upstatemike
Senior Member
Based on the discussion on hardware consolidation I have been pondering what it would take to define a Plug-and-Play home automation system that could be dropped into most situations and provide most of the core functionality required. This platform could be tweaked as needed for each individual situation while still providing a common hardware/software base that could be standardized enough to be supportable across a large customer base. The consolidation discussion did not go the way I had expected, primarily due to compatibility issues that arise when a single PC is loaded with too much stuff plus the current trend of application writers to create “distributed†products that assume the availability of many PCs or computing appliances within the HA environment. This drove me to a “standard†platform that looks something like this:
Field wiring will terminate in 3 structured wiring boxes. Box 1 is for cat-5 cables terminated on patch panels. Box 2 is for heavier wire such as speaker wires and fire/security wire terminated on terminal strips. The third box is for coax cables terminated on F or BNC patch panels.
The Plug-and-Play automation system will be mounted in 2 racks; the Control Rack and the Media Rack. These will be pre-configured off-site and just dropped into place in the automation closet and connected to the structured wiring boxes, and each other, via some big umbilical cables.
The Control Rack will contain:
1 Automation server running CQC, Homeseer, MainLobby, PowerHome, HAL, ECS, or Adaptive Home Logic. (or some combination). Along with any connector programs such as VWS, starCOM, xAP/xPL hubs, etc.
1 Media PC containing a PVR, Audio Server, Photo Repository etc. plus all supporting software required to interface these systems with the automation server and human interfaces such as touch screen PCs. This could be running MCE, another instance of CQC, or some other alternative.
1 Camera server which handles multiple camera feeds, recording and playback of those feeds, and provides a browser interface for remote viewing, etc.
1 or More Zone/Extender PCs to drive local touch screens; provide distributed TTS and VR services, and to act as MCE extenders (or similar function with MCE alternatives).
1 Broadband Modem.
1 Router.
1 or More 24 port hubs.
1 Panasonic KXTA824 (or similar) Telephone System
1 Panasonic KXTVA50 (or similar) Voicemail Processor.
1 Elk M1 (or similar) Security panel.
Any required interface devices such as serial hubs, weather station interfaces, 1-wire adaptors, etc.
The Media Rack will contain:
1 or More Nuvo or Russound multi-zone music systems.
1 or More supplemental amplifiers
1 or More Cable and/or Satellite receivers
1 or More DVD changers
1 or More FM and/or XM and/or Sirius tuners
Any requested legacy components that can be controlled remotely and act as system sources: Cassette, Mini Disc, Laser Disc, CED, VHS, Beta, Hi-8, Reel-to-Reel, etc. (Probably not Turntables, 8-Tracks, EL Cassettes, and the like).
1 or More Video modulators
1 or More VGA to S-Video converters
1 or More Camera power supplies
Any required Audio EQ or Video processors (PAL to NTSC converters and such)
Any required mixers and audio processors needed to connect Open Air Voice Recognition microphones.
1 or more UPS or Power conditioning devices as needed to support both racks.
I think this would cover all the core functionality... did I miss anything?
Field wiring will terminate in 3 structured wiring boxes. Box 1 is for cat-5 cables terminated on patch panels. Box 2 is for heavier wire such as speaker wires and fire/security wire terminated on terminal strips. The third box is for coax cables terminated on F or BNC patch panels.
The Plug-and-Play automation system will be mounted in 2 racks; the Control Rack and the Media Rack. These will be pre-configured off-site and just dropped into place in the automation closet and connected to the structured wiring boxes, and each other, via some big umbilical cables.
The Control Rack will contain:
1 Automation server running CQC, Homeseer, MainLobby, PowerHome, HAL, ECS, or Adaptive Home Logic. (or some combination). Along with any connector programs such as VWS, starCOM, xAP/xPL hubs, etc.
1 Media PC containing a PVR, Audio Server, Photo Repository etc. plus all supporting software required to interface these systems with the automation server and human interfaces such as touch screen PCs. This could be running MCE, another instance of CQC, or some other alternative.
1 Camera server which handles multiple camera feeds, recording and playback of those feeds, and provides a browser interface for remote viewing, etc.
1 or More Zone/Extender PCs to drive local touch screens; provide distributed TTS and VR services, and to act as MCE extenders (or similar function with MCE alternatives).
1 Broadband Modem.
1 Router.
1 or More 24 port hubs.
1 Panasonic KXTA824 (or similar) Telephone System
1 Panasonic KXTVA50 (or similar) Voicemail Processor.
1 Elk M1 (or similar) Security panel.
Any required interface devices such as serial hubs, weather station interfaces, 1-wire adaptors, etc.
The Media Rack will contain:
1 or More Nuvo or Russound multi-zone music systems.
1 or More supplemental amplifiers
1 or More Cable and/or Satellite receivers
1 or More DVD changers
1 or More FM and/or XM and/or Sirius tuners
Any requested legacy components that can be controlled remotely and act as system sources: Cassette, Mini Disc, Laser Disc, CED, VHS, Beta, Hi-8, Reel-to-Reel, etc. (Probably not Turntables, 8-Tracks, EL Cassettes, and the like).
1 or More Video modulators
1 or More VGA to S-Video converters
1 or More Camera power supplies
Any required Audio EQ or Video processors (PAL to NTSC converters and such)
Any required mixers and audio processors needed to connect Open Air Voice Recognition microphones.
1 or more UPS or Power conditioning devices as needed to support both racks.
I think this would cover all the core functionality... did I miss anything?