Simple, reliable, Linux-friendly HA solution - recommendations?

[AndrewGHo]

I'm looking to set up a simple, reliable home automation system with the following properties:

1. Has plug-in lamp/appliance modules for quick setup/prototyping, as well as outlets and wired switches for a permanent install. I need to switch both dimmable incandescents and the occasional low-voltage halogen. We have a lot of independent lamps, so I'd like for wired switches to be able to control both an existing switched outlet, plus other devices in non-switched outlets.
2. Not overly sensitive to noisy powerline/phase differences. I have a ton of GFCIs and surge suppressors in my house, and several computer power supplies. Getting X10 to work reliably is a nightmare.
3. Has a simple, small, remote control. Ideally just a few on/off/dim buttons. The old X10 credit card remote control is an excellent form factor.
4. Controllable from a headless Linux server (no X11), without any third party service on the Internet involved. I want to be able to issue commands from the command line, and via cron jobs. I'm not very interested in scenes; I just want to able to use cron jobs for a timer when I'm on vacation. I don't like the idea of an third-party Internet based service having to be up and reachable to use my system, and for a web/iPhone interface, I already have a home Linux server and I'd probably just write my own. I'd be comfortable programming a serial or telnet based interface if necessary.

Things I don't really need:

• Security camera integration, or any home security/alarm stuff (I have separate IP cameras already)
• Scenes, A/V control (scenes are okay, but generally "remember dim level" is enough for me)

In a previous house, I used X10 plug-in modules, a couple X10 credit card remotes, and a Firecracker serial interface, with BottleRocket. This was simple, but not very reliable (you'd have to press "on" or "off" a couple times to get things to work, maybe if the dryer was on, nothing would work). In my new house, X10 signaling doesn't seem to work very well at all, even with a phase coupler and a couple filters. I like the simple X10 model (fixed codes, command line interface, no Internet), but want to use a modern, more reliable alternative.

Reading through various websites it seems like Insteon, Z-wave, and UPB are not very well supported in Linux, but those website are also a couple years old. Can anybody give (or point me at) some more recent perspectives?

 

[tmbrown97]

The link in my signature has a lot about UPB... it works great in my home where X10 never would. I also use a W800RF32 to bridge those cheap X10 remotes so they work with UPB... That passes through a computer or controller; alternatively they have a device that'll directly bridge X10 and UPB so you can get those cheap remotes.

If you're fine with command line I'm sure you could figure out the ascii strings to send out via serial, or the Web Mountain RUC might have some flexibility for integrating via IP.

 

[fwd03]

I'm looking to set up a simple, reliable home automation system with the following properties:

1. Has plug-in lamp/appliance modules for quick setup/prototyping, as well as outlets and wired switches for a permanent install. I need to switch both dimmable incandescents and the occasional low-voltage halogen. We have a lot of independent lamps, so I'd like for wired switches to be able to control both an existing switched outlet, plus other devices in non-switched outlets.
2. Not overly sensitive to noisy powerline/phase differences. I have a ton of GFCIs and surge suppressors in my house, and several computer power supplies. Getting X10 to work reliably is a nightmare.
3. Has a simple, small, remote control. Ideally just a few on/off/dim buttons. The old X10 credit card remote control is an excellent form factor.
4. Controllable from a headless Linux server (no X11), without any third party service on the Internet involved. I want to be able to issue commands from the command line, and via cron jobs. I'm not very interested in scenes; I just want to able to use cron jobs for a timer when I'm on vacation. I don't like the idea of an third-party Internet based service having to be up and reachable to use my system, and for a web/iPhone interface, I already have a home Linux server and I'd probably just write my own. I'd be comfortable programming a serial or telnet based interface if necessary.

Things I don't really need:

• Security camera integration, or any home security/alarm stuff (I have separate IP cameras already)
• Scenes, A/V control (scenes are okay, but generally "remember dim level" is enough for me)

In a previous house, I used X10 plug-in modules, a couple X10 credit card remotes, and a Firecracker serial interface, with BottleRocket. This was simple, but not very reliable (you'd have to press "on" or "off" a couple times to get things to work, maybe if the dryer was on, nothing would work). In my new house, X10 signaling doesn't seem to work very well at all, even with a phase coupler and a couple filters. I like the simple X10 model (fixed codes, command line interface, no Internet), but want to use a modern, more reliable alternative.

Reading through various websites it seems like Insteon, Z-wave, and UPB are not very well supported in Linux, but those website are also a couple years old. Can anybody give (or point me at) some more recent perspectives?

What about WebControl from CAI, their new PLC firmware support X10. But you have to do some minor modification to the X10 firecracker as the 310Mhz transmitter. UPB has X10 transmitter build in, But WebControl does not have it build-in.

 

[etc6849]

If you're constrained to Linux, MisterHouse might be a good option. It's opensource and free too.

If you want a windows solution that's easier to use, you could explore Motorola Premise which is also free.