I thought I'd start this thread as it's something quite new to me, something I never really thought I'd get into, but maybe I should... and that is... put in a media server and a smart home.
I moved into this three floor 4200 sq ft house 7 1/2 years ago. When I moved in, it didn't even have an alarm system. So.. I had my installers spend 2 months wiring the place and building work benches. What I have now:
-Nortel Meridien phone system, with up to 4 lines and 16 phones. I think the house has 12 phone locations, we use 6 regularly.
-CCTV camera system, 3 cameras, one matrixer, one VHS based time lapse recorder. Haven't had it fired up in years, although it was fun to watch staff come in the driveway for a couple of months.
-wireless computer network that works in most areas of the house, although the top floor is a bit weak. 4 wired network locations throughout.
-Carver (QED) multiroom keypad/IR speaker system. 4 inputs, 12 zones.
-7 zones of hot water heating. A number of areas are off permanently, as even in winter they don't seem to be needed (usually), and I'm pretty anal about turning rooms/areas off when not in use. THe bedrooms are on digital timers that only turn on heat in the rooms at about 7 PM, and shut down at 5 AM.
What would be really cool is to access all this stuff from any computer in the house. I know Control 4 has a whole house system apparently for pretty darn cheap, and you can add modules and functions without spending megabucks, or replacing the whole system. I'm not sure that I need a video media server, as we usually only watch movies in the theater room, the kids have a 72" RP Barco upstairs, and with the onslaught of flat screens I've got coming in, I can add pretty much whatever I want. I'd prefer the DVDs to stay in the theater room anyways.
I also have an audio media server kindly built up by a forum member last year. I haven't fired it up yet, but will on the weekend. It has two zones, and it would be great to access it from any room in the house.
I have two 6' racks in the theater room. One is for the HT system, the other is for the house music system. Those can be rewired at will as well.
Running new wires around the house is pretty easy at this point, as we've cut access holes into areas that we couldn't get to when I moved in, and those are still accessible now. Or... like the Control 4 system, it's all wireless from what I understand.
So.. throw some suggestions at me. I'm not very computer savvy, but can do some basics. Maybe others can benefit from ideas on this thread as well.
Link Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 4:51 pm Post subject:
Do you want to do it? Or REALLY do it?????
Control4 can do it, nicely, not really expensively.... hell you could probably find a dealer in your area who would cut you a nice deal for the equipment and get you started.
If you want to REALLY do it, I'd suggest looking at AMX (formerly known as Panja).
My former employer was a dealer and i went to their designer education series.... this stuff will do everything short of yanking ya in the morning..... however it ain't exactly cheap.
Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 18077 Location: Langley, BC
Link Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 5:09 pm Post subject:
Crestron is similar as well, right? I'd heard that the Crestron is easier to program, in fact I have the software thanks to a favor that I did for someone that works there. I also haven't played with it... go figure, and I have a Crestron system sitting here.
Me a dumbass!
I do want to do it, for as little coin as possible of course. A buddy is a dealer, and with the lack of dealers in the Vancouver area, I'm sure I can get set up directly.
Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 951 Location: Arvada, CO
Link Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 6:41 pm Post subject:
Well, if you got Crestron stuff sitting around, that sounds like the path to take. I don't know how easy Crestron is to program. There are several independant programming companies around.
RTI is another control company. They started as universal remote and have moved up the ladder. They are not as powerful as Crestron or AMX but much easier to program. It's more configuration than programming. _________________ Aubrey
Joined: 07 Oct 2006 Posts: 1310 Location: Allen, Texas
Link Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 7:03 pm Post subject:
I have purchased the HomeSeer software. I am using it for a few minor things right now but my project for the upcoming months is to make it fully functional to control the HT, lighting, media server, etc. It has a programmable touch screen software that allows you to create your own screens.
Dan
Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 18077 Location: Langley, BC
Link Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 7:09 pm Post subject:
The Crestron stuff I have is designed for single room use only (not enough output ports to control more than the HT system. I'll go check out the HomeSeer, I haven't heard about that one before.
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