best way to go with my home HA

[milll36]

Hi, im new to all this stuff, i have been doing research, and would appreciate some suggestions before i start buying and installing everything in my new house. I needed a security system, wanted to control my lighting,climate,multiroom audio, multiroom video(like media server), so this is what i have in mind right know, please any suggestions are highly appreciated( i havent bought anything yet but want to buy the stuff before the month is over)
Im decided for now to go with
HAI omnipro 2 controller.
HAI UPB light switches and dimmers

On the multiroom audio and video part, i havent decide wich way to go, i want to be able to control my library to choose what i want to lisent from the zone, and the video part want to have a server so i could choose what ill want to see from each zone. in every room i have 4 cat5 behind the tv for this, dont have and idea of a way of putting this to work,

Thanks

 

[AceCannon]

Welcome!

The question is way too open-ended, I am afraid. The best way to get started is to spend several (probably a lot more, actually) hours reading and searching these and other forums (try AVSforums as well).

 

[programmergeek]

tried to send you a pm but you have it disabled. look at elk hai and crestron. All depends on size house and what you want to spend.

 

[Neurorad]

I've read decent things HAI's Home Audio system, but pairing the OPII with Russound may be the way to go, for distributed audio AND video. I've never played with either.

If you want to get more fancy, with more of a 'do-it-yourself' approach, you could pair the OPII with CQC (PC-based whole-home control system), and use CQC or Sage for distributed video.

If you're interested in CQC, you could use a Nuvo Essentia or Grand Concerto for distributed audio, and keep the audio and video more separate.

With CQC, you have to love the process (unless you have CQC professionally installed, like Crestron). Takes time to obtain perfection/complete control.

 

[milll36]

i activated the pm option,
i was thinking on going with HAI because i also needed the alarm system for my house, i run cat 5 from every room to my systems closet, have 4 cat 5 per room, and speakers cables going on the same box, on each room so i have the choice of using amplification by the keypads of the system i choose, or directly from the system closet. For lighting, i ask the electricitian to run the neutral cable, on every switch, (i was thinking on going with upb) , i dont mind diy , im pretty good at it, but crestron is out of the budget, so something like HAI, or ELK or using the software controller will be good, ill have a server in there anyway becuase i will need it for sage tv or whatever i use for the video part, thanks

 

[Rupp]

You should load a 30 day trial of HomeSeer on that server and get it a test drive. HomeSeer interfaces with all major security systems and most any hardware you can imagine.

 

[milll36]

ok i understand that, but my home is underconstruction, so for the moment, no server,no lights to try,im buying everything these week, so if i go with homeseer i will need to buy an alarm system, would it be better to buy the omnipro 2 or better go with and alarm system and conect it via serial to homeseer or CQC

 

[Rupp]

If you are going to run a software package along with your security system then a system like the DSC, Caddx, etc is a much more affordable system than the ELK or Omni.

 

[mustangcoupe]

I wouldn't count out other software packages either most have a free trial like HomeSeer, some are even free. you have other options, CQC, J9Automation engine (in development) Power-Home, Premise ... take some time and try them out, I bet most will interface with an ELK or OMNI.