jumbodogs
Member
Hello everyone
I have been lurking around the site for a week or so and thought I would introduce my self and also like to say thanks. This site has a ton of information ( maybe to much my brain hurts ) I am really excited about getting going with automating my home but I see that to do this I am going to have to read up a whole lot more. The first two things I would like to get setup are security system and whole house audio. I would also like to automate lighting, have cameras at the front door, touch screens mounted around the house, caller ID announcements on the audio system and pretty much all the great things I am reading about here but the my main goal at the moment is to get security and audio setup.
So I have a few questions
1. Do I need to have a controller board for automation of my house? (like the ELK M1? )
2. Can I just use a PC and some software to control everything? ( HomeSeer ? )
3. What would be the advantage of having say an ELK M1 vs just using a PC?
4. Do I need to buy something like the Russound for whole house audio and intercom setup? I won't need keypads that come with those system as there will be either a TV to control the audio or a touchscreen mounted in each zone I want to control. Seems like a waste to get something like the Russound if I don't use the keypads but maybe I am missing something.
5. I have 5 windows, 2 doors in front of house and 2 french doors in back of house that I would like to get setup with a security system. If I want my security system to be tied into my home automation system do I have to go with something like the ELK or is there something cheaper out there I can do. ( seems like the ELK is security plus HA which if I use a PC I wouldn't need? )
Thanks for any help I can get with this and I am looking forward to being an active member on this board.
I have been lurking around the site for a week or so and thought I would introduce my self and also like to say thanks. This site has a ton of information ( maybe to much my brain hurts ) I am really excited about getting going with automating my home but I see that to do this I am going to have to read up a whole lot more. The first two things I would like to get setup are security system and whole house audio. I would also like to automate lighting, have cameras at the front door, touch screens mounted around the house, caller ID announcements on the audio system and pretty much all the great things I am reading about here but the my main goal at the moment is to get security and audio setup.
So I have a few questions
1. Do I need to have a controller board for automation of my house? (like the ELK M1? )
2. Can I just use a PC and some software to control everything? ( HomeSeer ? )
3. What would be the advantage of having say an ELK M1 vs just using a PC?
4. Do I need to buy something like the Russound for whole house audio and intercom setup? I won't need keypads that come with those system as there will be either a TV to control the audio or a touchscreen mounted in each zone I want to control. Seems like a waste to get something like the Russound if I don't use the keypads but maybe I am missing something.
5. I have 5 windows, 2 doors in front of house and 2 french doors in back of house that I would like to get setup with a security system. If I want my security system to be tied into my home automation system do I have to go with something like the ELK or is there something cheaper out there I can do. ( seems like the ELK is security plus HA which if I use a PC I wouldn't need? )
Thanks for any help I can get with this and I am looking forward to being an active member on this board.