Home Automation - Mainstream price point & functionality?
Discussion
My pleasure, HC2 is a doddle, literally plug and play, no real setup to speak of.
There is a Sonos plug in and quite a few others too and new ones appearing all the time.
I'll update this as I go along, I've also bought Fibaro's new gesture device and will be keen to see how this works.
I'm also considering some glass z-wave programmable light switches by MCO Home and will buy one to have a play with.
I can see the issues from a professional installers point of view but as these are intended to be DIY fit and has an extensive user base already and pretty decent support (which I have used as I couldn't remove some devices) I really do see a future when one can fully automated their house for a couple of grand.
There is a Sonos plug in and quite a few others too and new ones appearing all the time.
I'll update this as I go along, I've also bought Fibaro's new gesture device and will be keen to see how this works.
I'm also considering some glass z-wave programmable light switches by MCO Home and will buy one to have a play with.
I can see the issues from a professional installers point of view but as these are intended to be DIY fit and has an extensive user base already and pretty decent support (which I have used as I couldn't remove some devices) I really do see a future when one can fully automated their house for a couple of grand.
^^^ @jmc180 this is great stuff!
I'm in the middle of a 4,500sqft new build and was just starting to get my head around all this home automation stuff. Your spec and mission seems virtually identical to my own. Standard house layout and 6 beds, integral double garage. So, you have saved me literally months of heartache! Thanks!
Re the cat 6 points - what will they be used for and why are so many needed? (Sorry for noddy question)
I'm in the middle of a 4,500sqft new build and was just starting to get my head around all this home automation stuff. Your spec and mission seems virtually identical to my own. Standard house layout and 6 beds, integral double garage. So, you have saved me literally months of heartache! Thanks!
Re the cat 6 points - what will they be used for and why are so many needed? (Sorry for noddy question)
I'm in much the same boat, but feeling a little small for the party at 3000sqft.. I've been trying to put a lot of effort in around thinking about how the system feels to use (thinking grandparents etc) with scene switches so it feels really natural to use.
I'm just getting to first fix, but we have 2 Uni AP's, 20 zwave controllers, 5 door switches, 7 heatmisers and 4 nest protects to link up. Comms cabinets getting built tonight..
I'm just getting to first fix, but we have 2 Uni AP's, 20 zwave controllers, 5 door switches, 7 heatmisers and 4 nest protects to link up. Comms cabinets getting built tonight..
dmsims said:
Google - maybe
Google have this sewn up if they decide to get on with it.They already have all of the software sat in the Android OS and most of the third party players have apps on Android already, so linking together via API or cloud server should be relatively trivial.
Look at Chromecast for how easy it is once Google setup the interface for third parties. Also look how cheap Chromecast is because all of the tech sits on your phone rather than duplicated in every room. Voice control is there, app control is there and you don't need to buy an 'Alexa' for every room or lose the voice control if you leave the house.
As an example, it's trivial to pick up my phone and tell it to play audio in any of my rooms, or in any of the combinations of rooms that are set up as Chromecast Audio Groups.
The only issue is that there isn't control over the power to my amplifiers, which is where Google need to develop hardware to match and open the software to allow the CC app to control a relay.
That model can easily be scaled up for home automation and hopefully there's a clue in the recent change in App name from Googlecast to 'Home'?
While I'm here, does anyone do a light switch that includes a relay? I'd like to add relay control to my floodlights so I can use my alarm to switch them on.
subirg said:
^^^ @jmc180 this is great stuff!
I'm in the middle of a 4,500sqft new build and was just starting to get my head around all this home automation stuff. Your spec and mission seems virtually identical to my own. Standard house layout and 6 beds, integral double garage. So, you have saved me literally months of heartache! Thanks!
Re the cat 6 points - what will they be used for and why are so many needed? (Sorry for noddy question)
The Cat6 points are to plug in TV's and PC's to stream at full chat (200mbps Virgin) and to take the load off the wireless AP's and reserve them for purely wireless devices.I'm in the middle of a 4,500sqft new build and was just starting to get my head around all this home automation stuff. Your spec and mission seems virtually identical to my own. Standard house layout and 6 beds, integral double garage. So, you have saved me literally months of heartache! Thanks!
Re the cat 6 points - what will they be used for and why are so many needed? (Sorry for noddy question)
They are for the POE Hikvision cameras which are plug and play and can be added as needed.
I may add a PBX and have a IP phone and intercom system throughout the house.
They are for powering the Samsung Galaxy Tab's which will act as door intercoms and control for the automation apps.
They power the Ubiquiti access points and can power additional access points.
To plug in any portable Sonos devices (kids rooms do not have ceiling speakers, a play one is cheaper than just one speaker let alone the amp!)
For a myriad of other reasons that I cannot think of or for products not yet invented
On a more serious note, I have gone a little Cat6 crazy but it is such versatile stuff that it essentially future proofs the house and copper is always better than radio waves!
Cheers
JC
^^^ ahhhh. That explains a lot - thanks! Now that I know what POE means, everything becomes clear. Looks like it'll have to be double cat 6 to every room for me then!
I presume the galaxy tabs can talk to the controller either through the wired cat 6 or via wireless?
How much of this set up did you do yourself vs get a specialist to do? If I get the cables and access points put in by the electricians, can I do the rest?
I presume the galaxy tabs can talk to the controller either through the wired cat 6 or via wireless?
How much of this set up did you do yourself vs get a specialist to do? If I get the cables and access points put in by the electricians, can I do the rest?
Price point for me would be something like £10 per switched socket or dimmer for the hardware. If it's something like a motorised valve, then a fair bit more would seem reasonable. I'd want the system to absolutely not require CAT5/6 all over the place. The bandwidth required for switches, temp sensors, etc is bugger all. Either shove the comms on top of the mains or use a mesh RF protocol. I'd probably not feel burgled if a bridge from that to ethernet was £50. I'd expect integration between devices (e.g. between a switch and a light) to be a high-level thing in software, rather than rely on any low-level compatibility.
I've seen microcontrollers with integrated RF comms being sold for a couple of dollars per unit to consumers, so a £10 price point should be achievable by me buying components and waving my soldering iron around. I'd guess a manufacturer should be able to achieve a RRP around the same level.
I've seen microcontrollers with integrated RF comms being sold for a couple of dollars per unit to consumers, so a £10 price point should be achievable by me buying components and waving my soldering iron around. I'd guess a manufacturer should be able to achieve a RRP around the same level.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yes - I made the mistake of buying the Pro version. Never again. Also, since buying, I have found that the Unifi has a problem with iOS (or rather that Apple, as usual, have a problem with other systems). I would happily ditch Apple products (I hate their control freakery) but for that fact that we already have a load of them, and both mine and Lady F's work insist on issuing us with iPhones, MacBooks and iPads. I'm sure that this is not something that most people whinge about, to be fair...Harry Flashman said:
Won't pick up either the Evohome base pack or any iPhone/iPad. Picks up MacBook Air just fine though! Bizarre - any tips?
Have you got the latest firmware ? https://www.ubnt.com/download/unifiTry turning off Ipv6
But seriously do you really really need Unifi?
t5 is sufficient - ebay them!Having a nightmare with my Ubiquiti kit, was told it's the bees knees but despite having a 200mbps virgin fibre connection, I'm getting low speeds and poor handover between AP's.
I have 2 upstairs either side of the house and one downstairs in the centre. With the cloud controller plugged in to the switch.
Their support is utter pants, this is my IT chap struggling too. May just ditch and go for Draytek.
I have 2 upstairs either side of the house and one downstairs in the centre. With the cloud controller plugged in to the switch.
Their support is utter pants, this is my IT chap struggling too. May just ditch and go for Draytek.
I'm looking at the ubiquiti's as well. The AP AC LR in particular as the Sky router can't quite deliver over the whole house. They reckon on a range of 180m... so one should do it right? then avoiding any handover issues there may be?
Any thoughts? the house is only about 18m * 9m or so.
Any thoughts? the house is only about 18m * 9m or so.
JMC180 said:
Having a nightmare with my Ubiquiti kit, was told it's the bees knees but despite having a 200mbps virgin fibre connection, I'm getting low speeds and poor handover between AP's.
I have 2 upstairs either side of the house and one downstairs in the centre. With the cloud controller plugged in to the switch.
Their support is utter pants, this is my IT chap struggling too. May just ditch and go for Draytek.
How big is your house? (and what are the walls made of)I have 2 upstairs either side of the house and one downstairs in the centre. With the cloud controller plugged in to the switch.
Their support is utter pants, this is my IT chap struggling too. May just ditch and go for Draytek.
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