LinuxMCE

LinuxMCE is a branch of Pluto Home, it looks good, need to investigate more into removing the GUI on the core though, some more info here.

It is based on Kubuntu and utilises Asterisk, Xine, MythTV, Firefox, VideoLAN and SlimServer.

To begin with I will install this on a spare PC with two sound cards for multi-room and have it operate my amp through serial.

I will probably pick up a USB thermometer and USB relay controller.

Also picked up on using RFID to allow your preferences to follow you around the house, this kit looks promising.

N800 as Pluto Orbiter

That's it, I am buying a Nokia n800, and Pluto is looking very good.

Control of Pluto using n800 is available through Maemo Garage and a screenshot here.

So the components I have:

The Core: a dual core SFF PC with 2GB ram and an 160GB disk containing music, always on (also firewall).

Media Director: Have to think about this, maybe single core, solid state SFF PC with dual sound cards.

Orbiter: Nokia n800

Network Attached Storage: a dual core tower PC with 2GB RAM and multiple TB of disk, only on when required for movies

More to follow.

Multiroom Audio

OK, so phase 1 of implementation, my Marantz SR5600 amp supports multiroom audio and control through a serial port...

Firstly I have ordered a second sound-card (Auzentech X-Plosion 7.1 PCI), so I can have "Travis" playing in the living room on sound-card 1 and "Groove Armada" playing outside using sound-card 2 using the same HTPC.

I will pick up and install a pair of suitable speakers.

I haven't decided which playback software to use, initially this will run on Windows Vista.

As for serial port control, I will use this to configure initial inputs, outputs and volume levels on the amp when the music server boots up...

A different tact

The thought of using a standard ethernet or wifi network for the automation signals is stuck in my mind, it would undoubtedly be much more work, for instance:

-A central control PC

-A wireless system controller, like the Nokia n800 in the post below.
-
An Alix (maybe alix3c3) in every room where automation required, these are $140 AUD each, powered using a PoE switch.

-Inexpensive USB cameras, with audio, where required, mainly for motion detection.

-USB thermometer for rooms that need climate control.

USB powered controllable relays, such as this, have linux drivers and are fairly inexpensive, but there seems to be no way to interrogate the state of the relay. If you go to a microcontroller based relay controller the cost goes up and it can't be USB powered. Although you can steal DC power from the Alix, more investigation required. update: something like this may be the ticket.

-A PoE switch, of course, this Alloy one would do nicely.

This madness may pass...

X10

OK so a lot of people use X10 across the home power lines, it does have some limitations but it is inexpensive and flexible, the equipment seems to well supported under Linux. update: the more I think about it a wireless system is the way to go, or standard ethernet cables.

IP cameras

IQEye IP cameras look the biz, but are quite pricey. This will need to be explored a lot more as these cameras in a home setting would be far more useful at night, meaning good sensors, large apertures, possibly lighting and night vision capability.

Gumstix

I am edging towards using the gumstix running Linux as the remote system controller, other options are the i-Pod touch, i-Phone or the Nokia N800 (a big plus is the N800 and N810 is based on Linux). Also Intel UMPC initiative should provide some very nice options.

The Gumstix can be ordered with GPRS/Bluetooth/Wifi/Touchscreen, the downside is powering, encasing and installing the Windowmanager on there will take time and could be tricky...

Misterhouse

Some of the features I am looking for:

• Environmental monitoring
• Multiroom Audio
• Security
  

I would like to be able to control and monitor the environment with a touchscreen.

OK so MisterHouse, or maybe Pluto could be the ticket, it's GPL (free).

Other commercial packages look good Cinemar MainLobby at $179.99 has i-Pod Touch support, Calrad Xlobby, Homeseer (with Krumpy's plugin for expanded RS-232 support) and Promixis Girder.

Lots more research to do.

It begins...

I have just started researching the various home automation systems with a Open Source (free) slant. This is my journey.