Video/ audio distribution and home automation

MS Windows *is* proprietary.

Myth does about anything Windows Media Centre does, and more.

You could use something like a chipped XBox as the set-top box, it will decode streaming audio/video from the network, or you could use a less powerful terminal (eg a Chip PC contained in a network port and powered over ethernet) as a remote display using NX / freeNX

Forget implementing security and fire alarm as a home designed system - you won't be able to demonstrate compliance with any standards.

Owain

Seconded. My mythtv setup has been my only video recorder (and photo gallery, music player, arcade machine, etc, etc) for a couple of years now. Not exactly plug and play, but this is uk.d-i-y.

On Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:53:59 +0100, Owain mused:

Much better to implement decent standalone security but with links to your home automation to provide information on its status. Some systems will do a reasonable job of home automation too, but only if fitted by someone who knows what they're doing!

I currently have one of these; on the list of things to fit.

May not be much help with the wiring but I can recommend

I can also go along with the recommendation of a chipped Xbox. Can't remember the last time I played a game on mine but it's great for streaming media to the TV.

That's not at all bad in terms of what it does for the price - looks simple to use as well

Here's a few websites with some good info about home automation and media distribution:

Now that I saw that little board posted above I'm having other thoughts about how to wire my house. :-)

On the home automation, there are vendors here in the US that offer a full set of accessories. Here's one of them that I am considering right now:

Here's some info about products that let you do all this:

My sister is doing a self-build at the moment and was quoted 20k-Euro for a similar service. I saw the company at a trade show a couple of months later and their 'solution' consisted of CT-100 satellite cable and Cat-5/6 twisted pair run throughout the house connecting a couple of pieces of kit which consisted of

Multi-Media - Living-Control -

Seems they what they were doing was little more than a big lego-kit

These docs will cover that bit in detail:

The "Infinite" system that TLC sell also does lots of home automation and monitoring stuff if you add the required modules to it:

For streaming stuff between PCs you can also look at VideoLAN

On 24 Apr 2007 07:34:09 -0700, snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com mused:

That's just some company reselling low end products. There are companies that will do a proper job.

It's cheaper from CPC, and they also have it further reduced on special offer from time to time.

I've fitted out a couple of houses using Cytech Comfort alarm system, which is designed to also provide home automation, which I use for heating, lighting, ventilation, etc.

I wouldn't worry too much about compliance for home security. I have deliberately not informed my insurance company about my alarm, as doing so would save me the grand total of fifteen pounds a year, but put me at risk of a vastly reduced payout should I be burgled while the alarm has accidentaly been left off or if "official" maintenance is not up to date.

SteveW

On Wed, 25 Apr 2007 11:55:19 +0100, Steve Walker mused:

I'd check the small print. If you have an alarm and don't declare it the insurance co can refuse to payout if it failed to perform in some way or if you didn't set it as you would have not taken care to ensure that all reasonable measures were taken to secure the property.