RE: NEW HA PROJECT

["Paul Gale" <groups2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I just re-read your post and realised that you probably didn't want
the full HA rant! And were just after the touchscreen bit???

So the section on MainLobby is probably most relevant. In addition, there
are other software solutions available to put content onto whatever
touchscreen you go for. The main ones I can think of are MainLobby, XLobby
(a free, open source version of Main Lobby) and Charmed Quark. All of these
will allow you to develop a set of screens and interface to many HA systems
and data you may have around the system - some more flexibly and
competently than others. Warning - it will take you quite some time to do
though, depending on how polished and good-looking a system you want.

Paul.



> -----Original Message-----
> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of Paul Gale
> Sent: 17 January 2008 08:50
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: [ukha_d] NEW HA PROJECT
>
> Hi Aaron,
>
> I guess one of the big questions that anyone here will ask you is how
> much you want (or are willing) to spend once you see what lovely kit
is
> available!?
>
> In my situation, I have a CBus lighting system (see latest posts) that
> is very capable and has some very nice control options including LCD,
> glass faced DLT controllers - including blue LED's!!!!! - all good
> gadgets must have at least one blue LED! ;)
>
> Heating is now controlled by a Honeywell Hometronic system and every
> radiator has a wireless TRV so I now have individual zoning and
> unlimited setpoints/time programs per day of the week. I'm also
nearing
> completion (at last!) of a largish (and very complex) loft conversion
> which has UFH and an inverter air con system. These are both linked
> into Hometronic too and work intelligently with each other. I also
have
> 4 x Integra electric Velux windows that will also be brought into the
> system to allow automatic and manual remote operation. I have the
> control interfaces for these but not yet decided exactly which system
> they will get linked to. Oh, and all the blinds are electric and will
> be remotely manually and/or automatically controllable. The loft also
> has a number of zones of floor RGB LED lights - all controllable to
> whatever colour is needed. These will be controlled via one of the
> systems detailed below.
>
> TV/DVD/Sat/Music/HD etc etc is also distributed around the house via
> several systems - the AV stuff is switched via a couple of matrix AV
> switchers. Composite for most SD TV's via an Extron MAV128 and HD via
a
> KeyDigital HD switcher. The outputs of these (in Node 0) are sent
> through the whole house Cat5e system via Keith Doxey's Kat5 AV boxes
> (allows sending of video/audio/digital audio long distances over Cat5
> with no loss or interference etc). Various music sources (mainly
> satellite radio and huge MP3 collection via a music server) are played
> into 12 zones in the house via ceiling speakers and
> distributed/amplified via 2 x Russound CAV6.6 whole house amps. These
> can also do composite video switching and routing.
>
> Alarm is dealt with via a Comfort alarm panel with second slave panel
> to deal with all the zones (I put at least one PIR in each room to
> allow some form of occupancy detection). This also allows remote
> interrogation via telephone and will dial out on various configurable
> occurrences.
>
> I have a couple of HA controllers - the main hardware HA controller is
> the excellent HomeVision Pro unit that does all mission critical
> hardware HA control. I also have HomeSeer software controller running
> on a dedicated HA PC in a 19" rack case (also have 3 other rack
unit
> PC's running other tasks). The Comfort alarm is directly linked to the
> HomeVision controller so I have full control and reporting of all
alarm
> features. This means I can "do stuff" when the alarm is
armed to away
> mode, the alarm goes off, garage door is opened (also electric and
> controlled by Comfort) etc etc - very flexible. These hardware systems
> are also directly linked to HomeSeer so basically everything is
> controllable by everything else!
>
> I also recently bought on of Kevin's SUPERBLY EXCELLENT (is that
enough
> for another marketing payment Kevin ? ;) ) CBus/HomeVision/xAP
hardware
> gateway units. This allows even more control over the lighting and
> integration with many many other HA systems. For example, this allows
> me to intelligently control bathroom and toilet fans rather than just
> have a timer option - e.g. the main bathroom fan only comes on if the
> light has been on for 2 minutes or more and also takes into account
the
> time of day and what mode the alarm is in etc etc.
>
> I have a whole load of other software apps and various other HW HA
> gadgets - some of the more notable are James' xAP switchboard. This
> allows incoming calls via my 3 telephone lines (home and business
> lines) to be announced over the whole house audio system via one of
the
> great TTS voices. Even better, the system can also link to an Outlook
> contact list, so if you use that, your contact names are spoken rather
> than a telephone number.
>
> I don't yet have touchscreens mounted although I do have a number of
> 17" panels and a desktop unit waiting to be commissioned. I run
the
> touchscreen HA software, MainLobby and would use this on these once
> they're in. Up until now, I've been running MainLobby on desktop PC's
> as a method of controlling and monitoring most of my HA systems -
> including CCTV. There are other options although a lot of us on list
> are still waiting for a truly affordable touchscreen option that
neatly
> fits into a wall.
>
> Oh, and I also have a CCTV system run by the very capable and flexible
> Geovision hardware/software product. This runs on a separate CCTV
> server PC.
>
> I hope this rambling makes some sense and gives you a few pointers -
> there are just so many ways to achieve a result - some cheap and
others
> VERY expensive - so it all depends how much you want to spend and also
> how much time you want to devote. My systems have been built up over
> the last 6-7 years and are still very much an on-going project
> (especially with my conversion still being built).
>
> HTH?
>
> Paul.
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On
> Behalf
> > Of c8les
> > Sent: 17 January 2008 05:52
> > To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> > Subject: [ukha_d] NEW HA PROJECT
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > I am looking to install some Home Automation.
> >
> > I have currently re-wired upstairs in a star configuration with
> > Cat5e and twin and earth for all power circuits. I've bragged
about
> > this stuff so much to my wife and its still not working. Although
> > most of the lights are 'temporarily' wired, and can be switched
> > on/off quite safely, with rubber gloves!!(Hope no one from IET is
> > here!)
> >
> > Initially, I would like to install the following, but am looking
for
> > a good quality base system, so that additions can be done when I
> > start downstairs;
> >
> > Touch Screen in each room (4 off ) and one on landing area to
> > control the following.
> >
> > Control of lights, on-off and dim.
> > Control of Electric under-floor heating.
> > Control of Electric Window Blinds.
> > Able to call up existing CCTV system.
> >
> > I would like to install/program all items myself. What I would
like
> > to know, is what would you experianced people recomend, and where
> > can I get the necessary equipment?
> >
> > The problem I'm finding is that many manufacturers want
> > an 'installer' to do the work - One, I cant afford it, and Two,
> > Thats money I could be spending on more Home Automation Toys.
> > Maybe I'm just not speaking to the correct person(s)?????
> >
> > Kind regards,
> >
> > Aaron Coles
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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