[Lab Bench Online]
EiED Online>> Building A Multimedia Home Control Center, Part 3
William Wong
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ED Online ID #13858 |
October 19, 2006
HomeLinc can handle macros and timing like mControl. HomeLinc's documentation is simpler than mControl because HomeLinc is specific to Insteon and X10. Features like cameras are not part of HomeLinc's repertoire.
HomeLinc and mControl complement each other. HomeLinc is much better at setting up relationships between devices. Its discovery mode is very useful. Still, mControl wins hands down when it comes to user interface for general use. If you do not plan on using powerline devices from a PC without a multimedia interface then you may need only HomeLinc.
Wireless To Elk Components
The fourth and final version of this series of articles will be dealing with Elk Products home management hardware, including things such as smoke detectors and security systems. The Elk M1G Home Control System is a large box with its own microcontroller and interface hardware designed to be the central management point for wired home automation systems. It contains its own battery backup system.
The M1G Home Control System has a number of interfaces that can include remote LCD panels as well as a remote PC. In our case, the PC interface is through the Powerlinc Controller V2 USB. The same unit can be used with the Elk software as well as the other products reviewed here like mControl.
The coverage for the M1G Home Control System and its related devices will have to wait until the next part of this series. Till then, it's lights out, on, off, on...
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