Re: Homeseer etc vs Homevision

[Doogie Brodie <ukhad@xxxxxxx>]

Background - I currently run HS on a machine which was being disposed of by my work...... If I get spare funds I will buy a HomeVision. If I had to buy/ build the PC and it wasn't a freebie, I'd have spent the money
on HV instead.

>    1. I probably wouldn't use hv's video output
>    2. I have a number of PC's on my network, always on<= BR>
Much as I love PCs they're.... PCs...... HV is a dedicated hardware
solution.

>    3. In addition to the standard X10 stuff, I would li= ke to use IR
>       distribution to control tv's/hifis= etc and I also would like
>       IO/Relay control

You can do IR from a PC..... concept devices have a 2 way IR box...
about =A3100. Frank has been working on zoned IR for HomeVision (I only skim the messages because I don't have HV and the electronics stuff is
above my head) .... if you wanted to do zoned IR from a PC I'm not sure what your options are. When I look at the cost of IR enabling a PC, and the hassle of programming etc, HV looks a very attractive alternative
when I get around to doing this.

Some people use VIOM for incoming relays (button presses in bathroom)... not sure if it does PC controlled relays or not.... you can certainly
get them for PCs but cost, reliability and now you start looking at
ports...... if thats your two serial ports taken up by a CM12U and an IR box, you might need to put an extra serial card in........

>    4. I would like to use speech synthesis (texttospeec= h stuff)

HS can certainly do that, no idea about HV.... but if Ken says it can be done with a PC, no probs :)

>    5. I would like to use voice control (any experience= s)

I set up voice control with HS..... because it was possible, I did it.
OK I was running a P233 at the time, which probably didn't help, but
using a crappy desktop microphone with a long extension lead to my main seating position, I *could* issue commands. Often it got them wrong.... don't know if it was the spec of the PC, the mic, the software, my
commands, or my pronounciation and training. Fun to mess around with one weekend, possibly keep it running in the background for geek-factor
demos. To do it seriously, with open air mics and filters etc..... mega bucks.

When I had it, I couldn't really think of much I wanted to do with
it...... generally used the Pronto instead.... it gets things right when I ask it!

>    6. I don't mind programming my own stuff.
>    7. I'll probably write a fair bit of add on software= (to control my
>       media server for example)
>    8. I don't mind paying the price for hv, but can its= interfacing
>       capabilities be matched using sepa= rate pieces of kit, if so which ones
To some degree, yes, not totally sure which ones, but its the fact that you need to figure out which ones, figure out which ones clash with
other ones, make sure you have enough ports in the pc, make sure you had the right drivers, make sure the video card / sound card/ operating
system etc you have doesn't clash with X, Y or Z..... which leads to
hassle and flakiness, and probably in the long run, a greater expense!
>    9. Does homeseer work with hv ?

> I really am in turmoil over this one - any help deeply appreciated.
Buy HV, you know you want to!

--
Doogie

Yahoo! Groups Spons= or

ADVERTISEMENT

http://www.automatedhome.co.uk 
Post message: ukha_d@xxxxxxx 
Subscribe:  ukha_d-subscribe@xxxxxxx 
Unsubscribe:  ukha_d-unsubscribe@xxxxxxx 
List owner:  ukha_d-owner@xxxxxxx
List of UKHA Groups here - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UKHA_Grouplists/

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.