MGS
01-10-2004, 01:15 AM
I am part-way through a renovation of a Victorian house.
Phase 1, the front of the house, is done. I have installed C-Bus lighting, switches, sensors etc. and a HomeMinder which at the moment does little more than arranging for my ensuite bathroom lights to come on only dimly during nighttime hours!
Phase 2 involves knocking down the back of the house and rebuilding. That is when I will get to install other goodies and hopefully the HomeMinder will get more of a workout (more lights, sprinkler system, driveway gates etc).
My question relates to an interface for my automation system and control of home theatre components when they are added.
I am attracted to the idea of a wireless touch screen for control. I am also attracted to the robustness of two-way communications between components and my controller/interface. However AMX and Crestron are probably beyond my means and, in any event, they seem to deal only through dealers and won't let their software be used by interested end-users such as me.
I have read a lot lately about IP-based control but there seems to me to be more hype about what might be around the corner than there is actual product and systems to purchase.
I am aware of the the CorrAccess products and things like the IP to serial/IR etc. interfaces such as the waci+ and GlobalCache GC-100 which could be used, for example, with the Premise software on a PC which I tuck away next to the HomeMinder.
I would be interested to hear from anyone who might be able to point me in the right direction insofar as wireless touch screens, web tablets etc. are concerned and the control systems that might go with them (I am assuming that they won't interface directly to the HomeMinder).
Also, I would be interested in learning how to make the HomeMinder communicate with other systems (e.g. a home theatre receiver with RS232 control or whatever other control system might go with a touch screen).
Best regards
Matt
Phase 1, the front of the house, is done. I have installed C-Bus lighting, switches, sensors etc. and a HomeMinder which at the moment does little more than arranging for my ensuite bathroom lights to come on only dimly during nighttime hours!
Phase 2 involves knocking down the back of the house and rebuilding. That is when I will get to install other goodies and hopefully the HomeMinder will get more of a workout (more lights, sprinkler system, driveway gates etc).
My question relates to an interface for my automation system and control of home theatre components when they are added.
I am attracted to the idea of a wireless touch screen for control. I am also attracted to the robustness of two-way communications between components and my controller/interface. However AMX and Crestron are probably beyond my means and, in any event, they seem to deal only through dealers and won't let their software be used by interested end-users such as me.
I have read a lot lately about IP-based control but there seems to me to be more hype about what might be around the corner than there is actual product and systems to purchase.
I am aware of the the CorrAccess products and things like the IP to serial/IR etc. interfaces such as the waci+ and GlobalCache GC-100 which could be used, for example, with the Premise software on a PC which I tuck away next to the HomeMinder.
I would be interested to hear from anyone who might be able to point me in the right direction insofar as wireless touch screens, web tablets etc. are concerned and the control systems that might go with them (I am assuming that they won't interface directly to the HomeMinder).
Also, I would be interested in learning how to make the HomeMinder communicate with other systems (e.g. a home theatre receiver with RS232 control or whatever other control system might go with a touch screen).
Best regards
Matt