BuildingBlock: x10/s10 server van ElekHomica

Post by **Bart** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:04 pm

Hello everybody,
Ill introduce myself shortly. Im relatively new to domotica but Ive read this forum a lot. I love gadgets. Ill be starting installing my components soon. Im planning on starting with the CTX35 and the RFXCOM receiver.
The last few days Ive concentrated on looking for a system I could use as a dedicated domoticaserver, preferably with solidstate memory, fanless. I ran into this product:

http://www.elekhomica.nl/product_info.p ... cts_id=775

Site with more documentation, like hardware: http://www.buildingblock.nl

Building Block is the centre for x10/s10 automation. This small but powerful computer consists of a webserver, SQL-server and PHP-support.

No moving parts, opensource scripting, ready-to-go software. Yeah.

Documentation about the system is available, but nothing about hardware like interface(s) or ports .

Anyone knows anything about this machine? Or heard something about it? Its a good idea, and affordable, I think.

Bart

Post by **MindBender** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:25 pm

English please.

I've read its manual and even though it may be a good idea, I still think it's rather limited in it's capabilities. For this kind of money I would go for an Asus EEE PC with a CTX35 interface and a GSM modem...

Post by **Snelvuur** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:47 pm

Seems nice, but its yet another different language. Most people either use homeseer or "some" use linux.

This would only be yet another programming language to learn to get everything to work.

// Erik (binkey.nl)

Post by **Bart** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:54 pm

Sorry. Translated the text to english.

Post by **Digit** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:28 pm

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by snelvuur
 Most people either use homeseer or "some" use linux.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Or Windows...[8D]

Post by **Bart** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:07 pm

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by MindBender
 English please.

I've read its manual and even though it may be a good idea, I still think it's rather limited in it's capabilities. For this kind of money I would go for an Asus EEE PC with a CTX35 interface and a GSM modem...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I also took a look at the Asus Ee Pc but i'm not enthousiastic about its performance and its screen/resolution. Any other alternatives?

Post by **akhe** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:14 pm

The Microclient from Northtec (http://www.norhtec.com/products/index.html) is very nice and low cost.

Cheers
/Ake
VSCP Team

Post by **Bwired** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:11 pm

Hi Bart
Welcome, did you see these topics
http://www.domoticaforum.eu/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=140 (low power pc)
http://www.domoticaforum.eu/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=570
Regards Pieter

Post by **Bart** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:41 pm

Thanks Pieter,
i've read them now. It's still not what i'm looking for. The Northec's Ake mentioned seems interresting. I'll look into them. I sure want solidstate memory, for low powerconsumption and silentness. And offcourse just because it's possible.

But still, the "off-the-shelf"-concept like this BuildingBrick might attract a lot of people.

Post by **akhe** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:52 pm

I will make the VSCP & Friends stuff (http://www.vscp.org) available on the Nortech later. At least the daemon and a web server. This will allow it to control X10 and some other stuff (as our custom modules http://www.vscp.org/wiki/doku.php?id=vscp_modules ) initially at least. Uses a custom Linux version based on fli4l which makes it easy to build a custom system.

But I think you are right in selecting a turn key system. It is often worth the money. But if you have a lot of time and like to play.....

/Ake
VSCP Team

Post by **TANE** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:58 pm

If you are looking for windows machine...
EWS1700
same concept machine..I'm not sure about the performance of this machine...
If you are going to store info in database (like RFXcom plugin for Homeseer) you need a bit more power.
my experience with 1 ghz VIA CPU was slow for displaying charts...

I'm running Homeseer on my Acer MCE Idea 511
On this machine there are some other machines also running in VMware.

Post by **DJF3** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:20 pm

So how does the buildingblock connect to the powerline? Does it send X10 signals itself? (like a CTX35 with build in computer?) Or did I miss that part of the documentation.

DJ

Post by **Bart** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:53 am

Thanks for the responses.
@Ake: I like to play, but with the startup of a project like this i want things to work a.s.a.p. Mostly to convince my girlfriend of the benefits .....[:)]

So, just want the OS and software to work without tweaking and "prutsing".

By the way, I added an URL to the first post with more information, like the hardware setup. (http://www.buildingblock.nl) Sorry, site is dutch. Still looking for some kind of original. I can't imagine ElekHomica builded it themselves....

Post by **Snelvuur** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:52 am

Still would be nice if someone had one to test, and write a review about it or so..

// Erik (binkey.nl)

Post by **TANE** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:28 am

This product is comparable with the HCB
just checking the specs.

PRO:
Open source

CON
No build in controller like CTX35
High Price
continuity

I agree with Erik first review than trust.