johnnynine
Active Member
Hello, this is my first post.
I have enjoyed a lot of articles on this site and have learned a lot but still feel I am in over my head. I know there is not just one solution but am hoping some people could be kind enough to help point me in the right direction.
I am building a new home and have decided on a few things and feel I need some help with the rest of the components.
Components I know I'll have:
Insteon Light switches and outlets
Caddx Security (Home builder only offers GE security)
Elk M1 Gold
Whole house speakers (via home theater system, not really a whole house audio solution)
Greyfox cat5 intercom system
Tivo
Coax In/Out at all tv's
Logitech Harmony 880 remote control
Whole house speaker jacks will be located at home theater equipment.
Wiring Summary:
4x22awg to each thermostat
1 cat5 to each each volume control
2 cat5e and 2 coax to each bedroom
3 coax and 3 cat5e to home theater
4 coax to satellite dish
All windows and doors for security
motion sensor(s)
cat5 to each security keypad
Whole house speaker wire from home theater
12 gauge to 7.1 home theater speakers
Intercom to each bedroom, front door, patio, and master bath.
4x22awg and 1 coax to each security camera.
Wiring Detail:
Great Room
3 Klipsch 5650 in ceiling speakers for rear surround sound (12 gauge wire)
2 subwoofer ports are both rear corners at electrical port height
2 front speaker ports at both front corners (12 gauge wire) at electrical port height
1 cat6, 2 cat5, 1 100v, 1 coax to projector
1 v110 to projector screen
Study
Volume Control
2 Klipsch 2650 in ceiling speakers
2 Coax
2 Cat5e
1 Cat5 to volume control (no plugs)
Front Door
Intercom
Garage
Wall phone port
1 Cat5 to each garage door
1 Cat5 to irrigation controller
Laundry Room
Security keypad
1 Cat5 from security keypad to security panel (no plugs)
1 Cat5 to smoke detector (no plugs)
Patio
Volume Control
2 Klipsch 2650 in ceiling speakers
Intercom
1 Coax at 8'
1 Cat5 to volume control (no plugs)
Kitchen
Intercom (main)
Thermostat
4 22 gauge wires from thermostat to security panel (no plugs)
Master Bedroom
Volume Control
2 Klipsch 2650 in ceiling speakers
Intercom
2 Coax
2 Cat5e (one at bed)
1 Cat5 to volume control (no plugs)
Master Bath
Intercom
Upstairs Hall
Volume Control
2 Klipsch 2650 in ceiling speakers
1 Cat5 from security keypad to security panel (no plugs)
Thermostat
4 22 gauge wires from security keypad to security panel (no plugs)
1 Cat5 to volume control (no plugs)
Bedrooms (1, 2 & 3)
Intercom
2 Coax
2 Cat5e
Roof
4 coax from satellite dish to structured wiring box
Here is a basic list of things I would like to do with the system:
Voice Notifications
I would like text to speech and wav file support. This will be either integrated either through whole house speakers or a Greyfox intercom system(if possible).
Caller ID and morning weather announcements would be nice too.
Email Notifications
I want to know if the alarm is triggered and possibly other things.
Caller ID
I would like to have a voice announcement of who is calling.
Timers and Events
I want to set some lights according to timers and and events.
Adjust HVAC
Web Access
I want to be able to access my system from any pc in the house and from work.
Security System Integration
I want to cut off power to the toaster, etc when the alarm system is armed.
Email me when the alarm is triggered.
Turn lights at night when walking into a room, etc.
Elegant control screens via a pc monitor or tv.
I may have a dedicated pc monitor at some point, and may redistribute the video through all tvs.
IR
Not real sure how much of this I will do but I will want it available at some point.
Voice Activated Commands
This is probably the lowest priority item, but at some point I may add open air microphones.
Where I need a helping hand:
I am very confused about the capabilities and supported integration between many of the most popular home automation software and hardware packages. I know many of these things can be accomplished with Homeseer and CQC, although I'm not really sure what the difference is. Will CQC do most everything that Homeseer does plus customizable control screens? From what I have read it seems like CQC is kind of like a combination of MainLobby and Homeseer?
I know the Elk M1 system is popular here, but since my home builder will only prewire security if I use one of their alarm system's (GE products) (Caddx) I probably am not willing to pay for the Elk M1 when I wouldn't be using the security portion of it, unless someone has a good argument to do so.
At this point I am not sure if there is a hardware solution that will do everything I want. And if there isn't than perhaps I should get a software solution(s) that do it all to keep the cost down? I am also a software developer, so scripting is not a problem for me, but I don't want to be spending all my time on this.
I'll also need to decide how I want to connect the structured wiring and security in-wall box (laundry room) with the home theater and whole house speakers (living room). If I use a software solution, I'll place the computer with the home theater since that is where the whole house audio speaker jacks are located, and might even play with something like Meedio or other tivo like interfaces for fun.
I am budget minded so I don't want to pay for the very top end hardware products, especially if I can buy software that will do most everything I want.
Any help or comments are apprciated, thanks.
Johnny
Edit: updated some wiring

I am building a new home and have decided on a few things and feel I need some help with the rest of the components.
Components I know I'll have:
Insteon Light switches and outlets
Elk M1 Gold
Whole house speakers (via home theater system, not really a whole house audio solution)
Greyfox cat5 intercom system
Tivo
Coax In/Out at all tv's
Logitech Harmony 880 remote control
Whole house speaker jacks will be located at home theater equipment.
Wiring Summary:
4x22awg to each thermostat
1 cat5 to each each volume control
2 cat5e and 2 coax to each bedroom
3 coax and 3 cat5e to home theater
4 coax to satellite dish
All windows and doors for security
motion sensor(s)
cat5 to each security keypad
Whole house speaker wire from home theater
12 gauge to 7.1 home theater speakers
Intercom to each bedroom, front door, patio, and master bath.
4x22awg and 1 coax to each security camera.
Wiring Detail:
Great Room
3 Klipsch 5650 in ceiling speakers for rear surround sound (12 gauge wire)
2 subwoofer ports are both rear corners at electrical port height
2 front speaker ports at both front corners (12 gauge wire) at electrical port height
1 cat6, 2 cat5, 1 100v, 1 coax to projector
1 v110 to projector screen
Study
Volume Control
2 Klipsch 2650 in ceiling speakers
2 Coax
2 Cat5e
1 Cat5 to volume control (no plugs)
Front Door
Intercom
Garage
Wall phone port
1 Cat5 to each garage door
1 Cat5 to irrigation controller
Laundry Room
Security keypad
1 Cat5 from security keypad to security panel (no plugs)
1 Cat5 to smoke detector (no plugs)
Patio
Volume Control
2 Klipsch 2650 in ceiling speakers
Intercom
1 Coax at 8'
1 Cat5 to volume control (no plugs)
Kitchen
Intercom (main)
Thermostat
4 22 gauge wires from thermostat to security panel (no plugs)
Master Bedroom
Volume Control
2 Klipsch 2650 in ceiling speakers
Intercom
2 Coax
2 Cat5e (one at bed)
1 Cat5 to volume control (no plugs)
Master Bath
Intercom
Upstairs Hall
Volume Control
2 Klipsch 2650 in ceiling speakers
1 Cat5 from security keypad to security panel (no plugs)
Thermostat
4 22 gauge wires from security keypad to security panel (no plugs)
1 Cat5 to volume control (no plugs)
Bedrooms (1, 2 & 3)
Intercom
2 Coax
2 Cat5e
Roof
4 coax from satellite dish to structured wiring box
Here is a basic list of things I would like to do with the system:
Voice Notifications
I would like text to speech and wav file support. This will be either integrated either through whole house speakers or a Greyfox intercom system(if possible).
Caller ID and morning weather announcements would be nice too.
Email Notifications
I want to know if the alarm is triggered and possibly other things.
Caller ID
I would like to have a voice announcement of who is calling.
Timers and Events
I want to set some lights according to timers and and events.
Adjust HVAC
Web Access
I want to be able to access my system from any pc in the house and from work.
Security System Integration
I want to cut off power to the toaster, etc when the alarm system is armed.
Email me when the alarm is triggered.
Turn lights at night when walking into a room, etc.
Elegant control screens via a pc monitor or tv.
I may have a dedicated pc monitor at some point, and may redistribute the video through all tvs.
IR
Not real sure how much of this I will do but I will want it available at some point.
Voice Activated Commands
This is probably the lowest priority item, but at some point I may add open air microphones.
Where I need a helping hand:
I am very confused about the capabilities and supported integration between many of the most popular home automation software and hardware packages. I know many of these things can be accomplished with Homeseer and CQC, although I'm not really sure what the difference is. Will CQC do most everything that Homeseer does plus customizable control screens? From what I have read it seems like CQC is kind of like a combination of MainLobby and Homeseer?
I know the Elk M1 system is popular here, but since my home builder will only prewire security if I use one of their alarm system's (GE products) (Caddx) I probably am not willing to pay for the Elk M1 when I wouldn't be using the security portion of it, unless someone has a good argument to do so.
At this point I am not sure if there is a hardware solution that will do everything I want. And if there isn't than perhaps I should get a software solution(s) that do it all to keep the cost down? I am also a software developer, so scripting is not a problem for me, but I don't want to be spending all my time on this.
I'll also need to decide how I want to connect the structured wiring and security in-wall box (laundry room) with the home theater and whole house speakers (living room). If I use a software solution, I'll place the computer with the home theater since that is where the whole house audio speaker jacks are located, and might even play with something like Meedio or other tivo like interfaces for fun.
I am budget minded so I don't want to pay for the very top end hardware products, especially if I can buy software that will do most everything I want.
Any help or comments are apprciated, thanks.
Johnny
Edit: updated some wiring