One of the most frequently asked questions is what parts do I have connected to my OmniPro II. Here's the complete list!

- OmniPro II running latest firmware (currently 2.16a)
- two 16-zone expansion boards
- voice board
- 4 relay module board
- RCS Climate Zone Controller
- three RC-2000 Thermostats
- one LCD Console with microphone and speaker
- 5 sounders (4 internal/ 1 external)
- 6 smoke detectors (on 3 zones) / 2 heat detectors
- PLC Lighting Interface
- Z-WAVE Lighting Interface
- four temperature sensors with humidity
- wireless receiver (for controlling via RF keyfobs)
- motion detectors and sensors covering every area (used to trigger lights, events)
- glass break sensors
- Cartell CP-2 drive way sensor
- Rain8net irrigation controller (serial version)
- custom inwall touchscreen running (my:ro control)
- three viewsonic airpanels (running advanced version of future my:ro control)
- Web-Link 2
- Snaplink
- TED 1000 Power Monitoring Hardware
- Russound CAV6.6 (12 zones) -- with other audio hardware
- Lightolier Compose PLC with two 8-circuit firewalls (over 100 switches)
- four external cameras running into an Axis 241Q video server, recording content 24x7.
- Panasonic phone system for intercom and paging/voicemail
- Cat5e (x2), RG6 QuadShield (x2), Fiber (x2) runs to each room (some have double and triple runs)
- Lots and lots of wiring and conduit for future upgrades.

I think that mostly covers it... home theater control details and all the other hardware/software I've written to control it might come out sometime in the future.

Danny

Danny,

This is excellent and thanks for posting. My home has a very, very similar setup, although I didn't install or design so I'm sort-of reverse engineering at this point. (Yes, I'm the person with the driveway sensor(s) issue.)

My home also has fiber (2x) drops throughout (in conjunction with cat5 and coax (2x ea)), although I'm somewhat at a loss as to what I'd use fiber for. Why did you run fiber in yours?

Also, my perimeter cameras are accessed via coax so I installed a tv card and setup Web-Link for online access and control. I'm not too thrilled with the video interface though. Can you provide more details on your video setup for security cam's? Is it strictly on your internal network or can you access outside via WAN? If so, do you RDP into your server?

-Angela

Angela,

Currently, I'm not doing anything with the fiber drops... they cost too much to terminate. Maybe someday I'll be able to use them for something.

As for the camera server, I'm using an AXIS 241Q server. I don't use anything other than AXIS because their stuff is the most reliable -- however, pricey. Check them out here: http://www.axis.com.

I have the camera's accessible to the outside world and use my iphone to view them.

I wrote this a while back:
http://www.mavromatic.com/archives/000645
http://www.mavromatic.com/archives/000647

Danny

I know this question may seem obvious but did you go with sensors on every window and door or just motion sensors? I just bought a house recently but of course no system is in place and would like to do sensors on all the windows but I think the cost will be too cost prohibitive to go that route - may just have to settle for motion sensors.

I went overboard and put sensors on every window and door... I even put sensors on internal doors which I wanted to trigger lighting based on if the door is open or closed. Great for wine cellars, closets, mechanical rooms, etc.

Danny

I see you're using PLC and Z-WAVE lighting, was wondering if you've ever worked with Insteon and/or if your product will support it? I'm looking into doing some basic HA (basic compared to your setup), but something I definitely want to have is a nice touch screen type control like Myro. My draw to Insteon is the cheap controller options, USB, Ethernet, etc.

Also, will Myro require OmniPro II? (It doesn't look like OmniPro supports Insteon)

Thoughts? Thanks!

Hi there,

INSTEON is not supported by HAI's OmniPro controllers so Myro can't control them either... I have talked to HAI support about this and it seems like there are some issues around INSTEON:

- Not all INSTEON switches contain both RF and PLC transceivers which supposedly makes it "better" than other smart switches.
- You can control INSTEON via PLC (X10) commands, though limited
- INSTEON is not really considered a professional product, but rather a home owner/DIY product

I just finished an install of Leviton Vizia RF (Z-WAVE) in a 9500+ square foot home and it works great. My home, which is 5000sq foot, uses Lightolier Compose PLC with two firewalls and haven't had any issues. I chose Lightolier because Z-WAVE was not out and I have a lot of lighting scenes which the Lightolier system is specifically designed for.

I would recommend Leviton Vizia RF for all new installs.

Hope this helps,
Danny

Indeed very helpful info. How about controlling the Vizia, do they have an API or any way to directly control their stuff, or is that just reliant on what Z-Wave controller you use? (What initially attracted me to the Insteon was the web based controller and the API for $99.)

Thanks for your input!

There are a couple ways you can interface with z-wave units... either their a RS232 controller (PIM) that you connect to an automation panel or computer or with a z-wave remote... Leviton makes a "programmer" that has a LCD which you can also control lighting and devices. http://www.smarthome.com/45020/Vizia-RF-Z-Wave-Programmer-Controller-RZCPG-BSG-VCPG-BSG/p.aspx

Danny

Its cool to see someone finally using the SmartDisplays to their advantage. They were well before their time. What models are you using (V110, V150, etc)? Did you snag them used off eBay? Do they really have the horsepower to run your my:ro well enough? Are you running my:ro locally on them or through Remote Desktop via another machine as the SmartDisplays were designed for?