Messages

61

Users / Re: Linux MCE beating as the heart of whole house automation

« on: September 26, 2012, 03:34:38 pm »

-From personal experience... inquire about firmware version before getting a GC-100-#!  I missed this friendly warning and now have to either modify detection scripts or mail my unit to the mfgr.

What's the story here?
Are you referring to the firmware version 3.0 update that makes it plug and play?

62

Users / Re: Funding Drive: ZWave Door Locks

« on: September 26, 2012, 04:48:17 am »

WHAAAAT?
I missed all the fun? 
(I was too busy sorting out my ignorance - I'm following this thread now, just in case something else comes up)

63

Users / Re: Linux MCE beating as the heart of whole house automation

« on: September 26, 2012, 04:33:58 am »

Recently I found http://lumencache.com ....
I was not trying to get a quote... Lately crazy busy on building my beautiful home and I have couple of months before I start looking into all of that.  

I called but could not get an answer. I will keep trying to check the claims. I will post my findings.

Security panels really are a messed up grey area…
...
-Thom

What do you suggest?
I would like to order something to start integrating so I can cross the bridge.

Should I order the GC100 anyway (it seems to be needed regardless of the brand chosen).

On the other hand, my house is small: 3 outside doors and 12 windows.

The other extreme of this, is to simply attach sensors to GC-100's, or to a Z-Wave, or X-10, or PLCBUS, or KNX network, and to let LinuxMCE manage these sensors directly and react to them. This gives you the most flexibility, but it also means that your insurance company will not insure the security system.

This would essentially get the job done. Besides the issue of the LMCE being down for repairs (which can be averted by a backup system being at hand), I am not seeing any particular advantage to getting a separate panel.
Am I missing something?
 

64

Users / Re: Linux MCE beating as the heart of whole house automation

« on: September 25, 2012, 06:57:04 am »

The other extreme of this, is to simply attach sensors to GC-100's, or to a Z-Wave, or X-10, or PLCBUS, or KNX network, and to let LinuxMCE manage these sensors directly and react to them. This gives you the most flexibility, but it also means that your insurance company will not insure the security system.

-Thom

I don't really care about the insurance company. They don't live in the house.
I just took a policy today, and insured the contents of the house for a fixed amount. That's that.

I want to use wired magnetic sensors on windows and doors, smoke, glass, and motion sensors also. How can I "attach" them to the Gc100? If it is possible (for me , I will give it a try. How about capacity? Is it not limited (i.e. needs numerous gc100)?

So, what's your suggestion on the panels?

Security panels really are a messed up grey area…

From a purely technical standpoint, they are buggy, and full of security holes, when computer interfaces are attached to them (RS-232 is less of a security risk than the Ethernet interfaces)

How much of a security risk is it in a private home? I guess the concern would be that the wireless portion of the network is accessible.
If serial is used, shouldn't that solve the problem? How about when the serial is interfaced over IP?

65

Users / Re: Linux MCE beating as the heart of whole house automation

« on: September 25, 2012, 05:51:42 am »

Well, turns out a friend of mine has a distributor license for security installation, so today I took a trip to the store, and they seem to have everything. They especially seemed to have a lot of those red boxes (I think it's Honeywell). They did not have the NX-8E in stock but thy can have it in the store from the warehouse in 24hrs. I'd like to purchase it since it's the one on the wiki (unless I can do the same thing with the content of the red boxes in a plug and play fashion). In order to pick the right package (the counter people did not seem to now much about the products - they just knew where to pull them from) I have a few questions:

* The Caddx NX-8E wiki page states: "--still trying to get the alarm panel to work so if anyone has LinuxMCE configuration help, please include it here.--"
Should I safely buy this panel?
* What is the difference between a zone and a partition (the manual was not clear)? How do you use them in your implementations?
* There are accessories such as a relay output (NX-506E) that go with these panels. Which accessories should I ask for?
* The GC100 on homeseer.com site that look different than the pictures on the wiki. Does anyone know is it's because it's an older model, or is it a totally different device? It's from the same mfr.

66

Users / Re: Linux MCE beating as the heart of whole house automation

« on: September 24, 2012, 04:48:17 am »

Taking my first baby steps. Here we go:

I finally got my system up and running. Last week, I could not get it installed. After failing a few times, I figured it was the medium I was using, and the methods I was trying. First, the DVD had a problem. It left with the past trash truck. Second, even though I downloaded another copy, I could not virtualize it to test. I will revisit that when I'm comfortable with everything and can make more educated decisions.

I ended up installing from a fresh DVD after re-downloading the 4th and final  time (10.04). I pulled a new server that I had laying around from a sale dell had a couple of years ago. It was too good to pass ($250). It's brand new. I just fired it up, and installed with no problem.

Once installed, the confusion started. I went back and read again, and it was a little better. I have to say though, it's a bit difficult to grasp the concepts from scratch because the "non geek" info is not "evident" on the wiki, and you really have to explore. If any of the admins read this report, please PM me so I can help create a few pages to help remediate this. I am working on this right now, so I might as well...

After I completed the install (which I went through jut to see what it's about), I started looking at some of what was involved during the install because there were too many questions I could not answer. I also wanted to have a look at how the system works, so I spent some time typing the hardware items one after the other in the search boxes of our local stores and was able to find out that the HD PVR and the Soundblaster Audigy were available, so I went to the store to get it.
After a long time searching for stuff that's listed and mostly outdated, I was glad to be able to find something, anything!
While at the store, I discovered that the zbox was a barebone computer, and even though I could not find the exact model I had on my list, I decided to chance it on a HD ID33BR that was on the shelf on clearance. To my great surprise, it worked from pxe. I did not even have to use a hard drive! That was a shocker.
Another surprise was that it's on the list (at least the ID33 is).
I just added a 1GB stick that I had laying around from one of my netbooks (they take up to 2GB but only come with one, and I have had to replace a few over the past 3 years).
During that setup, I realized that I needed input devices other than the ones I had. I went back to the store today (after the same long trial and error on the whole list) and picked up an Air mouse GO plus (came with keyboard - 100ft/32m range!). I also took the 2nd (probably the last one) zbox that was on the shelf. They cost me $330 and came with a $50 rebate = 270! I got lucky!

So, now I have a core with a SB audigy + blu-ray burner in it, a HD PVR, 2 zbox ID33BR MDs, and a Air mouse go plus.

I am SUPER exited!

Tomorrow, I'd see about picking up the alarm panel. I will need help with choosing it. I'll take the time to do the usual local search first, then I'll engage you to find out if I'm on the right track.
Now back to playing with that ...

I'll report as I go.

67

Users / Re: Linux MCE beating as the heart of whole house automation

« on: September 23, 2012, 07:55:43 pm »

Dimmable is always $$$ - especially if you go with home automation gear and want good quality. Dimming LEDs is another thing that makes it more expensive.

Well, when I was studying my load center, I came across this light in the electrical store for $53 (4in). It is dimmable to 20%. That's $150 less, but then again, I don't know the difference. Someone please enlighten me.

I have in my house most of the lights as regular switched LED stripes. I got the LED stripe (on rolls) from eBay (search for SMD 5060 5m), and got the fixtures to put them into from klusdesign.eu, after a German company wanted 30EUR/m for the fixtures, and Klus wanted something like 8EUR/m

WHAT!? These small strips actually light up your WHOLE house?
Now, THAT sounds interesting. I'm looking into it right now...
I like all the options  you suggested, espacially since they don't come anywhere close to $10,000!

Regarding what's being programmed: The application itself is programmed into the device. i.e. the devices are fairly dumb out of the factory, and an application is loaded into them, as well as parameters what to do etc. - They are little computers, and just like the PC can't do anything without an application, the KNX appliances (actors and sensors) can't do anything without the application.

OK. So, is the application the same on all of them?


I'm off to do some research on all the above...
I will report soon..

68

Users / Re: Linux MCE beating as the heart of whole house automation

« on: September 23, 2012, 07:25:22 pm »

Hope the same. Would really like to use KNX. Would be nice to know start package cost.

I will definitely post my findings. I'm researching the matter. I tried, but it was too late, but come tomorrow, I'll be calling all the competitors I recently found. I really like the guys at EC though, great team! I like the service. The only problem is that it seems to be a small size enterprise, and they're busy at times. Getting to them might not be straight forward, but I can tell you, they're really serious and they take good care of people, call back, and care. I did not expect that!

I will post my experiences as I progress. I indent to document things so this thread can be a reference for someone else that would like to start with LMCE, including, but not limited to KNX.

69

Users / Re: Linux MCE beating as the heart of whole house automation

« on: September 22, 2012, 12:14:44 am »

The devices themselves are programmed by ETS to have their topology characteristics. This way, you can re-map a push button sensor to turn on a completely different lamp, at any point (as one example). The sensors have no physical relationship to their actors.

OK, I really misunderstood this!
So, the buttons are just signals that the responses are programmed with ETS.
Then what's being programmed?


On another note, I just received a quote for the recessed LED fixtures, nothing special, but, at an average $200 per light, I den up at $10,000 already without the controls yet. When I asked why, I was told that it;s because I asked for LED, and dimmable.
I think I will have to shop around for the lighting, this is too much for me. Where can I look at some dimmable recessed LED lights. I'd rather be careful before rather than after. I don't want to have flickering problems, communication issues and the like: what should I be looking / looking out for?

70

Users / Re: LIFX lightbulb

« on: September 21, 2012, 10:54:35 pm »

Very!

71

Users / Re: Linux MCE beating as the heart of whole house automation

« on: September 21, 2012, 10:49:22 pm »

Keep in mind, LinuxMCE can't and won't change your KNX network topology. It is just utilizing it.

Good to know!

Good thing it is easily available.

Looking at KNX site, from my perspective, it looks like a $500 investment for a one time use just to program lights. That's not very appealing and adds to the cost of the project.

Any time you need to make changes to your KNX network (adding, removing, or otherwise shuffling around devices and their relationships with the other devices in the KNX network), you will need ETS.

Good thing it is easily available.

I don't know what "configure the network" means in this context, but I'm familiar with computer networks, so, I can easily understand addressing and protocol parameters. What's involved in the KNX programming and involved does it get? Is it a skill I can/need to pickup or will I get by by just having someone else do it (idea that I don't like - I don't like dependency)?

Since everything is star homed to the control center, and power is provided to the loads from there, can't adjustments simply be made from there by moving wires around?

72

Users / Re: Linux MCE beating as the heart of whole house automation

« on: September 21, 2012, 05:59:24 pm »

ETS is additional software that the KNX installer usually has to configure the KNX devices, and is outside of the LinuxMCE scope.

Since in my case, I am the one that will be doing the physical install, does that mean that I will need it to do the install or is it simply about assigning IDs and some other basic things that I can ask the supplier to pre-configure for me? And how often is it necessary, will I need it if "something" goes wrong (I don't know the frequency/likelyhood of that - mean time between failures)?

73

Users / Re: Linux MCE beating as the heart of whole house automation

« on: September 21, 2012, 08:19:32 am »

If you need more details, I suggest to read the KNX Basics in our wiki, as well as KNX handbook, which should be available from knx.org.

I did (both), but I'm new to this (a few days), so I don't have the full picture yet. Getting there though...
Since KNX communication could happen over power lines, I wanted to make sure. The details you just provided (TP+ring) are valuable insight that I would not have come anywhere close to getting from my previous readings.
Now that that's clear to me, what about the electric cables themselves? The KNX stuff in the link I posted above requires a star configuration, but since I don't know what installers normally do, I though I'd ask instead of making mistakes. In my book, instruction beats correction any day!

Thank you for the clarifications!

About the ETS software: i get that it is used to program the bus (whatever that means). Is that a separate function from what software on the MCE provides (i.e. additional cost)?

74

Users / Re: Linux MCE beating as the heart of whole house automation

« on: September 21, 2012, 05:07:15 am »

They asked me how I'm going to communicate with the KNX equipment. is it possible to use IP with LinuxMCE, or should I ask for a RS232 connection?
 
Do I need to plan for connections on the KNX system for door locks, drapes, blinds, sprinklers, etc?
... or is it only for lighting? (see hari's post)

Also, the wiki states that "The Core also generally has the TV tuner card for the entire system". Is it possible to use the MD instead of cable boxes to watch different live tv shows at the MDs?

75

Users / Re: Linux MCE beating as the heart of whole house automation

« on: September 21, 2012, 04:52:50 am »

Not much to add to what hari said, except that KNX might be a bit hard to source in the US. BUT, it really is worth it.

What makes it "worth it"?