Quote:
Originally Posted by
danielrg 
How long do AVS featured stories stay up. I am SICK of seeing creepy eyes from the video comparison article staring on the side of my screen.
I am sick of AVS essentially promoting low quality movie content through streaming. It's a disservice to everyone in this forum (and others) where a lot of time & money is spent trying to recreate the cinema experience in our homes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
danielrg
Well, the more I look into it, the more I think I should just make my Grafik Eye wired and just be part of my theater and save the money. There are so many new options opening up in home automation, much less expensive than Lutron, that I don't think the RadioRA2 is the way to go for me, unless I like having a money pit.
I'm thinking something like the Vera3 or other Zigbee or Zwave network is the way to go for the whole house. And I would be much more confident that I could do it myself and wouldn't have to call the dealer to fix this or that with the Lutron system.
Still _might_ get the Sivoia QS Wireless shades - but I can decide that down the road as I near completion.
For now, I think I'll get two things - my Grafik Eye QS Wireless, and a Pico Wireless controller (3 button with raise/lower) and a Pico wall mount adapter. The Pico could work with RadioRA2 if I go that way or work with the Grafik Eye. If I get a wired keypad later, the Pico can still be used as a remote. I think it is a very versatile way to start.
The Sivoia thing - I would have to get a wireless shade because if I ever connect to RadioRA2, my wired connection goes dead. If I leave the RadioRA2 out of it, then I can use wired and wireless devices as long as the Grafik Eye is master. I am conversing right now with Lutron to see if I order a wireless shade if it can be used as wired OR wireless. I'd like that flexibility.
I may find that IR is plenty good enough to work with the Grafik Eye and I don't need the Ethernet/RS232 module.
I got a quote for Lutron and with RA2 as well. Also thought it was expensive. They included $1000 in network gear, presumably for remote management and I'm sure I would have to then pay for each tech call. There were also some limitations like you have to replace your wall switches with rocker switches. I have stone wall plates and I would have to replace them with what Lutron considers "designer" (which doesn't mesh with my design at all). There aren't any options. You want Lutron, this is what you get.
I was looking at Insteon. They have a lot more flexibility in the types of switches you can remote trigger and they are about 1/4 the price. If you're doing your whole house (like me) then the price adds up. They have other sensors - HVAC thermostats, humidity & water sensors, general switched load, door bell & smoke alarm indicators, and a bunch of other stuff. A lot of it seemed useful for HT... much more than just a lighting controller.
Sensors & switches are either single band (separate Insteon dedicated wireless network ) or dual band (wireless + powerline). Each switch acts as a repeater, creating a mesh network, which avoids distance related problems associated with a base transmitter and a bunch of receivers. Or so I'm told... I haven't actually used it yet. A friend of mine is really into home automation as a hobby. He said Lutron is good as a packaged system... something he would recommend for his grandmother. But he said if you have a technical background with any scripting / coding experience, the if/then structure of Insteon programming will be familiar and something you can DIY. I generally don't like HTPC and similar setups... like my stuff to just work. But @ $25k for Lutron, plus its decor limits, I'm looking for alternatives.
and all my time off is going down the drain without any work done on the basement bummer. Oh, and she is doing fine, just takes time. She had a piece of rib cut out. Ouch!
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but I'm not quite willing to give him the new ones either 
) on the home automation thread. Go vote!
