Difference between revisions of "User:Sambuca"

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== About me ==
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If you have any questions or comments, please use ''italic'' when adding anything.
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I am educated as a computer programmer, having done some C++ programming and doing Java (J2EE) programming as a living. This is the first open source project that I have tried to involve myself in.  
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As I have a wife and a house besides my work, I don't have much time to do LinuxMCE related stuff (although I definitely would like to). Because of that, so far, my contribution has been mostly forum posts and some wiki article edits.
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= About me =
 +
I am educated as a computer programmer, having done some C++ programming and doing Java (J2EE) programming as a living. This is the first open source project that I have involved myself in.  
  
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== My interest in LinuxMCE ==
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As I have a wife and a house besides my work, I don't have much time to do LinuxMCE related stuff (although I definitely would like to). So my contributions so far have been mostly things completed within a short time span.
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I started using Linux in 2002, and after a few years, I saw the great potential that is in the Linux system. So when I was searching for a media centre system for my apartment, I was no stranger to Linux, and in fact, I tried to find a Linux system, to avoid paying for licenses for other systems. My first Media system was [http://freevo.sourceforge.net/ Freevo], which looks somewhat like the standard media centre systems, with a menu with the main TV, movies, music, and pictures options.
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When I was building a new house in 2005, I made sure I could reach every room with cables. I installed plastic tubes going to every room (even the bathroom), to be able to install network cables there later on.
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= My interest in LinuxMCE =
 +
I've been using Linux since 2002. My first Media system was [http://freevo.sourceforge.net/ Freevo], which looks somewhat like the standard media center systems, with a menu with the main TV, movies, music, and pictures options.
  
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My idea is to add home automation devices when the economy and time allows for it. If you know some cheap devices that can be used in Norway, let me know. I'm not sure I like the X10 stuff, since people say they are pretty old and limited.
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Even though Freevo was great for a one PC system, it soon became clear that it wouldn't fit well into a multi-PC setup. So I began researching and found Pluto, the predecessor of LinuxMCE, after a while. It had a server-based setup and seemed a perfect fit. Although the UI have got some flaws, I value functionality over flashy appearance (and if you know what's best for you, you would too ;) ).
  
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== What I miss in LinuxMCE ==
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I did this research because we were going to move to a new house. We were building a new house in 2005, and I needed to get a system that could handle multiple media zones. I put in plastic tubing("ducts") to every room, so I can reach every room with cables.
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While I like the interface of LinuxMCE and the possibility of controlling the whole house with it, I think I lacks severely in the area of a media centre. I know other users think this also, from the forum posts. What I personally think lacks, is this (with my 1. priority first):
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* Internet radio (I usually start a stream from some internet radio when I have a party, so I don't have to think any more of the music playing)
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* Usefull playlist editing (the current playlist editing (excuse the language) SUCKS!!  Plain and simple. Several people have pointed this out on the forum already.)
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* Long boot times for PXE booted MDs (this I have partially worked around. I figured out how to suspend and resume my MD, but it currently requires suspending the MD from a console window).
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I've also added some Z-Wave devices (in 2010). This allowed me to experiment a bit, both with LMCE controlling lights and LMCE receiving events from the temperature sensor.
  
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== My current setup ==
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= My current setup =
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I currently have one core (Intel Core2 CPU 4400, RAID5 - 3x320GB disk, 2GB RAM), and primarily one MD in my main livingroom (Celeron 1.7GHz, 512MB ram). I also have two other MDs, one to get music in my bathroom (an old Celeron 300Mhz, with very little memory, 32-64MB), and one which really is my desktop computer, which I only use for testing.
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The old Celeron barely copes with playing audio in its current setup. This is because the system running on a MD requires quite a bit of memory to just start up, and when starting the Xine player, it actually goes out of memory. I solved this by deactivating some of the services that normally run on a MD. Can't remember them at this moment.
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== Core/Cabling closet ==
  
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* Intel Core2 CPU 4400,
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* 2GB RAM
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* 500GB + 3x320GB disk
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* Chieftec 4U rack cabinet
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* Gigabit NIC
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* Grundig remote speaker
  
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I'll probably add more to this page when I have the time.
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On the core I've also installed two squeezeslaves which currently plays music on the bathroom and via the remote speaker. I'm probably gonna buy a SqueezeBox of some kind to put in the bathroom later on. Anyone knows if they cope well with the moisture? ;)
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The Grundig remote speaker is actually quite nice. It's more or less water proof, so I'm using it outdoors also. I have a separate room for that speaker.
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== Main living room MD ==
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* ASRock 330HT
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* USB-UIRT
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== Upstairs living room MD ==
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* Zotac ZBox HD-41
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== Orbiters ==
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Toshiba Touchee - runs WinCE Touch Orbiter
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HTC Desire HD - Android touch orbiter and qOrbiter
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ASUS Transformer Prime - qObiter
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== Automation ==
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Got my first ZWave gear feb. 2010.
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I started with:
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* Seluxit Viasens USB controller
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* EZMotion Motion sensor (with temp. sensor)
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* Duewi remote
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* Duewi plugin module
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* RAone smartdimmer
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Everything works fine. I'm using SIS mode - highly recommended.
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I'm also controling my air-conditioning unit, Toshiba RAS-13 (via IR) as a climate device in LMCE. Using USB-UIRT and a rather long IR cable ;)
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== Future plans/ideas ==
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* ASUS EeeTop for the kitchen
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I'm going to set up the temperature sensor to trigger various commands to my air condition unit. Currently my ideas are:
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* When Extended away, keep the heating off most of the time. Turn on only when temperature drop below 10C (or lower)
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* When Away, turn off heating, but also incorporate a lower minimum value like above to avoid freezing if Away mode is set by mistake when actually extended away.
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* Turn on heating a predetermined time before expected arrival
 +
* Somehow enable me and my wife to trigger heating manually (preferably remotely, cell phone or similar)
 +
 
 +
= Development =
 +
I've been involved more or less in the following items:
 +
* JavaMO (that hari first started on, thanks). I already had Java knowledge, only needed the J2ME specifics. This was the easy entry point to contributing.
 +
* Shoutcast Radio Plugin - A skeleton was already made by pluto, so I filled in the blanks ;) It could still use some work, though....
 +
* Suspend/resume functionality. Thanks to colinjones for the scripts.
 +
* Fixing some bugs to help make the 810 release.
 +
* Improved multi instance support in the ZWave driver, so the EZMotion will work better.
 +
* Datalogger improvements, fixed the package definition, installation and web admin. Thanks to apagg for additional web admin improvements :-)
 +
* Device templates, Logitech MX Air gyroscopic mouse, MPlay remote and receiver, Toshiba RAS series air con IR control.

Latest revision as of 10:03, 21 February 2012

If you have any questions or comments, please use italic when adding anything.

About me

I am educated as a computer programmer, having done some C++ programming and doing Java (J2EE) programming as a living. This is the first open source project that I have involved myself in.

As I have a wife and a house besides my work, I don't have much time to do LinuxMCE related stuff (although I definitely would like to). So my contributions so far have been mostly things completed within a short time span.

My interest in LinuxMCE

I've been using Linux since 2002. My first Media system was Freevo, which looks somewhat like the standard media center systems, with a menu with the main TV, movies, music, and pictures options.

Even though Freevo was great for a one PC system, it soon became clear that it wouldn't fit well into a multi-PC setup. So I began researching and found Pluto, the predecessor of LinuxMCE, after a while. It had a server-based setup and seemed a perfect fit. Although the UI have got some flaws, I value functionality over flashy appearance (and if you know what's best for you, you would too ;) ).

I did this research because we were going to move to a new house. We were building a new house in 2005, and I needed to get a system that could handle multiple media zones. I put in plastic tubing("ducts") to every room, so I can reach every room with cables.

I've also added some Z-Wave devices (in 2010). This allowed me to experiment a bit, both with LMCE controlling lights and LMCE receiving events from the temperature sensor.

My current setup

Core/Cabling closet

  • Intel Core2 CPU 4400,
  • 2GB RAM
  • 500GB + 3x320GB disk
  • Chieftec 4U rack cabinet
  • Gigabit NIC
  • Grundig remote speaker

On the core I've also installed two squeezeslaves which currently plays music on the bathroom and via the remote speaker. I'm probably gonna buy a SqueezeBox of some kind to put in the bathroom later on. Anyone knows if they cope well with the moisture? ;) The Grundig remote speaker is actually quite nice. It's more or less water proof, so I'm using it outdoors also. I have a separate room for that speaker.

Main living room MD

  • ASRock 330HT
  • USB-UIRT

Upstairs living room MD

  • Zotac ZBox HD-41

Orbiters

Toshiba Touchee - runs WinCE Touch Orbiter HTC Desire HD - Android touch orbiter and qOrbiter ASUS Transformer Prime - qObiter

Automation

Got my first ZWave gear feb. 2010. I started with:

  • Seluxit Viasens USB controller
  • EZMotion Motion sensor (with temp. sensor)
  • Duewi remote
  • Duewi plugin module
  • RAone smartdimmer

Everything works fine. I'm using SIS mode - highly recommended.

I'm also controling my air-conditioning unit, Toshiba RAS-13 (via IR) as a climate device in LMCE. Using USB-UIRT and a rather long IR cable ;)

Future plans/ideas

  • ASUS EeeTop for the kitchen

I'm going to set up the temperature sensor to trigger various commands to my air condition unit. Currently my ideas are:

  • When Extended away, keep the heating off most of the time. Turn on only when temperature drop below 10C (or lower)
  • When Away, turn off heating, but also incorporate a lower minimum value like above to avoid freezing if Away mode is set by mistake when actually extended away.
  • Turn on heating a predetermined time before expected arrival
  • Somehow enable me and my wife to trigger heating manually (preferably remotely, cell phone or similar)

Development

I've been involved more or less in the following items:

  • JavaMO (that hari first started on, thanks). I already had Java knowledge, only needed the J2ME specifics. This was the easy entry point to contributing.
  • Shoutcast Radio Plugin - A skeleton was already made by pluto, so I filled in the blanks ;) It could still use some work, though....
  • Suspend/resume functionality. Thanks to colinjones for the scripts.
  • Fixing some bugs to help make the 810 release.
  • Improved multi instance support in the ZWave driver, so the EZMotion will work better.
  • Datalogger improvements, fixed the package definition, installation and web admin. Thanks to apagg for additional web admin improvements :-)
  • Device templates, Logitech MX Air gyroscopic mouse, MPlay remote and receiver, Toshiba RAS series air con IR control.
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