Home Automation Domotica Forum Europe, Bwired Forum

Hi all !

I am Niels from The Netherlands. Working as a Sr. Service engineer at a big telecom provider.
So it is not that unfamiliar that I like automation. Did some controls at home with Klik aan Klik uit.
Also have a Visionic Powermax+ property protection unit.

A colleague of me pointed me to BWired and then came onto this forum.
Pieter from BWired inspired me with the possibilities in home automation.

Long time ago I had a webserver running. Built a relay board on the paralell port to switch a light via a website. There was a cam pointed on the lighted area where I was building my motorcycle.
This idea came from XS4all. An internet provider. They had a christmastree where you could switch lights.
Lot of views from all over the world and lot of fun!

All these small seperated things I would like to combine a few things.

Parts used now are a VMware ESXi 4.0 server.
Ethernet to USB server.
Synology DS109 NAS
Mediaportal mediacenter + slave unit in the bedroom.
Klik aan Klik uit.
Visionic Powermax plus porperty protection.
Partially wired and wireless network.
3 phase mains power (can be a problem when communicating over the power lines as I have read)

Have seen a few solutions to combine the things with a RFX kit that can be connected to ethernet.
Lot of USB solutions.

Since I am a Windows oriented engineer ( Linux OK, but not my thing.... Too much time needed to learn) I would like to controll my things on Windows.

Which options do I have to connect all the hardware and which software?

Developing can be an option but not in the steps.
My programming skills are in HTML/PHP. So a webinterface should be no problem.

Where to go now and what to buy not....

Hi niels, Welcome to the forum.


I think homeseer is great,its easy to setup
And u can run scripts.
Combine with plugwise,rfxcom for electricity, water and gas usage,infrared,alarm,
Camera's etc etc.

Greetings
Edwin

I will try Homeseer and see what it can.

Also will buy a RFXcom transceiver for controlling my Klik aan Klik uit.
Maybe I get a Plugwise Basic system too to measure all the high energy consumers and control them too.

Is the Plugwise package still sending 'anonymous' data to the designer?
I don't have problems with sending data, but what I have read is not that ok. It sends data even when you checkout the collecting data checkbox.

Who can confirm this?

And because I am almost ready redesigning my house, I want to start with Homeseer and Plugwise.

Last time I checked they still did it; everybody knows it, but most don't really like to admit it/talk about it.
So if you don't like them doing it, use something else.

But think about it; 'we' are sitting ducks in so many ways nowadays - we can't trust government-, bank- or company-websites to handle sensitive information in a proper way, our smart phones are uploading everything (CIQ); the list is too long. If you want to make a deal with someone else and you want to keep it a secret, you have to use dumb prepaid cellphones.. or even better, a pigeon Privacy doesn't exist anymore. And we have nothing to hide - we can't.

Rumours is all what the world moves
I would like to know what is sent. Otherways, I can block it in my routing table.

Somebody other advise on software solutions or examples where I can build things and learn to develop?

Here you can find what was sent 3 years ago.
I don't expect it to be less currently. You can use Wireshark to collect the collected data.

Why don't you try Domotiga? OK, it's not your 1st choice regarding OS, but installing a Linux VM with Domotiga on it is/should not be that hard to do. You have the equipment available to at least give it a try.
http://www.domoticaforum.eu/viewforum.php?f=38&start=0

PS
You can also have a look at HouseAgent: http://www.maartendamen.com/2011/06/int ... ouseagent/
Supported hardware is not as much as Domotiga, but maybe your project and Houseagent can both grow to something beautiful

Good startingpoint!
I am going to read all info I can find ( if I am off from work and not that much projects going on there..... )

Will upgrade my VMWare esxi machine to 5.0 for better USB support.

Allready got my Nice systems curtains received and extra Visonic sensors.
Need some extra door sensors from Visonic to make it complete.

Still thinking about the RFXcom unit combined with plugwise system.
Today I am almost sure to get a solar system that mounts my garage which is perfectly pointed to the south side and the right angle of the roof.
Got almost 12 meters garage. So a lot of roof is available for solar panels

But first my house needs to be ready from redesign.
Server room is almost ready. Most important room at all in these days