I am looking to install my first "Home Automation" system. I just want to start off with some basics, and then expand as my needs and my bank account allow.
Because I travel every week for work (by airplane, so I'm not exactly close to home), I would like to start off with the ability to monitor/control my door lock. Monitor/control my garage door, and monitor/control my thermostat. And I would like to do all of that remotely via the Internet. Those are the things I would like to do ASAP.
Then, sometime down the line, I would like to integrate with my home security system. (My house is brand new and came with a very basic security system installed) I don't know if I will need to replace my security system with something that capable of interacting with the HA system or what. Then I'd like to get into lighting, centralized A/V, and some of the other really cool things that HA systems can do, but I really can't think of right at this moment.
So, to try to accomplish the things at the top of my priority list as quickly as possible, I have been looking at systems based on Z-Wave, Insteon, and UPB, and haven't been able to decide which one to go with. But then I see Zigbee, which looks really promising, but what's the deal with them? It doesn't seem that you can buy anything that uses the Zigbee technology.
But, then I see these control panels from HAI, ELK, ISY?, and others. And I'm wondering how these fit into the seemingly simple systems like the I-Link.
So, like I said, I'm lost.
Can someone point me to the correct starting point, or maybe give me an overview of how all the systems work together? Should I keep looking into one of these package systems based on Z-Wave or Insteon, or should I start looking into something from HAI or ELK and adding on from there? Which protocol(s) do these HAI and ELK systems use? Is one better than the other? Is there one that I should stay away from? Once I pick one, am I stuck with that one protocol, or do the co-mingle?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you
Bimmer
Because I travel every week for work (by airplane, so I'm not exactly close to home), I would like to start off with the ability to monitor/control my door lock. Monitor/control my garage door, and monitor/control my thermostat. And I would like to do all of that remotely via the Internet. Those are the things I would like to do ASAP.
Then, sometime down the line, I would like to integrate with my home security system. (My house is brand new and came with a very basic security system installed) I don't know if I will need to replace my security system with something that capable of interacting with the HA system or what. Then I'd like to get into lighting, centralized A/V, and some of the other really cool things that HA systems can do, but I really can't think of right at this moment.
So, to try to accomplish the things at the top of my priority list as quickly as possible, I have been looking at systems based on Z-Wave, Insteon, and UPB, and haven't been able to decide which one to go with. But then I see Zigbee, which looks really promising, but what's the deal with them? It doesn't seem that you can buy anything that uses the Zigbee technology.
But, then I see these control panels from HAI, ELK, ISY?, and others. And I'm wondering how these fit into the seemingly simple systems like the I-Link.
So, like I said, I'm lost.
Can someone point me to the correct starting point, or maybe give me an overview of how all the systems work together? Should I keep looking into one of these package systems based on Z-Wave or Insteon, or should I start looking into something from HAI or ELK and adding on from there? Which protocol(s) do these HAI and ELK systems use? Is one better than the other? Is there one that I should stay away from? Once I pick one, am I stuck with that one protocol, or do the co-mingle?Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you
Bimmer
