I am starting the home automation process again after attempting it unsuccessfully with X-10 years ago. I am trying to determine what is the best software to use. I have looked at Homeseer, CQC, Elve, and mcontrol?
Initially I was going to go with Homeseer but the price is hard for me to swallow for everything I want to be able to do. I am not sure about CQC or Elve because it looks like you have to do a lot of work with interface design. I do not mind so much the programming piece, I work in computer field and have writen scripts before, but not good at design.
I started buying equipment thinking I was going to go with homeseer but wanted to know if either CQC or Elve would be a better option. I have been through homeseers forums and some users have complained about its reliability.
Some of the equipment I have bought so far is 2 z-wave light switches (evolve and jasco), aeon mulitfunction sensor (motion, temp, humidity, lux), cache wifi rfid extender, z-wave electrical outlet, brultech energy monitor, and a aeon z-stick 2 to control the z-wave devices. I would like to be able to use all the equipment I have purchased but if z-stick does not work with the CQC or elve and they are the better option I can switch controllers.
What I am looking to do is below:
1. Control lights in house based on different events (time of day, motion in room, door open, etc)
2. Control/monitor thermostat ( will eventually purchase a z-wave unit)
3. Integrate home IP cameras into system to view recorded events as well as live video.
4. Control entertainment system components
5. Setup whole home audio long term
6. Sense garage door open/close and control garage door.
7. Monitor home power usage.
8. Control electrical loads based on power readings (i.e turn of water heater, A/C unit, etc)
9. Ability to control all this via Iphone and android devices.
10. Possible plug into XBMC, chromecast, streaming audio, Sirrius online stream, pandora, netflix possibly.
Would like to mount android device in area and stream video content to it and then stop and control equipment if needed. Figured I would setup an old laptop or fanless computer to run all this.
Thanks for any information provided.
Initially I was going to go with Homeseer but the price is hard for me to swallow for everything I want to be able to do. I am not sure about CQC or Elve because it looks like you have to do a lot of work with interface design. I do not mind so much the programming piece, I work in computer field and have writen scripts before, but not good at design.
I started buying equipment thinking I was going to go with homeseer but wanted to know if either CQC or Elve would be a better option. I have been through homeseers forums and some users have complained about its reliability.
Some of the equipment I have bought so far is 2 z-wave light switches (evolve and jasco), aeon mulitfunction sensor (motion, temp, humidity, lux), cache wifi rfid extender, z-wave electrical outlet, brultech energy monitor, and a aeon z-stick 2 to control the z-wave devices. I would like to be able to use all the equipment I have purchased but if z-stick does not work with the CQC or elve and they are the better option I can switch controllers.
What I am looking to do is below:
1. Control lights in house based on different events (time of day, motion in room, door open, etc)
2. Control/monitor thermostat ( will eventually purchase a z-wave unit)
3. Integrate home IP cameras into system to view recorded events as well as live video.
4. Control entertainment system components
5. Setup whole home audio long term
6. Sense garage door open/close and control garage door.
7. Monitor home power usage.
8. Control electrical loads based on power readings (i.e turn of water heater, A/C unit, etc)
9. Ability to control all this via Iphone and android devices.
10. Possible plug into XBMC, chromecast, streaming audio, Sirrius online stream, pandora, netflix possibly.
Would like to mount android device in area and stream video content to it and then stop and control equipment if needed. Figured I would setup an old laptop or fanless computer to run all this.
Thanks for any information provided.