immediately after we close on the new house. This board has a ton of good info.
x 100
So I ordered one of the HomeSeer controllers and a few appliance/lamp control modules to test it out. So far so good. I've got it operating in my apartment. I don't have much space or equipment yet, bet set up two lamps on either end of the apartment. Have them set up to turn on automatically a half hour before sunset and off 3 hours later. Can also turn them on/off and monitor them from my laptop. Also can do it from my iPhone with the plugin. It's not a super cheap venture to leap into (whole thing so far cost me about 1200 bucks), but once all is said and done, it will be pretty cool. Once we move into our house in a month or two, plann to start building it out by putting all lights on the home automation system, front door and rear door locks, control the in-ground sprinkler system (which can even be programmed to trigger based on the weather/need), the thermostat, include motion sensors and even a couple security cameras. Eventually may include control of the home theater system, streaming music throughout the house, and a dedicated iPad for control of all these functions. It will be a pretty nice setup once I'm through. The folks on this board are super into it. Some guys have it set up so that it tracks the location of their iPhone and when they get within a couple miles from home, it turns on the lights and warms out the heat (or turns on AC). Pretty sweet. And all of this can be controlled remotely from the internet or our iPhones. The options are limitless. And for a few thousand dollars I can do this myself and set up a system that would cost tens of thousands done professionally...My wife is going to love you guys tonight when I get home and tell her my next project.
Basically going with one of the HomeSeer controllers instead of using a dedicated PC (more reliable, lower power consumption, no problems with restarts after the power goes out, no updating windows etc.). The pro version they offer includes the necessary support/drivers to access this stuff from their iPhone app. Also need a Z-wave controller, and then a bunch of Z-wave devices (door locks on the front and back doors; light switches, lamp modules, interface to the home sprinkler system, to the ADT security system, thermostats, etc.). There are about a million things you can do with this. Voice control anyone? "Jarvis, close the garage door please."
The locks are on the Zwave network but, yes, are encrypted.
So confirmed that all I need to do is decide what system I want to go with.....but I'm postponing b/c this isn't a big priority right now. Very interested in Otis' last post and his experience with his purchase...will be following this threadMy entire house is hardwired with cat6 ethernet cable. I have one closet where all the wiring "meets" - alarm, cable, ethernet, router, etc so all I have to do is place the modem/wifi/whatever home automation hardware i have in that closet and I should be good to go after installing the software.There might be some things I'm forgetting b/c we did this a few months ago, but when I meet with the guy to go over everything, I'll add more to the thread.Details?My A/V guy should be meeting me this week to discuss. When I built my house I prewired everything for automation.
I'll update as I go GB. My take on the HomeSeer system so far is that it's a favorite among hobbyists/enthusiasts. Basically gadget nerds. But they're very into it, very smart, and the boards there are a good resource. They'll help you through just about anything as far as I can tell. I've been doing a ton of reading over there -- I'm a computer guy and tinkerer myself, so I find these kinds of projects to be pretty interesting, but I'm learning a ton. I'll let you know how it goes.I just know there will be a time when someone is locked out or we need to open the door remotely for a neighbor or relative to check on something, and this will all end up well worth it based on that one use alone.
Control4 is supposedly decent, but I don't think it's a do-it-yourself type thing -- I think these are more for professional installers, and it can be crazy expensive (just from browsing random forums on the web, I saw quotes of 50k and 100k -- insane).
We law firm partners here in NYC are bottomdwellers compared to you IBankers.
I haven't, but looks like he's a patent guy too -- and a heavy hitter at that, based on his bio. Buddy of yours?
Actually, quite the opposite. We've gone against him a couple of times. One is complete, and the other is in process.
And you're not hiring me why again? Otis is a menace in the courtroom -- I've crushed every Markman I've argued. And I'm younger and cheaper and more bloodthirsty than the white hairs I'm usually pitted against. Release the Kraken!
Have been tooling around with this some more. Added a camera to the apartment (no
and no 
) along with a motion sensor/temp sensor/light sensor.Now I have a couple of lights that come on just around sunset and turn off a few hours later (usual bedtime) automatically. Also have a nightlight outside of our bedroom triggered by motion -- but it only triggers at night (based on the luminance reading from the light sensor). Also today I finished my first shot at a custom screen accessible from our iphones -- that single screen shows the status of all these items, lets you control the three lamps, and shows repeatedly refreshing screenshots from the cam. We can access this screen anywhere via the iPhone app. It works very well so far.I'll really need to wait until we move to add a thermostat to the system, along with control of our in-ground sprinklers and controllable doorlocks. Another thing I plan to do is add an IR controller that goes on our Wifi network which I'll be able to use to control all the TV and stereo equipment.
Don't your in ground sprinklers have automatic timers anyway?Have been tooling around with this some more. Added a camera to the apartment (no
Probably (I don't know yet, we haven't moved into the house) but it would be nice to have full control over them. Beyond that, some people set the based on local weather -- i.e., if it just rained last night, they don't run that day as scheduled. These home automation systems save a lot of water and energy costs with little tricks like that.Don't your in ground sprinklers have automatic timers anyway?Have been tooling around with this some more. Added a camera to the apartment (no
Gotcha - FWIW, the sprinkler system I have has rain/wind sensors so the system doesn't run if they detect a certain amount of water in the ground and/or wind that will render the sprinkling useless.So what you think your final cost will be all in?Probably (I don't know yet, we haven't moved into the house) but it would be nice to have full control over them. Beyond that, some people set the based on local weather -- i.e., if it just rained last night, they don't run that day as scheduled. These home automation systems save a lot of water and energy costs with little tricks like that.Don't your in ground sprinklers have automatic timers anyway?Have been tooling around with this some more. Added a camera to the apartment (no
