HOME AUTOMATION BEGINNER

[ALLELECTRIC]

HOPE SOME OF YOU CAN HELP ME OUT. IM TRYING TO DESIGN MY FIRST HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEM THAT CAN CONTROL A WHOLE HOME AUDIO VISUAL SYSTEM,LIGHTING CONTROLS, PC CONTROL, PDA CONTROL,PC CONTROL ,WALL TOUCH SCREEN CONTROL AND VOICE CONTROL.
I ALREADY HAVE A HARMONY 890 AND ARE GOING TO GET SOME Z WAVE SWITCHES. IM THINKING OF GETTING HOMESEER SOFTWARE INSTEAD OF A PRO SEER 1000 SELF CONTAINED UNIT. I KNOW THEIR ARE PLUGINS FOR PDA AND TOUCH PANELS AND WAS WONDERING IF THEY ARE REALLY USER [NOVICE] FRIENDLY. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED THANK YOU ROBERT

 

[Rupp]

Welcome to the Cocoontech board AllElectric. A lot of this information has been covered on the HomeSeer bulletin board especially the info on the Harmony 890 remote. Here's info on the remote.
http://board.homeseer.com/showthread.php?t...ght=harmony+890

As far as touchscreen software goes, there's the free touchpad plugin that is very limited but works OK. There the new Maestro touchscreen interface that is an out of the box paid plugin and then there's MainLobby paid plugin that is the most refined touch screen interface but takes a bit of time to setup.

 

[ano]

To be honest, Homeseer isn't as user-friendly as it should be. I also wouldn't put it in the class of software that you can just get running, and then never touch again for 10 years. If you don't mind jumping in, taking the time to learn it, and using the Homeseer forum to answer your questions, its very flexible software that will probably serve you well, but keep in mind, at any one time, the software will have some bugs. The developers of the software are generally more interested in adding new features than eliminating all bugs, so with ever bug-fix release, its not unusual to get several new bugs. Check out the Homeseer forum to see what I mean.

So, to answer your question, it depends. What are you looking for? Features? Stability? Do you know Visual Basic? Will just you be using it or your family also?

 

[AutomatedOutlet]

Couple of comments about the HomeSeer software (my opinion).

I think that the HomeSeer software really is as complicated as you want to make it. For a beginner, I think it's very intuitive and your really can do a lot of stuff very quickly without any programming ability. I ran my house for several years on HomeSeer without doing ANY custom programming or scripts. Custom programming and scripts are not required to get a lot out of the software.

If you are a programmer at heart, then HomeSeer also gives you more capabilities to enhance your experience. I'm not really much of a programmer and never really had the time to figure a lot of that out. If you do venture that way though, there is a lot of help available to you on this board and also the HomeSeer board.

I would suggest downloading the software (you get a free 30 day trial) and see if it's something you might like.

 

[Rupp]

That's a good point ano but for most users that are looking into HomeAutomation the skills to master HomeSeer are basic.

 

[ano]

HomeSeer has improved much over the years, and its generally not that hard to jump in and use the software. HS 2 has been much more reliable than HS 1, and adds many enhancements that reduce the need to write programs. Certainly you can't go wrong with the demo and trying it out for 30 days. HomeSeer is one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful home automation program made, but its not for everyone. And while programming is not required, having some technical skills are very helpful.

Here is a list of some more to consider. Some are very good. Some, not so good.
http://www.home-automation.org/Software/Windows_and_DOS/

 

[compuguru]

HAL is also very good. A while back I heard the Voice Recgonition in it was better that Homseer's, but I'm not sure how it is now. It's also very user friendly. The only downside is that there aren't quite as many plugins for it.

http://automatedliving.com/default.htm

 

[ano]

I also would recommend you look at HAL 2000. Less features than Homeseer, but more of a full "product."

 

[68sting]

Hello

I'm also a beginner and don't have a lot of computer skills. I didn't know what a script was, how to write it, or where it goes(still don't). I didn't know how to open up ports or much of anything. I did purchase Homeseer a month ago and have slowly been going thought the tutorials, forum, knowledge base, ect.. I'm slowly figuring it out. I got the server working so I can access it from work, I got the webcam plug in mostly working (takes snap shots but no streaming yet), I have my z-wave thermostat working and running an event to cycle the fan for 10min. every 60min., I have some voice recognition working along with the answering machine emailing messages, it gets me the weather and other cool things. It controls my z wave switches fine also. I wouldn't call it easy. I have spent a fair amount of time learning and that will continue for a while.

If you ever wondered what it would be like if HA went main stream I'm your answer. Your average consumer who picked up some zwave switches(never heard of zwave before) at Lowes six months ago and here I am today. I'm not sure HA will every be main stream as far as the software goes. It has to be complex to handle the many variables that exist. I think Homeseer is sick of getting help desk tickets from me already. Imagine if a bunch of average Joes started buying there package. The customer support would go through the roof. On a hardware level I think will take off. You can install the switches and program them into the remote in a day and be done. In fact if it wasn't for price my neighbors would have some zwave switches already.

I'm hoping that once I get it all set up I can walk away and have low maintenance reliable automated home. Because of that belief(leave me in denial please) I'm willing to put the work in. Most people would not.

 

[fitzpatri8]

I know what you mean about getting automation to the point where average people can and will use them. There is a fine line between a "smart" home and a codependent one.

One of my goals for the house is to give it intelligence, to give it the ability to think, adapt and fend for itself and its occupants, all the while retaining 'intuitive' function. This means light switches that always go up for on, down for off; integrating standard controls with the centralized ones so that a guest can adjust the thermostat at the thermostat or the alarm clock at the clock rather than having to know to turn on a computer or tv interface; voice recognition without training; voice announcements to notify and confirm events taking place out of view; and built-in help for voice-activated features. To maintain SAF, multi-button controls should maintain a consistent scheme throughout the home. Controls shouldn't change often, as that's about as appealing as having all the furniture rearranged each time you come home.

Most current software models operate based on a limited set of rules that the program dutifully evaluates and acts upon. True progress won't come until automation software ships that has more brain-like organization and some intuitive knowledge about life-threatening events built-in. (I.E. the fire or CO2 alarm should alert the fire department; no matter the thermostat setting, the house should never be allowed to freeze; seeing someone fall inside the house should cause it to ask if medical help is necessary, etc.)

Rather than force the user to plod through a set of brain-stem level activities, users should be free to deal in higher-level functions, to review Trigger Events and Priorities, then easily set Notifications or Actions unique to their circumstances. I'm hoping that HAL 2020 will have the 'vision' to implement such a plan. <_<

Tom

 

[ano]

One part of Home Automation that isn't first apparent to those that haven't fully completed a project is how complex, and expensive even rather simple home automation can be. Switches may seem cheap, maybe $50 each, but then you realize you need 45 of them, and a PC adaptor, and filters, bridges, etc. But wait, switches don't do much by themselves, you need motion sensors, and then a way to process all this info. One thing leads to another, and when you are done, you couldn't have imagined how much work is involved. You need some UI, telephone interfaces, then maybe speakers and mics. What about wiring, cameras, thermostats.

People that see my house always start by asking me the same question. "Why don't you set up a business to install these in other people's houses? You could make lots of money." Then I think about it and answer, "No, I would lose a lot of money." When you think of how much time it takes to customize the software to each house and situation, there is no way that anyone would pay enough money for all my time. There is no one piece of software that could ever fit everyone's lifestyle.

True progress won't come until automation software ships that has more brain-like organization and some intuitive knowledge about life-threatening events built-in. (I.E. the fire or CO2 alarm should alert the fire department; no matter the thermostat setting, the house should never be allowed to freeze; seeing someone fall inside the house should cause it to ask if medical help is necessary, etc.)

O.K. lets think about this for a second. Lets say this master brain software exists, and you can buy it today for $99 at Best Buy. the fire or CO2 alarm should alert the fire department O.K. How will your PC know there is a fire. Takes a network of smoke detectors, and a security system. seeing someone fall inside the house should cause it to ask if medical help is necessary Last I checked, my PC didn't have eyes. If it did, how could it see in rooms it wasn't in? Were now talking about network cameras in each room of the house. Better get out the credit card.

Even rather simple tasks can get pretty expensive fast, which most don't realize until they attempt to make their visions a reality.

 

[fitzpatri8]

O.K. lets think about this for a second. Lets say this master brain software exists, and you can buy it today for $99 at Best Buy. the fire or CO2 alarm should alert the fire department O.K. How will your PC know there is a fire. Takes a network of smoke detectors, and a security system. seeing someone fall inside the house should cause it to ask if medical help is necessary Last I checked, my PC didn't have eyes. If it did, how could it see in rooms it wasn't in? Were now talking about network cameras in each room of the house. Better get out the credit card.

Even rather simple tasks can get pretty expensive fast, which most don't realize until they attempt to make their visions a reality.

Of course you are right. That's why lots of innovations never take off. Why, look at auto air bags, anti-lock brakes and automatic traction control. Or household smoke detectors. Or TVs, for that matter. All just too expensive. Who needs talking pictures, I say! My tube radio does just fine!

(Sorry, couldn't help it. You get my point, though. Technology improves, patents expire, efficiencies of scale take over, and suddenly products only the rich could afford become everyday necessities.)

Tom