Re: New to all this

["David Gumbrell" <david.gumbrell@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Chris,

Interesting (and wise) plan. Since I was having to have some ceilings
replastered, I tried out temporary positioning. The ones I got sub-optimal
were the ones I cut straight in :-(

Over time we'll have the collective experience to get it right, of course.

Cheers,

David

On 11/18/06, Chris Hunter <cjhunter@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>   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<martin%40mccreesh.com>
> > <mailto:martin%
<martin%25>40mccreesh.com>
> > > <mailto:martin%
<martin%25>40mccreesh.com>
> > > > <mailto:martin%
<martin%25>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
<ukha_d%40yahoogroups.com> <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<ukha_d-unsubscribe%40yahoogroups.com>
> ?subject=>
> >
> > .
> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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