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(I used an ocelot controller back when I was playing with this). Just a few select standalone components.

I'm curious how you trained the ocelot. Also did you consider a monkey? they throw poop, but they can understand more complex commands.

Unfortunately I've found over the decades that Perl programmers for misterhouse are not any better WRT to throwing poop than the monkeys. Especially if you bring up the "python" subject. Or "ruby".

He probably forgot the little (tm) or the URL for the ocelot. Its an expensive device of a class midway between a cheap timer and a cheap X10/Insteon modem hooked up to a commodity linux box running misterhouse. I've never heard anything bad about it, and it has the virtue of being small and low power.

http://www.appdig.com/ocelot.html

Use a timer. A basic four or six zone timer with battery backup will be far more cost effective and reliable than a computerized and connected solution.

Just like the urban legend you repeat, this is an exaggeration at best. Most of the smart controllers (e.g.) (e.g.) (e.g.) are based on relays which make them not connected. And you can still operate the valves manually.

A basic timer can't prevent overwatering. With a software solution (like the aforementioned MisterHouse) or controller-based solution (like a Stargate or an Ocelot, both of which have sprinkler system support) you have the ability to disable watering if there is rain (or better yet when there is rain in the forecast). I've even heard of systems disabling watering when the temperature drops below a certain point (to prevent icing) or when the windspeed is above a certain level (thanks to a pc-compatible weather station or simply pinging the National Weather Service feeds). When everything is connected, you have lots of options. View through the webcam shows your lawn a little brown? Go to your home's sprinkler page and turn that zone on for 20 minutes. It's a tinkerer's (or perfectionist's dream).

That being said, it will be more expensive if you do not also automate your home in other ways (lighting, HVAC, whole-house audio, etc.) but if you're into saving water, chances are you'll want to save energy, too. Sure, you can get timed HVAC controllers and motion-activated lighting. But when you have multiple disparate systems, all of which require "programming" in different ways, and none of which can be affected by the others... is that really simpler?

It's possible, but it's not common by any means.

In that model of replace less useful with more useful, if Palm or competitors would figure out that with a consumer IR emitter* that for $120, they have a billion low end palms that are perfect Remotes (with a little simple software) and happen to hold address books and appts, etc.

*consumer IR is a slightly different wavelength, but it's fungeable with IrDA - but more important, it's modulated at between around 35k and 40k.
Smart folks have used the audio outputs of decent quality devices (unfo Wince based, usu) with a frequency doubler or tripler. Throw wave forms at it and it spits IR out.

RE: the desires of the parent post:

1. Mac OS X will certainly let Apple Script control its programs. It's almost "mom-able" to let a bluetooth (phone, say) trip macros.
2. any bt or WiFi device that talks to your computer can emit events. You're job is to xlate the event into a control signal to your program(s). Eg. "Next Song" or "pause".
   Perhaps when you and your BT phone get out of range (30' typically), the music will pause.
3. Why would you allow you or someone you know to run windows?
   "Windows: The OS for the rich and stupid"

This isn't hard. It's not even rocket science.
Just computer science.

My adicon ocelot is a $150-$200 device that speaks and hears IR, X10 and can expand to A/D, DA and digital IO.
And serial.
To my BSD box (and bsd is dying, yeah... yeah...)

It's got the single worst Windows interface to program it (macros: IF event then action1, action2, action3 perhaps GOTO another thing. I borrowed a windows laptop to get it to do something before I got the Unix tools so I could use vi to edit my "programs".

X10 or IR button (or with IO hardwired button) trips of a macro that can be as fancy as you want.

Webpage emits a command to a TTY to the Ocelot serial port to make a command.

$200 PDA speaks to Webpage via WiFI, I press "movie time" and the lights dim, the TV, DVD, amp and amp to subwoofer disguised as couch turn on.

Cost?
$100-$200 (or more) for WiFi aware PDA.
$175 for Ocelot.
$300 Unix box that also runs mail for 60 people, etc, etc
--------
Profit!

Check out Applied Digital they make a line of controllers (8-bit based) that will probabably handle your needs and ben be found for low cost.

I will second the PCS and raise you a Worthing Distribution as a good supplier. And don't forget about Applied Digital for your controllers.

I can do everything that guy did in his oversized ampatheatre he calls a house for probably 1/10-th the price he did with much more flexibility. www.misterhouse.org is a good start. and Look at the applied digital for some of the best home automation core systems available at really good prices compared to the overpriced DMX/panja stuff. Whole house audio is easy and cheap if you can live without concert quality sound in every room.. www.smarthome.com has tons of that stuff.

a "wired" home as to speak of takes nither genius nor requires buttloads of money. I have pretty much the equilivient for around $1500.00 spent with another $1500.00 to be spent on the whole house audio next month. I have a massive 1285 Sq foot home with a mind boggling 10 rooms (excluding the garage and back yard) so I am way above what most people can even dream of (Ok the sarcasim is a bit thick) Yes, I had to program misterhouse for my needs.. .YES I had to wire everything (doesnt take a rocket scientist to do that) and yes I had to design and maintain it.. but hey... I have something that the ultra-rich like to flaunt that they usually only are allowed to have.. and you can too!

I've got an ADI Ocelot which can handle all my IR needs. It has an X10 interface, and an IR transmit and receive. There are tools so that you can take Pronto IR files and convert them for use with the Ocelot. It has ladder logic programming and in addition to learning IR it can receive and compare IR so you can write some really useful code. I usually take my Radio Shack 7-n-1 remote and just program the TV, VCR, CBL, etc for generic items and let the Ocelot turn on the appropriate items such as an old color TV (uses X10 to turn it on), a VCR (used as the remote tuner and for recording), my stereo (volume control). You can get fancier if you want. In addition I use Mister House to select the programs I want to be recorded and it programs the VCR to do it (sort of a PVR just with a VCR). I can have it turn on everything and put it on the correct channel in case I forget.

Check out the Linux Home Automation pages for some further details.