DIY Smart home thread

[Adragontattoo]

Ok per a few requests I am going to start a thread detailing my ideas/plans/wants/needs for the Condo I am buying. This thread is NOT going to be a one off type thread. I am going to update it as I find what I am looking for or as I get bits done AKA LONG TERM THREAD!

I am "buying" an 840sf. condo. Not at all large, but a good start to my eventual plans of owning a castle or an island. It is 4 rooms (well 5 but the dining room and living room are combined) LR, Kitchen, BR, Bath.

I want to make it a smart home in a sense.

Things I want to do:

-Automate Blinds:
Current foreseeable issues I have are, well I dont have any blinds up in the new condo and the current condo I live in has vertical blinds which require them to be turned 50% from L to R prior to being drawn open (will not open fully otherwise as they will bind up). I will need to find an assembly that can rotate 50% open and reverse the same procedure.-Network entire Condo with as little use of wireless as possible (wired = security, you have to physically cut/splice the line to gain access to my network).

Very easy to accomplish, only takes a few hours to complete, involving a few tools
Hole saw
Screwdriver (phillips and Slot)
pliers to attach mounting brackets to drywall
fishtape for longer runs
flashlight
Punch down tool for crimping Cat5e connections
RJ45 jacks
wall plates for assorted connections (I will be using keyhold plates as they are standard and have multiple snap in connections for the various ideas I have)
will need to find a Managed switch to replace existing unmanaged for security control
will also possibly need to convert a machine over to a Server OS and join all machines to the Domain for access control to the network. -Network condo for Video (I like DVD's and would like to NOT have to pause/stop the DVD if I need to go out of eyeshot of the TV to do something.

Slightly harder then Networking as certain plans may require more involved methods. Much shorter runs are required due to signal degradation, also each splitter will introduce some signal degradation as well.
Keystone plates again can be used here as they have RCA snap in plugs as well
Same tools as above -Network Lighting Control

Is easily done Via X10 and similar. I may look at a single controller for everything which would be much more expensive. This will be hopefully incorporated with automating fishtank controls and may be done via X10 or similar until a better option is found and installed.-Network shared audio throughout the condo (instead of blasting the speakers so I can hear them, I would rather be able to flip a switch and hear the same music/dvd/MP3/etc in the adjoining room.
easily done via networked condo and soundcard connections to HT. Other smaller options are available.-Automate controls of Fishtank lights (currently have 4 fishtanks on timers, I would prefer to have 1-2 timers for all 4 instead).
see lighting control-live video feed (this may be a pipe dream due to ISP issues, but I would like to be able to log in to a secure page and see any room in my condo or my fishtanks even).
there are programs available to stream to a webpage, even YIM could be used. Only foreseeable issue will be the ISP limitations.
If anyone has any other info to add or suggestions PLEASE ADD THEM! I would like to make an actual discussion if possible about this as I see very little info on it here on OCF.

[Adragontattoo]

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2007/09/hack-bedside-tables-into-music-studio.html

15.00 per case
a few screws 1.00
2 rackmount vertical rails 10.00 per side

figure 40 bucks per unit for stackable rackmounts.

[=ACID RAIN=]

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2007/09/hack-bedside-tables-into-music-studio.html

15.00 per case
a few screws 1.00
2 rackmount vertical rails 10.00 per side

figure 40 bucks per unit for stackable rackmounts.

Nice!

I've been looking for ideas on mounting my 1841 and future switches. I like the idea of integrating the home into our tech as well. I'll be hanging around this thread :)

I have a friend northwest of me that has a custom home with built-in security/camera system, verbally controlled lights, a panic room and other cool crap. He did it all himself too, including designing his house from scratch. His computer's name is "sumbitch" LOL. He can sit down and say "sumbitch, set lights at 65% and turn on the tv" and sumbitch replies in a female voice "yes sir" and does just that. He also relayed all of his IR, such as vcr/dvd/tv/music remotes to a central station in the panic/control room, where he AND sumbitch can control the house.

Oh and the lights are per-room, so he can say "kitchen at 65% and living room at 10%" and it does it in that fashion as well.

[VinnyTAMU]

Looks like an exciting, challenging, and fun project. What (if any) are your budget and time frame?

/subscribe

[Adragontattoo]

Looks like an exciting, challenging, and fun project. What (if any) are your budget and time frame?

/subscribe

Budget is cheap but not crap.
Time frame is sooner rather then later.

Im not trying to be vague I just really havent set a firm price point or time frame. I am sure that I will do some stuff and then find something better and upgrade.

I already have about 100 sunk in with the cables and bits that I ordered from monoprice on saturday.

Alot of the actual install work can be done by me with nothing more then time spent, the HW and programs are what I am most concerned about as they will be the biggest chunk of change by far.

[Roofles]

Consider either stepper motors or servo motors for the blinds. Servos might be easier to do what you want in a package but I don't know of any that would be powerful enough to open and or close blinds. Again I assume the large french door type blinds that go from floor to the top of the door. I'm sure a servo exists for that but I'm familiar with hobbyist robotics servos at best.

Also adding a simple Arduino processor could control it as well as add networking capabilities. They are simple, complete open source processors and I'm sure there are forums that exist to support it and are fairly cheap as well.

[Adragontattoo]

Consider either stepper motors or servo motors for the blinds. Servos might be easier to do what you want in a package but I don't know of any that would be powerful enough to open and or close blinds. Again I assume the large french door type blinds that go from floor to the top of the door. I'm sure a servo exists for that but I'm familiar with hobbyist robotics servos at best.

Also adding a simple Arduino processor could control it as well as add networking capabilities. They are simple, complete open source processors and I'm sure there are forums that exist to support it and are fairly cheap as well.


Yes they are 8foot tall vertical blinds approx 8 ft long each way from center in the current Condo (5' from center in new Condo IIRC)

I was thinking along the lines of one motor to run the pulley to open and another to run the blinds open but I hadnt quite gotten it down yet.

I would prefer to buy something prebuilt if possible, but so far I havent seen anything that looks like it will work.

[Roofles]

Yes they are 8foot tall vertical blinds approx 8 ft long each way from center in the current Condo (5' from center in new Condo IIRC)

I was thinking along the lines of one motor to run the pulley to open and another to run the blinds open but I hadnt quite gotten it down yet.

I would prefer to buy something prebuilt if possible, but so far I havent seen anything that looks like it will work.

I'm thinking you might have to rig up a carriage system for opening and closing the blinds and that a simple gear system might work for rotating the blinds to be more or less open. I'm glad I assumed the right kind of blinds.

[Adragontattoo]

It will definetely take some work, I know that.

(help me out here or ask for clarification if it doesnt make sense)

What I am figruing is that I will need 2 motors that are slower but have higher torque. I will need to have them set up in a way that the first motor will rotate the blinds half open and then trigger the second motor to open the blinds. The problem I am running into in my head is how to design it so that when I want to close the blinds the second motor will run first. I may have to have them controlled seperately and design it so that something along the lines of:

if button 3 =on
run motor 1
then run motor 2

if button 4 =on
run motor 2
then run motor 1

Im not a coder but that is the basic premise for my idea, just dunno how to code to get it to work.




I actually just posted the question to a vendor of HA products to see if there is anything available. Admittedly I am working on a problem I dont really have but I want to knock this out in case I do go with these blinds again in a new place.

[Adragontattoo]

Next problem/issue.

sharing video:
either
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011004&p_id=4069&seq=1&format=2
or
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=3047&seq=1&format=2
plus a DVI to HDMI adapter

is probably what I will have to get to share video between computers in different rooms, since I cant seem to find Composite to DVI adapters.

[Jon]

Next problem/issue.

sharing video:
either
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011004&p_id=4069&seq=1&format=2
or
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=3047&seq=1&format=2
plus a DVI to HDMI adapter

is probably what I will have to get to share video between computers in different rooms, since I cant seem to find Composite to DVI adapters.

Are you wanting to view the same video on different sets with this? The way I'm understanding is that if you're watching TV in the living room area and want to finish it in the bedroom, you want to just be able to turn the bedroom TV on and it's there. I don't understand how a multiple source to single target switching device is going to accomplish that, unless you have multiple DVI/HDMI inputs on your TV, while using more than one switch.

If using multiple HTPCs to multiple TVs, so long as the TVs have at least two HDMI inputs, I don't see why you can't just use a DVI>HDMI adapter and then use an HDMI splitter (so long as you're inside the length requirements on the cabling) to different inputs on the TVs. HTPC1 can go to input 1 on TV1 and TV2. HTPC2 can go to input 2 on TV1 and TV2. The remote can do the input switching on the TV

[Adragontattoo]

Currently I dont have a HTPC, I would be splitting the video between the Bedroom PC and the Living room PC (until I build a HTPC that is).

I only have one TV that is a 98(maybe a bit earlier) JVC 32 CRT so no HDMI, DVI or even VGA inputs.

I am looking at building a HTPC with Linux MCE now and also eventually looking at picking up a LCD to use as both a monitor and TV (problem is I refuse to get anything less then 1080 native so price is an issue).

The current plan is that if I am watching a movie on my desktop and decide I want to go to a different room, I can hit the button and the display will change over to the monitor in the bedroom.

[Jon]

Right, but that still doesn't explain how a multiple source to single target switching device will accomplish that. You want a 1x2 device instead of a 2x1 (which you linked).

[Adragontattoo]

It will definetely take some work, I know that.

(help me out here or ask for clarification if it doesnt make sense)

What I am figruing is that I will need 2 motors that are slower but have higher torque. I will need to have them set up in a way that the first motor will rotate the blinds half open and then trigger the second motor to open the blinds. The problem I am running into in my head is how to design it so that when I want to close the blinds the second motor will run first. I may have to have them controlled seperately and design it so that something along the lines of:

if button 3 =on
run motor 1
then run motor 2

if button 4 =on
run motor 2
then run motor 1

Im not a coder but that is the basic premise for my idea, just dunno how to code to get it to work.




I actually just posted the question to a vendor of HA products to see if there is anything available. Admittedly I am working on a problem I dont really have but I want to knock this out in case I do go with these blinds again in a new place.


Got a response back from the vendor:
Hello,

The only drape blinds controllers that we have are from Add-A-Motor. They only have two different models, one for drapes only and another for pull-chain blinds only.
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Home-Garden/Drapery-Controllers/

If you have two pull chains, one for rotate and another one for open/close you can use two Add-A-Motors at the same time and control both operations from one butler remote.
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Home-Garden/Drapery-Controllers/Item/800DR/
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Home-Garden/Drapery-Controllers/Item/1361/

We do not have one product that does both operations at once.

Please let me know if you have any questions.
______________________________________
Looks like I was right and there is not a readily available controller for what I need. I'm glad I dont have those blinds in the new condo now!

If I do get blinds I will either have to DIY the controller/motors or have seperate motors for each portion.

On to the other issues now!

[Adragontattoo]

May have found the controller for the aquariums that I was looking for. This one may be a bit overkill but I havent decided totally yet:

http://www.neptunesys.com/aquaController3Pro.htm

[Roofles]

It will definetely take some work, I know that.

(help me out here or ask for clarification if it doesnt make sense)

What I am figruing is that I will need 2 motors that are slower but have higher torque. I will need to have them set up in a way that the first motor will rotate the blinds half open and then trigger the second motor to open the blinds. The problem I am running into in my head is how to design it so that when I want to close the blinds the second motor will run first. I may have to have them controlled seperately and design it so that something along the lines of:

if button 3 =on
run motor 1
then run motor 2

if button 4 =on
run motor 2
then run motor 1

Im not a coder but that is the basic premise for my idea, just dunno how to code to get it to work.

I actually just posted the question to a vendor of HA products to see if there is anything available. Admittedly I am working on a problem I dont really have but I want to knock this out in case I do go with these blinds again in a new place.

I wasn't a coder either, but microcontroller programming for embedded stuff is fairly easy, especially with the kind of stuff you are doing, simply 2 inputs and then motor control. I haven't used an arduino but they seem simple enough, the stuff I do is for work so I have a little more industrial setup behind me, and I don't have to worry about money as much.

Just for reference, I'm going to call draw-open as entirely opening the blinds and light-open as the control of 'twisting' the blinds themselves to add more light into a room.

draw-open for your micro would be fairly simple, you could literally have a on/off pushbutton be your input and then it would spin the motor one direction for a period of time, which might take some tweaking, or add a limit switch of some kind to tell it that it can't go any further. And then you could add a simple bit that you set to say the blinds are open, if I press the button again I'll close the blinds kind of thing.

light-open might be a little bit different especially if you want to have an adjustable kind of thing, because you need to set some kind of level input either analog or digital. This might be easy with say a 8 position switch. which would have 3 outputs (000 for least open 111 for most open) and you could read the three pins and then set each specific thing as a position to a servo motor. So 000 would equate to some voltage out and would be say 0 degrees (most open) then 111 would be some voltage out that would be ~90 degrees (most closed) and then the levels in between would be equivalent to the other stuff.

Once you start looking at blinds I think a stepper motor would be good for the draw-open part because they are high torque, and low speed which would be good, so you don't really have to work on gear ration kind of things. Plus they can spin freely (can go more than 360 degrees unlike servo motors). Then the servo would be good for the open, because you want an angle position to equate to some 'openness' of the blinds.

[Adragontattoo]

Right, but that still doesn't explain how a multiple source to single target switching device will accomplish that. You want a 1x2 device instead of a 2x1 (which you linked).

true...

Basically I need to get off my tail and upgrade/buy some gear.

Anyone have any experience with Slingbox? I have been looking at them for awhile and have heard good things but I would like to hear what people hear think of it.

[ssjwizard]

actualy this is something that im all ready working on at my house. im going to be seting up some new lighting setups and so fourth, this is one product ive ben considering so that i can voice control everything.

http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/PC-Home/HAL-all/Item/HAL102S/

[Adragontattoo]

SS toss in a worklog here on make a new thread if you so desire, I dont mind sharing this thread.

[Adragontattoo]

hmm, I dont know if I could run software named HAL. I would be a little worried that it would try to kill me in my sleep or something.

Hal turn the heat off
Im afraid I cant do that Jeff
Hal, its 95 degrees INSIDE turn the heat OFF
Goodbye Jeff.

[Adragontattoo]

well got a Harmony that will work with some of the HA gear that is out, supposedly there are adapters to change from RF to IR so that they can be used with Harmony remotes as well. Ill have to wait and see.

[Silversinksam]

Got a response back from the vendor:
Hello,

The only drape blinds controllers that we have are from Add-A-Motor. They only have two different models, one for drapes only and another for pull-chain blinds only.
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Home-Garden/Drapery-Controllers/

If you have two pull chains, one for rotate and another one for open/close you can use two Add-A-Motors at the same time and control both operations from one butler remote.
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Home-Garden/Drapery-Controllers/Item/800DR/
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Shop/Home-Garden/Drapery-Controllers/Item/1361/

We do not have one product that does both operations at once.

Please let me know if you have any questions.
______________________________________
Looks like I was right and there is not a readily available controller for what I need. I'm glad I dont have those blinds in the new condo now!

If I do get blinds I will either have to DIY the controller/motors or have seperate motors for each portion.

On to the other issues now!

While Smarthome has just about everything for home automation, (I've bought many things from them for my home automation needs) the Vertical blind controls pretty much are a sad sight there. When I was in college I had a part time job with a family friend in Marblehead that was an interior designer, he sold the customer (generally rich people with more money than sense, you've seen the type, the ones that change their carpet every year because they are tired of the color and change their draperies like I change underwear) the blinds or drapery or whatever, and I installed them. As far as verticle blind controls, what you want is an all in one units, (full tilt and traverse) the one's at Smarthome have two controls as you saw, one is mainly for drapes (the one they are hawking as the vertical blind horizontal control) and they sell that goofball contraption to turn the blinds via a separate motor. (the only good news is usually they can be programmed into your home HTPC remote to move the two motors)

What your looking for is a Full Tilt and Traverse (http://www.hunterdouglas.com/product_options_template.jsp?id=167) vertical blind motorized unit.

Now the problem with the all in one unit is a simple problem, they are fairly expensive, in fact I only installed 2 and a 'half'. One customer backed out of a installation after we ordered and received an all in one vertical blind motorized unit track, the bad news is I had cut it to size, and now it could not be returned to the manufacturer, so I got to keep it.

Take a look at their (HunterDouglas's) site (http://www.hunterdouglas.com/product_options_template.jsp?id=162), they have a video with all sorts of motorized controls for pleated shades, vertical blinds and much more. Not show in the video is the product I like, it's the micro pleated blinds that are sealed inside the window(Between the panes of glass)

Now back to the full tilt and traverse vertical blind unit, my advise is to set up a Ebay search to e-mail you when they are listed, or you might just find one the first time you look. The reason I say Ebay is because when people with more money than sense buy one thinking they can install it, then find out they measured incorrectly, they then refuse to hire an installer and they buy something else. (They can't figure out how to cut it and reinstall the end cap or have rod problems (Any member here could do this, as it's simply to do, and theres lots of guides on the net of you get stuck)

Just shop around, if your patient, you'll snag a vertical blind motorized tilt and traverse unit on the cheap.

PS, I'm not knocking Smarthome.com, in fact they rock, their customer support is very good, once I recieved a defective product, they sent a new one overnight air and let me keep the broken one :)

[Adragontattoo]

Thanks SSS, I knew that somebody HAD to make them..

One other problem I have thought of when I was going through and listing what I would like to do is, I cant use dimmers with the CFL I have.

I was looking at having a controller set to automatically turn the lights on to 50% if it detected movement.

Oh well back to the drawing board.

[Adragontattoo]

ARGHHH....

Stupid Logitech does not have an online database or even a searchable database to tell me if/what HA products are supported. Their forum is useable but not user friendly really so I am going to have to truly GUESS what will work it seems.

[Silversinksam]

Thanks SSS, I knew that somebody HAD to make them..

One other problem I have thought of when I was going through and listing what I would like to do is, I cant use dimmers with the CFL I have.

I was looking at having a controller set to automatically turn the lights on to 50% if it detected movement.

Oh well back to the drawing board.

They make special CFL's that are dimmable, they also make the Three in one, it's a 3 stage CFL with three settings, hell they even make CFL bulbs with built in ionizer wicks, I just bought one last week, I'm not talking about the goofy Titanium dioxide coated CFL's, but a different technology. They Puralite with the wick cost $20.24 shipped Very few places sell them, most require you place a min $100 order or buy them by the case. Here's the link to the one for $20.24 (http://www.nrgsaver.com/mall/fresh-air.asp)shipped

PS, I bought this just to see if they work :beer:

[Adragontattoo]

Well, after going up there today and being in the condo working while it got dark I realized something.

I CANT SEE IN THE DARK!

and then I realized that my low voltage lighting idea, just might work.

I dont need the super bright ultra expensive LEDs. All I would need to do, is wire up some LEDs to provide a subdued but useful light on either a timer or a photocell + timer.

Just gotta figure out if I want it to slowly change colors, be only one or what.

I currently have about 700 leds sitting behind me in one of my work boxes.

[ian2000gsxr]

some great ideas. i would add maybe a small video camera outside your door. just an idea.

[Adragontattoo]

Cant have anything in the common areas of the building.

I will probably have it in place of the peephole though.

[Silversinksam]

Cant have anything in the common areas of the building.

I will probably have it in place of the peephole though.

There are creative ways to deal with that, I had the same problem, so I put a very small camera in a tree with a Li ion battery pack (Its very small, one inch thick x 5" long x 3" wide, this is wired to a very small solar cell. I also used almost an entire can of liquid electrical tape to weather proof it all.

You could look at the tree all day long and not see it, and even if you did, unless you have a ladder or you're a squirrel, reaching it isn't easy. This camera monitors the side of my building, specifically my home office window, the same window they broke and tried to gain entry to my home (WITH ME INSIDE MY HOME OFFICE)

[Adragontattoo]

There are creative ways to deal with that, I had the same problem, so I put a very small camera in a tree with a Li ion battery pack (Its very small, one inch thick x 5" long x 3" wide, this is wired to a very small solar cell. I also used almost an entire can of liquid electrical tape to weather proof it all.

You could look at the tree all day long and not see it, and even if you did, unless you have a ladder or you're a squirrel, reaching it isn't easy. This camera monitors the side of my building, specifically my home office window, the same window they broke and tried to gain entry to my home (WITH ME INSIDE MY HOME OFFICE)

good idea, wont work for two reasons in my building:

Im about 70' or so off the ground (6th floor)
the hallway is an interior hallway.

great idea though.

[Adragontattoo]

ok now that I am in the new condo and mostly setup, I can start work on this.

Comcast showed up today and reconnected my cable and net connections (then I had to call them to redo it because the net connection was set up wrong and disabled itself at 12am this morning...

no blinds/drapes/curtains in the condo so I really dont NEED to worry about automating them (im behind a bunch of trees and facing a highway, you might get to see my naked butt if you looked at the right time and in the right spot when you drove past at 75mph)

[dylskee]

Very interesting thread! I was thinking to myself "This doesn't have anything to do with overclocking" and after 30 seconds of reading I'm hooked. :beer:

If funds allow, I'm going to be doing a slight living room remodel and I'm going to be building a built in home theater wall. I would like to have some automation with lighting and various components. Great thread, keep updating as you go.

*Subscribed*

[masakabassist]

Some great ideas there, have you got any pics yet?

[Adragontattoo]

ok plans are updated/on hold due to money constraints.

Plan is still to migrate an existing machine over to one of the MCE (Linux probably but possibly 2003) editions if I can find plugins that will let it do HA.

Linux MCE is the likely candidate (its free), I just need to burn it and test install it on a rig.

I need to make sure that whichever I choose, will work with my Harmony if possible.

gotta also find out how/if it works with which HA companies and get that info as well. BUT I need the backend first.

Ok now to the bad part, Comcast is back to their stupid tricks and anytime I plug in my smoothwall, it blocks their probes and kills my connection(had this issue in the old condo after I Dled a couple Linux torrents). I am stuck on a WRT v6 (not happy). Gotta figure out something but a classies purchase may happen very soon so I can use the 2u as the HA server.

[Adragontattoo]

Some great ideas there, have you got any pics yet?

there is really nothing to take pics of yet TBH.

Cabling isnt done
No HA is done yet
Im still unpacking so my condo looks like a combo of a fish store (5 tanks set up) and a warehouse (boxes).

[dipspit]

Linux MCE is the likely candidate (its free), I just need to burn it and test install it on a rig.

I think if you snoop around the Linux MCE forums and watch their demo video, maybe spend some time looking through their wiki, you'll be incredibly happy with what it has to offer. You can set it to have your media follow the remote around the house, it will auto adjust lights for movies, and it has a home security suite.

Here's the video I was talking about, Linux MCE sounds like a pretty ideal solution for you.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2176025602905109829&hl=en

[Adragontattoo]

http://www.scendix.com/tapirex/

It looks more and more like I will be leaning towards using Vista Ultimate for my MCE needs due to programs like the above link which I plan on testing and incorporating if at all possible.

System that will be used is going into a 4u rackmount case.

I havent pinned down the specs yet but it will probably be either my old 478 rig (2.8C, 2gb A data that I cant find DDR 400, 1x 400gb PATA, 1 250 GB PATA, CD/DVD drive, etc) or when I upgrade I will use my current rig (x2 3800, 2gb G skill DDR400, various HDD, CD/DVD drive etc). I want to look at getting a better soundcard as I dont think that the USB Soundblaster I have will be sufficient.

[Adragontattoo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrr2XKAB0L0

Im stealing this plan!

[Jon]

Scendix looks good, but is not fun to play with on Vista. If you want caller-ID, use YAC (http://sunflowerhead.com/software/yac/) along with babgvant's Vista YAC add-in and client (http://babgvant.com/files/folders/yacaddin/default.aspx). Works perfectly and is reliable, above all else.

[Adragontattoo]

Ill have to check that out too see how it does.



Cable is back on and connected at the condo so hopefully I wont be spending any more time fighting Comcast over stupid stuff.

[43longtime]

wow that is nice i want to do something like this to my house. keep up the good work.

[Adragontattoo]

well to revive this thread a bit, I am slowly getting the bits together to do the various parts I want.

Picked up a Evo D51e for free on Friday, it isnt bleeding edge or even last gen but it should work great for the security side of things.

P4 1.9
2gb DDR 2100
80gb PATA
DVD-Rom/CD-R
6 USB 1.1 AFAIK ports
in a SFF case.

It may well end up being the front end for the security side. I have 2 webcams on order from the last Woot-off and one here now so I should be able to cover pretty much every room in the condo with only a few minor tweaks.

Going to put together an older x2 rig for media probably. A64 3800x2 at 2550, 2gb DDR400, HDD are still undecided, Razer soundcard, 7600gt, loaded down in a stacker, undecided PSU.

Home automation side is pretty barren, I havent really looked at it at all since I posted this thread TBH, but I still have ideas I want to get done.

One plan I have is to mount a KB and 15" LCD by the front door to be able to post up weather, shopping lists, To do Lists etc. What I will have to look at with this is can I fish a VGA cable that far, and will my wireless KB make it to there as well. Though I just had an alternative idea using the little D51e and a USB wireless.

Work has pretty much overpowered my ability to do almost anything here at home as of late (2 jobs 6 days a week) so my tinkering has been pushed almost OFF the table.

[Ninth]

Concerning your dislike of wireless. Just some stats to think of.

Running a relatively high powered pc, you can crack a WPI with packet sniffing/monitoring given about 2-3 days.

Change your WPI encryption every day, and have all of your machines dongled to the same set of passcode-switches, and you have a network far more secure than anyone really would be able to crack more conveniently than splicing a wire.

Other than that, fsking awesome idea. Wishing I was out of college and had my own house so I could do something similar.

[Adragontattoo]

to crack my wired you have to get into my condo and onto my network.

Wireless you just have to be in range.

you could do the same thing in college.

Just dont drill holes etc..

[Adragontattoo]

Ok after doing a bit of research it looks like I may be going with a test run of LinuxMCE for the webcam side at least. Basing off reading info and a few vids it appears that LinuxMCE will control lighting (Zwave) and webcams via the OSD.

I will be downloading it to test this feature out.

Time to look into Zwave as well, also looking into seeing if my Harmony will work with Zwave.

DAGNABIT I KNEW I should have gotten the 890 instead..

grrr..

The 550 does not work with Zwave it seems, time for more research.

[Silversinksam]

Forgot to mention this earlier

One easy way to extend the range of view for the webcam/security cam is to simply add a remote control pan option to any webcam or security camera.

I got my remote camera panner from Compgeeks, but they are sold out. So I found you two other choices if you decide they would be a good fit for you.

This is the one I have (http://search.ebay.com/Remote-Control-Camera-Pan_W0QQdfspZ32QQfromZR40QQssPageNameZRC0024QQ_trk sidZp1638Q2em120)

X10 makes one as well (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=++X10+Ninja+Pan+%26+Tilt+Camera+Mount++), but its a bit bulky on the remote side

[Adragontattoo]

Thanks Cody, though it appears that with no other posts you may be shilling for them.

still trying to figure out a few backend things prior to getting this moving (yes I know, 6 months later and still no movement).

I figured out I need to decide on the backend HW first (evo d51e is a debate just becasue of size). Once, I figure out the HW, I will get moving on what I want to do in reality vs what I just want to do.

[Adragontattoo]

Thanks James but this is DIY not prebuilt.

I know I will probably have to incorporate SOME prebuilt into the mix but I would prefer to minimize it as much as possible.

Though it does appear that I may have to move more towards XP with addons rather then Linux. I would prefer to avoid MS if at all possible but Im not sure that I will be able to, unless I decide to write my own drivers and OS. Neither of which I honestly know how to do.

*edit*

TWENTY TWO GRAND???

It better come with a personal bodyguard for that cost.

[Adragontattoo]

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008/01/server-farm-right-in-your-living-room.html

well looking to use this instead of the current smoothwall in the entertainment center and to also migrate over a few other rigs as well.

Ill just need a second 15" LCD as the other one is the bedroom monitor.

Lets see here:

5 port KVM
Fileserver (in process running Unraid eventually)
Smoothwall
the P3 500 for network monitoring
and possibly another rig for VM server

Need to get a Gigabit switch still...
Ill need a new AP instead of using the current Linksys which annoys me
Rackmount KVM with KB control so less button mashing

Damn this plan...

Im still trying to work on the Webcam security aspect but so far out of all of the SW I have tried, none have impressed me much, I may end up getting the X10 SW and using it as it seems to be the best of what I have tried overall (old job used X10 for security).

[Albaholic]

Nice to see that this project is still alive :)

[Silversinksam]

Ill just need a second 15" LCD as the other one is the bedroom monitor.



On my to do list is to disassemble my Kawasaki DVD (http://www.shopping.com/xPO-kawasaki-Kawasaki-9-Portable-DVD-Player-PVS10921) player and salvage the 9" screen to use it as an extra security monitor. Keep procrastinating though as it probably will be a headache, but I'll get around to it eventually :beer:

[Adragontattoo]

Well instead of saving some money but waiting for an unknown period of time, I raided Home depot for some parts.

I need to head back over to get another 6 port plate, a few phone jacks, a couple cable jacks, cable crimps and a feeder rod so I can redo the CATV line but the project is under way. I am probably going to drive down to Ikea tomorrow to look around, and pick up a few things for the project.

House is starting to come together but I am also in the middle of redoing a bunch of stuff that may result in a redo of a bunch of stuff.

(pulling down 2 tanks, getting rid of 4)

[rxtrom]

I have alot of faceplates, ports (cat5/3/catv) cat5, special Y connectors, adapters etc. Left over form my smartHome project when we bought our home. We built it so before they insulated I went crazy. Anyway I have alot of that stuff left over. If you do not mind waiting 2 days to get it I can send some down to you. Just let me know what you need. HD is expensive for that stuff. Most of it can be shipped first class for cheap.

Do not be afraid to use cat5 for the phone runs and then use cat5 jacks. Wire it up to the phone block and not the switch. Later on you can convert it if needed to data.

Got any pics of the place?

[Adragontattoo]

The place is tiny. Literally I will be running a 6" line between the two plates. I am currently only wiring up the main room and the bedroom.

My condo overall is 840sf so regardless it isnt huge by any means.

[Adragontattoo]

Well after thinking a bit more I have come up with another item I want to add in to the current setup.

I am building a fileserver for the condo, which will probably end up running Samba/shares for the various systems in my Condo.

Plan/Current setup so far is as follows.

1 XP rig (gaming and work)
1 Kubuntu rig (migrating to using it more often then the XP rig)
1 SFF Compaq desktop (the bedroom PC/guest PC)
1 Laptop for bumming on the couch (needs new HDD and new Touchpad)
1 p3500 laptop for kitchen use and various other uses
1 Smoothwall rig that will be getting rebuilt within the next two weeks (2u case, cant remember current config).
1 Additional 1u server that is coming in today (p3 800, needs new HDD, 1gb PC133 ECC), undecided fate at the moment, may well handle web control duties.

I am looking at trying to offload some of the ad blocking duties to a seperate machine in order to minimize the delay in opening FF, at the moment my blocklist is large enough that I am sitting at about a 20 second delay after clicking open.

I also want to look into an ACL for my network beyond a simple WEP key, I am probably just going to run an ACL for my network and only allow the MAC addresses for the machines I have at the moment.

It isnt perfect but i figure between only allowing 8 total IP's, the MAC filter, and a WEP key that should limit any potential intrusions by anyone who isnt determined.

[Jolly-Swagman]

I am looking at trying to offload some of the ad blocking duties to a seperate machine in order to minimize the delay in opening FF, at the moment my blocklist is large enough that I am sitting at about a 20 second delay after clicking open.


SmoothWall can Handle that too, with Adzap Mod installed, can be found here http://community.smoothwall.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=26346

Put your Wifi on a Purple network,

[Adragontattoo]

SmoothWall can Handle that too, with Adzap Mod installed, can be found here http://community.smoothwall.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=26346

Put your Wifi on a Purple network,

I figured it could but wasnt sure what addon would do that and was too lazy to actually look..

Works for me!

Thanks.

Now to go back to checking out the new server

[Bobnova]

I realize this is 2.5 years old, but I'm curious as to what ended up happening. Plus it'd go really well in the overclocked homes forum section now :D

[fventura03]

x2