Apologies in advance for my stupidity.
I stumbled over here after someone with a squeezebox mentioned that they have just installed a "pluto home automation system". "Oh, best look at that", thinks I, "as that's what I'm in the process of doing".
I'm refurbisihing a house, and installing a home automation system. My current plan is that it be based on Clipsal lighting relays for control (directly switching lighting, and switching power relays for sockets and appliances, connected/controlled using a comfort alarm system). Would also intend using comfort board for Honeywell HVAC. Then intending Slim devices solution for whole house audio, with mythTV for TV recording (backend) and display on monitors/lcd's (frontend), finally an asterisk pbx providing both VoIP and integration with analogue phone lines (I particularly want to route witheld incoming phone calls straight to an anti-sales call mailbox). Was then hoping to use web interface via ipaq's to control the slimserver, and comfort (and thus lighting, power, and HVAC), along with VoIP phone client (Xten?) with nuevo for IR control.
Anyhoo. I have spent a few hours over here. Have read the material on plutohome.com, but it's not coming together in my head how the system achieves control, nor how it integrates with home automation. Tried clicking the "get Pluto" option, but couldn't find any dealers or equipment to buy an off the shelf system (I'm UK based) - although I suspect that might prove financially challenging.
Over the next few weeks I need to finalise my electrical installation design and wiring scheme for my new house. Pluto seems to offer an integrated scheme for achieving very much the kinds of things that I want to achieve.
Coming to the point now.....
....could some kind soul please suggest a reading list that will help me get my head around:
1. how Pluto works? - I kind of get the core, media director, orbitor, and mobile orbiter thing (and it's that integration that makes me want to sit up and beg), but what I don't get at all is how it interacts with other items like security (alarms and cameras) and home automation. I can't seem to find any direct information about how this works with any kit (X10 is no use to me because I need to know off is off, and on is on), and although I suspect it won't work with my chosen solutions I am prepared either to change (if pluto is that good) or work towards integration later (I can achieve control through the comfort system and it's web interface before integrating this into the pluto system - which would probably start as the AV system).
2. Information on kit that is already integrated into Pluto (so I can make smart buying decisions, or understand that I'm burning my bridges with Pluto for a good reasion).
3. Any helpfull advice that anyone may have given my intended objective and scheme.
Hope I've not committed any cardinal sin, and thanks in advance for any helpful comments you may have.
Paul Chambers
