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[freeman3030]

Hello,
I'm very new to home automation. I don't know a great deal about it but am very willing to learn.
I like to start with being able to ditch all my remote controls (TV, DVD etc) and be able to control everything off of my laptop... and if I can do this, to then in the future buy a small touch screen tablet PC.
I just don't know where or how to start really. How do I go about getting infra red signals from my remote controls and in effect copying them for my PC to be able to transmit them? Or even if this is what I should be doing and there's another way of doing this? Also what software and hardware do I need? I'd really like to be able to create a 'virtual remote' on the laptop when you dedicate a clickable button to an action, such as clicking a button to turn on the TV, and others to change channel, volume etc. I have seen http://www.wdpsoftware.com/ but it doesn't look very customisable, I'd like to make the controls visually pleasing.
On that note though, I don't know anything about coding, I really like simplicity (he says - wanting to set up a home automation system!) so anything simple to understand would be great!

Currently this is just a one room operation, but in the future i'd like to be able to turn lights on elsewhere in the house. And to set up security cameras and monitor other rooms/my driveway etc.

Then going on from that, to be able to control the house whilst away via the internet... but that really is off way in the future!

Can anyone help or suggest anything.

Thanks,
James

[nybuck]

I think I have a partial answer, and a start for you.

To control your TV and other IR appliances (DVD player, etc) you would need an IR controller, like this:  http://www.x10.com/products/ux17a_bj2.htm
Don't look at the price there, they have been pushing them bundled with ActiveHome Pro lately for $9.99 on the sales page, although they show this deal as sold out:  http://www.x10.com/promotions/sw31a_ed_ir_0628_v2.html

With ActiveHome Pro, and the proper plugins, you could control all your lights, appliances, see the status of doors/windows, view your cameras, etc and access it all from the internet, like your future plans...  So I guess to start, you could get the $10 setup and expand from there.
The full ActiveHome Pro setup is:  http://www.x10.com/promotions/cm15a_am466_large_home.html
It comes with all the plugins and the "better" PC interface that works even when your computer is off.  For a TV remote, I would use the $10 deal, because it is a CM19a wireless controller to the IR Commander.  The CM-15a is a plug-in module - Not very portable with your laptop.

[freeman3030]

Thanks for the reply,
I failed to mention I live in the UK and when I looked for Activehome in the UK I couldn't really find anything until I came across this:
http://www.uk-automation.co.uk/marmitek-x10-cm15pro-computer-interface-transceiver-p-1346.html

As Im new to this I'd just like to ask (and please pardon my ignorance) say I want to automate my bedside table lamp. Do I simply plug some sort of adapter into the wall socket and then put the plug of the lamp into the adapter?

I really need to read up on how it all works, its just a bit overwhelming as there's so much to understand and consider!

Is there a limit to the amount of equipment you can control?

Also, going back to controlling the TV, thank you for recommending the IR Commander. I take that's a completely separate programme to ActiveHome or can you integrate it into it? Ideally, would you be able to click a button within ActiveHome and it automatically launch the IR Commander programme?
Also, how do you go about getting the computer to learn the IR signals so you can pair each learned signal with a button to ditch the remote control?

I really appreciate your help so far.
Its great to finally feel like im getting somewhere!

[Brian H]

Here are a few other UK automation sites that may assist you.
http://www.letsautomate.co.uk/
http://www.x10europe.com/
http://www.marmitek.com/

One thing to remember. US and Canada RF devices like remotes and motion sensors use a frequency of 310MHz.
The UK and European RF devices use 433.92MHz. So use devices made for the UK.

[nybuck]

Good info, Brian H.  Whatever I refer to on X10.com may be USELESS to you in the UK.  The general ideas, hower, should be the same.

The way the IR commander works, is you program a limited number of IR remote commands (10 I think) into the IR commander.  Then your X10 remote, or computer making X10 signals, sends say "A2" to the IR commander, it sends out "volume up" to the TV for example.  The IR commander has little stick-on IR emitters that you stick to the TV and stereo (there are about 4 on a long wire) so that when it emits the IR signal, it gets to the proper part of the TV, stereo, VCR to do the action.  So in short, the IR Commander learns the IR from your current remote, and sends it out when it gets the RF command from an X10 device.  The CM19A is the USB X10 RF transmitter (AKA USB Firecracker).  I don't know if there is a similar item in the UK.

To control a lamp, you have a little box that you plug into the wall, and plug your lamp into it.  The RF command clicks the box on and off, turning the lamp on and off.  Some can dim the lamp also.  Fluorescent bulbs require a strict on/off such as an appliance module.  There are wall switches also.  There are 255 total X10 codes here.  You might have A1-A14 for lights in your house, and use B1-B10 for your IR remote devices.  Maybe you'd have other devices like a coffee pot or outside lights on "house code" C.  Some like to say that home automation is limited only by your imagination...   

One last thing... To get some ideas on what these devices can do, read the sales pages... It may not be easy, but with a little playing around, the sky's the limit!