There is no comparison between a well setup "real" automation system (I put C4 into this category) and alarm.com
And certainly the quality of installation and configuration is key.
First decision is DIY or dealer install. Sounds like you are leaning towards dealer.
shop for the dealer for a C4 installation. Get referrals.

If you are thinking you can handle the physical installation but not the configuration of the system (the "programming") then Allonis's myServer might be a good solution.

 

Have you heard of Home-Assistant or Home Seer? I like the idea of open-source hardware for further upgrades and additions as well as doing my own programming and not relying on a dealer. I"m in the rough wire stage so want to make sure pull the right amount of wires. I want to subcontract all the rough wiring. Sound wiring I would think is straight forward but the Networking is where I would lack the skills.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

From a networking standpoint, I'd list everything that's using an IP address and plan on implementing some VLAN's (With associated hardware, including firewall appliance). How will they interact? Some cases this does impact wiring locations.

An example. Master bedroom TV has 3 VLAN's. 1 connects directly into TV (Same LAN as the other TV's, including guest network) 2 Shares with cameras & Alarm, also shared with hardware client plugged into TV HDMI streaming RTSP of cameras, along with an AP with 2 SSID's (VLAN 2 & 3). 3 Connects all hardware clients providing live TV/IPTV along with our personal laptop's.

Sounds of it, you might need 4, or 5...

 

as mentioned - there is no comparison between a full automation system (control4) and alarm.com.

First off - Control4, or any dealer based system, is only as good as the dealer. The hardware itself is just a computer.

Home automation is kind of like an accountant - you can pay someone to do it, or you can do it yourself. Both have their pros and cons. How often do you read people online talking about how they love their accountant Vs how often do you read online people with horror stories and the IRS? Same with Control4 or any dealer based system - you read the horror stories, not the happy stories.

C4 isn’t an alarm system, but they integrate with DSC, ELK, Honeywell and several others. For cameras they can work with basically any ONVIF camera that has multiple streams (most IP cameras these days). The Audio/Video stuff you list is very simple. Lights, hvac, shade control, irrigation etc can all be handled by c4 hardware or 3rd party hardware that works with c4. Lights can be c4 or lutron, hvac can be c4 or ecobee, shade control can be Somfy or lutron or QMotion or rollease, irrigation has a driver for Rachio, etc.

 

as mentioned - there is no comparison between a full automation system (control4) and alarm.com.

First off - Control4, or any dealer based system, is only as good as the dealer. The hardware itself is just a computer.

Home automation is kind of like an accountant - you can pay someone to do it, or you can do it yourself. Both have their pros and cons. How often do you read people online talking about how they love their accountant Vs how often do you read online people with horror stories and the IRS? Same with Control4 or any dealer based system - you read the horror stories, not the happy stories.

C4 isn’t an alarm system, but they integrate with DSC, ELK, Honeywell and several others. For cameras they can work with basically any ONVIF camera that has multiple streams (most IP cameras these days). The Audio/Video stuff you list is very simple. Lights, hvac, shade control, irrigation etc can all be handled by c4 hardware or 3rd party hardware that works with c4. Lights can be c4 or lutron, hvac can be c4 or ecobee, shade control can be Somfy or lutron or QMotion or rollease, irrigation has a driver for Rachio, etc.

good analogy! You've confirmed for me that they aren't the same. I see one as a controller and the other is an App that controls devices with security. Thanks!

 

Make your own with home assistant so you aren’t locked into an overpriced completely closed off system that will be obsolete in a few years.

 

I think I agree with your comment and I will look into Home Assistant. If you have any information on setup/integration links you can provide that would be great.

 

I read a lot about Lutron devices but concerned that it's not a mesh network and need lots of repeaters for a big house. Would Zwave protocol be more appropriate? I wanted to integrate Josh.AI for voice but I believe it would require Lutron.

 

Lutron is superior to Zwave and/or Zigbee being that it is direct comm and uses a frequency that is less congested. In reality, you don't need many repeaters in a house, I can typically get away with 2-3 in a 6000 sq ft house. It really depends on building materials.