Homeowner Forum / Home Automation / November 2007

Is there an quick reference for z-wave and insteon so that after reading
them, I will know the devices I need to accomplish a certain task. The FAQs
I could find are manufacturer's marketing stuff and does not go into
technical detail.

I have a DirecTV TIVO box in my family room. This feeds a 2010 wall
plate which has coax cable running to the basement. I also have a
2100A wall plate (with target) in the master bedroom with coax cable
running to the basement. I connect the 2 cables together with a female

Looking for some input on home lighting automation systems and the possible
control thru a panel such as the Elk M1Gold.
Project involves a Main House with Detached Garage/Shop(500') and
Studio(400').

Is there a SPDT PLC switch available?  One that will absolutely
guarantee that both "throws" cannot become energized simultaneously.
I have drapes that have separate forward/reverse motors, currently
there is a simple hard-wired SPDT switch on the wall for open/off/

Does anyone have experience mounting these amps in a rack? They're
fairly heavy (90lbs), and ordinarily I would expect anything designed
to be rack-mounted that weighs this much to have rails for a four-post
rack.

Anyone have recommendations for usb connected data collection devices, to be
used within windows?  I'd like to leave an old laptop on the boat this
winter and have it send me information on air temp and whether the bilge
pumps have been operating.  Ideally I'd like something ...

   I have just ordered some parts from aag electronica, send the money -
but they don't answer on any mails. Do you know if they still are in
business? I don't call them, becasue I'm on another side of Atlantic.
Greetings,

I'm prewiring a new addition for a wall-mounted flat screen TV. The
cable box, TiVo, DVD player, etc., will be located in a cabinet against
another wall. My question is what cable(s) will need to be run between
the video source (the "boxes"), and the TV itself?

My intent was to set up a surveillance camera and put it on one of my
cable channels to view it.  I know I need to get some sort of
modulator or even get it built in like the ones Net Media offers.
I have some questions though about the video signal.  A camera such as

Ok, so it's only the beginning of Nov, but I'm staring early!
Got a couple strings of LED lights.  (60 on a string, Phillips, from
Target).
In the past, I've used indi C7's and used a std X10 lamp module.  No

   How can I connect my surveillance camera to my cable which feeds the
televisions in the house?  I have tried to connect it into the cable line
using a modulator.  This modulator tunes to channels that are not
broadcasting cable channels.  But the result is a poor picture unless ...

I am researching options to control a pool heating system as part of a
home automation system.
The Homeseer website lists a Z-wave thermostat (TZ40) from a company
called RCS, which also makes an optional remote pool/spa temperature

I'd like to have a cordless device to listen to audio that doesn't
come with headphones.  There are many cordless headphones out there,
but I want to plug my headphones into a jack on a little cordless
box.  I just tried a Belkin FM transmitter going to my SanDisk MP3