Using the Kindle Fire as a Home Automation Touchscreen - Page 2

Hi guys. Great thread here. I agree that the kindle fire makes for an awesome touch screen controller. Homeseer seems like an interesting brain for the system. But does it really run on windows XP? I was looking for a Linux based system for better reliability. Any thoughts on this?

i was hoping to see some more updates on this too. I have been trying to transition from in wall touch screens to wall mounted tablets myself, but have yet to find a viable solution for what i want

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease give me direction on how to wall mount these.

I haven't done it yet, but i have a few ideas. The most likely one involves custom photo frames
you can go to pictureframes.com and pretty much order whatever you like with any dimensions, etc.
it will take some calculating and some trial and error, but i think that will be the best solution with the nicest result.

Picture frame... not a bad idea!!!!

Someone should do this and then market the frames. Trial and error should be done once, profit should come next.

Has anyone flush mounted Kindle Fire? If so, is there any directions/photos?

I'm using a pad tab temporariy, still plan to mount properly, but been too busy

To get power to this thing, does anyone know if a USB Balun would work?

Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-Ethernet-Extender-GUCE51-Black/dp/B000O2X2OA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339771848&sr=8-1&keywords=usb+balun

Would love to see some directions for a flush mounted kindle

no doubt in it that Amazon Kindle Fire grabbed an attention around the globe in a little time and build a stronger brand with the passage of time, But Still I think beating Google in its Nexus 7 and Apple in iPad would be a dream..
AMAZON KINDLE FIRE HD 7 VS GOOGLE NEXUS 7 VS APPLE IPAD3.
http://www.teamsphone.com/apple-ios/kindle-fire-hd-vs-nexus-7-vs-ipad3-14144.html

Hi ..

I know this is a very old thread .. but I have recently started looking into home automation and after searching internet for various options available and getting confused, your thread was the only one with details of what I too would like to do. I must say you have done a wonderful job in integrating all these things together and I just wish I could also do the same at my place .

When I started thinking about home automation, I was initially looking at x10 and its offering, then moved onto to smarthome and later homeseer. Then I saw your thread and saw that the list you have provided here is exactly what I too would like to do (minus using kindle fire). I checked your website where you have the article and unfortunately more details you have provided there is about how you we could use kindle fire for the UI.

But I was wondering if you could please spend a few minutes elaborating on the security console you have used in your setup. I checked the DSC systems offered in homeseer and saw these items - http://store.homeseer.com/store/Security-Systems-C236.aspx. If you can please help me on which system did you finally buy? Does it have options to dial out to you phone when any sensor is triggered or have you configured than in homeseer using their phone interfaces? Is the DSC system completely wireless does each sensor have to wired to the console? Did you have to wire the DSC console with the computer that is running Homeseer? If yes, can you please elaborate on that? I assume you already have the DSC plugin and that is how you are using the triggers and events in Homeseer.

I have no issues in reading about all this and I would appreciate if you can provide me some links .. I could not find any DSC security package in Homeseer store with so many sensors and so can you please tell me from where you bought all those items for $180 .. was it Homeseer or some other store .. can you please send me a link if its still active

Also, one final query .. how is the system holding up after so many years? did you finally get to have kindle fire in all your rooms?

thanks a lot for all your help

Hi Fordelit

I have 3 Kindle Fire's, all holding up very well, but I still haven't got around to making mounts. I'm using tabpads (or padtabs). Dooesn't look too bad, but it would be nicer framed. If i was to do it again, I'd probably buy the Nexus as it's more likely to get mounts or evn the iPad mini. About $100 each, but guaranteed to have a ton of mounting options.

The alarm I bought was a DSC 1832 I have the keypad with wireless receiver, but don't use that part, just wire contacts (as I rewired the house). I bought an IT-100 RS-232 interfaces (don't get the older PCxxxx as it always returns arm away insread of stay or away. This is connectect to HomeSeer via RS232 and I'm using the BLDSC plug-in).

The DSC system is the same core system used by many companies (like ADT), so anyone can monitor it. There are 4 options. i get a text message when it is activated and my wife works 3 blocks from bank. We also live in a low crimne area. Other options are internet monitoring and from what I read you basically buy a modded cable modem for this; gsm - expensive and hard to find; regular telco. The issue with this is that it seems to need quite a bit of configuring and from what I've read most monitoring companies will change the master ocde when they set you up, so that you can't tinker. IF I ever got monitoring I would get the internet.

I'm very happy with the system. one BIG reason being that it's integrated with, rather than dependent on HomeSeer. I can do everything with the regular keypads. Virtually any activity sends a message to HS, and can be used to trigger an event. I have it drop the thermostat setpoint in the winter when I set arm it away. My Sonos system says "Hello Mark" over TTS when disarmed with my code, (or my wife's name if disarmed with her code). etc. I have a "bedtime" event that kills all lights after a few mins, sets alarm in night mode and turns on stairs, batchroom and bedside lights. I can arm and disarm from my iPhone, Kindle, etc as well as check status. Can aslo now control with Siri (see latest articel on HomeToys

Whole thing was under $200. i now have 3 keypads hooked up (front and back door and bedroom).

This is exactly waht I bought: http://www.homesecuritystore.com/p-550-kit32-power5-dsc-power-1832-security-kit.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=%2bdsc+%2bpower+%2b1832&utm_campaign=dsc+%2D+pn

Bought 6 PIR's off ebay for about $75 for the lot and a decent glassbreak sensor too

This is great resource for tech questions and programming: http://www.diyalarmforum.com/board/index.php?board=10.0

Hoep this helps

Mark

Thanks a lot Mark .. this really helps .. I really appreciate your prompt response ..

What is the IT-100 interface? I tried to look at the picture in Homeseer and it seems that items is not independently available.. Is this it? http://www.aartech.ca/it-100-dsc-serial-integration-module-rs232-serial-interface.html. I really sorry for my ignorance. But what kind of wire do I need to connect this to DSC?

I assume what you mean by monitoring through internet is to arm/disarm/check status over the internet, right? If you open the HS to be accessible over the internet, would you also not be able to access DSC too?

I have sonos too and would love to use it to confirm when some of the commands are completed. The idea to greet a person when he comes in a good one too .. :-)

I was actually planning to be have my phone's wifi to be able to automatically connect to my wireless and it triggers an event to disarm, turn on the lights, etc. Do you know whether that can be done through HSTouch app?

How did you interaface with your movie sound to trigger the lights to be dimmed? Can you tell me what components you used for that?

BTW, I saw you have the USB wave interface and not the Z-wavetroller provided by HS .. is that sufficient?

do you have any rough diagram of how all these components connected? if yes, do you mind sharing it with me .. it would surely help me a lot ..

I know these are too many questions and I will understand if you do not want to spend time answering all of those .. but any help is appreciated as you have so many years of experience on these products and I am sure with your help, I can automate my home very well .. especially since, most of the things you have done is what I was also thinking to do with these components.

Thanks again for your time ..
Edited by fordelit1 - 2/22/13 at 6:53pm

Hi Mark ..

How does DSC currently send the text message? is it an option in the device? and what service does it use to send the message?

I just have been thinking about another option to have use GSM security would be get a xlink device like this one http://www.amazon.com/Xtreme-Technologies-BT-Bluetooth-Gateway/dp/B00135XU7Q/ref=pd_sim_cps_1 .. get a old mobile which you might not be using and get another connection to your family plan (if you have one) or get a prepaid card .. keep that mobile at home just for HS to dial out when the sensors are triggered .. based on your experiance with HS , do you even think this is possible or do you think I need to use one of the phone interface provided by HS to do this? - http://store.homeseer.com/store/Telephone-Integration-C46.aspx

Another option I was thinking of was to use http://store.homeseer.com/store/Stipus-SIP-Connector-HSPhone-Bundle-P346.aspx along with http://www.obihai.com/googlevoice.html and google voice to call my mobile .. this can be tamperred with if the intruder cuts off my internet connections and I feel the mobile option is more secure and reliable.

For anyone referring to this thread .. I got this link that has more details on what to get for DSC ..
http://forums.homeseer.com/showthread.php?t=147082