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Author
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Topic: What's your setup??
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Rick LaBanca
Administrator Posts: 688
From: Hope, RI
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-15-1999 05:17 PM
   
Slowly, more people registering for the forum! Don't be shy, post!One reason I started this was that I really like to hear what others are doing or want to do. Be proud of your creations! I'm not too elaborate yet. I have about a dozen modules, including the X10 spot motion lights. I found a good hack for those if you use computer software. I didn't like the fact that you have to use a dial to set the delay until off. So this works.... Set the lights for the lowest delay (like 3 secs I think, can't recall). Then when your computer picks up motion, send a signal to turn the lights on, and time them out yourself! Then you have control over the delay via software. Disadvantage is that motion won't be detected while the lights are on (or so I think). The bummer is that my spots broke, they always detect motion, even in the day. Haven't tried to fix them yet. I of course have the computer reciting the weather upon a remote press, it alerts me when the firewall is attacked, and does caller id. My next project is the garage doors. I've got quite an ambitious plan for all of that, still working on it. It will be the best garage door open setup so far if I can do it for less than a fortune! Don't care for the stanley approach. ------------------
Rick LaBanca
The Home Automation Forum
www.HomeAutomationForum.com
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Patrick Sikes
Junior Member Posts: 19
From: Loveland, Colorado
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-17-1999 03:16 PM
Well....lets see. My HomeAutomation setup is a little limited...all X10...and just enough not to confuse my fiance'. I just controler some lights and an A/C unit and humidifier. My HA server is an old 486 laptop....just enough to run homesear with the minimum setup....no voice, etc.I look formward to seeing what this new BB hase to offer. Good luck,
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Patrick Sikes
HomePage HomeAutomation |
Rick LaBanca
Administrator Posts: 688
From: Hope, RI
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-17-1999 06:12 PM
Well thanks for posting!Do you use remotes and trigger macros? I am just x10, intentionally for now, I avoid wiring. Never thought of using a laptop, but it actually is a good idea for an HA controller! Do you have it connected to the net in any way? ------------------
Rick LaBanca
The Home Automation Forum
www.HomeAutomationForum.com
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Patrick Sikes
Junior Member Posts: 19
From: Loveland, Colorado
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-20-1999 01:44 PM
Rick,I use all X10. I have some of the Palmpad controlers that X10 gives away all the time. The laptop has worked well so far but it is a little bit limited. It has no PCMCIA slots so hooking it up to my network is a bit tough. I have a parralel nic for it but I am having troubles getting that to work. If I could get that going I think it will work for all my needs...otherwise I will end up using my NT server (web, proxy, ect) for HA. ------------------
Patrick Sikes
HomePage HomeAutomation |
Rick LaBanca
Administrator Posts: 688
From: Hope, RI
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-20-1999 07:13 PM
The old xircom adapters for network used to be good. There are serial port emulators I think, if speed isn't a huge deal.------------------
Rick LaBanca
The Home Automation Forum
www.HomeAutomationForum.com
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Steve C
Junior Member Posts: 20
From: Federal Way, WA, USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-21-1999 06:11 PM
My HA system is a Celeron 433 with a CM11A. I ordered an Ocelot from Future Standard on December 3rd and still have not received it, so for now my system is just X-10. Every light in my apartment (with the exception of the bathroom) is controlled by X-10, most of them with X-10 decorator type dimmer switches. I also have a fountain that is controlled by X-10. I am running HomeSeer and use the Caller ID script (thanks Rick!). I also wrote a bunch of scripts to retrieve and read different types of news. If the Ocelot that I ordered ever arrives, I will finally have IR capabilities so I can control my home theater setup. |
Rick LaBanca
Administrator Posts: 688
From: Hope, RI
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-21-1999 07:04 PM
Hi steve, I haven't tried your news scripts yet... read on keware how you're going all out for many sources! I was going to do stocks but couldn't find a good free source that I could use legally (wanted real time quotes picky me!) Post any scripts you write here also if you want (do that by just emailing to me).What kind of fountain, those small stone ones? ------------------
Rick LaBanca
The Home Automation Forum
www.HomeAutomationForum.com
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Steve C
Junior Member Posts: 20
From: Federal Way, WA, USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-22-1999 05:42 AM
Well, I haven't found a free real-time stock quote source yet, but if I do, I'll let you know. I'll start sending you scripts, too, as I finish them.My fountain is one of those tabletop ones. It's a little larger than most of the ones you find in stores. |
Rick LaBanca
Administrator Posts: 688
From: Hope, RI
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-22-1999 09:41 AM
I got a mister for my fountain. have you seen them? They seem to work with a peizo electric element, but likely more to it than that. Since they say to run it for less that 12 hours it's a good thing to hook to x10 timing.------------------
Rick LaBanca
The Home Automation Forum
www.HomeAutomationForum.com
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dlgardne
Junior Member Posts: 1
From: Lake Ridge, VA 22192
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-26-1999 07:47 PM
Hello, Just exploring your board. Found the link on the Homeseer site. I'm currently runing the 30 day trial of homeseer. 15 days or so left.... I know power saving makes keeping the computer online less expensive but it still costs a lot more than being able to store "stuff" in an interface unit like CM11A. Not sure I'm there yet in terms of letting the computer run 24x7 (PII running NT 4.0/SP). Like most of the posts I'm running straight X-10 at present although I'd like to do some IR to manage the stereo and CD player. Any thought on controllers.
Anyone have info on an X-10 unit besides X-10 Pro I can put in the Line to control my outside low voltage lights? If I'm going to pay the price for a "smart" device to carry the load and give me feedback I'd perfer not to place it outside at the outlet box where who knows what could mess with it. Enough for the 1st post. Keep up the good work! ------------------
Dennis G. |
Rick LaBanca
Administrator Posts: 688
From: Hope, RI
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 12-26-1999 09:43 PM
I think power consumption if in suspend mode is under 40 watts maybe less... I should look that up again. But alas NT doesn't have these modes like win9x (unless I am mistaken!).Maybe I'm simplifying, but wouldn't you just plug an appliance module in where your low voltage power supply is? Or do you want to control different branches of the low voltage lights? ------------------
Rick LaBanca
The Home Automation Forum
www.HomeAutomationForum.com
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dbcoyer
Junior Member Posts: 1
From:
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 01-03-2000 01:22 PM
Hi Rick,
I too am exclusively X10. I started out a couple of years ago (that long already?) with an ActiveHome kit and have just been adding pieces as I go. I am on about day 10 of my HomeSeer eval and will definitely purchase; what a great product! I got my XCam anywhere camera a couple of weeks ago and have it looking out my front door. I have a HawkeyeII outside that turns on the sender/receiver power and flashes some lights inside when someone approaches. I will probably be looking at incorporating IR shortly. |
Rick LaBanca
Administrator Posts: 688
From: Hope, RI
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 01-03-2000 01:45 PM
Sounds good db, how is the xcam? As you can see I have a broken unit to evaluate. When it was working I found it to be very dark and would imagine it only working in a very bright room or daylight, how is it at dusk?------------------
Rick LaBanca
The Home Automation Forum
www.HomeAutomationForum.com
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Kelly
Junior Member Posts: 19
From: Wichita Falls TX US
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted 01-21-2000 12:30 AM
I just got ahold of IBM's home director. But i installed the new version of active home to program it. I 3 lamp modules and an appliance module. I'm looking for some software that will enable me to run conditional macros, so any ideas would be helpful. I'm also planning on putting a motion detector in the bedrooms, and the bathroom, to control lights. |
Rick LaBanca
Administrator Posts: 688
From: Hope, RI
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 01-21-2000 07:48 AM
You have to run something on the computer all the time to do conditionals, the cm11a won't do it on its own. The best program for that is HomeSeer which I have reviewed here. There are others also, but not as good or as inexpensive.------------------
Rick LaBanca
The Home Automation Forum
www.HomeAutomationForum.com
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