LinuxMCE Forums

General => Users => Topic started by: deepB on May 27, 2013, 09:13:49 pm

Title: New apartment - retrofitting
Post by: deepB on May 27, 2013, 09:13:49 pm

Hello everybody,

I will move into a new apartment in 2 month. I want to have HA, especially lighting and appliance power on/off, media system an phone system.

I know that linuxmce can handle that, but I do not know what to use for the automation.
Since this apartment already exists and I am only retrofitting (and it should not cost too much, poor student here), I thought of using the Tellstick.
How long is the range though? And can you suggest a source for switches and so on?
Is anybody working on the Tellstick Duo (so you can also recieve data)? How much work would that be?

Or would you suggest a completely different approach?

best regards
Daniel

Title: Re: New apartment - retrofitting
Post by: Marie.O on May 28, 2013, 09:12:00 am

Where are you located. If you are in the EU, you can use KNX-RF, Ensteon or Z-Wave, to name a few. In the US it is Z-Wave, Enocean or Insteon. Some people have had success with the Tellstick. but I ave no hands on knowledge, nor know about the stability.

Title: Re: New apartment - retrofitting
Post by: deepB on May 28, 2013, 06:39:56 pm

I am located in the EU.

The thing that makes the tellstick very attractive to me is the price, which is (as far as i found out) far cheaper then the mentioned alternatives.

Is anybody around with experience with the tellstick?

best regards
Daniel

Title: Re: New apartment - retrofitting
Post by: pointman87 on May 28, 2013, 10:41:43 pm

Yes im using the tellstick and about 20 lamps in my house, works very good =) Im in Sweden BTW.

BR Daniel

Title: Re: New apartment - retrofitting
Post by: deepB on May 29, 2013, 12:58:14 am

how long is the distance between the tellstick and the appliance?

EDIT: also can you suggest a shop?

Title: Re: New apartment - retrofitting
Post by: pointman87 on May 31, 2013, 08:56:33 pm

The longest distance is about 20 meters.
Well what country are you in?

BR Daniel

Title: Re: New apartment - retrofitting
Post by: deepB on June 01, 2013, 02:53:37 am

Oh, I am sorry for not mentioning that, Austria. So everything inside the EU (with the exception of the UK) should work.

Title: Re: New apartment - retrofitting
Post by: trentend on June 04, 2013, 12:51:54 pm

The thing that puts me off with these devices is that the general build quality is not great. There are a lot of reports of failures around the 12-18 months time.  I use KNX - it's expensive, but it really lasts.  Three years now, and every device still going strong - and a lot of those were bought second hand.

Title: Re: New apartment - retrofitting
Post by: deepB on June 10, 2013, 07:38:56 pm

yes, and when I build my own house I will definitely use something like KNX.

Right now though I am just retrofitting. Also since I am a student right now budget is tight.

Any suggestions for a shop?

Best regards
Daniel

Title: Re: New apartment - retrofitting
Post by: Techstyle on June 12, 2013, 08:12:05 pm

http://www.zwave4u.com/index.php (http://www.zwave4u.com/index.php)

Title: Re: New apartment - retrofitting
Post by: purps on June 17, 2013, 06:06:37 pm

I've had nothing but pleasant experiences with Ivor Atkins from http://www.uk-automation.co.uk/ (based in the UK as you might have guessed).

Cheers,
Matt.