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Post by AudioHTIT on Jun 1, 2016 8:53:09 GMT -5
Interested to see what developers do with Apple's HomeKit, the SDK is rumored to be included with iOS 10 this fall.
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Post by creimes on Jun 1, 2016 9:14:11 GMT -5
I'm to broke to get into the smart home territory haha, I do have a $50 Harmony 650 remote hahaha, I have seen a $80,000 Colorado Vnet home automation system in a customers home when I was installing TV/Inet service, pretty cool but pretty expensive in my world.
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Post by monkumonku on Jun 1, 2016 9:35:23 GMT -5
I'm pretty dumb.. all I have is a universal remote for the audio and visual components.
This is the future:
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Post by millst on Jun 1, 2016 10:09:32 GMT -5
Mine is pretty much all custom. Better security and one app instead of a hodgepodge.
-tm
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guitarforlife
Sensei
Just another busy day in Northern Wisconsin.
Posts: 947
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Post by guitarforlife on Jun 1, 2016 10:45:51 GMT -5
I have a dozen remotes and nothing else. I have nothing and want nothing.
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Post by petew on Jun 1, 2016 12:14:43 GMT -5
Insteon lighting.
Universal Devices ISY994 lighting controller.
Rachio irrigation controller.
Harmony One remote for the living room.
iTach gateways
iRule remote for the theater (also turns on my central vac when I'm working in the shop with the non switched vac hose)
SONOS (four play:connect and a set of play:one speakers)
KODI running on an HTPC and two Amazon Fire boxes
unRaid server (music and movies)
HD Homerun DVR beta - currently running on HTPC, will move to Docker on the unRaid box
Future fiddling:
Move the living room and bedroom to iRule.
Hack my Carvin power sequencer to add IP control (for iRule)
Get a grip on ubiquiti mPower power strips (also for iRule control of power amps and the shop dust collector)
Figure out IP controllable relays to run my outdoor lighting
Build a screen masking system with IP control for the theater.
And a bunch of stuff I haven't thought of yet.
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Post by AudioHTIT on Jun 1, 2016 12:27:54 GMT -5
... Rachio irrigation controller. ... How do you like this? We have a remote control unit now (can't remember name), but my wife is always struggling with distance. It would be nice to create and change schedules as well as remote control via WiFi. Looks like it has nice sensors too, good for minimizing water usage? |
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Post by petew on Jun 1, 2016 14:37:14 GMT -5
... Rachio irrigation controller. ... How do you like this? We have a remote control unit now (can't remember name), but my wife is always struggling with distance. It would be nice to create and change schedules as well as remote control via WiFi. Looks like it has nice sensors too, good for minimizing water usage? I've only had the box for a month or so. It seems to make good decisions about when to water, although I still need to tweak a few settings. Both the web app and iOS app have a few rough spots but generally function well. I'm not using any sensors, although I would like to add a flow meter at some point. They're expensive though, and installation of a sensor will be a bear with my setup. Remote control will work via LTE or wifi. It seems to work through Rachio's servers, not direct to the controller. The company is small and nimble. I was having trouble getting my controller working, but didn't have time to diagnose it. A couple of days later when I attacked it again, the setup software had been changed and my installation went without a hitch. I believe they saw the problem from their end and fixed it. All in all, highly recommended. |
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Post by indyscammer on Jun 1, 2016 14:42:21 GMT -5
I only my have a universal remote. Pretty dumb home. Mark Me too. |
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klinemj
Emo VIPs 
Official Emofest Scribe
Posts: 15,098
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Post by klinemj on Jun 1, 2016 16:59:37 GMT -5
I only my have a universal remote. Pretty dumb home. Mark I thought you had Sonos throughout the house? I do...just noticed the "distributed audio" option, and that is Sonos! So, my house just rose above single digits house IQ! Technically, I can remotely set up recordings on Time Warner Cable from an app, but I have not found the app to work well, so I don't use it. On the day of this stuff, I just honestly don't see that value in it. I hope nobody takes that as me bad mouthing such systems, I don't mean that at all. I just don't get it. A universal remote and Sonos through the house...I get. The rest...not. Mark |
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Post by jlafrenz on Jun 1, 2016 18:02:53 GMT -5
I thought you had Sonos throughout the house? I do...just noticed the "distributed audio" option, and that is Sonos! So, my house just rose above single digits house IQ! Technically, I can remotely set up recordings on Time Warner Cable from an app, but I have not found the app to work well, so I don't use it. On the day of this stuff, I just honestly don't see that value in it. I hope nobody takes that as me bad mouthing such systems, I don't mean that at all. I just don't get it. A universal remote and Sonos through the house...I get. The rest...not. Mark Some is a matter of cinvinience and some is a matter of security or a mixture of both. I wanted the front porch lights on a timer as my wife works nights and it is always a pain to see the door lock when coming home at night. This way I don't have to remember to turn them on/off every day. The benefit of Lutron is that I was able to expand it to some other lights in my house. Being able to turn the the light and fan on/off in the master is purely convenience. For the garage door control (yet to be installed), I had my truck broken into in my driveway very recently. Apparently I left the doors unlocked. Anyway, if this were to happen and that person was able to get to my garage door opener in my truck, they would gain entry to more of my stuff and possibly my house. I want to go to app based to avoid this possibility. |
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Post by pallpoul on Jun 1, 2016 18:20:59 GMT -5
I thought you had Sonos throughout the house? I do...just noticed the "distributed audio" option, and that is Sonos! So, my house just rose above single digits house IQ! Technically, I can remotely set up recordings on Time Warner Cable from an app, but I have not found the app to work well, so I don't use it. On the day of this stuff, I just honestly don't see that value in it. I hope nobody takes that as me bad mouthing such systems, I don't mean that at all. I just don't get it. A universal remote and Sonos through the house...I get. The rest...not. Mark
Mark,
The value really shines when your smart home system, allows you to control all the features from your cell phone or tablet.
To mention a few:
Answer gate callers, and chat with them in real video time, and open/close gate from anywhere in the world using your cell phone.
Control your security system: arm, disarm, send distress code, and view all house cameras in real time, and record/snap image, or upload files.
Control you home theater with one press of the button: lighting scenes, video choice, audio choice, projector,...
Control all inside lights, together or individually, on/off/dim.
Control all outside lights and set up scenes, choose timer on/off, control pool lights and jets, control hot tub lights and jets and temperature.
Control audio, throughout the house, or individual room, same for video, choose source: satellite, apple TV, Sonos, tuner, BD, CD, etc,..
Open and close garage doors, and set them to close automatically after a while in case you forget to do so when leaving the house.
Control the windows shades, with scenes choices to ur liking, open/close, darken the rooms or let the light in.
Perform all above tasks, and then some, from your cell phone, or tablets, FROM HOME, OR HALF WAY ACCROSS THE WORLD.
These are few to mention...I am sure I forgot some too.
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Post by vneal on Jun 1, 2016 18:24:51 GMT -5
Don't like UNIVERSAL REMOTES. Weird but I prefer using the ones that come with the unit
I have a dumb analog house
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klinemj
Emo VIPs
Official Emofest Scribe
Posts: 15,098
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Post by klinemj on Jun 1, 2016 19:08:36 GMT -5
jlafrenz and pallpoulI understand all those thing can be done. But I just don't really see the value. I live in a very safe area so the security aspects are not a big deal at all. And, for lighting when we come home, the garage lights on the opener comes on when we open the door. And the hot tub doesn't need lights on or jets on unless I am getting in...and when I do, the buttons to turn them on are right there. Beyond that, I am the kind that turns a light on or off as I enter or leave a room. I don't like to waste energy for lighting when I am not in a room. So, that aspect...no...goes against my ecofriendly nature. And,I designed my house so all switches are conveniently located. They are even at hip level so I don't have to raise a hand to reach them. Net, understand what it can do...just not meaningful to me. Mark
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Post by AudioHTIT on Jun 3, 2016 23:29:08 GMT -5
... For the garage door control (yet to be installed), I had my truck broken into in my driveway very recently. Apparently I left the doors unlocked. Anyway, if this were to happen and that person was able to get to my garage door opener in my truck, they would gain entry to more of my stuff and possibly my house. I want to go to app based to avoid this possibility. Have you picked any components for this? I'm looking at a momentary contact switch and tilt sensor, hopefully it would allow the 'Open' activity to only open if the sensor showed it closed, and the "Close" only close if the sensor showed it open? |
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LCSeminole
Global Moderator 
Res firma mitescere nescit.
Posts: 20,864
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Post by LCSeminole on Jun 4, 2016 0:07:20 GMT -5
My new Chamberlin garage door opener has a MyQ SmartPhone control app but I've yet to get around to trying it out but for now I'll just keep using the HomeLink built into my car. My HVAC also has an app for use with my iPhone, but I've already programmed the thermostat with all the on/off times/temps so I guess I'm just going to have to set aside some time. Like many others here, the URC commands the home theater.
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Post by jlafrenz on Jun 5, 2016 18:46:15 GMT -5
... For the garage door control (yet to be installed), I had my truck broken into in my driveway very recently. Apparently I left the doors unlocked. Anyway, if this were to happen and that person was able to get to my garage door opener in my truck, they would gain entry to more of my stuff and possibly my house. I want to go to app based to avoid this possibility. Have you picked any components for this? I'm looking at a momentary contact switch and tilt sensor, hopefully it would allow the 'Open' activity to only open if the sensor showed it closed, and the "Close" only close if the sensor showed it open? I bought the kit that has the gateway and the opener that replaces a standard button as my garage door isn't actually a MyQ unit. I haven't got around to installing it yet so I am not sure what all I can set it up to do. I do know that it should show you the current status of your garage door though. |
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