Re: best *current* home automation book? need to cram subject urgently

["BruceR" <brNOSPAM@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for the compliment. Here's a link to my photos. I have just added
some updated photos to show how it's evolving after 3 years.  Feel free
to ask questions and enjoy the other pictures there. (Do check out the
rainbow shot - it was even shown on local weather here.)
 http://community.webshots.com/user/brobin111

From:Robert Green
ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx

> "Jim" <camdenguy@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>
>> Now have a more immediate request: can anyone recommend any
>> particular book (or web-site) which is useful for wiring/preparing a
>> house for a future-proof automation system to get put in place
>> easily?
>
> There's a "how to" tutorial here:
>
> http://www.swhowto.com/
>
> by Bob Catanzarite.  While it's not the neatest job I've seen (that
> would probably be Bruce Robin's, but I've lost the URL - he will
> probably see this and post it) it's pretty nice.
>
> If you compare the photos in the site above to Bruce's, you'll see his
> layout isn't quite as "three-dimensional" and that he makes excellent
> use of items like long Wiremold-type outlet strips to keep the
> ever-increasing number of "wallwart" power supplies looking neat and
> remote from each other. I think it's a bad idea to crowd a fleet of
> power supplies on a small powerstrip.  Their could be induction
> effects and there could also be premature component failure because
> of the increased heat.
>
> Many pros don't like bundled cable, a hallmark of many structured
> wiring schemes.  While it looks nice to have fiber, RG6QS and CAT5 in
> the same cable, the reality it that it's much hard to pull, usually
> more expensive than the unbundled separate cables and it can't be
> stapled using traditional tools.  Also, if you ever have to replace a
> cable that's broken inside the wall for whatever reason, you'll be
> mighty glad if three other cables don't have to be replaced with it.
>
>> Really just looking for the best/most complete resources for planning
>> to wire a house intelligently (and structured).
>
> I'd search Google for "structured wiring tutorial" to get started.
> Bob's site lists the following to get you started:
>
>
> Home Networking Links
>
> Practically Networked  - http://www.practicallynetworked.com/
> Lots of Home Networking Help - http://www.homenethelp.com/
> Great Site with a lot of Wireless and wired information -
> http://www.SmallNetBuilder.com/
> TutorialFind.com - Networking Page -
> http://www.tutorialfind.com/tutorials/networking/
> At Home with Cabling - http://www.combsnet.com/cable/index.html
> Home PC Network - http://www.homepcnetwork.com
> How Stuff Works - Home Networking -
> http://www.howstuffworks.com/home-network.htm
> How Stuff Works - Routers -  - http://www.howstuffworks.com/router.htm
> How Stuff Works - Firewalls -
> http://www.howstuffworks.com/firewall.htm
> How Stuff Works - Power Line Networks -
> http://www.howstuffworks.com/power-network.htm
> How Stuff Works - Phone Line Networking -
> http://www.howstuffworks.com/phone-network.htm
> How Stuff Works - Wireless Networking -
> http://www.howstuffworks.com/wireless-network.htm
> Lots of great info here -
> http://www.tiaonline.org/standards/category6/ Good Help Desk and a
> FREE newsletter - Check it out!  -
> http://www.cabling-design.com/helpdesk/   NEW
>
>
> Ethernet Wiring Links
>
> How Stuff Works - Ethernet - http://www.howstuffworks.com/ethernet.htm
> Steve DeRose's Guide to CAT wiring  -
> http://www.stg.brown.edu/~sjd/wiring/CAT5-wiring.html
> Charles Spurgeon's Ethernet Web Site - VERY GOOD  -
> http://www.ethermanage.com/ethernet/ethernet.html
> Grants Wiring Closet  - http://www.grantscloset.com/
> John's Wiring Closet - VERY GOOD  - http://www.johnscloset.net/
> Home Tech's Learn More Section - VERY GOOD  -
> http://www.hometech.com/learn/index.html
> Low Voltage Home Pre-Wire Guide - VERY GOOD  -
> http://www.wildtracks.cihost.com/homewire/
> How Stuff Works - Ethernet - http://www.howstuffworks.com/ethernet.htm
> The Siemon Company  - http://www.siemon.com/
> Leviton - Voice and Data Division  - http://www.levitonvoicedata.com/
> Leviton - Strategies Document - VERY GOOD -
> http://www.levitonvoicedata.com/learning/wiring.asp
> Fast Ethernet Training by Hadriel Kaplan -
> http://www.iol.unh.edu/training/fe/fast_ether.pdf
> Twisted Pair - How It Works -
> http://duxcw.com/digest/Howto/network/cable/cable4.htm
> ePanarama - Great Information and  Great Links -
> http://www.epanorama.net/links/wire_telecom.html
>
>
> Other Wiring Type Links
>
> Phone Man's Home Page  - http://www.homephonewiring.com
> Phone Line Networking - http://www.homepna.org/
> Low Voltage Home Pre-Wire Guide  -
> http://www.wildtracks.cihost.com/homewire/
> Home Tech's Learn More Section  -
> http://www.hometech.com/learn/index.html Channel Vision  -
> http://www.channelvision.com/
> Channel Master  - http://www.channelmaster.com/
> Channel Plus  - http://www.multiplextechnology.com/products.html
> Belden RG6/U Quad Shield -
> http://bwccat.belden.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/BELDEN/fullSpec.d2w/re
> port?P1=1189A&P2=Coax&P3=Coax
> DSL Wiring Tip - http://dslnuts.com/DSLwiring.shtml    NEW
> Lots of interesting links -  http://www.homeautomationindex.com/
> NEW Great source of knowledge -
> http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/index.htm NEW
> This supplier offers a LOT of free knowledge -
> http://www.audioholics.com/ NEW
>
> Wireless Networking
>
> All sorts of GREAT stuff - Just go there and see -
> http://www.homenethelp.com/802.11b/index.asp
> Great Site with a lot of Wireless and wired information -
> http://www.SmallNetBuilder.com/  NEW
> As you might guess- All about 802.11 - http://www.80211-planet.com/
> Just a very good site about networking of all sorts -
> http://www.practicallynetworked.com/
> Good stuff on wireless security -
> http://arstechnica.com/paedia/w/wireless-security-howto/home-802.11b-1.html
> Good stuff on wireless security -
> http://arstechnica.com/paedia/w/wireless/security-1.html
>
>
>
> Phone Line and Power Line Networking Links
>
> Fred Langa's comments on Power Line Networking -
> http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20030108S0003
>
> Structured Wiring Suppliers
>
> Home Tech - http://www.hometech.com/home/index.html
>
>
> Central Wiring Panel Links
>
> Channel Vision - http://www.channelvision.com/index.php?page=cvc
> IBM Home Director - http://www.homedirector.net/index.php3
> Home Tech Solutions - http://www.hometech.com/home/index.html
> Leviton Structured Media -
> http://www.levitonvoicedata.com/catalog/CatalogGroup.aspx?CatalogSection=H
>
> Tools
>
> Greenlee Tools - http://www.greenlee.textron.com/
> Home Tech - http://www.hometech.com/home/index.html
> Paladin Tool - http://www.paladin-tools.com/
>
>
> --
> Bobby G.