Re: Decisions, decisions

["IVB" <ivb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Before I go any further, you have to see what one of the guys who uses my
HA/HT software is doing with security at:
http://charmedquark.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6558 . It's outstanding and
it was pretty simple for him to do. You can make it look much prettier if
you want, he doesn't care that much about that stuff.

2 forums that are super-rich in content:
- cocoontech has many posts on HA
- In my opinion, CharmedQuark is the category owner for DIY HA/HT software.
It's not as well known as it should be, but the owners have spent more $$ on
beefing up the architecture than on marketing. That too shall change
shortly, and i'm sure the price will go up as a result. Pretty much every
HomeSeer person who's seriously evaluated CQC has gone for it. I use it for
HVAC, sound, video, irrigation, soon security, lighting, drape control,
camera control. The forum is at http://charmedquark.com/phpBB2/index.php.

If you want to see details of my setup, check out my personal website at
www.myhometheaterpc.com . I've aliased www.myhomeautomationpc.com and
www.myhometheaterautomationpc.com to it as that's where i've evolved.

Finally, i'd recommend looking at one of the automation panels to oversee
this. I just ordered an Elk M1, which is integratable with CQC.

Hope this helps.

- IVB

"Mr. Gibbage" <MrGibbage@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
message news:than021ospdl82fqi96q0ij366qou644m9@xxxxxxxxxx
> I'm building a new house.  Well, I am having one built by a builder in
> a residential area, where he is building several houses.  The bottom
> line is, they really don't like the future owners "working" on site.
> Walking around, taking pictures, and checking up on things is ok, but
> if I were to bring a bunch of tools and cables, they'd have a problem
> with that.  So...
>
> I would like to jump into the HA pool and get my feet wet.  I have
> been lurking here for a few days, and see that I have many, many
> options.  I think that the only thing I know for sure is that I won't
> go with X-10.  But I sure can't decide which way I will go.  It will
> be self-installed.  I am pretty handy with tools, so I feel that I can
> handle anything that is considered "end-user" installable.  I have
> searched this group for the word "comparison", and have not really
> found a good site or post that compares and contrasts the many
> different options.
>
> Firstly, I want to control my lights.  Just a few simple scenes should
> take care of things.  Ultimately, I'd like to get into HVAC, sound,
> security and computer/web controls.
>
> Suggestions?
>
> Skip
>
> Zigbee
> z-wave
> insteon
> homeseer
> x-10
> RadioRA
> Others