Messages

1

Users / Re: Help choosing thermostat tech

« on: December 17, 2011, 05:11:48 pm »

Aha, thanks, I hadn't considered connecting the dongle to a MD. That would work perfectly, since we'll have a MD connected to the TV in the same room as the thermostat.

Thanks!

2

Users / Re: Help choosing thermostat tech

« on: December 16, 2011, 10:03:48 pm »

Hm, the way the house is built it will be hard to get a wireless signal very far out of the basement, so I was hoping to having the receiver on one of the other floors.

It seems really frustrating to have to daisy-chain wireless devices when I have a perfectly good wired LAN (and am not above running cables to specific devices). I guess that's just not very common?

3

Users / Help choosing thermostat tech

« on: December 16, 2011, 09:23:03 pm »

I'm just getting started with home automation, and setting up a LinuxMCE machine. My home has four floors, and the network closet which will contain the core LinuxMCE machine is in the basement. I've been reading the wiki, but am confused about some of the implementation details and would appreciate some advice.

I would like to have LinuxMCE control two thermostats. In terms of physical installation/connection, my preferences in order are:
- something I can run a CAT5 cable to through from within wall (best)
- something that wirelessly/radio transmits to a device hidden in a closet and connected to my CAT5 network.
- something that wirelessly transmits to a wall wart I have to hide somewhere

Most of what I've seen talks about USB dongles, but I don't want to have to have a machine on each floor sucking up energy and making fan noise. I've seen some good reviews of inexpensive zwave thermostats, but have only seen USB zwave receivers.

Can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks.