Hi All! Yep, another Newbie 
My wife and I recently purchased a house with our 4 kids. My oldest is in a wheelchair due to cerebral palsey and my littlest is just 3 months old with a very active 4 year old and a curious 2 year old.
I am in the process of learning the best solution for our needs and am hoping that I can ask of everybody's good nature here to give me your input. I understand that everybody will have a different opinion, and that is great, but trying to sort all of this out on my own with the kids and work keeps me up too late at night and your knowledge would be greatly appreciated.
Our house is finished with the exception of the basement and we have IPTV from AT&T/Uverse. I would like to be able to have an automation system that we can build on. My first goal is home security and then automation. Our cars have the homelink system to control the garage doors and has the ability to do the lighting and a gate (we don't have one). After security I would like to be able to integrate the IPTV into the network with our home automation system which should control lighting, HVAC, irrigation (with sensor to avoid on during rain), audio/video, and video surveillance. I should mention that the house came with an AudioTek intercom system that has a main panel in the kitchen and remotes in each bedroom.
I have no problem in purchasing a dedicated server if that is what it will take but I would like your input as to what hardware and software you would recommend to implement this system. I do prefer access via web (PC or PDA) or touch panel over a proprietary remote.
Thank you very much in advanced for any information you can provide.
Allen

My wife and I recently purchased a house with our 4 kids. My oldest is in a wheelchair due to cerebral palsey and my littlest is just 3 months old with a very active 4 year old and a curious 2 year old.
I am in the process of learning the best solution for our needs and am hoping that I can ask of everybody's good nature here to give me your input. I understand that everybody will have a different opinion, and that is great, but trying to sort all of this out on my own with the kids and work keeps me up too late at night and your knowledge would be greatly appreciated.
Our house is finished with the exception of the basement and we have IPTV from AT&T/Uverse. I would like to be able to have an automation system that we can build on. My first goal is home security and then automation. Our cars have the homelink system to control the garage doors and has the ability to do the lighting and a gate (we don't have one). After security I would like to be able to integrate the IPTV into the network with our home automation system which should control lighting, HVAC, irrigation (with sensor to avoid on during rain), audio/video, and video surveillance. I should mention that the house came with an AudioTek intercom system that has a main panel in the kitchen and remotes in each bedroom.
I have no problem in purchasing a dedicated server if that is what it will take but I would like your input as to what hardware and software you would recommend to implement this system. I do prefer access via web (PC or PDA) or touch panel over a proprietary remote.
Thank you very much in advanced for any information you can provide.
Allen