I'm starting on building a homebrew Linux HA controller, based on the TS-7400 from Technologic Systems. I'll be writing my own code, which seems to be a problem when it comes to using some HA systems.
It looks like Z-Wave requires one to buy their development kit for a few thousand dollars if one simply wants to learn how to talk to a serial-to-Z-Wave controller. I know that ControlThink has a ZWave SDK for under $100, but it's for Windows, and I think I'd have trouble getting it to work on a ARM-based Linux system.
Insteon also seems to require the purchase of a development kit, but theirs is only ~$200. That still seems a bit excessive to me.
There is plenty of info freely available for interfacing to X-10, but I don't really want to go there. I want something that will work.
I haven't looked very closely at UPB, every time I try I get scared off by the prices. I've at least seen that the UPB Powerline Interface Module seems to have a well documented interface. But I'm not sure I'm ready to pay $75+ per switch. By the time I buy all my hardware, I might as well have bought a developer's kit from Z-Wave!
One thing I have seen that looks usable is the EZBridge from SimpleHomeNet, which provides a documented interface to Insteon. But it costs as much as the Insteon Developer's Kit by the time you've bought the PLM that you need to use it. Plus I don't really need an Ethernet bridge, I just need a USB or serial controller that I can talk to. Does anyone know if the Insteon PLM will have documentation freely available?
I wish there was something similar to the EZBridge that worked for Z-Wave. Interface issues aside, I'm leaning a lot towards Z-Wave. I like Insteon's technology, but I've been reading the SmartHome forums since October (when I bought my house), and I'm not very encouraged by the lack of, well... movement. I'd feel a lot better buying Z-Wave at this point, but I'm without a way to talk to it.
Anyone have any ideas/advice?
Thanks,
Keith
It looks like Z-Wave requires one to buy their development kit for a few thousand dollars if one simply wants to learn how to talk to a serial-to-Z-Wave controller. I know that ControlThink has a ZWave SDK for under $100, but it's for Windows, and I think I'd have trouble getting it to work on a ARM-based Linux system.
Insteon also seems to require the purchase of a development kit, but theirs is only ~$200. That still seems a bit excessive to me.
There is plenty of info freely available for interfacing to X-10, but I don't really want to go there. I want something that will work.
I haven't looked very closely at UPB, every time I try I get scared off by the prices. I've at least seen that the UPB Powerline Interface Module seems to have a well documented interface. But I'm not sure I'm ready to pay $75+ per switch. By the time I buy all my hardware, I might as well have bought a developer's kit from Z-Wave!
One thing I have seen that looks usable is the EZBridge from SimpleHomeNet, which provides a documented interface to Insteon. But it costs as much as the Insteon Developer's Kit by the time you've bought the PLM that you need to use it. Plus I don't really need an Ethernet bridge, I just need a USB or serial controller that I can talk to. Does anyone know if the Insteon PLM will have documentation freely available?
I wish there was something similar to the EZBridge that worked for Z-Wave. Interface issues aside, I'm leaning a lot towards Z-Wave. I like Insteon's technology, but I've been reading the SmartHome forums since October (when I bought my house), and I'm not very encouraged by the lack of, well... movement. I'd feel a lot better buying Z-Wave at this point, but I'm without a way to talk to it.
Anyone have any ideas/advice?
Thanks,
Keith