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Jason, I'd really look at HAI (Home Automation, Inc.) http://www.homeauto.com/ --as they've been around since 1985 and are manufactured in your backyard!!! I'd run Cat-5. You can use lamp and appliance modules to tie into HAI's system and you could tie in your 7.1 surrounds to whole home audio w/ their Hi-Fi. Their coolest product that I'd Check out is Snap-Link--their USB thumbdrive that you can plug into any computer in the world to monitor and change your home's temperatures, lighting, security, surveillance videos, audio, shades, the list goes on and on. And you don't even need a computer running at your home--it connects directly to HAI's home controller, which isn't computer based. It works just as easily when connected to an Ultra Mobile PC and used as a wireless touchscreen in your house. Use it securely at home, at your office, or in an internet cafe in China--it leaves no trace of your home behind! http://www.homeauto.com/Products/Software/Snaplink .asp

Jason, I'd really look at HAI (Home Automation, Inc.) http://www.homeauto.com/ --as they've been around since 1985 and are manufactured in your backyard!!! I'd run Cat-5. You can use lamp and appliance modules to tie into HAI's system and you could tie in your 7.1 surrounds to whole home audio w/ their Hi-Fi. Their coolest product that I'd Check out is Snap-Link--their USB thumbdrive that you can plug into any computer in the world to monitor and change your home's temperatures, lighting, security, surveillance videos, audio, shades, the list goes on and on. And you don't even need a computer running at your home--it connects directly to HAI's home controller, which isn't computer based. It works just as easily when connected to an Ultra Mobile PC and used as a wireless touchscreen in your house. Use it securely at home, at your office, or in an internet cafe in China--it leaves no trace of your home behind! http://www.homeauto.com/Products/Software/Snaplink .asp

"Most people try and go the easy way by using the off the shelf crap that is out there but the truth is that home automation has hardly begun because the real power tools are being largely ignored by the less than technically courageous types that typically do home automation." Design Time is very expensive, and off the shelf products tend to be very cost effective due to mass production. You can install a network of dimmers that will communicate with each other without a need for a central brain easily, provided that you have a neutral at the switch box. HAI http://www.homeauto.com/, uses UPB, which allows its dimmers to communicate using a carrier wave signal over the house's neutral. It is an improved version of the old X-10, which many of you are probably familiar with. Unlike X-10, it is not as finnicky and susceptible to harmnonic noise, which is very prevalent in most modern homes. You can have basic automated lighting with programmed scenes for about $60 a dimmer, and they all talk to each other, so unless you want more than basic lighting control, there is no need for a central "brain".

X10 is old, and buggy. Use UPB based HAI products instead. Made in New Orleans, they HAI is an industry leader in affordable home automation. They are about 1/5th of the cost of higher end systems that have the same capabilities and you can integrate an Omni Pro II board with your multi room sound multi source sound, via a touchscreen, which is very nice. Its similar to X10, but will not pass through a transformer, and will not be as susceptible to harmonic noise. http://www.homeauto.com/

I recommend running cat5e to all thermostats, appliances, etc.. for future proofing, in addition there should be at least two cat5e outlets per room. If you are going to do a lot of VOIP then spring for cat6. I would also recommend having a demarcation point somewhere in the home, where all of the cable, satelite, phone services will come into the house. Run at least three coaxes from the exterior of the house to the interior, and make sure that the demarcation point has a conduit run to the attic so that you can drop new services in as they become available. I would also recommend using #12 gauge wire instead of #14 if budget is not an issue. If you want automated lighting and security use HAI http://homeauto.com/, which is a New Orleans based manufacturer. Their products make use of UPB, which is a newer, open version of the old X10 protocol. It is superior to X10 in that it will not pass through a transformer, and has a higher voltage which is less susceptible to harmonic noise. Fluorescent and low voltage lighting can still be an issue so you will want to make sure your lighting is line voltage, or else has magnetic transformers. Also, put in occupancy sensors with relay outputs and run those back to the HAI panel so that you can use them in your conditionally programming of the system. You can also integrate it with Russound home audio to get a multi room multi source audio system. You can also control the blinds, heating and irrigation with HAI. They almost got wiped out by hurricane katrina, but they stuck around and kept their operations, and employees. A great opportunity for you to support a local manufacturer, and employer.

HAI, which is fittingly a New Orleans based manufacturer of home automation products is the way to go if you want a cost effective automated home. It employs UPB technology, which is basically an improved version of X10, a carrier wave based protocol that can minimize the need for excessive rewiring. The main thing is that you have a neutral at the switch. Their system integrates security, lighting control, heat, etc.. The system is very flexible, and can be programmed with a laptop very easily; without a laptop it takes a bit more time. They have touchscreens, thermostats, dimmers, relays etc..and if you want fancy looking devices you can integrate an HAI system with a higher end system to yield roughly the same capabilities. Check out their website http://homeauto.com/

X10 is a joke. Our company is one of the largest home automation/lighting control integrators in the state, and we wouldn't use X10 if they gave it to us.

These are the big guys, the ones the pros (us) use.

http://www.control4.com/
http://www.lutron.com/
http://www.crestron.com/
http://www.homeauto.com/

They're quality. X10 is... not.

I'm in the middle of a home automation install but I'm not using the software/hardware Best Buy is going to pushing. I'm putting in a Home Automation, Inc http://www.homeauto.com/ Omni IIe controller with UPB control for my lights. I have the thermostat and keypad installed and wired into the controller. Once I get my media server back I'll be installing the web based control software and then figuring out how to get the old XP MCE based software to install on Vista. So far the system is incredible but it's definately not something the average Joe is going to get into. I'm doing it myself because I'm a geek (saying that while posting on /. is redundant, right?) and actually I'd like to start doing it professionally. I've already got the computer networking business, why not add home automation and computerized audio/video to it? The high end stereo place in town does no automation and they don't want to get into computer based media. Sounds to me like a market that needs filling.

Tom

• There are multiple manufacturers of UPB products, including:
       
  • PCS
         
  • Simply Automated
         
  • Home Automation, Inc. (HAI)
         
  • Web Mountain Technologies
         
  
  
• UPB is an open protocol with information freely available (Smarthome won't even talk to people who don't buy their SDK--I've tried)
  
• The product line is much more complete. For example, there are:
  
  • Controllable outlets.
    
  • Fixture modules, which can be hidden in appliances or behind walls and hardwired to devices.
    
  • I/O modules that convert contact closures to UPB signals and vice-versa so you can integrate UPB with just about anything (garage doors, fireplaces, motion sensors, alarm panels, doorbells, custom pushbuttons, etc...
    
  
  

One newer company that I saw at CEDIA 2004 is Control4. Their products are all zigbee-based and are aimed at average folks. I use some Crestron equipment in my home, which is very stable and reliable. There is a lot of older Crestron equipment you can buy on eBay that still works wonderfully. This is also the case with AMX equipment. The problem with these solutions, as well as cheaper solutions like HAI, is that you have to have the programs to actually program the equipment and it's not easily accessible as you have to be a dealer or work for a dealer of their products to get them. Aurora Multimedia is another company with a lot of great IP based control products. There are a lot of solutions out there for the average consumer, more than most people realize. It's good to go to local homeshows and read home automation blogs. I hope some of this information is helpful. It's my opinion that it's better to spend more on reliable equipment than to buy cheaper stuff that just doesn't work.

Does anyone have any recommendations for this application?

Any budget: Car-Tell vehicle detection + HAI OmniPro controller + hardwired ALC lighting.

Low budget: X10 floodlights set to turn on X10-compatible switches when motion is detected after dusk.

Does anyone have any recommendations for this application?

Any budget: Car-Tell vehicle detection + HAI OmniPro controller + hardwired ALC lighting.

Low budget: X10 floodlights set to turn on X10-compatible switches when motion is detected after dusk.