Re: A mentor / Advisor ?

["Chris Hackett" <chackett@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Marc_F_Hult" <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:e19qk2dlefv85ss5nr5bc3flqsp28ok21m@xxxxxxxxxx
> On Sat, 4 Nov 2006 16:48:24 -0500, "Chris Hackett" <chackett@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> wrote in message  <LU73h.1599$1v.1312@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
>
>>Hi Robert,
>>
>>Thanks for the prompt and friendly response!
>>
>>I'll preface my ideas with the fact that I'm a true novice with this
>>stuff,
>>so I may be in over my head.  Who knows.
>
> From what you've written so far, it's clear that you've given the hardware
> part some careful thought.
>
> So let me jump in and suggest that this would be a propitious time to
> consider
> what software and(or) firmware you will use to control it all. For
> simplicity's sake, let me assert that the following categories are useful:
>
> 1) High end proprietary systems, eg  www.Crestron.com , www.AMX.com. These
> appear to be out of your price range because typically the entry point is
> in
> the several $K.

I'll look into these.  I'm hoping that my total cost to get the foundation
laid won't be more than a couple thousand dollars, you you may be right that
these are out of my price range.


>
> 2) The "I'm a wiz at C++ (or VB.net, or Forth or whatever), so I'll code
> it up
> myself next weekend" approach. You are a professional, so 'nuff said.
>

This doesn't describe me :)


> 3) PC-centric (aka "federated") systems that depend on a PC in operation
> 24x7.
> (Given your web site, this may hold no terror for you.)  Two Wintel
> contenders
> in this arena are www.Homeseer.com and www.charmedquark.com . There are
> others
> that have come and gone (www.premisesystems.com, now apparently available
> free) and others that don't quite make it in my opinion ( eg HAL from
> www.automatedliving.com ) and others that are Linux based (visit
> http://www.linuxha.com/ . I have experience with the first four listed. If
> your interests revolve around AV, take a good look at Charmed Quark.
> Homeseer
> supports more hardware and has a larger installed base but is still
> working
> out stability and driver issues from the last version upgrade.

Someone else contacted me and encouraged me to look at the Homeseer stuff.
They had good success with it, and suggested that there are lots of modules
and stuff for integrating and controlling lots of different systems and
devices.

>
> 4) Panel-centric in which a central controller like an Elk MG1
> http://www.elkproducts.com/products/m1/M1_Control_Family.htm or Omni Pro
> http://www.homeauto.com/Products/HAISystems/omniSystems.asp  runs 24 x7 on
> firmware but not necessarily a PC. These have evolved so that they can
> become
> part and parcel of a PC-centric system via (eg)  Homeseer or Charmed
> Quark).

I would like to have an in-wall panel at some point.  If I can get the right
system at the right price, I'll go ahead an purchase one now.

>
> One reason for examining the software early is that unless you intend to
> enter
> that black hole of writing your own drivers, the hardware (security
> systems,
> thermostats, I/O controllers, IR, lighting, AV video, intercom, etc) what
> specific hardware your chosen software already supports may be more
> important
> than the sometimes minor difference between hardware systems/brands. You
> can
> avoid some religious wars over hardware preferences in this way.

I am positive that I don't want to, or have the ability to, write my own
drivers.  One key aspect of the system will have to be either
"self-contained" or "simplicity."  This is for re-sale purposes.  I don't
want a new owner to be intimidated and scared of a complicated home
automation system.  I don't want people to feel like instead of their
computer crashing, their house will crash, and they'll always be having to
"reboot" their house in order to turn on the heat :)

>
> (Both Robert and I have one of the hardware controllers, and I also use
> PC-centric software with external commercial and homebrew hardware
> controllers.)
>
> Hope This Helps ... Marc
> Marc_F_Hult
> www.ECOntrol.org

Thanks so much for your information.  I really appreciate it.

Chris Hackett