Tim in AZ building out HA system

[garbled]

Hi, I've been mucking around with home automation on and off for a few years now.  I've finally decided to go whole-hog on it.  I'm custom writing from scratch a UNIX-based HA controller system.
 
 
My current plans:
Lots of 1-wire sensors
Weatherstation
Ip cameras (looking at axis)
ad2usb device to integrate my home security system (honeywell)
insteon switches/outlets
irrigaton caddy
Probably a radio thermostat CT-80
brultech GEM
 
I'm sure there will be more as I go.. Right now I have a few rooms wired with switches, temperature probes, and the alarm.  I'm splitting my time between doing physical installation, and writing the control software.
 
Should be fun!

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

Welcome to CocoonTech.
 
Take a look at the Axis 'light finder' IP camera series as they are very impressive (saw a demo on them at the ISC West show recently).

 

[garbled]

I'm not sure what to go with for cameras yet.  When I built my house, I put up jboxes all around the outside, and to each one, I ran a coax, and a 4-conductor.  In retrospect, I wish I had run ethernet+coax.
 
Given that, I've been thinking about buying normal cameras, and hooking them into one of those axis multi-camera devices that turn normal cameras into axis web cams.
 
Unfortunately, I don't think 4 conductors is enough for motion control + power. But yeah,  that lightfinder camera is really really nice.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

you can certainly run encoders, but I think you will find that this is an expensive option as they are pretty expensive (for good ones) and to get a decent analog cam you will be in the $300 price range (IMO); but, this is a doable option for your wiring situation.  With four conductors you might be able to power both motion sensors and camera on two conductors and have the motion sensor contacts on the other pair (depending on overall current draw of course).
 
The decent encoders have motion detection on the video as well as any PC based recording product.