Re: Ethernet-based systems for DIY?

[nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)]

While probably not at all applicable to what Mr. Stratton proposes, you
should look at the Tibbo EM202. Unlike the xPort, it can communicate beyond
the local network, and unlike SitePlayer, it's not braindead. It's field
upgradable and user programmable in Basic.

     http://www.tibbo.com/em202.php

"Brad" <bsnedek@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Hi Don,
>
>Diy ethernet, If you are willing to jump in SitePlayer, And Xport are
>two pieces I have been working with for a couple of years. I got no
>where with the extended X-10 protocol. I have a several circuits that
>use both SitePlayer and Xport packages, when you include a pic
>microcontroller and a nice front end like Homeseer, the sky is the
>limit.
>
>   Siteplayer is a web server on a 1" BY 1" board it includes a good
>TCPIP/UDP stack. It also includes a serial port that I connect to a Pic
>micocontroller. I have found an issue with the UDP protocol though. If
>you pass more then a few bytes of data per message the SitePlayer will
>loose itself.
>
>   Xport is the best ethernet on a chip I have found so far. Its web
>server is weaker then SitePlayer but its easier to program. Once
>programmed, data that appears on the ethernet is sent to the serial
>port and vise versa. Again hook a Pic Microcontroller to the serial
>port and you have a powerful control device.
>
>I chose HomeSeer as my front end because as a programmer it is fairly
>easy to expand and write scripts to control and receive data. I am sure
>there are others but I got the best bang for my buck. HomeSeer has a
>plugin called HS_Commander that speaks UDP. And I completed a HS_TCPIP
>plugin. With these two plugins I can monitor temperatures around my
>home on a room by room basis as one example.
>
>If you want to Google these names, and also look for Tom Igoe's web
>page.
>
>Good Luck
>
>On Dec 9, 4:56 pm, "Don Stratton" <anguishandf...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> I have been carefully considering what I would like to see in total
>> home automation for a long time.  it can best be described as Star Trek
>> technology; I want to know pretty much everything going on in my home
>> and I want a high level of computing assistance (voice responce,
>> internet interactivity, intelligent alarm systems that correlate
>> multiple sensors to evaluate threat and response, tons more).
>>
>> Needless to say I have not found it.
>>
>> I can find pretty much all of it in bits and pieces, but nothing that
>> would logically stitch together very well.  Systems like X10 are weak
>> in security, alarm systems are weak in home automation, media systems
>> ignore both, very little of it embraces a do-it-yourselfer, most
>> systems don't scale or intergrate well with each other, and good
>> software is absolutely non-existant.  Which brings me to my point.
>>
>> _IF_ I am right and nothing "good" exists, I may be interested in
>> building it myself.  I say this both as an interested homeowner who's
>> handy with a soldering iron, and as the owner and senior engineer of a
>> company that makes consumer electronic gear.  I did a quick block
>> design of a data aquisition module I thought would be a good idea
>> (multiple A/D, multiple GPIO and video inputs with ethernet out back to
>> the base), checked the net to find nothing quite like it, and am
>> intrigued by the idea of developing it into a full-fledged commercial
>> product.  My thinking is that systems like this should be more cellular
>> in nature, and this DAQ would seem to allow for all home security
>> sensing needs, some or all of home monitoring needs, easy as hell for
>> DIY installation and integration into existing sensor systems, and
>> absolute expandability in the form of ethernet output.  VERY simple
>> software would allow you to do a lot, very complex software boggles my
>> mind in terms of sheer potential (the Star Trek stuff).
>>
>> Am I wrong?  Can someone recommend what they think are good systems and
>> components?
>>
>> --Don


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