upstatemike said:
I can use my Stargate hardware without PC software though so the value of a PC software based system is...?
It's all based on what your current investment is, and what your goals are.The PC-based software only system is re-usable for non-HA purposes, the hardware-based approach is not.
On my side of the table, I already got a full-blown CQC HomeTheater/ HomeTheaterAutomation system with all the required infrastructure to do whole house audio/video distribution, and has robust HA capabilities and native drivers for >100 devices, so the value of a fancy hardware controller is....?
IIRC, you got this whole slingbox(squeezebox?) setup. However, if you didn't, or if you weren't happy with it, you'd have to go out and buy a crapload of stuff to do whole house a/v. Then, you'd have duplicate investments [hardware controller, everything you need for a software controller]
This business of programming a brain to talk to another brain (that also has to be programmed) is getting old. If I am programming a Homeseer type system as my HA brain, I don't want to also have to learn the programming to set up an Ocelot or Stargate or M1 or other brain to get everythin working. Likewise, I don't want to program a hardware controller as my HA brain and still have to program a PC brain for all the supplemental stuff that the hardware controller can't do directly. I want a one brain system!
Actually, that's why i'm leaning towards using CQC only as the location for as many of my HA rules and events as possible. It does everything that i need, has native drivers for everything, and has a decent event scheduler with a pretty point&click GUI. ok, not so pretty right now, but getting better with every release. It even has a native driver for relays [carl's something or other brand], so I don't even need to use the Elk for that. Of course, as long as I got the Elk, I'm going to use that for what it's best for, which right now is looking like security/fire, and doorbell&telephone monitoring & control.
All entirely legitimate paths, the answer lies within what your personal goals are.