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Security DVR + iNet + X10 = Easy Home Automation (Video)

Posted by Roblimo on from the my-home-is-so-smart-it-won't-let-me-in-the-door-unless-I-bring-it-beer dept.

25-year electronics veteran Conrad Lee noticed that commodity multi-channel security DVRs have both more channels than a typical household needs and more capabilities than their makers advertise -- at least, with some creative re-use of their video feeds. With a home-grown controller hooked up to an otherwise unused video channel, a run of the mill security DVR can be used as a command center for household items, like lights, locks, thermostats, cameras, or whatever else you think of) by means of controls both old-fashioned (the ubiquitous X10 devices, some of which you probably have stashed in a drawer) and new (Z-wave). He showed off his system at last month's Maker Faire -- take a look (video below) at what his clever hardware re-use makes possible, and at Lee's controller. It means giving up one (relatively) inexpensive channel, to gain capabilities that would cost quite a bit more in a ready-built system, like smart-phone control and pan/tilt control for cameras. (Alternate Video Link)

16 of 25 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Thanks to popup ads by lecithin · · Score: 2

    You must be hitting beta.x-10.com

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  2. Re:Thanks to popup ads by khellendros1984 · · Score: 1

    Yes! Fuck ubiquitous, cheap industry standards, and everything they stand for!

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  3. Pretty clever use of available I/O options by whyde · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I have to hand it to this individual for definitely thinking outside-the-box and hooking up three types of systems using interfaces you'd not expect to be used in this manner, and coming up with something which is (at least in his case) useful.

    This was very gratifying to watch.

    1. Re:Pretty clever use of available I/O options by click2005 · · Score: 1

      I'm sure anything useful will soon be patented by Google, Apple or Microsoft.

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    2. Re:Pretty clever use of available I/O options by Charliemopps · · Score: 1

      I have to hand it to this individual for definitely thinking outside-the-box and hooking up three types of systems using interfaces you'd not expect to be used in this manner, and coming up with something which is (at least in his case) useful.

      This was very gratifying to watch.

      I agree. If I had this guy in an interview I'd hire him on the spot. This is what I'd call "real" intelligence. I'm very impressed. I bet in a year he is sending a regular data streem over that same line. You could have a whole I/O stream over that if you were clever.

    3. Re:Pretty clever use of available I/O options by click2005 · · Score: 1

      I backed https://www.kickstarter.com/pr... but ignorance is bliss eh troll.

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  4. x-10 modules by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Yes, I have lots of those 30 year old x-10 modules, but they don't work with CFL or LED lights. I've tried disabling (trace cutting) the local on feature and using appliance modules. They work a little better that way, but aren't reliable. I finally gave up on them, but I have lots, because they're cheap at garage sales. I can't bring myself to toss them.

  5. Hacking by Tokolosh · · Score: 4, Insightful

    THIS is the real meaning of "hacking"!

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    1. Re:Hacking by rHBa · · Score: 1

      If I had mod points...

      I just sent this to a couple of friends who don't understand what hacking is. Previously I've tried to explain to them that hacking is making something do stuff it wasn't originally designed to do and they've assumed that's just a euphemism for cracking security.

    2. Re:Hacking by monkeyFuzz · · Score: 1

      And the NSA doesn't even have to pay you for it! Yay!

  6. Neat idea by Change · · Score: 4, Informative

    I saw this at Maker Faire, he's using an on-screen display generator to produce menus and output that you feed into a video input channel on the DVR, and it intercepts the DVR's RS-485 bus (used for pan-tilt-zoom control of cameras) to receive command input from the user. Pan down is parsed as next menu item down, pan right is "enter", etc. It's quite nifty. The menus are set up for individual X-10 or other commands, and you can even set up multi-event macros.

  7. Home Automation is the Easy Part by seepho · · Score: 1

    The hard part is getting everyone to agree on a standard.

    1. Re:Home Automation is the Easy Part by tompaulco · · Score: 1

      The great thing about standards is that everyone has got one.

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  8. Re:Thanks to popup ads by tompaulco · · Score: 1

    Yes, that is annoying, but there are plenty of other reasons not to like X-10. Like the fact that 90% of their stuff is wireless when it is supposed to be a communication over electricity standard. Why should I have to be constantly buying batteries for something that is supposed to be hardwired?

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  9. warranty voided? and how long before some kind of by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    warranty voided? and how long before some kind of lock out is added to the DVR's?

  10. How to I get in contact with this man? by snero3 · · Score: 1

    I am interest in how this is going....

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