Re: Home automation methods ...Cbus, X10, Zwave....

["noel_pilot" <HA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks Mark and others for the replies.

Some big thinking to do me thinks!!
Im enjoying playing with X10 and that in a way is a key bonus of X10,
its cheap enough to just play with and see what its like whilst the
more advanced systems cbus etc slightly prohibit the playing stagte
due to the cost.

I will get some dimming modules and see what they are like and go on
from there, Im very glad at this stage that I have started playing
nice and early because its clear I need lots of time to think and make
my decisions!

The simplest things are the hardest to decide, currently Im playing
with xlobby and about to install MCE for a play too, my main gripe
with both of these is that it looks like im going to have to leave
itunes behind <sob sob> I love the way itunes works and im
desperately
trying to find a way to keep using it! so much so im investigating how
much my chipped xbox could do instead of using a more normal media
centre!!

anyways enough of that thats another post entirely!!

once again thanks for the replies and they great list, I will be here
for a long time to come thats for sure!!

and of course if anyone has any more comments on my thoughts and ideas
then please all appreciated!!

Noel



--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Mark McCall" <lists@a...> wrote:
> > Being an X10 newbie, an enthusiastic one tho!!
>
> Hi Noel, welcome.
>
> > I'm dabbling to see its potential before going large
> > scale whole house over the next few years or so.
>
> That's what I did too, best way.
>
> > I've read a bit about x10's downfalls, black spots, slight
> > time delays etc but are these really that bad?
>
> In my experience they can grow to become quite bad.  We installed X10
> "properly" using star wiring to DIN rail dimmers. 
Everything worked
well at
> the start, but gradually problems crept in.  We still have the
system, but
> I'll be moving over to Cbus at some point in the future.
>
> > Have seen comments pointing people towards cbus but having
> > had a quick look its big big bucks!
>
> Depends on your budget.  Compared to other hard wired professional
systems
> its not expensive.
>
> > Dont know much about zwave just that it exists!!
>
> Its still pretty new, but lots of stuff in the pipeline for it.
Have a look
> at the Z-Wave forum here...
>
http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewforum&f=17
>
> Also have a look at the wiring guide to see the X10 stuff we did...
>
>
http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=2
>
> M.