FREE - public beta of iHouse

[ttrolinger]

In my opinion, the main mechanical failure risk in a computer is the hard drive. That is pretty much the only mechanical part that would be in constant motion in a small computer like a laptop. My solution to that was to replace the mechanical hard drive with a solid state drive. Some of the netbooks come with a solid state drive already installed.
Another cool thing about using a laptop or netbook for a home automation server is it has its own built in battery backup that usually lasts a few hours.
TJ

[HA Dave]

In my opinion, the main mechanical failure risk in a computer is the hard drive.

Generally speaking when I think of a PC failure... I also think hard drive first. But when I worked as a network admin with responsibilities for PC selection, purchases, and software (as well as network) for a small government office. I also had failures due to power packs, processor fans, bad motherboard capacitors, and even most commonly... update errors.. that disabled desktop computers.

I like the idea of a small Home Automation laptop... or maybe even a touchscreen tablet that hangs on a wall.

But as cheap as computers have become... I still think Home Automation can be the best use for those old desktop dust collectors. I am using an old P3 that I rescued from landfill.. loaded XP on it and bumped up its memory with RAM I purchased [used] from a flea market.

Don't get me wrong... it's not that I am all green minded. I am cheap... and on a fixed income. But with a little effort... and knowhow that can be found on-line... just about anyone can have world class Home Automation using PCs that are regularly set out curbside on trash pickup days.

[ITguy]

iHouse version 0.9.5.2 is now available for download at: http://www.ihousehomeautomation.com/

Documentation regarding installation and the macro language is available on the iHouse forum.

New features in this release include:

Added the ability for all iHouse computers (server or client) to serve video (Video Server) from video devices (VA11A, VA12A, etc)

Expanded support for X10 cameras - including recording and playback, presets, tilt, etc.

Additional macro commands including "ShowOn" commands to have a macro show camera video on all screens, server only, or clients only.

And more.......

And did I mention ..... it's FREE!

ITguy

[Dan Lawrence]

One important thing:  If you are using Active Home Pro, back-up your x10Nets.exe (found in the Program Files/Common Files/X10 folder) as installing iHouse will delete it.   

[eagle]

Hi Dan,

I installed iHouse last week on my XP system.

I just checked my system and it shows the x10nets.exe file is in the Program Files/Common Files/X10/Common folder.

r,
eagle

[hawk1]

I've installed all of the Ihouse versions and not a one of them deleted x10nets.exe.

[Knightrider]

I, too, have installed ihouse, and my x10nets still is fine.  I fail to see how ihouse can function without it.

[Tuicemen]

I believe Dan means a Uninstall will delete it.

[yancy]

I did the uninstall for the previous version of iHouse prior to installing 9.5.2.  It did not uninstall the X10Netx.exe file.

[hawk1]

I've also uninstalled every version and it didn't delete anything. 

[Tuicemen]

I did uninstall a version Don't remember which one and it did delete some needed.dll files 
Update:
Just uninstalled latest version and it does indeed delete my X10.nets file stopping any X10(CM15A) related software from working.
Not good!!

[Tuicemen]

Ok
Did a little digging. It doesn't delete the file
How ever it does remove any references to it from the registry.
This makes a simple file replacement useless.
How ever reinstalling AHP did fix the registry issues

Hopefully I'm the only one who has this issue!

[hawk1]

I have relayed your msg to TJ over at the Ihouse forums.  He should get back to us.   

[eagle]

Just uninstalled latest version and it does indeed delete my X10.nets file stopping any X10(CM15A) related software from working.
Not good!!

Oiiii!

That's not good.

r,
eagle

[ttrolinger]

All, I will look into this issue today.
TJ