How to begin and what systems to start with
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 11:01 pm
Hello everybody...
My name is Wouter.
I want to get started on homeautomation but have difficulty choosing a starting setup.
I think I will go for Zwave because of the many ways to expand in the future.
Because my budget is limited I will have to do it 'one socket at a time' though.
At the moment I have a Harmony 895, a Harmony 1100 and the extender that goes with it. And a few click on/click off sockets from elro.
In the next few months/years I want to go all out, from light scenes to automatic doorlocks, Cameras, multiroom climatecontrol and of ourse... energy management.
Very important is, that I want to be able to control everything with my iPhones and iPad from where ever I am.
So out with the harmony and in with the Harmon i .
Here comes the problem though...
Most off the people here have an ICT or electronics background. I don't. I just love gadgets and for me homeautomation is the mother of all gadgets.
I'm ok with a computer, but no programming and stuff. I'm not afraid to try though.
Can anybody tell me what the most userfriendly interface is for Zwave?
Is it easier to start with a complete set like Vera2 and Mios combined with a SQ blaster or is it easier to start with the homeseer software and operate everything from my pc using a usb zwave stick?
The price for homeseer software is almost the same as a Vera2 gateway which has operational software to go with it. so what is the better choice?
I've seen the fibaro gateway. I love that interface on the iphone, but i don't see why that one should be 500 euro instead of 200 for Vera. Is there really a big difference?
Also, can anyone tell me if the fibaro dimmer can be placed behind an existing dimmer, so i can use this manually and automated?
I have a lot of dimmers installed in the house now and would hate to have to throw them all away.
I mean to go for the fibaro switches because than i can keep my exsisting switches which are all the same.
I know... a lot of questions... but that's how I feel right now. Just need a little bit of advice from more experienced users to get started in the right direction, from there i'll pick up and go.
I hope you can give me some good advice.
Best regards,
Wouter
My name is Wouter.
I want to get started on homeautomation but have difficulty choosing a starting setup.
I think I will go for Zwave because of the many ways to expand in the future.
Because my budget is limited I will have to do it 'one socket at a time' though.
At the moment I have a Harmony 895, a Harmony 1100 and the extender that goes with it. And a few click on/click off sockets from elro.
In the next few months/years I want to go all out, from light scenes to automatic doorlocks, Cameras, multiroom climatecontrol and of ourse... energy management.
Very important is, that I want to be able to control everything with my iPhones and iPad from where ever I am.
So out with the harmony and in with the Harmon i .
Here comes the problem though...
Most off the people here have an ICT or electronics background. I don't. I just love gadgets and for me homeautomation is the mother of all gadgets.
I'm ok with a computer, but no programming and stuff. I'm not afraid to try though.
Can anybody tell me what the most userfriendly interface is for Zwave?
Is it easier to start with a complete set like Vera2 and Mios combined with a SQ blaster or is it easier to start with the homeseer software and operate everything from my pc using a usb zwave stick?
The price for homeseer software is almost the same as a Vera2 gateway which has operational software to go with it. so what is the better choice?
I've seen the fibaro gateway. I love that interface on the iphone, but i don't see why that one should be 500 euro instead of 200 for Vera. Is there really a big difference?
Also, can anyone tell me if the fibaro dimmer can be placed behind an existing dimmer, so i can use this manually and automated?
I have a lot of dimmers installed in the house now and would hate to have to throw them all away.
I mean to go for the fibaro switches because than i can keep my exsisting switches which are all the same.
I know... a lot of questions... but that's how I feel right now. Just need a little bit of advice from more experienced users to get started in the right direction, from there i'll pick up and go.
I hope you can give me some good advice.
Best regards,
Wouter