Which automation platform to choose?

[pgtownsyou]

Hello everyone,

I am looking to jump into the home automation scene and am wondering which kind of system to go with. I am new to home automation, but I work with industrial automation on a daily basis so I understand how some of this works.

I just moved into a small new construction home with an unfinished basement, so I would like to start by automating the basement (hopefully hardwired components?) which I am working on finishing - with dimming lights, controllable window coverings, and perhaps audio and video controls for the family/media room. I would later like to extend my control to the main level such as garage door control and status, front door locks, thermostat, etc. I would like to be able to control all this from an android phone/tablet.

I am a DIYer and am pretty tech savvy. I'm not looking to get in too deep budget wise, as finishing the basement itself is going to set me back pretty good.

Which system do you think would be right for me? Let me know if there are any other important aspects that I am leaving out about my desired setup.

Thanks!

 

[N49atv]

HAI, if you can get a neutral wire to each switch.

I'm in the same boat and plan to go with the following;

- HAI Omnipro II for security, lighting, hvac, etc

- HTD Lync 12 for whole house Audio

- HDanywhere for distributed video

 

[tmbrown97]

There's a million ways to skin this cat - I'd recommend just searching and reading the heck out of these forums, as these questions have been asked hundreds of times, and honestly, the answer isn't so easy - you need to do a lot of research and see what appeals to you most.
 
There are so many pieces - security, lighting, HVAC, automation controller, etc.  Lighting alone- there's UPB, Z-Wave, RadioRA, Insteon, etc;
Automation, there's hardware or software; Hardware, there's MiCasaVerde, HAI OmniPro, Elk; Software, there's Premise, CQC, and others (I'm blanking right now).
 
From there, the rest are bolt-ons and once you start deciding on hardware and lighting, the rest of the pieces start to fall into place quickly.  For instance, I went with the Elk M1 for my security/automation controller, so after that, the rest came easier - because I was able to look at what lighting, HVAC, etc - products worked with it. 

 

[EDP]

HAI, if you can get a neutral wire to each switch.

I'm in the same boat and plan to go with the following;

- HAI Omnipro II for security, lighting, hvac, etc

- HTD Lync 12 for whole house Audio

- HDanywhere for distributed video

N49atv - I'm looking at whole house Audio systems currently and I'm curious as to why you chose the HTC Lync 12 rather than going with the Hi-Fi 2 from HAI?  Thanks

 

[neillt]

I am very preferential to HAI with a MacMini somewhere running HaikuHelper, there really isn't much you can't do with the two of them.
 
UPB is great for lighting control with a lot of flexibility on what every switch or keypad does.  Since you have a new home, the requirement for neutrals in every box won't be a problem.  If you had the cash, and were willing to subject yourself to Lutron training online, you could get RadioRA2 for lighting and shade control.