[mythtv-users] Home Automation + MythTV/Linux

mw meatwad2021 at gmail.com
Fri Aug 8 16:42:35 UTC 2008


Mark wrote:
> Mw wrote:
>> Whole-home would move into the medium- (C-Bus, RadioRA, Centralight, 
>> etc.) to upper-priced systems (Lightolier, AMX, etc.)
>>
>> Hope that helps.
>>   
> Heh, the Lightolier stuff isn't even listed with prices in the 
> Worthington distributor catalog.  You have to be qualified
> and call them to even get pricing.  That said, I like the centralite 
> hardwired panels because it's hardwired, simply designed and
> it's 100% reliable  And it's ridiculously over-designed with industrial 
> SSR's.
> No IR/RF system will ever be 100% even though some of them are very good.

Very good point indeed. That is the same rationale I use with clients 
that ask if it wouldn't be cheaper to just use WiFI rather than run Cat6 
to key locations.

However, the original poster wants to ease into automation for just his 
home theater. The simplest scenario is to replace the existing light 
switch on the wall with another device. I've never sold a Spacer but 
installed a few for clients and integrated them into their control 
systems quite successfully.

Of course there will be times when the setting sun through a west facing 
window creates interference with an IR system and plasmas are known to 
wreak havoc as well. I've completed exactly one RadioRA install for a 
project another contractor abandoned and was less than thrilled with the 
RF experience and haven't tried any other since. The Control4/ZigBee 
solution looks amazing but keep in mind that the C4 principals tried 
this nearly two decades ago (Phast) and ended up abandoning every 
customer and integrator. I've yet to see any other consumer application 
for ZigBee devices so I'm not holding my breath.

On the other hand, a well planned IR solution can be made rock solid. A 
Graphic Eye controller for the home theater environment can work 
flawlessly when the IR emitter is concealed behind the unit on the right 
side. This would be /inside/ the required four gang masonry work box and 
  National Electric Code now allows for the limited use of low voltage 
wiring inside a high voltage box just for this type of situation.

The problem with integrating the Graphic Eye and much more so the larger 
centralized systems is that every lighting load needs to be run directly 
to the controller. Most homes are not wired this way and retrofitting is 
likely out of the question. If someone had that kind of disposable 
income to re-wire the entire home, they'd do well to consider just 
building a new home. If not, the RadioRA begins to look attractive.

That said, there are many ways to skin a cat. The question is, how many 
scratches and bites is the OP willing to tolerate?

The Spacer jumped to my mind immediately simply because the labor 
required to achieve the desired goal is the bare minimum and the cost is 
right alongside the X10 device and controller combination.

Hope this helps.

--
mw


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