Re: New to all this

[Chris Hunter <cjhunter@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mal -

No worries !   No connection !   I guess it's just that it's not often
thought-of & yet it offers a good set of capabilities that often match
what people seem to be looking-for - it's what we've gone-for after
doing quite a lot of research into several options (lost count, but
about a dozen different systems) ... it's still expanding, of course, so
there's more to come, but it already can do most of what we're
looking-for, and we're aiming to do quite a lot.

I've a box-full of modules here, ready to install, and second box
expected soon, although we don't have the PC to drive it yet, and
first-fix on the house is only part-done - money's tight & there's the
day-job keeping me busy !   In other words, I don't have it working just
yet, but it won't be long !   So far, I've explored how it works
in-detail, tried the demo', asked lots of questions of both Idratek &
David', who  has quite a lot working already at his place, the kit is
affordable & well-made, well thought-out / thought-through, and well
supported.

IMO, it offers us the best chance of achieving the comprehensive &
intelligent HA set-up we're looking-for, with broad functionality, good
failure strategies, good feedback & accessibility, good user interfaces
& comms, good expandability & adaptability, and fair
future-proofing.
We're looking for it to manage the house - heating, lighting, internal
&
external comms, hi-fi & 'network - and provide energy-efficiency,
comfort, task-assist, remote control, short- (on-site) & long-range
(off-site), etc.   Multiple systems are already possible ...

Downsides are that the software runs under 'Windows ('XP &
predecessors), the bus interface is via RS232 (USB hopefully on its
way), they don't have a ready-made solution that will talk with our
hi-fi (it's a bit ancient, though I think we can sort something out
without too much trouble, via IR or RS232), they don't carry much stock,
and ... well, we'll see.

Biggest practical issue to solve at the moment is working-out where
actually to place the sensors, for good sensing (temperature, humidity,
light, presence) with good fusion - I'm sure we won't get it right first
time, the lay-out / set-up will have to be developed.   In other words,
first-install will be temporary & experimental - which will inevitably
delay us getting the plastering & screeding done !   This situation, of
course, is not particular to Idratek - how does one place light-level
sensors for good awareness of lighting levels all through the day, day
&
night, with the Sun coming & going & people moving about ? ... how
does
one place PIRs & cameras to enable reliable system awareness of
presence, again with people moving about, and not moving about, coming
&
going ? ... where should humidity & temperature sensors go in bathroom
&
kitchen ? ... and so-on !

HTH

Chris


Mal Lansell wrote:

> Chris,
>
> I'm not trying to be funny, so please don't take this the wrong way,
but
> are you connected to Idratek in some way or are you just a very
> satisfied customer?
>
> I only ask because you often mention them in your emails, but I don't
> personally have any experience of Idratek. I'd be interested in
> hearing how you use their kit and what pitfalls (if any) you've
> discovered and how you worked around them.
>
> Cheers
>
> Mal
>
> Chris Hunter wrote:
>
> > Idratek allows this ...
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > Ho Yin Ng wrote:
> >
> > > Or get a HA system which allows control via a web interface
and get
> > access
> > > via a Pocket Pc Phone. Therefore giving you the ability to
have
> complete
> > > control rather than just certain functions.
> > >
> > > Ho yin
> > >
> > > On 17/11/06, Martin McCreesh <martin@xxxxxxx
> <mailto:martin%40mccreesh.com>
> > <mailto:martin%40mccreesh.com>
> > > <mailto:martin%40mccreesh.com>>
wrote:
> > > >
> > > > dtmf controlled relay is the way to go as you can store
the full
> > set of
> > > > keys in your phone and assign as a speed dial or even
voicetag.
> > > >
> > > > I havent used this product as built my own but I did
see this
> product
> > > > recommended here before
> > > >
> > > > http://www.eurosource.se/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=77
> <http://www.eurosource.se/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=77>
> > <http://www.eurosource.se/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=77
> <http://www.eurosource.se/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=77>>
> > > <http://www.eurosource.se/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=77
> <http://www.eurosource.se/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=77>
> > <http://www.eurosource.se/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=77
> <http://www.eurosource.se/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=77>>>
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: Kim Wall
> > > > To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx <mailto:ukha_d%40yahoogroups.com>
> <mailto:ukha_d%40yahoogroups.com>
> > <mailto:ukha_d%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > <ukha_d%40yahoogroups.com>
> > > > Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 2:38 AM
> > > > Subject: Re: [ukha_d] New to all this
> > > >
> > > > Andy Beveridge wrote:
> > > > > Regardless of how good the HA is, the cat is
unlikely to
> answer the
> > > > phone
> > > >
> > > > Having known a cat who learned that phones stop ringing
when
> > knocked off
> > > > the hook, I can assure you that this is a good thing!
Recipe for a
> > > > permanently engaged line and some very confused callers
:)
> > > >
> > > > As for heating control, I don't have much in the way of
relevant
> > > > suggestions... My heating control system was built from
scratch with
> > > > home-brew software and electronics, which doesn't sound
like the
> > sort of
> > > > thing you're after.
> > > >
> > > > However, it might be worth considering that a possible
alternative
> > to a
> > > > system you can operate remotely (presumably by voice
recognition, as
> > > > you're talking about driving home... otherwise I'd be
looking for
> > > > something DTMF or SMS operated) would be one that
anticipates your
> > > > arrival without any need for user input. Assuming your
arrival
> time is
> > > > predictable, of course.
> > > >
> > > > Kim
>
> <mailto:ukha_d-unsubscribe@xxxxxxx?subject=>
>
> .
>
>




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