Re: Getting Started Project, advice please

["IVB" <ivb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ditto on the CQC idea (www.charmedquark.com). It allows you to do everything
(important) that HomeSeer does, and allows you go custom-paint a friendly
user interface. That combination is very compelling, as opposed to trying to
integrate 2 different packages. You won't get anything CLOSE to
stability/reliability that way. Make sure to check out the CQC forum - some
folks are using airpanels, not sure how.

I use a Fujitsu 3400, but I don't use it for video. I hear one of the guys
on the forum is [his kids found out they could watch TV on it], but i've
never personally tried it.

FWIW, I'm documenting as I go on www.myhometheaterpc.com.

"MrTea" <hilton.jon@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1142188836.478995.323340@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Hi all
>
> I am just about to tackle my first HA project and could do with some
> advice.
>
> I have tried playing with a few X10 devices, and whilst seems to be
> working fine, being able to control my study's light is getting a bit
> boring and pointless now!
>
> So here's my plan.
>
> I have a kitchen which shares a wall with an under stairs "walk in"
> cupboard.
>
> I want to purchase a small (only needs to be about 8") touch screen to
> install on this wall (in the kitchen).
>
> I then intend to put the cables from the back of the touchscreen,
> through a hole in the wall into the under stairs cupboard.
>
> I was then planning on building a cheap computer to drive this touch
> screen (using components I already have).
>
> The basic functions of this touchscreen will be initially to browse the
> Internet (for recipes etc), control audio/video and eventually X10 etc.
>
> I plan to use homeseer for my home automation.
>
> Now here's the questions.
>
> 1) Which Touch screen
> 2) What software (some have mentioned things like Xlobby to provide a
> touch-screen friendly interface)
> 3) How can I get video from my sky box onto this touch screen
>
> For number 1 I have seen this...
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=8045940740&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT
>
> For number 3, I have considered the cheapest option which would be to
> take a wireless video sender I already have, and connect the receiver's
> output either directly to the touch screen or to the PC driving it.
>
> Is this a good idea or is there a better way?
>
> And finally (sorry to bombard you all with so many questions), is a
> Viewsonic Airpanel (instead of a PC and separate touchscreen) a viable
> alternative to my current plan?
>