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Users / Beginner Questions
« on: March 08, 2009, 05:43:05 pm »
Hello, Hello!
My head spins after days of reading to find the best home automation solution for my new home...
I'm considering different systems for now and I do have a couple of questions for you experts here.
1. Home Automation
I'm considering a dedicated PLC (SPS) mainly because I want the main operation to be guaranteed also when all the PC's are off and because I (personally) think that Bus Systems (EIB/KNX here in Austria) are a waste of money. The PLC should do all the basic functionality like controlling the light or shades via switches. The LinuxMCE then should do all the "high level" functions in what I call a comfort system. Nice but not necessary to work the lights and so on. (Keeping the WAF in mind!!!)
Now, my PLC has the ability to read/write into a SQL database so I was thinking of using this functionality to integrate it into LMCE. Is this possible?? Can I create a home automation interface which reads and writes from a SQL table??
2. Media
I really like that MythTV, VDR and Squeezecenter are included. I was planning on using these systems anyway. My questions are:
- Can I use these features like if they are installed separately. For example: Can I install multiple MythTV Backends??
- Is LMCE using its own Media Library or is it using the Squeezecenter DB?? Meaning, can I use the Squeezecenter GUI if I want to?
3. Miscellaneous
- I read somewhere that you can implement Misterhome. WHY would you do that?
- Can I do custom text-to-speech announcements? Like, if someone is calling, can I announce the callers name via lets say a squeezebox receiver?
I'm sorry if the questions have been asked before, but I'm just overwhelmed with the amount of information provided. Once I'm committed to a system I will dig in deep. I promise
Thanks for your help
Martin
My head spins after days of reading to find the best home automation solution for my new home...
I'm considering different systems for now and I do have a couple of questions for you experts here.
1. Home Automation
I'm considering a dedicated PLC (SPS) mainly because I want the main operation to be guaranteed also when all the PC's are off and because I (personally) think that Bus Systems (EIB/KNX here in Austria) are a waste of money. The PLC should do all the basic functionality like controlling the light or shades via switches. The LinuxMCE then should do all the "high level" functions in what I call a comfort system. Nice but not necessary to work the lights and so on. (Keeping the WAF in mind!!!)
Now, my PLC has the ability to read/write into a SQL database so I was thinking of using this functionality to integrate it into LMCE. Is this possible?? Can I create a home automation interface which reads and writes from a SQL table??
2. Media
I really like that MythTV, VDR and Squeezecenter are included. I was planning on using these systems anyway. My questions are:
- Can I use these features like if they are installed separately. For example: Can I install multiple MythTV Backends??
- Is LMCE using its own Media Library or is it using the Squeezecenter DB?? Meaning, can I use the Squeezecenter GUI if I want to?
3. Miscellaneous
- I read somewhere that you can implement Misterhome. WHY would you do that?
- Can I do custom text-to-speech announcements? Like, if someone is calling, can I announce the callers name via lets say a squeezebox receiver?
I'm sorry if the questions have been asked before, but I'm just overwhelmed with the amount of information provided. Once I'm committed to a system I will dig in deep. I promise
Thanks for your help
Martin