Home Automation + Whole Home Audio Selection (On a Budget!)

[exatatm]

I am in the process of building a new home and am looking to incorporate the following features:

1) 8-10 Z-wave dimmer or on/off switches (Radioshack Purchase!)
2) 3 Trane Z-wave Thermostats (Another Radioshack deal)
3) 6 Zone Whole-Home Audio
4) 4 Wired IP Cameras
5) Probably a few motion sensors to automate lights, etc

I am working on a tight budget (less than $10K) and can do most of the work myself. I am planning on the following solution. If you have been down this road please challenge and suggest a better possible solution. I greatly appreciate any advice before I embark on this project!

Proposed Solution:
1) MiCasaVerde Vera 2 Z-Wave system (I want iPhone/iPad interface but haven't figured this out yet [Please Help!])
2) Foscam IP Cameras? Any better "affordable choices? (less than apporox $200 per cam?)
3) NUVO Grand Concerto Whole Home Audio- I selected this for my parents home a few years ago and like it. Wish the keypads were hi-res and color. Can this be tied into the Vera 2 interface?

I'm a newbie at this so excuse my ignorance. Thanks again for any help! Justin

 

[johnny]

Hi,

you might have seen this thread already, but it's another post about building a new house with similar components.
http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18530

on top of the suggestions in that thread, i would add the following thoughts.
I would make a big wishlist of all widgets you like, and think about what wiring is needed to accomplish that. you can always change the widgets and use the same wiring later on.

examples of wiring:
Put in security wiring for all entry/exits, first floor windows, and anything else you want.
put in cat5 for security keypads by front door, garage, bedroom and so forth.
if you want outdoor cameras, have IP and/or coax cable drops at the eaves to cover the appropriate sectors.
put ethernet drops in all places that have should have coax and phone lines.
think about what technologies and devices you want (zwave, ip cameras, nuvo audio) and think about the common wiring required for all possible variations.

think about what you want to use for your main hardware controller (Elk, HAI, etc), your software brain (homeseer, elve, CQC, etc) if you want one, and your interfaces for both of them. (mounted touchscreens, keypads, ipods, ipads)

for the IP cameras, i wouldnt buy 4 foscams right away. Id probably play with one to see first.
there's a couple of threads here about IP cameras
http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=17255
http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18204

and try cctvforums for even more information.

i currently reviewing the logitech alert, compro ip540, and generic non megapixel ip camera, and will post some thoughts when i have all of them installed.

 

[tmbrown97]

The Nuvo GC does have the color touchscreen option - but it's pricey; may be worth one or two in key areas.

If you prewire for security (which I strongly suggest), I don't see why you wouldn't wire upstairs windows too - sensors are about $3/each and the advantages are better security as well as energy conservation and more automation control.

For iPhone control, be sure to check out the iOS list on Cocoontech.com - I can't link search results, but I just did a search for micasaverde in the description and it came up with 2 options - I didn't dig in enough though to see how much they can do. This is the most comprehensive list on the net though of home automation iOS apps so if it's there, you should find it.

 

[naething]

Justin,

Have you purchased a vera yet? I bought one about a week and a half ago after some major radioshack z-wave purchases. I am pretty happy with mine, but if you have any questions about it I am happy to answer them.

Did you look into getting any Schlage wired IP cameras from radioshack? They are $25 each, so $40 for two with a $10 off of $40 coupon from Radioshack. I bought two and flashed them with a different firmware, and now they are working great with Vera or directly via their web interface. If you can't find them at a local radio shack you can ask them to have one shipped in from another store. I just did that this week with a trane thermostat. They don't have pan/scan put the price is right - you could get 4 for $80.

How big a deal is cost versus ease of use / installation? I just picked up an x10 interface and some motion sensors. I think this is the cheapest way to add those... the interface (cm15a) was under $20 refurbished, and motion sensors are about $6. There are z-wave sensors though for about $60, and this will be much easier to interface (esp. if you get a vera). I plan on instrumenting anything I can in my house (washer and dryer finished, garage door being open, driveway sensor to detect visitor's cars, etc.) so per sensor price was pretty important to me. Also my budget is much much smaller! The disadvantage is x10 is less reliable (even the wireless modules, you have to tweak them to get good reception), and I am running a separate computer to integrate x10.

Do you need volume control / source control through a wall panel for each audio zone? I am rolling my own system and and I am just going to control audio through a table (ipad or android) and just run speaker wire back to my wiring closet for each zone. I haven't planned it all out yet, but it will have some major limitations versus something like a NuVo system. I'll probably only have two or three sources that can be active at once. The different 'zones' will be completely unique only in volume control. Of course, it is just my wife and I here and we will probably only use one source at a time. The advantage is it will be MUCH cheaper, and it is all I need. Maybe not enough for what you want to do?

-Rick (radengr)

 

[AnotherOne]

you may want to check out these guys for home audio.

http://www.htd.com/