Homeowner Forum / Home Automation / July 2003

Is there any project on making an intelligent home, based on a linux
server, custom made or standard hardware?
Anyone have links to pages regarding this?
I have plenty of ideas, but I would like to participate in a

Anyone know the best place to buy Home network supplies in Ottawa?(i.e. 2+2
Structured cable, patch pannel, etc...)
John

I have a need for automating a Dialup ISP connection, and then have it
automatically disconnect after say 15 minutes.
The task only needs to run once or twice per day.
I've tried Windows task manager, but it won't shut down the connection,

I lost the link to a home automation website that I am hoping somebody
knows.
The website described a homeowners DIY home automation system. The specific
parts that I remember that I am interested in;

It it possible to remotely select a camera on an X10 system via the web?
(without purchasing software) I have the web streaming working and would
like to somehow add camera selection remotely via the firecracker.
Any free/inexpensive suggestions?

   I have a DVMR recorder in my attic. to record cameras. It seems to
record well all day, but when I try to access it with my home computer. I
can only get on at night after the attic has cooled down. I am using a
Beldon cat5e cable 50ft long (factory made cable) and have a 4" fan ...

I need some suggestions for a small problem I have..
I can't see my mailbox from any window in my house and have to go outside to
see if the mail has come.  What I'd like is to setup a small sensor in the
mailbox that will set off an LED in the house when the mailbox door is

I have completed my latest home automation project.  It is an
electronic rain gauge.  Except for one item, construction is from
commonly available items in a hardware store.  For a write-up see:
http://www.edcheung.com/automa/rain.htm

Gents,
I have completed my latest Home Automation project and its write-up.  It
is a add-on to my water meter to measure the minicipal water usage
rate.  I am able to achieve an (amazing) accuracy of 0.01 Gallon on the

Bought a noise filter for TV because lights on the circuit don't respond if
TV plugged.
So installed the XPPF filter and - it doesn't help. even plugged two in a
row, to no avail.

I'm in france and I'm trying to control my X10 TM with my pronto using
a powermid pyramide ! (433 Mhz)
I'm using Dave Houston Codegen program and simply paste the Hex in
prontoEdit but doesn't have any result.

I'm trying to program the x10 CM11A device in C#.  I've got the serial
communication going, that was farely easy, but I can't seem to get anything
going.  Sometimes i'll get a response back, and sometimes not.
Even getting the example given is not working for me.

I am wiring the Cat5e cables for the telephone system.  I have 2 Cat5e
coming in from the phone company to the main panel.  I am not using anything
exotic and have decided to do my own setup using punchdown blocks only.
Each incoming Telco cable is punched down to its own 66 board ...

I just purchased an X10 repeater and am looking at it and the
instructions and I'm bewildered.  Who designed this thing?  It's too
big for a standard double box, there's an led on it that nobody's
going to see if it's in a box and all the wires just come poking out

Thinking about starting a home business using computers.  Currenlty in
college and need direction.  Please advise.
Thank you,
Doris Givens