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So apparently, while we were away on a recent trip, our pool timer decided to stop working. So, I took this opportunity to automate the pool. I wanted to do two things - automate the pool light so that I don’t have to go back to the equipment to turn it on, and automate the pool pump so that the times can vary depending on the time of year without me having to set that stupid mechanical timer!
So, I headed over to smarthome.com and purchased 2 Insteon Relays for the light and pump switch, an Insteon TimerLinc to control the pump and light WITHOUT having to setup my automation server yet… and a really sweet 6 button keypad to replace my single porch light switch. I even sprang for the custom etched buttons!
Well, everything showed up on Wednesday, so I headed out to the pool equipment to start wiring in the relays. Wouldn’t you know it? The pump is a Double Pole, Single Throw switch (220V), and the Relay I bought was a SINGLE Pole switch 
So, no automated the pump just yet. However, the pool light switch was swapped out with no issues - and now I can remotely control my pool light.. as well as automate the times.
Just one thing - the bozos in the warehouse shipped me an APPLIANCE module instead of the 6 button switch (how do you make that mistake). So, I have to wait another week or so to straighten that out and get my sweet 6 button panel installed!
Yep, I did it… I took the plunge and bought a MacBook Pro 17″, along with Parallels software. I’m now doing all of my development in virtual machines on the MBP… and it’s actually faster than running it native on my HP Quad Processor 64bit machine (probably because of the Vista version I was running).
This machine is SWEEEEET. 6.6 pounds of pure computing power. And you know what? It just WORKS… everything went together so well. There’s no doubt that OS X is an awesome OS… and since the MBP will also run Windows… why would I run a PC?
My PCs are now going to be relegated to running server software.. which is great for me, because I’m going to need a dedicated automation server very soon 
Recently, I purchased an HP MediaSmart EX485 running Windows Home Server. What an awesome machine… it comes with 4 internal SATA bays, and an external SATA connection, as well as USB 2.0 ports. The case is very small… basically the size of 5 hard drives high, 6 inches wide and 8 inches deep… a very nice size. It comes with a 750GB hard drive. Read more…
So, it’s been a little while since I posted. I had a major contract to wrap up, and then the economy came along and put a halt to just about everything. But, now that’s all sorted out - it’s time to focus again on home automation!
I attempted to get mControl installed, but strange things kept happening. My CCF codes kept getting corrupted… so one minute, I’d have the system setup to turn the plasma screen on and off, and the next minute, it wouldn’t work anymore. Those sorts of issues early on in the project, coupled with the fact that the UI was sorely in need of some modification, led me to rethink my direction.
Read more…
Ok, I’ve found the software that I will be using…. it’s mControl from Embedded Automation.
This system is written in Microsoft .Net (and I just happen to be a .Net developer)… it also works with all of the devices I already have or plan to purchase. One thing I’ll need to concentrate on is a good UI for the A/V stack in my living room. It’s not just enough to have my iPhone work as a remote control, with a few macros - I’d like it to be able to display a list of all of my online movies for example, and let me choose which to watch. Or… display logos for the different channels on DirecTV instead of having to move through the guide to remember the channel number.
mControl’s server has a built in webserver that will allow any web browser capable of running javascript to control the system. And surprise! They just came out with an iPhone interface… which is perfect for me
I’m also looking at picking up a Nokia800 Tablet PC to use for a controller in the living roomw, and mControl will be capatible with that as well.
And, since this is done in .Net, I will have little problem laying out webpages, or writing custom control modules for it.
Finally, they’ve recently released an mControl add-In for Windows Home Server… and I just received my 120 day eval of WHS today! So… looks like my system will be a Windows Home Server running mControl!
Let the games begin!
Still Waiting!
Well, I think I’ve given the folks at Cinemar MORE than enough time to help setup my MLServer, but their “CIO” has completely blown me off. He was all excited about working with me to get it working so that we could have a case study online of it’s use… but I guess that was all just smoke up my skirt!
Anyway… I’ll be jumping back into this in January on my own. I’ll be researching various pieces of software and hardware to use, and figuring out how to integrate it all. Should be a really interesting journey of discovery - so stay tuned!
Well, I’m still waiting to setup my MLServer. The CIO has promised to connect to my machine and check out the configuration, but to date, I’ve heard nothing from him. I hope this isn’t an indication of how “well” their customer service is. If I don’t have this configured by next weekend, I may have no choice but to find another automation controller to use as the basis for my system!
I’ve spent a couple of hours this morning installing and configuring the MainLobby Server by Cinemar on my controller server. It was fairly easy to install - they have a wizard that allows you to choose what parts you want installed, which device drivers you will need, etc. Then it starts downloading and installing.
I installed the core components (which gives you quite a bit), and then I added a driver for my global cache. I also added the DirecTV driver; I’m hoping that I can control my HR21 via the RS-232 interface on my GC-100. That will give me the ability to use IR Port 3 as inbound, in case my wife decides to use a generic remote (she’s not thrilled that I’m going to use the iPhone to control everything - she doesn’t have one ). Read more…
I just received my Global Cache GC-100 today from Smarthome.com. I’m surprised at how small it is!
I’ve already wired it up (simple really - an AC adapter, a network cable, and 3 IR emitters stuck on the front of my TV controller, my Bose 3-2-1, and my DirecTV HR21 DVR).
The next step is to begin installing software to control the A/V stack. I’m going to be working with Cinemar’s MainLobby server. They just released their iPhone interface over the weekend, so everything is right on time!
Check back soon - I’lm hoping to have the automation working by Thursday!
Well, so the DirecTV installer showed up on Friday and installed two rooms for High Definition DVR. I have a pre-wired house, with centralized wire closet, so my wife and I pulled 2 runs of dual RG6 cable last weekend in anticipation of this install. The cable was an awesome deal - I got it from CablesForLess - 500 feet on a REAL spool for $99 (it was a closeout).
I had also purchased a 75′ HDMI cable from them so that I could place the tuner in the closet, and run the cable to the TV through the attic. Alas, it was not to be. I don’t think an OompaLoompa could crawl through my attic! Read more…
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