emrosenberg
Member
First off, thanks to everyone for your informative posts - I've been an avid reader of the forums. I completed all my prewiring for security, audio, lighting, thermostats (2 stage A/C and furnace), audio and video on our house. Sheetrock is up and I need to make my final system decisions and order the equipment now so I'm ready for the install. Here's what I've committed to thus far:
Lighting: Radio Ra2 - have the switches/dimmers/keypads/main repeater ready to go and laid out
Cameras: Picked up a great deal on the Honeywell Performance NVR/IP Camera kit HEN04111EB
Video - needs here are minimal - we're not home theatre people. I'll use a FiOS Quantum DVR system, and a Harmony Hub remote kit.
Smoke/CO - wired for line voltage detectors. Also will put in a couple of self-monitored low voltage detectors.
Audio - Leviton HiFi2: I like the functionality (remote input modules) and modern look of the keypads.
What's open is security/thermostats/automation/choice - narrowed it down to two main choices which meet needs and budget:
1) Omni LTe: I like the two-way integration with Radio Ra2, and the HiFi 2. I would use the interlogix receiver for some wireless sensors, the zigbee module for door locks and future expansion, and hardwired Omnistat 2s for thermostats. Like the unified automation this would provide. Dislike that Omni isn't particularly well supported (by monitoring stations and Leviton), its future murky, not great options for cellular monitoring (don't have POTs - use FiOS for landline), and the old-school keypads (Omnitouch 7 not in the budget, and seems poorly supported).
2)Honeywell Vista 20p: With the 4232CBM module I can have basic one-way integration with RadioRa2 (can trigger scenes bases on 5 alarm states, but not from individual zones). I would use the Tuxedo Touch for z-wave locks and thermostats, and a 6162rf keypad for wireless sensors. I like that Honeywell is very widely supported, that the IP/Cellular monitoring options are robust, that the Tuxedo Touch is attractive and modern looking interface. Dislike that I wouldn't have an integrated automation solution - I do get the locks/alarm integration, and the alarm/thermo/lighting integration for useful leaving the house/going to sleep/vacation scenes.
I guess the big driver is whether the integrated and robust automation of the Omni offsets the wide and robust support of the Honeywell, and its limited, but useful automation. I've never had any home automation before, so I'm not exactly sure what things I can do with the Omni that are truly helpful. I do like that it would add conditionality to RadioRa2, something it natively lacks, but I can't specifically see how that would be helpful.
Thanks you for your input.
Lighting: Radio Ra2 - have the switches/dimmers/keypads/main repeater ready to go and laid out
Cameras: Picked up a great deal on the Honeywell Performance NVR/IP Camera kit HEN04111EB
Video - needs here are minimal - we're not home theatre people. I'll use a FiOS Quantum DVR system, and a Harmony Hub remote kit.
Smoke/CO - wired for line voltage detectors. Also will put in a couple of self-monitored low voltage detectors.
Audio - Leviton HiFi2: I like the functionality (remote input modules) and modern look of the keypads.
What's open is security/thermostats/automation/choice - narrowed it down to two main choices which meet needs and budget:
1) Omni LTe: I like the two-way integration with Radio Ra2, and the HiFi 2. I would use the interlogix receiver for some wireless sensors, the zigbee module for door locks and future expansion, and hardwired Omnistat 2s for thermostats. Like the unified automation this would provide. Dislike that Omni isn't particularly well supported (by monitoring stations and Leviton), its future murky, not great options for cellular monitoring (don't have POTs - use FiOS for landline), and the old-school keypads (Omnitouch 7 not in the budget, and seems poorly supported).
2)Honeywell Vista 20p: With the 4232CBM module I can have basic one-way integration with RadioRa2 (can trigger scenes bases on 5 alarm states, but not from individual zones). I would use the Tuxedo Touch for z-wave locks and thermostats, and a 6162rf keypad for wireless sensors. I like that Honeywell is very widely supported, that the IP/Cellular monitoring options are robust, that the Tuxedo Touch is attractive and modern looking interface. Dislike that I wouldn't have an integrated automation solution - I do get the locks/alarm integration, and the alarm/thermo/lighting integration for useful leaving the house/going to sleep/vacation scenes.
I guess the big driver is whether the integrated and robust automation of the Omni offsets the wide and robust support of the Honeywell, and its limited, but useful automation. I've never had any home automation before, so I'm not exactly sure what things I can do with the Omni that are truly helpful. I do like that it would add conditionality to RadioRa2, something it natively lacks, but I can't specifically see how that would be helpful.
Thanks you for your input.