Weekend thought

[Patrick]

I managed to install a Z-Wave enabled Yale Residential - Real Living Touchscreen Lock today. Here's a link: Touchscreen Deadbolt - Deadbolt Lock

Here's the unit on Amazon ($247 right now) Yale YRD220-ZW-619 Real Living Electronic Touch Screen Deadbolt, Fully Motorized with Z-Wave Technology, Satin Nickel - Amazon.com

Super cool! For anyone wondering, yes, it does speak to you. Also, the batteries (no name brand) that came with the lock did not work. That is probably my biggest fear but there is a low battery light and there are keys as backups.

Here's a question, should we have a gadget or home automation section? It seems like we have a decent amount of folks with at least IP cameras. Also, I would be willing to bet that people who have servers at home also are higher up on the home automation curve whether that is with cameras, video streaming or items like this Yale lock.

 

[nitrobass24]

I think adding one right now might be a lil premature, but if we wanted to do some home automation articles, then it might make sense.

 

[PigLover]

I'd contribute to a gadgets forum. I have quite a few - and some ideas with no time to pursue. For example, I'd love to couple a lock like yours with facial recognition on my IP cams. Unlock the door for friends. Lock it tight when the daughter's prospective boyfriend walks up..

 

[awedio]

Here's a question, should we have a gadget or home automation section? It seems like we have a decent amount of folks with at least IP cameras. Also, I would be willing to bet that people who have servers at home also are higher up on the home automation curve whether that is with cameras, video streaming or items like this Yale lock.

Would it be just home automation or all things AV/IT (Audio/Video, IT-as it relates, IP Surveillance-no stinkin' D1 analog cams & any other relevant gadgets)?

 

[dba]

I have IP cameras, computer-controlled sprinklers, whole-house music, touchscreen-controlled lights, voice recognition, a web GUI for the house, software-controlled HVAC, and lots more. I'm guessing that I'm not alone and that the STH target audience has quite a bit of overlap with the home automation audience.

 

[MiniKnight]

I have IP cameras, computer-controlled sprinklers, whole-house music, touchscreen-controlled lights, voice recognition, a web GUI for the house, software-controlled HVAC, and lots more. I'm guessing that I'm not alone and the STH target audience has quite a bit of overlap with the home automation audience.

From your lab pics, I'm guessing you have a VMotion or something VM running it all too!

Seriously though, I'm with nitro. Do a few reviews, then let's start this. I may even be able to contribute a review.

 

[LeoS]

I'm interested in home automation topic too.

I've wired up HomeSeer (home automation server) to my lighting, aircons, ceiling fans, wireless door locks, ip cameras, bunch of motion sensor and door/window sensors for triggers, a dozen temp/humidity sensors, connected home theater and still just halfway through my installation...

 

[mmmmmdonuts]

I am interested in this as well. I am closing on a house this week and already thinking how to start doing home automation.

 

[Jeggs101]

Like I've said before, ServeTheHome should be more home automation and home server focused. You de-valued the name when you started doing stuff like 2-way servers.

Time for a split to happen IMNSHO.

I am really interested in this. Seems like you have some community support.

 

[LeoS]

I am interested in this as well. I am closing on a house this week and already thinking how to start doing home automation.

Perfect timing

At this point you'll need to consider the wiring for all the components that you're going to install. Yes, most are available in wireless version, but they're generally more expensive, needs regular battery replacement and are prone to less than 100% reliability due to interference, range and whatnot.

And you certainly can't have enough LAN cables Have direct line for each IP cameras and SIP phones to a PoE switch so you can run a UPS to a single switch for operation during blackouts. They can be used for so many other types of devices too (hdmi over cat5 (not ip), usb over cat5/ip, alarm, etc).

Other cabling to consider: microphone and audio lines (for voice control, centralized music and system announcements), alarm wiring (they can be used as sensors to trigger automation events)..

 

[dba]

From your lab pics, I'm guessing you have a VMotion or something VM running it all too!...

Do you mean VMotion-H, the home version that automatically migrates your gelato from Freezer-1 to Freezer-2 in case of a compressor failure?

 

[Aluminum]

PoE cameras are awesome, once you get just one you then get obsessed with more coverage.

 

[mmmmmdonuts]

Perfect timing

At this point you'll need to consider the wiring for all the components that you're going to install. Yes, most are available in wireless version, but they're generally more expensive, needs regular battery replacement and are prone to less than 100% reliability due to interference, range and whatnot.

And you certainly can't have enough LAN cables Have direct line for each IP cameras and SIP phones to a PoE switch so you can run a UPS to a single switch for operation during blackouts. They can be used for so many other types of devices too (hdmi over cat5 (not ip), usb over cat5/ip, alarm, etc).

Other cabling to consider: microphone and audio lines (for voice control, centralized music and system announcements), alarm wiring (they can be used as sensors to trigger automation events)..

I know I won't get to it right away, but do you have any switch recommendations or any other controls ideas especially for home audio or outdoor cameras which would be the first thing I get.

I saw this Amazon.com: TRENDnet 8-Port Gigabit GREENnet PoE+ Switch (TPE-TG80g): Computers & Accessories.

I am not afraid of programming or microcontrollers as I deal with them constantly at work for any homemade type of stuff.

 

[dba]

I know I won't get to it right away, but do you have any switch recommendations or any other controls ideas especially for home audio or outdoor cameras which would be the first thing I get.

I saw this Amazon.com: TRENDnet 8-Port Gigabit GREENnet PoE+ Switch (TPE-TG80g): Computers & Accessories.

I am not afraid of programming or microcontrollers as I deal with them constantly at work for any homemade type of stuff.

When you look at POE switches, make note of how many total watts they are able to deliver to POE ports, and of how many watts your cameras require. Some switches are only able to drive a few of their POE ports to the rated wattage and you might end up with an eight port switch that can only power three of your cameras.

 

[LeoS]

I know I won't get to it right away, but do you have any switch recommendations or any other controls ideas especially for home audio or outdoor cameras which would be the first thing I get.

I saw this Amazon.com: TRENDnet 8-Port Gigabit GREENnet PoE+ Switch (TPE-TG80g): Computers & Accessories.

I am not afraid of programming or microcontrollers as I deal with them constantly at work for any homemade type of stuff.

Oh, I have limited experience with switches and I haven't spent much time reading about them online.

I use Cisco (linksys) SG-300-28P switch as my current backbone and it's pretty solid so far (just around 1 year). Only running about 20 active devices and it reports each port's PoE power usage individually. I also use a 48 ports L2 PoE switch by Nortel (discontinued) that goes for around $300ish on Ebay for my ip cameras (Mobotix). I also have some 8 ports PoE Zyxels that worked well in the past (used for half a year then replaced, now I use them for test\backup.)

I use Mobotix cameras (indoor and outdoor) and they're pretty bulletproof with a very comfortable life expectancy of at least 5 years, because they provide hemispheric (360') coverage with no moving parts. They also don't need a DVR\image processing server since each of them can perform the calculation and triggering individually, so I just need to supply it with a NAS (freenas and synology). It has capability to trigger relay (automated door, react to doorbells, etc) and SIP server/client to integrate with IP phones. Those are just some of the reasons I justified their bleeping price.

 

[MiniKnight]

Well I'm going to start a PoE thread. Ya'll can move it later.