I've been building various levels of home automation for the last 12 years...
A year ago, I gave up on X10/HomeDaemon, as it seems both were practically abandoned.
I've built a fourth generation home automation system on a Scala based framework -- distributed, self learning, combining X10 and various relay-based systems.
Insteon turned out to be a pipe dream or hype, X10 is unreliable unless run with repeaters, repeaters are not simple to operate,...
So, I've gone for a hybrid -- X10 with repeaters, software cognizant of the limitations of the repeaters and ranges; relays, portmasters, sensors (some DIY), and mostly just some serious distributed computing.
My house has Solar panels, jacuzzi, kids, about 30 computers, all the rope you need (to hang yourself), and a very understanding wife.
More, as I get a chance, at http://pointyhair.com/
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I've been building various levels of home automation for the last 12 years... A year ago, I gave up on X10/HomeDaemon, as it seems both were practically abandoned. I've built a fourth generation home automation system on a Scala based framework -- distributed, self learning, combining X10 and various relay-based systems. Insteon turned out to be a pipe dream or hype, X10 is unreliable unless run with repeaters, repeaters are not simple to operate, ...
So, I've gone for a hybrid -- X10 with repeaters, software cognizant of the limitations of the repeaters and ranges; relays, portmasters, sensors (some DIY), and mostly just some serious distributed computing.
My house has Solar panels, jacuzzi, kids, about 30 computers, all the rope you need (to hang yourself), and a very understanding wife.
More, as I get a chance, at http://pointyhair.com/