Home Automation?

[Bram Van Steenlandt]

Jon Hamilton wrote:
> Jack Barnett <jackbarnett at gmail.com>, said on Wed Dec 05, 2007 [04:48:55 AM]:
> } 
> } Anyone know of any Home automation type of devices that work with FreeBSD?
> } Basically all I need to do is to toggle a power outlet from within 
> } FreeBSD (from off to on and vice-versa)
>
> There's X-10 and its derivatives; it's a powerline communication protocol
> which has pretty widely available plug-in modules (outlets/switches with
> the receiver built-in are available too).  Most of the computer-side controllers
> these days seem to be USB-based; my setup is so old it predates widespread
> USB availability so I am not personally familiar with free software to drive
> the newer generation of controllers.  There's also xtend which will drive a
> plug-in card, but those are pretty antique these days and hard(ish) to find.
>
> www.smarthome.com is one online source of X-10 compatable hardware online.
> Hopefully someone else has/will share more current hardware experiences.
>
>   
The senna rhio is also very nice, you can connect it to your network, I 
have some sample programs in python.
it has 12 outputs, 4 analog inputs and 10 digital input (i think), it 
cost about 250 $
I use it to control my music (amp on/off,next song etc.) with voip 
phones and asterisk.