home automation

[stc_bennett]

Hi all,

has anyone on here got any home automation equipment in there homes. Like hifi distribution throughout the home, home networking, lighting controls etc

I am sorted with the home networking as that is installed, but does anyone have any recomendations on lighting controls?? i have been looking at the QED systemline range to get audio in all rooms.

I have been speaking to some hifi shops, but they are wittering on about cr@p that i dont want... get this hifi DVD cd player, amplifier etc i already have a decent setup but just want the soud distributed around the house.

any advice appriciatd

Steve

[Agent006]

I've been planning the same kind of thing for a while now. Give www.touch-media.co.uk/ a try. They seem to be the most elegant solution. Their audio distributon can work from any source.

>> Edited by Agent006 on Sunday 29th December 17:36

[ErnestM]

I have some home automation stuff set up and run off of the computer (mostly lighting). This site, while being a US site, may be able to help you with direction...

www.smarthome.com

ErnestM

[alan_driver]

I've got a remote light switch / dimmer in my room. Not a fully automatic thing, fairly bog standard. the remote is capable of operating 4 lights, with dimmer function. Easy to install, cost for one switch was about £35 from maplins. I think even Argos do similar products thesedays.

[Harrigan]

Also check out what you can do with X10...

www.letsautomate.com/
www.simplyautomate.com/

Harrigan

[tvrforever]

Well when we had out house built 5 years ago I had the full works put in :-

QED SystemLine 4 + controllers in 4 rooms
Linn ceiling speakers in dining room & conservatory
Leuve 32" Planus TV
Denon multi-region DVD
640+ meters of QED biwire speaker cable
Hirschmann AV, UHF & FM 9 channel house distribution system
Cat-5 network & phone cabling
Assorted IR control widgets and interconnects
All 'AV sources' output available from lounge into any room / TV

Cost just under 5 figures for all the gear and it's cabling, install and config.

Overall very happy with it but... :-

1) Get proper install plans & docs
2) Company did a great job but then went under... Now need to find somebody who can fix the hirschmann (pictures go odd when cold outside)
3) Never used the network cabling as 802.11b replaced the need
4) Never used the phone cabling as DECT replaced the need
5) TV is stunning - made by Linn just awesome
6) Sound in all rooms is great but kind of expensive
7) Make sure you've got a good company as these things eat money if not setup and documented properly...
8) Shed load cheaper for cabling when you're building the house than fitting it later!

If was doing it now :-
1) Would ignore the phone & data stuff - just use DSL onto 802.11b & DECT
2) Would have Sky+ setup
3) Would look at MP3 jukebox for the 100s of CDs we've got
4) Would look at DVD jukebox for the 100s of DVDs we've got

Oh and have a look at Cedia's www site as they're the organisation for all this stuff.

Fancy a laugh at it at it's worse? Visit Orange's "home of the future" in Herts... hmmmm

Hope that helps

(Oh and yes I am in the technical side of the entertainment industry)

[craigw]

I haven't gone quite so mad but when we moved into our new house last year I had Bose surround sound connected in the lounge with a 32inch philips design line tv, 6 disc changer etc etc, this links to the kitchen and bedroom where I also have a 42 inch plasma screen, no wires are visible & can have seperate sources in lounge to the bedroom, ie a movie on downstairs & cd etc upstairs. Works pretty well. Would like the lighting done too.

[Rich-UK]

Try the Crestron or Lutron websites, or speak to a home automation specialist like Martin-Kleiser or a member of CEDIA (Custom installation specialist asociation).

[Rich-UK]

Try the Crestron or Lutron websites, or speak to a home automation specialist like Martin-Kleiser or a member of CEDIA (Custom installation specialist asociation).

[fatsteve]

Whats the sound quality like for ceiling mounted speakers compared with standard shelve / floor standing jobbies?

I fancy this kind of setup in my next house (which is a self build). Ceiling mounted speakers and the hidden cabling really interests. Had a look Opus Technologies, any good?

Steve

[incorrigible]

Steve,

I'd be interested to see how you get on, I'm doing a conversion (hopefully) this year and need as much info as poss regarding this

Ben

[stc_bennett]

incorrigible said: Steve,

I'd be interested to see how you get on, I'm doing a conversion (hopefully) this year and need as much info as poss regarding this

Ben

Hi Ben Just wonder which steve you were on about??

I have got all of the source components DVD CD Tuner Amps AC-3, DTS etc just trying to figure out which system to use, i may end up using a system from QED.

As some of you know i am still trying to move to my new house without success. I have decided to pull out of buying the farm house and land for now, and will be moving to a small 2/3 bed house till i can find someone who wants to sell there house.

The system i think i will be putting in will be the QED system Line 4.4, uses CAT5 cable to all of the wall keypads, so simple and cheap on that front but will need long speaker cable to go to each set of speakers in each room. a 6 Zone Lutron light switch will be used to control all of the Lights downstairs, Hall Living, Kitchen, Conseratory.

With Regards to wall/ceiling mount speakers they are v.poor quality compaired to entry level bookshelf/standmount speaker. They are good for background sound but v. dissapointing. Advice on the alternatives for ceiling mount try the bose acostimast system they sound nice but take some getting use to. they consist of 2 very small cube speakers and a subwoofer that can be hidden away. The cubes provide sound for midrange and tweeters the sub does the bass.

I am looking for a barn conversion or possible self build. I do not like these newly built executive house as they are overpriced and usually put in cheap stuff. I got plans draw up for a self build house anyone know where i can get an estimate on a price???

Cheers

Steve

[incorrigible]

STC, didn't see your name was Steve, sorry

I too am doing a barn conversion (hopefully, as estate agents are a bigger pain in the arse than I could have possibly imagined)

Have done this sort of thing before?

[incorrigible]

stc_bennett said: I am looking for a barn conversion or possible self build. I do not like these newly built executive house as they are overpriced and usually put in cheap stuff. I got plans draw up for a self build house anyone know where i can get an estimate on a price???

Forgot to mention, try "build it" magazine

[stc_bennett]

i aint done nothing like this before just trying to fit it around running my business's, but got a good i dea of what to do, i think been watching home and lesuire a lot. got any pointers or advice??

[dern]

3) Would look at MP3 jukebox for the 100s of CDs we've got

We bought one of these www.slimp3.com/ and it's absolutely superb.

Regards,

Mark

[hughjayteens]

www.prestige-audio.co.uk supplied me with my stuff.
Lutron seem to make the nicest lighting controls - 4 mood settings per room with remote control etc.

The guys you need to speak to is Bob or Barry.

[incorrigible]

stc_bennett said: got any pointers or advice??

I'll have loads this time next year

[stc_bennett]

dern said:

3) Would look at MP3 jukebox for the 100s of CDs we've got

We bought one of these www.slimp3.com/ and it's absolutely superb.

Regards,

Mark

looks ok but how does it work?????????

[chrisjl]

It uses your PC for storage, which streams them to the player. Simply put all of your mp3s (legally obtained from your own CDs, of course!) in the nominated directory, and run Slimp3's server software. The slimp3 sends commands from the remote to the PC, and the PC sends tunes, track titles etc back to the slimp3. Of course, this means you need a network card in your PC, but they're available for <£10
If you want more detail, try www.slimp3.com/products/slimp3/