User:KlfJoat/Considerations

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Why LinuxMCE

Like most people, I've heard of things like Squeezebox. But I've never really paid attention. That's because I stop listening as soon as I find out the limitations. "Move your TV viewing from room A to room B." Or maybe "listen to your computer's audio on your TV."

That's unacceptable to me. I want to be able to move any media from anywhere to anywhere. I've looked into this for years and always wondered why special cable runs, coax, and expensive channel modulators were required. Being a nerd, I thought it would make sense to solve the problem by throwing the bits onto an IP network. I've seen point-to-point solutions--get the data from one device to another--but always the switching and other limitations made them too bothersome.

Enter a post from Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert. On his blog, he posted that he wanted something similar. People threw out lots of ideas, and one of them was Pluto. From there, I came here.

A system that can accept media played at any location, and shuttle it to any other location. Finally! And it will catalogue and play my digital media as well? Brilliant! I can rack everything and be as minimalist as I like in my living room, but if I wind up needing a set-top box anyway, the system can handle that without trouble. I'm sold.

Control Systems

A page at MisterHouse seem to have a considered, if dated, comparison of Insteon, Z-Wave, and UPB. It leans more toward Insteon. However, with a system like LinuxMCE which abstracts the control protocol from the user interface, it is possible to choose the best protocol for each individual control job.

Lighting / Switching Control

I looked through a SmartHome mailer last night. It was my first glimpse since seriously deciding to create a LMCE system. I realize that's a biased source, but I have some specific wants that Insteon seems to address. Most notably, the multi-button control panels throughout the house, and controlled outlets without the wall plugs.

Climate / Environmental Control

At first glimpse, it seems like Z-Wave will be the best for this.