New home - new to automation

[kylerw]

Hi all. I'm new to CocoonTech. I've been reading around and getting familiar and I'm enjoying what is here.

I have been very interested in getting into Home Automation and have been looking into it and researching for a while now. My wife and I are now in the process of buying our first home so I thought now would be a good time to begin planning my 'angle of attack'! Up until recently I thought Insteon would be the way I would go. I liked the affordable options that were available and that it was Powerline and RF. Upon finding CocoonTech, this has been tested slightly and I am now wondering if Z-Wave of UPB (or others) might be a better way to go.

Here is what I am looking to do (albeit, not all at once):
Lighting, HVAC, Door Locks, Security (cameras, motion, etc).

The home is about 3100 sq ft with half currently finished. Is Insteon a good way to go or should I be looking at one of the other protocols? One thing that has be questioning Insteon is the lack of support for Door Locks - Z-Wave on the other hand seems to have similar appliances with support from companies who are entering the market.

What suggestions does everyone have? My budget is currently somewhat limited and I will be piecing it together as I go but I am not against spending a little more to ensure I get a solid system. I know a lot of the decision is personal preference but I'd love some input from the HA gurus!

(as a side note I know may be asked, I have a networking and programming background so I am not afraid of 'getting my hands dirty' to get things working)

Thanks, all!

 

[mustangcoupe]

Ok, first off Welcome....

Continue reading around, there was some lack of quality with insteon but the complaints have settles down so MAYBE they have solved their problems. I personally use UPB. Meshing the different protpcols together can be done with a HA software package. I am in the process of moving also and have actuall no automation hooked up right now. But when back in my new place I will continue with UPB and add Z-wave locks to the mix and gain that flexibility also.

 

[kylerw]

Where can I find UPB devices and more information? I have seen very few negative things said about it but I've had a hard time finding a good variety of devices.

 

[mustangcoupe]

There are a few different manufacturers of UPB... (unlike insteon which there is only one)

I am going to assume you are in the 120/60 Hz power area (north america)

http://simply-automated.com/
http://pulseworx.com/
http://www.automatedliving.com/shop/halam.shtml


http://automatedoutlet.com is a member of the CTVA (cocoontech Vendor alliance) and a well respected retail outlet to purchase hardware from.

 

[kylerw]

How easy is it to have a system that integrates UPB, Insteon and Z-Wave devices?

I notice that a device like HomeSeer will do this, is it possible using an existing computer or less expensive controller?

 

[electron]

The new WebMountain RUC firmware adds support for INSTEON, Z-Wave and supports UPB out of the box. It's a pretty interesting box:

http://www.webmtn.com/RUC/RUC-information.php

Here is a review I did when the unit was first released:

http://www.cocoontech.com/portal/articles/reviews/home-automation/310-review-web-mountain-remote-upb-controller

That said, if you want real power, and are serious about Home Automation, I would take a look at the new HomeTroller SE box, very compact, affordable, and very powerful. If you don't get the PRO version, you will need to buy the UPB plugin, but otherwise, you should be all set.

 

[oberkc]

I use insteon and like it. I have had issues with poor device communication at times, but one can work through them if willing. A lot depends on your price sensitivity. Having said that....

I would start by choosing a controller system. Answer the question whether you are willing to leave on a computer 24/7. If not, you will have to find a stand-alone system (I use the ISY-99). If so, your options are quite varied. Like you, I would definitely value the flexibility of being able to integrate multiple types (insteon, z-wave, upb, etc...).

Once you have identified your controller, pick the other parts that are compatible. You will find folks around here that will speak highly of most of the lighting control protocols, and my suspicion is that you already understand the trade-offs for each (price, performance, device support).

 

[tmbrown97]

Check out my signature for a bit more info on UPB; this is specifically towards SAI's product offering but offers a lot of into.