My HAL, Home
Automated Living system is currently in the RE-design stages and I have very little
information to post at this time.
IN DESIGN: I am looking at adding a Boltek Lightening detector to the Weather Station.
STILL ON-HOLD: I plan on automating my Garage door next. I'm trying to decide if I should use a relay module in conjunction with a x10 Outlet to prevent stray x10 signals from opening the door. I'm waiting for a replacement door to arrive so the Alarm company can do all the final work at once.
My HAL system consists of:
| PC:
CoreDuo, 3GHz
with 2GB Ram, 2 - 300GB Hard Drives, 52x24x52 CD Read/Write, 100MB NIC, 5 Com Ports, 2 Sound Cards and HAL Voice Portal
Modem, Hauppaug WinTVGo 190 Video Capture Card OS: Windows XP Professional SP3 HAL: HAL Pro Version 4.0.128 Beta, US Voices, Digital Music Center (DMC), HomeNet, HALi, iPhone, Interactive Device Server, RFID, Insteon, 2 Venstar Thermostats, HALEmc w/Ted1000 Additional Software: Davis WeatherLink 4.9, Kenwood NetNamer, Windows Media Encoder 11 |
HAL is connected to the AUX IN connection of a Music
& Sound Intercom system model M602
with 9 N65RS
stations though out the house. When HAL speaks the audio is sent out the intercom stations. Any
station set to Music/Intercom will broadcast the audio from HAL. Any station
set to Intercom only will not. This is set by switches on the M602 panel.
The M602 has a built in on/off timer. I programmed my M602 to turn on at
7:00 AM and off at 10:00 PM. When the system is off HAL's audio only
broadcasts from the PC speakers. This keeps HAL quiet when people are sleeping. Currently
the only microphone in the house is on the PC. Future plans call for 4
additional open air microphones. I am using the Door release relay to
trigger HAL's listen mode via my Ocelot Secu16. The door relay is connected to
the Secu16. The Secu16 port is setup as a senor in HAL. When I press
the door release on the Intercom it signals HAL to go into listen mode. I
plan on connecting the intercom to HAL's mic input soon.
HAL's Digital Music Center (DMC) is utilizing the 2nd sound card and its output is connected to the AUX Input of the Stereo System. The stereo system consists of a older model Panasonic 100Watt AMP with a Fisher 24 Disc CD Changer. The AMP is connected to a 6 port speaker switch that has 6 pairs of music quality speakers located throughout the house. Each of the 6 locations has its own volume control located in the room with the speakers. I'm currently designing/implementing the IR controls for the existing AMP and 24 CD player. HAL's Digital Music Recorder (DMR) has already ripped about 50 CD's and cataloged them on the hard drive for me.
HAL is connected on Com 1 to a Kenwood DV-5050M
400+3 Disc DVD/CD player is connected to Com 1 with NetNamer
Software loaded on the HAL PC. NetNamer catalogs all the CDs/DVD's in
the player. Strangely Netnamer will only get the names of CD's from the
internet automatically. DVD's have to be typed in manually. How stupid is
that! The NetNamer software is also a major piece of Junk and Kenwood
support has failed to respond to any of my emails. Stick with Sony!
I
installed a 2 channel CLabs video modulator. I'm having trouble making
things work the way I want, so for now its outputting UHF channels 14 & 16
from my DVD player and my Tivo. I think I'm going to need a third cable
box to make it function the way I want since the Tivo and my 2nd TV contend
for the box.
An Applied Digital ADICON Ocelot with a Secu16 and Secu16-Ir interface is connected to Com6. As I mentioned above The Secu16 is connected as a sensor on the Intercom to trigger HAL listen mode. I use the Secu16Ir to allow HAL to control my Ir devices.
IR Control of existing audio components.
I have a Xantech 795-20 Four Zone Amplified Ir Connecting Block. (~$140) This allows me to utilize existing remotes and prevents the remotes from changing channels on devices in other rooms. Commands received on Zone one are only sent to equipment connected to Zone ones output. There is also a common emitter section that will transmit commands from every zone. I have dual emitters connected to every device. One Emitter comes from the Ocelot Secu16Ir and one Emitter comes from the Xantech 795-20 Four Zone Amplified Ir Connecting Block. This simplifies allowing HAL and standard remotes to control my Ir devices. The following devices are connected to the Xantech and Secu16Ir
Video/IR distribution inputs include:
Kenwood 400+3 disc DVD/CD Player
Tivo Series II with WEB interface
VHS Player/Recorder
HDTV DirectTivo Dish (Future)
Digital HD Cable
Digital Cable
Basic Cable
Camera matrix (Future)
I have a Philips Pronto TSU3000 Multi purpose programmable Ir remote. So far I think I made the wrong choice. The remote is very powerful but difficult to see in bright light. I have it programmed to do multiple functions with the press of one button. My next step is to have it command HAL. Probably via the Ocelot but I'm told this is a kluge method so more hardware my be required.
I have a Hauppauge WinTVGo 190 Card to my HAL PC. The card has a built in 125 channel tuner which is connected to my Cable TV. The card also has a composite Video & Audio connection which is connected to my Tivo. With Windows Media Encoder 9 I am able to view my Cable and my Tivo from any broad band or better internet connection. The entire system is encrypted in my VPN connection so no one but me can view them. I have the Tivo's Ir commands programmed into the Ocelot via HAL. This allows me to remotely send Ir commands to the Tivo via HALs HomeNet. The Hauppauge card is connected to the Line in on the 2nd sound card. This sound card also drives HAL's DMC output at the same time. It was necessary to Mute the Line In to prevent the DMC from hearing the Hauppauge card. This did not effect the encoder's output.
HAL is also connected to my Napco Gemini 9600 alarm panel
on Com3. I have HAL set to recognize the arming and disarming of the
system and run a macro for each condition. HAL can also see the status of
all zones in the house including the motion detectors. This allows me to
program various events in the house. I have disabled the Gemini 9600 panels
ability to disarm from HAL. I have also installed a radio transmitter to
the monitoring station to prevent the HAL Voice Portal from interfering with the alarm.
I
purchased a Toshiba
WB11A Outdoor Network Camera. I have installed it on the roof of my
home. It has a beautiful view of the Bay. check out the Views
section of this WEB site for a live shot. Sorry I've decided not to
allow outsiders to Pan & Tilt the camera at this time. I don't want
anyone leaving it pointed directly at the Sun which may ruin the sensors.
The Camera posts still shots into Homenet every 60 seconds and is live on this
WEB site.
HAL's Voice Portal is Com 5 and is connected to the phone line in the house. HAL captures the Caller ID information and announces the caller through the intercom system.
The PC is also connected on Com7 to a Davis Weather Monitor II station. Although I purchased this station because HAL directly supports it, I have discovered HAL severally cripples the weather stations ability. I resolved this by purchasing the Davis WeatherLink 5.4. The software's purpose is for designing WEB pages that can display the weather station's data. I utilized the software to create text files that HAL can read with a macro. The toolbox allowed me to customize the information and add features that HAL could not provide natively. I was not aware of this issue prior to my purchase. Had I known prior I would have purchased the Davis Vantage Pro station instead.
Here is what HAL will speak when asked for the weather conditions outside at this exact moment.
| The current Stone Hedge weather conditions on 02/07/12 at 1:26p are Temperature 52.5 degrees. Dew point 26.3 degrees. Barometer 30.055 inches and Falling. Wind 121 degrees at 4.3 knots. Peak gust 15.7 knots. Humidity 36 %. Rain fall 0.00 inches. |
HAL has an IBM Home Director HD-11 bi-directional X10 controller attached to it on Com 4. This controller came with the HAL package I purchased. Currently only 2 outside lights are controlled via SmartHome SwitchLinc 2-Way model 2383 switches. They are programmed for Sunrise/Sunset. In the future I plan to install X10 controlled interior lighting,
I have installed two KeyPadLinc6's #12063. They do not have the ability to replace a true switch since they have no load control. They only send X10 signals. The units are 6 button and I have programmed the 4 center buttons for the following.
Button 2 runs macros that turn on and off the DMC music
Button 3 runs macros that goes to the next music track if the DMC is playing..
Button 4 runs macros that plays the voice mail messages.
Button 5 runs macros that Reads my Weather Station information and the Weather Forecast.
Buttons 1 & 6 (ON & OFF) Control the entry/evening light group.
The nice thing about these switches is since they are both on the same X10 codes if I press a button on one the other unit receives the same command and the correct button lights up. I plan on installing at lease 2 more of these buttons.
Currently the PC runs HAL2000, HAL Voice Portal, HAL Internet Server, HomeNet, HALi, WeatherLink 5.4 , Windows Media Encoder 9 and Norton Anti Virus on a 7x24 hour basis. It also runs NetNamer as required. I have VERY rare lockups which I can usually attribute to a Com port issue. It appears that any com port problems/disconnects will cause the PC to lock up when HAL is running. I have reported this to tech support.
In the future the System will include the ability to watch any device in any room.
4 Point Camera observation matrix.
Additional X10 lighting controls.
Connection of the Intercom output to HAL's input for
Voice control.
Note: Someone posted how to do this on the HAL Web site
4 point microphone network.
Mailbox delivery notification..
I'll probably hard wire this.
Thermostat control.
The house has 8 separate thermostats for heat and 2 more for
AC. Going to each one is annoying.
I did not plan enough in advance to wire them for automation.
:-(
Door Bell Notification.