After following along on CocoonTech for over a year I've finally joined and am looking forward to getting back into HA. I say "getting back" into HA because about 10 years ago I owned a condo that I automated extensively.
The condo had a Stargate in it with a dedicated computer running a program called Home Voice. I had a wall mounted microphone in each room and used voice commands to run many tasks via X10. I could control the overhead lighting (X10 Switchlincs), alarm system (Caddx), and even my fireplace (via Stargate w/ infrared xpander and home voice). Eventually I got married, bought a house, and gave up automating things. Then a couple of years ago I moved again. This time to a house I plan to be in for a long, long time. So, I started looking at automation again, and was suprised to find that all the things I knew about and had used in the past were now obsolete.
Since then, I have spent a lot of time reading on this website and others, researching the various technologies that are now available. I initially looked at Control4 because my builder recommended it and had it in his own home. However, I decided that I'm too much of a tinkerer to lock myself into a closed system that uses a proprietary technology. The house came with an Elk M1 already installed, not for automation but for security with door and motion sensors. So, I figured I would use the M1 and a software based system instead of going the HAI or Hometroller route. I demoed Elve, Homeseer and CQC and read everything I could about them on the forums. I finally concluded that CQC was the best fit for me because it supports the Elk M1, Sonos (which I already have), and looks like it will be around for the long haul. I've purchased a CQC license but have not yet set it up.
The next step for me was to decide on a lighting technology. The only one I was familiar with was X10, which was never very reliable for me. People were just begining to switch over to Insteon from X10 when I last looked at HA. At the time my Stargate didn't support it and so I'd never used it. So, when I began looking into HA again I started by looking at Insteon. From my reading on CocoonTech it became apparent that Insteon had a lot of problems with switches failing etc. So I expanded my research to look at a bunch of things I'd never heard of: UPB, Zwave, Zigbee, Lutron Raidiora2, etc... Now a year later I've finally pulled the trigger on a Lurton Radiora2 system that is being installed in a couple of weeks. It interfaces with the M1, I can control it with CQC, etc...
Once I get CQC up and running and the Radiora2 system installed, I plan to turn my attention to cameras, garage door control, etc...I have tons of questions regarding these things but I think this post is too long already so I'll save them for another day. Thanks in advance to everyone who posts on CocoonTech. I've learned a ton by reading through this website.
Best Regards,
Rich
The condo had a Stargate in it with a dedicated computer running a program called Home Voice. I had a wall mounted microphone in each room and used voice commands to run many tasks via X10. I could control the overhead lighting (X10 Switchlincs), alarm system (Caddx), and even my fireplace (via Stargate w/ infrared xpander and home voice). Eventually I got married, bought a house, and gave up automating things. Then a couple of years ago I moved again. This time to a house I plan to be in for a long, long time. So, I started looking at automation again, and was suprised to find that all the things I knew about and had used in the past were now obsolete.
Since then, I have spent a lot of time reading on this website and others, researching the various technologies that are now available. I initially looked at Control4 because my builder recommended it and had it in his own home. However, I decided that I'm too much of a tinkerer to lock myself into a closed system that uses a proprietary technology. The house came with an Elk M1 already installed, not for automation but for security with door and motion sensors. So, I figured I would use the M1 and a software based system instead of going the HAI or Hometroller route. I demoed Elve, Homeseer and CQC and read everything I could about them on the forums. I finally concluded that CQC was the best fit for me because it supports the Elk M1, Sonos (which I already have), and looks like it will be around for the long haul. I've purchased a CQC license but have not yet set it up.
The next step for me was to decide on a lighting technology. The only one I was familiar with was X10, which was never very reliable for me. People were just begining to switch over to Insteon from X10 when I last looked at HA. At the time my Stargate didn't support it and so I'd never used it. So, when I began looking into HA again I started by looking at Insteon. From my reading on CocoonTech it became apparent that Insteon had a lot of problems with switches failing etc. So I expanded my research to look at a bunch of things I'd never heard of: UPB, Zwave, Zigbee, Lutron Raidiora2, etc... Now a year later I've finally pulled the trigger on a Lurton Radiora2 system that is being installed in a couple of weeks. It interfaces with the M1, I can control it with CQC, etc...
Once I get CQC up and running and the Radiora2 system installed, I plan to turn my attention to cameras, garage door control, etc...I have tons of questions regarding these things but I think this post is too long already so I'll save them for another day. Thanks in advance to everyone who posts on CocoonTech. I've learned a ton by reading through this website.
Best Regards,
Rich
