HA in Australia

[ddamron]

Colin/Darren/Richard,

If you're looking for something to use, I would recommend PLCBUS.  This protocol is based on 50Hz regions, and we currently have a test site (Hari) up an running.  I'm in the middle of debugging a new interface to handle a lot of the GSD/Ruby limitations (threading for example).

PLCBUS will be the next protocol available.

HTH,

Dan

[RichardP]

Colin/Darren/Richard,

If you're looking for something to use, I would recommend PLCBUS.  This protocol is based on 50Hz regions, and we currently have a test site (Hari) up an running.  I'm in the middle of debugging a new interface to handle a lot of the GSD/Ruby limitations (threading for example).

PLCBUS will be the next protocol available.

HTH,

Dan

Thanks Dan. PLCBus is on my shortlist, and an existing codebase was one of the biggies as far as selection factors go. I'm still going through the protocol itself. It is currently school holidays here in Australia, which means I'm spending less time on it, but what I've seen of it so far has not caused me any cause for concern. It's beginning to look like it may be PLCBus, thanks in no small way to you and Hari.

Best Regards,
Richard.

[ddamron]

I might add, PLCBUS will be sooner than later..

Dan

[MazdaPete]

I have been reading this thread with interest.

But I am confused - ddamron - You say in your profile "INSTEON Everywhere", but I read it's not in a 220v version?
You are in Sydney right?  (Me too)
What gives?

Anyway, so is PLCBUS the way to go right now?

And where do you buy this hardware, and how much are we talking for these devices???

I'm in the speech recognition industry... I've had a long-standing back-of-mind thought to make speech recognition happen for HA... I have the technical background, but it's a non-trivial bunch of work... Hardly seems worth the effort until the network hardware gets sorted out once and for all (die X10, die!).

[MazdaPete]

You are in Sydney right?  (Me too)

Whoops, think I got you mixed up with darrenmason - Sorry.

So Aussie people: What are:
1) The preferred hardware for HA in Australia (Topic of the thread right!!!),
2) Source of the hardware,
3) Some rough prices?

[ddamron]

I have been reading this thread with interest.

But I am confused - ddamron - You say in your profile "INSTEON Everywhere", but I read it's not in a 220v version?
You are in Sydney right?  (Me too)
What gives?

Anyway, so is PLCBUS the way to go right now?

And where do you buy this hardware, and how much are we talking for these devices???

I'm in the speech recognition industry... I've had a long-standing back-of-mind thought to make speech recognition happen for HA... I have the technical background, but it's a non-trivial bunch of work... Hardly seems worth the effort until the network hardware gets sorted out once and for all (die X10, die!).

heh, guess you figured out I'm in Calgary, AB Canada...

[RichardP]

Anyway, so is PLCBUS the way to go right now?

And where do you buy this hardware, and how much are we talking for these devices???

I'm in the speech recognition industry... I've had a long-standing back-of-mind thought to make speech recognition happen for HA... I have the technical background, but it's a non-trivial bunch of work... Hardly seems worth the effort until the network hardware gets sorted out once and for all (die X10, die!).

Welcome to the thread. Google for PLCBus and you'll get lots of links to go through. If you want to develop speech-recognition for HA, I'd suggest LMCE is the ideal platform for that. You don't concentrate on the HA devices to control, but rather to control LMCE. When you've got LMCE responding to a command, it can then control the device, whether that device is a HA-controlled light, a TV or whatever.

Doing it that way means each time a new device or protocol becomes available, you don't have to change the speech-recognition routines.

As for whether PLCBus is the way to go, the jury is still out. It's looking strong, and I'll probably go with it, but we'd still value your opinion here.

For my 10 cents, I'm probably going to go with a mixture of PLCBus and CBus, but that is based on my current needs, and your needs may vary.

Best Regards,
Richard.

[ddamron]

Richard,
You bring up a good point..

your not 'STUCK' with any particular protocol...
your system can implement ALL of them at the same time...
so, Go with your gut..go with what suits you.
if it happens to be PLCBUS, great.  if it happens to be CBus, all the best..

My point, coming from an integrator of HA stuff..
is that PLCBUS is almost done, and I don't know what's next.. so many protocols, so little time..

I think there is a need to redo X10.. make it bidirectional... and in Ruby.

Whether that is before or after protocol X and Y., no clue. (my head is so wrapped up in OO world)

Regards,

Dan