Automation

[ugene512 0]

Dear Guys,

Does anyone has any affordable automation solution Home or theatre system?? Have been trying to find out a good universal remote that can controls ligtings as well and the euipments i have. Like what are the brands of the lightings should i buy so that it is compatible, etc...

Any renotalkers have any exprience in this?

Many thanks

[knownothing 0]

Dear Guys,

Does anyone has any affordable automation solution Home or theatre system?? Have been trying to find out a good universal remote that can controls ligtings as well and the euipments i have. Like what are the brands of the lightings should i buy so that it is compatible, etc...

Any renotalkers have any exprience in this?

Many thanks

Hi Ugene,

Nice meeting you yesterday, though we din really talk much.

One of the best well-known universal remotes will be the Logitech Harmony series.

Haven't used them before, but most of the reviews I have seen for them are good ones.

You can consider the Harmony One or the Harmony 900 (these 2 are the higher end ones, but u definitely need it if you have quite a number of devices that you plan to use with the remote. The Logitech remotes come with a large database of IR codes that you can download into your remote, and if those you want are not available, you can still 'learn' the commands with the remote.

Do note that the Harmony 900 is a newer model than Harmony One, but the former lacks the versility to program macros into the remote. (programming and sending a string of IR commands with a button press)

If I were you, I will choose the Harmony One over the Harmony 900. Problem is Harmony One has been discontinued in SG, but you can still buy it from Amazon. Anyway, buying the remotes from Amazon is way much cheaper, only drawback is the lack of warranty.

If you do own a ipad iphone, or ipod touch and would like to use it as a universal remote, you can check out this website

http://thinkflood.com

Right now i am using their redeye system (redeye, not the redeye pro) to control the IR devices in my home, including my lights.

For me, I think the redeye system is very versatile and I think its my solution to a cheap home automation system. For now, I am happy with it.

Best part is, the team over at thinkflood is constantly improving the software and upgrading its features.

If you are interested in getting a professional to set up a full home automation system for you, you can refer to

http://www.jdolabs.com/ihabitat

Of course it will cost a lot more if you opt for this, but it will allow you to create a truely smart home.

Edited May 22, 2011 by knownothing

[sleek 2]

hello ugene, i can check with my hb for you re: logitech universal remote price as he knows someone working there. we recently got ours about a month ago and are very happy with it even though only controlling tv, scv and blue ray player for now.

[ugene512 0]

Hi Ugene,

Nice meeting you yesterday, though we din really talk much.

One of the best well-known universal remotes will be the Logitech Harmony series.

Haven't used them before, but most of the reviews I have seen for them are good ones.

You can consider the Harmony One or the Harmony 900 (these 2 are the higher end ones, but u definitely need it if you have quite a number of devices that you plan to use with the remote. The Logitech remotes come with a large database of IR codes that you can download into your remote, and if those you want are not available, you can still 'learn' the commands with the remote.

Do note that the Harmony 900 is a newer model than Harmony One, but the former lacks the versility to program macros into the remote. (programming and sending a string of IR commands with a button press)

If I were you, I will choose the Harmony One over the Harmony 900. Problem is Harmony One has been discontinued in SG, but you can still buy it from Amazon. Anyway, buying the remotes from Amazon is way much cheaper, only drawback is the lack of warranty.

If you do own a ipad iphone, or ipod touch and would like to use it as a universal remote, you can check out this website

http://thinkflood.com

Right now i am using their redeye system (redeye, not the redeye pro) to control the IR devices in my home, including my lights.

For me, I think the redeye system is very versatile and I think its my solution to a cheap home automation system. For now, I am happy with it.

Best part is, the team over at thinkflood is constantly improving the software and upgrading its features.

If you are interested in getting a professional to set up a full home automation system for you, you can refer to

http://www.jdolabs.com/ihabitat

Of course it will cost a lot more if you opt for this, but it will allow you to create a truely smart home.

Hey Knownothing,

Thanks man. I have looking for ppl that uses the redeye. I am also planning on using the redeye together with an IR extender so that i can control all my euipments behind the cabinets.

That is the cheap solution, also i am also planning to use the redeye pro, seems like a very good product. But one thing is inorder to contril via RS232, need to program myself very lazy to read and learn. Somemore still need to find the serial codes and stuff to control.. very tiring.

haha

I have try to go down to ihabitat to see, but i dun like their Iphone app interface.. no nice le haha..

There are alot in the market like

iruleathome.com

touch-ir.com

they all provide very easy to use and programmable interface just that in singapore no one is doing it.

So i presume your setup uses the red-eye, then for lightings u use the ihabitat IR lighting solution right? Also one problem about using the IR is the device u control has discrete IR codes anot right? If just toggle then maybe a little troublesome ba.. right?

So far how is ur setup, able to use activity control?

Eugene

[ugene512 0]

hello ugene, i can check with my hb for you re: logitech universal remote price as he knows someone working there. we recently got ours about a month ago and are very happy with it even though only controlling tv, scv and blue ray player for now.

Hey sleek,

Thanks!!! Wat model you got, the harmony 1100? or the harmony one? Expensive anot heheh:D

[ugene512 0]

Oh ya.. there is also another product by gear4 which does the samething as redeye..

[knownothing 0]

Zzzz

Edited August 12, 2011 by knownothing

[sleek 2]

Hey sleek,

Thanks! Wat model you got, the harmony 1100? or the harmony one? Expensive anot heheh:D

paiseh ah, i know you're looking at the ones that can do everything but we only have the 700. my hb say the discount is 20% depending on which items. btw the 1100 on the usa website is usd399.99, dont know how much it sells in SG or if it evens sells but we can check for you if you really want to know.

knownothing, you are super knowledgeable on this. need to change your nick to something else la

Edited May 24, 2011 by sleek

[ugene512 0]

remov

Edited August 14, 2011 by ugene512

[ugene512 0]

paiseh ah, i know you're looking at the ones that can do everything but we only have the 700. my hb say the discount is 20% depending on which items. btw the 1100 on the usa website is usd399.99, dont know how much it sells in SG or if it evens sells but we can check for you if you really want to know.

knownothing, you are super knowledgeable on this. need to change your nick to something else la

thanks sleek, will let you once i ask knownothing about all the stuff haah

[ugene512 0]

Bro Knownothing,

I just email ihabitat about the discrete IR codes. They say they have it for their switches le. Maybe i can use this system eh and together with the redeye then it would be perfect already. hahah

How is the transmitting range for the IR any blind spots?

[knownothing 0]

I should have asked ihabitat about the discrete codes before committing to ai-m.net's switches!

Did you ask how much it costs per gang?

As for the IR range, the redeye works reasonably well. Some obstacles here and there is not a problem. Even at places which you would think is a blind spot, the IR signal could actually reach the device/switch.

And sensitivity of the switch does matter. Danny told me that his switches are super sensitive to IR signals, therefore even if the switch received a weak signal, it will still work. I am not sure whether there are such things as 'sensitivity' of the reception of the switches. I can't verify it but my switches work well with the redeye currently.

[ugene512 0]

I should have asked ihabitat about the discrete codes before committing to ai-m.net's switches!

Did you ask how much it costs per gang?

As for the IR range, the redeye works reasonably well. Some obstacles here and there is not a problem. Even at places which you would think is a blind spot, the IR signal could actually reach the device/switch.

And sensitivity of the switch does matter. Danny told me that his switches are super sensitive to IR signals, therefore even if the switch received a weak signal, it will still work. I am not sure whether there are such things as 'sensitivity' of the reception of the switches. I can't verify it but my switches work well with the redeye currently.

Hmm.. ya thanks man.. haha i think i maybe using this setup if I can get the true automation. I am actually looking at IP to IR type of control using iruleathome or touch IR+ system for software ans global cache for hardware.. Just need time to play with it.

haha

Seriously i think someone in singapore shld provide such system to us at a more affordable price.. haha

[ugene512 0]

Just got the quote from Ihab

Without installtion, $121.6 pc for 1 gang version

$160.8 for 2 gang

All excl RC

[knownothing 0]

Thats quite a good price you got.

They quoted me 138 (before 10% disc and 7% GST).

Din matter if I wanted 1gang or 2gang switch. They charged me on a per gang basis. Think your 2gang price is irresistable. Haha

If they quoted me your 2gang switch price, I would have bought from them!