I'm still very confused on which home automation software is best. I've been using x10 for over 5 years now, and I would consider myself to be a more advanced user. Currently, I am using activehome pro, and I haven't really had any problems with it. However, I am looking for software with more functionality, like conditional macros, etc.

I've purchased a new home and I plan to setup our bonus room with a switchlinc 2386 to allow scenese and dimming by using my HT remote control via the x10 ir module. I also plan to use either the 2386 or the 2380 dimmers throughout the house. I also plan to add some motion sensors, and I want the ability to create conditional macros to deal with planned actions.

I like the web interface that homeseer provides, however the smarthome plus interface seems to be more advanced. I'm really unsure of what software would work best for my needs.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

thanks!

This is entirely hearsay from my perspective - although I personally use Smarthome PLUS, and I'm very satisified - I've never had the need to "push it" past what it was designed to do....and I'm pretty sure it's NOT the "Best". Yes - it's advanced from a "multiple conditions" perspective...but how many conditions make sense when deciding to turn on a light or not? The sequnces feature of PLUS is cool...because you can bundle strings of commands, and repeat them within other strings....but again, this is typically lights we're talking about....how complicated does home lighting need to be really!

If you want remote access, email notification and other "zippy" add-ons...Smarthome is probably not your best solution. I've read (quite often) that Homeseer used with an 1132 series Smarthome device (if your PC runs 24x7) is a very flexible package...not cheap when you build it up - but very capable and expandable. Homeseer apparently has a very active user forum....which you should browse through it at length (if you haven't) to see if it's really the software you're after.

BTW - "Best" is a very subjective word!

[Link: cocoontech.com]

If all you want is conditional events...Freeware. What else do you want to do? You mentioned the Webserver in HS. Many programs do this... or you can even do it yourself.

It really depends on what you want to do ... in the long run.

Take a minute to think of all the things you would/could ever want to automate, and then post it. This will help us be able to narrow the target.

HVAC, IR, Lighting, Irrigation, Cameras? Security? Whole House audio? Window Blinds/Curtains, Touchscreens? Your Car ?

Depending on what type and amount of control you want, will steer you in one direction or the other.

This message was edited by Treetop on 04/23/05 03:55 ET.

In the short run, I want the ability to setup conditional macros with lights throughout the house. I'd like the ability to have some kind of web interface that I can use remotely, and I'd also prefer if possible, to use one of the plc controllers that store the information directly so that the pc is not required to be on 24/7, however this isn't a requirement.

In the long run, I would like to control the HVAC, outside low voltage lighting, irrigation, cameras and security. It would be really cool to control all of that through one interface. Our new home is pre-wired for a hard wired home security system, I'd also be interested to get some recommendations on what security systems people recommend. Again, I'd like to tie this into my x10 system.

Thanks!

Security - ELK M1 Gold !!!
Automatedoutlet has a discount of about $100 for the rest of this month. The Caddx 8E is another one to look at. These two seem to be the most popular.

You also mentioned a stand-alone controller. I would recommend the Powerlinc over the Cm11A (as it can be flaky), But if you want to have rock solid performance and the ability to do many more things, I would highly recommend using an Ocelot.

The one reason I'd suggest Homeseer, is the large user base, which equals tons of plug-ins, scripts, and help. Housebot is another one you may want to look at. CQC, another, but I'm not sure if it has a webserver yet. A lot of HA packages can do all these things if you are good at coding and like to tinker (I use girder, myself, but then again, I'm cheap :)

Since you already have the wiring in place for a security system, I'd begin setting this up first. This will give you a great base to start building from (along with providing -- security), but thats just my opinion.

Scour the Homeseer forums for ideas on products and integration. A lot of HS users also frequent Cocoontech Forums and they may be better at explaining some of the details about HS, the Elk, Cameras, and definelty the Ocelot. Another nice feature is the chat room. Getting help in real-time :)

Good Luck,
Treetop

I've been using HomeSeer (HS) since 1999. From a functional point of view, HS meets my most complex demands and I consider myself an advanced user. I'm not impressed though with its graphical interface (even the Web based one).

To me HS is destined more for the technical crowd. But it lacks some subtilities the power user would appreciate (X10 retries, detect quality, poll time...) and lacks the nicer graphical presentation most users would enjoy (hierarchical presentation of elements such as in Windows Explorer).

One thing I would require is the Plus version of the software which allows complex time/event triggered actions.

As far as I can tell, neither SmartHome nor HS allow for scene programming (I may be wrong, I haven't gone through the entire SmartHome documentation) and SmartHome Manager doesn't allow sending addresses only (HS does) as required when manually programming scenes or more elaborate functions in a module (Ex: clear or membership sequences).

One last thing: SmartHome Manager, at least the Essential version, doesn't install under Windows Server 2003; I'm awaiting an explanation from SmartHome technical on that one.

If I had an elk m1 gold, would I still need an ocelot? Wouldn't the elk sort of replace that? Based on what I have read, the gold is the same as the m1, just adds the ability to do more advanced home automation. I am not sure I understand all the additional benefits.

It appears both models support conditional macros.

thanks!

Yes, the Elk would sortof replace the Ocelot. It was more of a either/or. If you don't go for a security system... look at the ocelot...

The one thing that the ocelot can do that the panel can't is IR, but thats neither here nor there.

As far as the differences between the Standard and Gold models...

"In addition to the vastely increased rules/events you'll have, the M1 Gold also will support many more serial interfaces, phone numbers, thermostats, and input.output devices."
[Link: board.homeseer.com]

I've never reasearched this, so hopefully someone else here can give you more details.

Good Luck,
Treetop

Cool!

got link?

There are so many add-on boards to the Elk system, that I can't keep up

[Link: elkproducts.com]

This would be a HUGE plus!

This message was edited by Treetop on 05/14/05 01:15 ET.

I have to wonder if all you guys above are employees of the models your support. These threads keep popping up from time to time and its the same ole thing.

My opinion:
jduncc - how in the world did you manage to get a working active home pro? I tried three units and they are crap! The user forum concensus is steer clear from active home and all of X10.com / wireless technologies stuff. That stuff is garbage. All of it. Its a great teaser to get you into home automation. But their death chip will run out at about 15months after purchase.

joesam - no problems? can you leave you 1132 plugged into a computer without it loosing time? And as many would say, the "linc" line of products is just more internet crap. They can't even spell the word link! And when Lights going on and off all by themselves, my first question is how many linc units are in your installation, its not the noise its the architecture of cheaply made devices sold to use with fancy website graphics by the appeareance of a large corporation.

cv27 - uhmm the homeseer, what powerline interface do you use with homeseer? Everyone I know stays away from homeseer because of the need to run your pc 7d/24hr/365days etc(forget that lingo)

treetop - elk? to new to me but don't you need a computer engineering degree to program it. and ocelot! ir interface is mandatory for any ht setup. That ocelot must be a workhorse, how long as it been arond without any upgrades. I guess it is still using analog technology!

Which leads us to Home Automation today - its about wireless control with changing rf signals and digital control. If I can get successful in this business (ha is 1/5 of what I design) I would make the jump to anything that is not more than 1 year old. That puts everyone out except for the elk, but no IR, eeks.

So the players that haven't answered: Windows Media Center with Hai's interface and switches; and simply automated Upb switches. To set up all you do is turn on your pc. Its like your whole house is plug-n-play. The computer finds the devices in your home and reports the information back to the pc. All you do is name them!

And my last project, the haunted house from hell, I pulled out every cheap X10.com and smarthome switch and replaced them with Leviton's DHC (the "D" should be digital but it is decora) product line with their exclusive Intellisense Technology along with the Toscana controller. The Toscana is sort of like a stand alone mini pc that only does x10 control a time clock that actually works and can receive ir and trigger scenes, timers etc, etc, it does everything we want the above products to do without have to have a master of computer engineering sciences degree.

ps - I have a ton of X10.com stuff for sale, anyone interested? I know this is not the forum to sell, but they do not work anyway. The deathchip was activated last month.

Whew - that was good to sound off, I hope I did not ruffle to many feathers. I had such high hopes for the AHP and the 1132's but I wasted so much time trying to get them to work for my clients. I have to admit my cm11a's are still chugging along, I have five, and I make changes for my clients I swap them out and use them again. I guess they came out before some idiot developed the deathchip technology.

And my wish list would be for Phillips to mege the timer control from the tsu6000 to that of the tsu7000. Then everything would be way cool and that would be the only product I install!

Augusty,

Get the feeling you've had your share of frustrations. I tend to agree with you on the quality of x10.com stuff. With quality engineering, you get products that are always reliable, well lets say 99% of the time. With crappy engineering, you get products that are reliable let's say 60-70% of the time, on average.

These crappy products can be pretty reliable if all conditions are perfect: they're used in recently built houses with minimal interference and in small numbers; then you'll hear clients say these products are great.

Use those same crappy products in an older house, with an older electric furnace or AC, with powerline intercoms, etc. These users are the ones posting the "why doesn't this work" on forums.

I used to be part of group #2, until I moved into a newly built house; now I'm in group #1, happily working with some crappy products. Mind you I'm slowly swapping out the crappy for better stuff (or so I believe).


And I still use my old CM11a, reliably with HomeSeer. It's tied to my server which is always up: it's my domain controller. In any case, I prefer the macro flexibility of a PC based setup and its logging facility which helps debug the unusual events. But HS is not for everyone, certainly not well suited to the non technical user.

Augusty:

Well now all that said, I can appreciate your point as to X10.Com products, however I will have to defend my Smarthome products especially my 1132CUP. It has never caused me one problem, sending-receving, timer etc. I am very aware that the Smarthome Software is not very in depth in it's offerings. But for a novice like myself with little electronic knowledge I love it. But and I am assuming that you install Home Automation, when devices fail and or do not work as designed it is very frustrating to the customer "who knows less than I" and the installer/service tech. The latter gets his head caved in for "it" not working right. I totally understand the frustration with customers! Like you spoke too, if it all would just plug and play life would be simple, however you throw the human interface in and problems can and will occur. Just my two cents worth.

Don

CQC is an excellent automation package. We do support X-10, but it's not really a big area of emphasis for us. We see it as doomed at this point. There are now too many far more reliable options either available now and/or soon to arrive.

CQC is rock solid and is completely capable of running 24x7. There are nice small systems that have no fans that make good platforms for software based automation systems these days. They have more than enough oomph to run a large automation solution.

We have always sought to make CQC a well balanced product. We don't do everything that every competitor does, but we have a large amount of functionality all under one umbrella, where it is very tightly integrated. This means that you don't have to integrate multiple products, so there's one price and one learning curve and one company to turn to when you have questions. So our product has both the super-slick graphical front end for touch screen interfaces, and an extensive and fully networked back end.

Since we're still identifying things in Augusty's note (I've been away):

1) Yes, 1132CU works connected to the computer as well as not - I thought it might not when you said you had issues months ago- but I've since kept it connected for about 4 weeks with no timer issues.
2) I only have a few "lincs" (spelling notwithstanding) and many more cheaper X-10 modules
3) Lights on/off by themselves...nope.

X-10 is low tech, and many new/more clever and reliable systems are being introduced these days. X-10 signalling needs noise filters on some appliances, phase couplers, etc. to work well. Once that challenge is understood, it can be reliable using 1132CU, or probably anything else (except CM15a....which is a whole other issue).