Home Automation?

[Chris Hill]

On Wed, 5 Dec 2007, Bram Van Steenlandt wrote:

> 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.

I've been very happy with Extron's "IPlink" line - we use these a lot at 
work. http://www.extron.com/product/listbytype.aspx?subtype=94

--
Chris Hill               chris at monochrome.org
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