New Website!

Greetings, small number of readers:

So I recently started this awesome website with a friend, you should totally go see it and become members and tell all your friends, but not necessarily in that order. SettleThisForMe is a friendly place where you can start friendly arguments and let the internet decide who's right. Come to think of it, they don't even have to be arguments. If you're indecisive, you can use it to help you choose what to do. There are many uses for our service, not the least of which is a rip-roarin' good time!

Eventually I'll get back to constructing my robot house, I promise. Right now I'm doing more work on renovating my non-robot house so people will pay us more for it when we sell it. Things like repainting, updating appliances, that sort of thing. I'm always cooking up automation tactics though, and I'll be sure to update here if any of them come to fruition. Or maybe just if they sound cool.

The One about the HTPC

So I built the HTPC a few months back and have been monkeying with it since then, trying to figure out just where it fits in my entertainment scheme. Overall, I really love it. It's fast, super quiet, and handles all the video I can throw at it. Sadly, a big ol' wrench has been thrown in the works in the form of some problem between my video capture card and my motherboard. I've been wrestling with tech support at both Hauppauge and ECS for over two months now, and I still have found no resolution. I know the video card works because I installed it on my desktop PC and it showed up just fine. When I plug it in to the HTPC, however, it shows up as an unrecognized PCI card, and the drivers won't install because they NEED to see a Hauppauge product before anything can happen.

I don't have another half-height PCI card to try in the HTPC motherboard, but what I've gleaned from my troubleshooting thus far is this:

1. It's not the card's fault since it works in my desktop.
2. It's probably not a bad PCI slot in the mobo because the slot recognizes the card, just not correctly.
3. I updated the BIOS to the latest version, so it's not a known issue that I'm seeing just because I have an earlier version of the board.
4. The most likely solution at this stage, barring meddlesome circuit gnomes, is that there's a hardware compatibility issue between the PCIe-1x card and the PCIe-16x slot. I've never heard of any issues like this, but I don't really know what else it could be.

My plan now, as pitiful as it is, is to continue to plead with ECS and Hauppauge and hope that the tech gods (or a beneficent CSR, I'm not picky) have mercy on me and I find someone who can solve my problem. It's the one thing standing between me and the HTPC I planned to have 3 months ago, not to mention the fact that it's also the one thing that really pushes the PC from mere living room computer into true HTPC-dom.

Oh, and I had planned to write a long post detailing the assembly of this machine along with informative pictures and effervescent wit, but I lost my camera a while back and have recently given it up as gone forever. Alas, it was not meant to be. I blame the gnomes.

Components, Part I Rev. A: The HTPC

So I now realize that I started this blog prematurely. At this point, I'm no longer planning on making my technovations to our current house. It's looking like we'll probably be moving in 2-3 years, so it's not really worth it 

There are plenty of ready-to-buy options out there from Asus (EeeBox), Dell (Zino), Acer (Revo), CompuLab (fit-PC) and the like, but I think I can build a better machine with more bang for my buck. Not to mention that none of these options have TV tuners, which is a must for me. Here's the breakdown.

• Hardware


• Motherboard/Processor: ECS H55H-I
  

   Mini-ITX board with an Intel Core i3-530. The processor is 2.93GHz with a 4MB L3 Cache. I've decided to switch from the Atom to the Core i3 processor for a few reasons. First, the i3 will give me MORE POWAHHHHHH! Also, the onboard graphics can handle HD video. The Atom mobo had the Nvidia Ion chip, but had mixed reviews on its HD capabilities. The motherboard has dual-channel DDR3 RAM slots, where my previous choice used DDR2. Also, the ZOTAC board did not have a PCIe slot, making it quite difficult to add a TV tuner. Finally, switching to the Core i3 didn't really change the price that much, and what cost it did add, I think is worth it [MoBo] [Chip].

• Memory: The motherboard will support up to 8GB of RAM, but I really don't think I need that much. I found a good deal on 4GB of G.SKILL DDR3 1333 RAM, so that's what I'm going to use. The timings are 9-9-9-24, which I may or may not try to tweak. It'll get the job done [link].
• Storage: I still considered getting an SSD in the early planning stage, especially since prices have come down since January. I still can't bring myself to shell out for it. I've recently come into a 640GB 2.5" WD Scorpio Blue hard drive, so I'm going to use that. Also, free, which is cool. [link] As far as media storage, I have a WD MyBook World Edition II 2TB mirrored network drive. Good stuff.
• Case: Yes, I was in love with that case. It was amazing and fanless and tiny. But alas, it no longer meets my needs. I'm sticking with the mini-ITX board, but because I want that tricky TV tuner in there, I would have had to do some serious modification to the M350. So, I've chosen the hec Micro-ATX Media Center case, which comes with a 300W power supply. That is more than I will likely EVER need in an HTPC, but better safe, right? The case has an 80mm fan in the front, but I imagine this will be loud and awful like most included case fans of its size. I'll upgrade this, and maybe even try to stuff another fan into the case somewhere. [link]
• TV Tuner: This is one are where I decided not to go cheap. I'm going with the current top-of-the-line Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-2250, which has dual ATSC/NTSC/Clear QAM tuners, an FM tuner, and hardware encoding, which will take some strain off of the processor. It will allow me to pull two channels into the PC at once, letting me watch and record one channel while I record another. [link]
• No Optical Drive: I'm omitting an optical drive from this build for mostly the same reasons as before. The only difference is that this time, the case DOES have room for an optical drive, in case I want to add a Blu-ray player in the future. Thinking ahead.



• Software: My OS plans have changed slightly since January. I'm still planning on using Mythbuntu, but essentially just to play around with. Since Netflix Watch Instantly does not currently work with any Linux OSes (thanks a lot, Silverlight dev team), I'll end up buying another copy of Windows 7 and using the Media Center as my base of operations. I'll likely end up waiting for a sale, since I feel like someone somewhere will eventually sell Win7 Home Premium for less than $100. [Mythbuntu] [Win7]

So...this computer is STILL small, though not quite as quiet, and it will be able to handle streaming HD media both from my home server and over the internet. It is easily upgradeable, so when my needs change I won't have to go out and buy an entirely new machine. And finally, it's still relatively cheap at right around $450, so if in time my family and I are able to wean ourselves off of for-pay television, the machine will still pay for itself in a matter of months, just a few more than it would have before.

Next up: Kitchen enhancements (hopefully?)

Components, Part I: The HTPC

***DEPRECATED - UPDATED HTPC POST HERE***

It will probably be a little while before I can start on this project in earnest, but in the meantime, I'll do a series of posts on the specific hardware I'm planning to use for each aspect. First up, the HTPC. While I could use my primary PC as my media server, it's an Intel Core i7 rig, so it's pretty power-hungry. I'd like a low-profile, low-power machine that will serve my media throughout the house, allowing me to save power by keeping my main PC off most of the time.

There are plenty of ready-to-buy options out there from Asus (EeeBox), Dell (Zino), Acer (Revo), CompuLab (fit-PC) and the like, but I think I can build a better machine for less money. Here's the breakdown.

• Hardware



• Motherboard: ZOTAC IONITX-A-U Mini-ITX board. It's one of the most full-featured mobos in this form factor that I've found. It has a dual-core Intel Atom N330, and NVIDIA Ion North Bridge, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics, built-in 802.11n, HDMI out, an eSATA port, and 10 USB ports. Newegg has it for $185 [link].
• Memory: The mobo supports 4GB max, but I'm just going to go with 2GB to keep costs down. I don't have a specific brand in mind, since the prices are always changing, but if I were to buy right now, I'd get the Crucial DDR2 667 2GB dual-channel kit from Newegg for $48 [link].
• Storage: Early on I considered getting an SSD so the machine could be utterly silent, but for the sake of the almighty dollar, I've decided to pull the 80GB HDD out of my old laptop and reformat it. It's a modest 5400 rpm, so it won't be too loud or power hungry, and most importantly, it's free.
• Case: I'm in love with this case. It's the Mini-Box M350, and it's $40 from Mini-Box [link]. It's VESA, DIN-rail, and wall-mount compatible so I can stick it pretty much anywhere, and its footprint is barely larger than the mobo's, so keeping it out of the way will not be a problem. Also, it's fanless, which means silent, which is good.
• No Optical Drive: I'm omitting an optical drive from this build for several reasons. First, my current setup includes both a PS3 and an Xbox 360, so I'm pretty well covered as far as reading discs goes. Second, over the course of this project I'll be backing up all of my physical media onto networked storage. Eventually I will only be using the optical drives for gaming. Third, optical drives are loud, and I don't want to. And finally, the case doesn't have room for one.




• Software: I'm almost definitely going to use Mythbuntu [link], since I don't want to pay for another copy of Windows 7 and I like the idea of not paying for PVR capabilities, which I currently do with DirecTV. I'm also a big fan of Ubuntu. I would like to eventually get to the point where paying for TV is unnecessary, and we can get all of our entertainment over the air and the internet. Whether this will be possible is anyone's guess.

So this computer is small and quiet, and it will be able to handle streaming media both from my home server and over the internet. It is easily upgradeable, so when my needs change I won't have to go out and buy an entirely new machine. And finally, it's relatively cheap at right around $300, so if in time my family and I are able to wean ourselves off of for-pay television, the machine will pay for itself in a matter of months.

Next up: Kitchen enhancements

I created a word

I've been thinking about the home automation, tech renovation stuff for a while, and rather than call it either one of those things, I started calling it "technovation." Well, as it turns out, this is not a word. So I submitted it to Urban Dictionary, and voila! I invented a word, and there's online documentation: Technovating.

The home theater post

In order to maintain my sanity, I am keeping my home theater plans in a separate mind folder from my home automation plans, even though they do tie into each other. The catch with the home theater is that it will go in the basement, which is currently mostly unfinished. I love that this is the case, since it lets me do whatever I want, but it does present a significant obstacle to the home theater, since it's hard to have a comfortable theater room without power outlets, drywall, flooring, etc.

The basement renovation plan is pretty straightforward. The basement, like I said, is mostly unfinished. There is a finished bedroom down there which we plan on using for an art & music room, and a spare guest room when necessary. The only other things in the basement are the furnace, water heater, and clothes washer and dryer. After measuring the room and laying it out Google Sketchup, we've decided on a floor plan that includes a good-sized laundry room, a full bathroom, an unfinished storage area and the theater room.

The theater room will naturally occupy most of the basement, and will be fairly large and open. While I know that the odd shape of it will make for less than ideal acoustic conditions, it will be much better for parties, and that has more value for me. Now down to the good stuff. The theater room plans.

• Furniture: Seating in the home theater is of great importance. I wouldn't say greatest, but it's certainly up there. If you're not comfortable, how can you properly enjoy a good film? I think two recliner couches slightly angled toward the center of the room would be good. I'll also need end tables and coffee tables or ottomans, for food, drink, and feet resting.
• Projector: I'd like to have a 1080p projector, but I'm not ready to pay $1,000 for one, even though it is a great price. Right now, I like the Optoma HD65 720p projector. Newegg has it for $700, and I can live with that. I haven't decided yet whether to mount it to the ceiling or put it on a shelf.
• Screen: I really like the idea of painting a screen on the wall. Under the current plan, the screen will go on the stairwell wall, which incidentally is just the right size for a 116" (diag.) screen. Even though it's more expensive, Goo Systems' Screen Goo is on top of my list for the screen because of some reviews I've read that raved about it. Behr SilverScreen paint is also on the list, and is a bit less expensive.
• Sound System: So maybe I'm a sucker for advertising, but I love the Onsia in-wall speaker setup. I'm all about hiding wires in my media setups, so invisible speakers is like a dream come true. Reviews on these are still pretty thin though, since they're relatively new. Because of the asymmetry of the room, a 5.1 channel system is the best I can do with the in-wall setup, but I think that's good enough for me. The subwoofer, which I'd probably spend a decent amount on, would go behind the couches. I'm still looking into subs.
• Hardware: This is the only headline I could think of for all the media playing apparatus, including my PS3, my Xbox 360, and an A/V receiver. Maybe also a satellite receiver, and with the possibility of adding a Wii. You have to keep your options open. Everything will go underneath the stairs, which is a really convenient location for it, especially since that whole area is unfinished. More on that in...
• Wiring: Like I was saying, since it's unfinished, running wires will be the easiest part. I would put all the A/V connectors into wall jacks that would run to the speakers in the walls and to jacks in the back wall of the room for the projector and the subwoofer.
• Extras:
  
  • Bar: Because who wants to walk all the way upstairs for a refreshing beverage or a snack? I kind of want to build this myself, but I'd certainly buy one if I found a killer deal.
  • Game Table: For when you die and it's your buddy's turn at Castlevania, or if you're "just not that into Pokémon." I would love to have a combo table including billiards, air hockey, and foosball. I'd take table tennis instead of foosball though.

Here's that Google Sketchup mockup I mentioned. The large room-shaped block on the top right is the finished room, and the large open space to the right will be divided up into the laundry, bathroom, and unfinished storage. The lovely model in the red jacket is about to walk up the stairs, and the guy in the white shirt is a very lonely air-hockey player. I haven't yet established where a bar will go, but I could probably rotate the game table 90° and put the bar up against the back wall. I'll have to check the space requirements on that.

As before, I welcome helpful comments and suggestions!

The dream of a tech house

Here is my vision:
I want to have a fully integrated whole-house network that integrates music, video, lighting, HVAC, and home surveillance into a user-friendly, energy-efficient, and affordable package. It's a lot to ask for, but I'm patient and I'm not afraid of DIY projects.

I plan to be thorough in my research so I get the best hardware for the best price.
I plan to take time with my coding so that I have as robust a system as possible.
I plan to do as much of this project myself as I can, both to save money and to learn more about home improvement.

I hope to complete this project within the next five years. Here is an outline of my plan as it now stands.

• Network: Mostly in place, but I need to add networked storage and most likely a standalone media server. Until then I will continue using my primary PC in this capacity.
• Sound: Place speakers in every zone. I am still tossing around the idea of having a media player dock in every zone.
• Video: This has more to do with my home theater plan. I will write a separate post about that and link it here when it's done.
• UI Hardware: Each zone will have a Mobile Internet Device on an articulating or flexible mount. Contenders for the MID of choice include the SmartQ 5 and the Chumby, as long as the guts are still available when I'm at this step.
• UI Software: Primary contender in this spot is MisterHouse. It may not be quite as slick or as fully featured as some other options, but the fact that it is open source is what makes it the winner for me.
• Surveillance: I have not yet done much research into this category yet, but I want to monitor the exterior of the house and keep at least a few days worth of records. I want to keep internal surveillance to a minimum, only putting up cameras inside the house during vacations, for example.
• HVAC: I plan on having room-to-room weather monitors as well as an external weather station. I also plan on implementing remote thermostat control.
• Lighting: This one is pretty far down the list, partially because I don't think it's that crucial, and partially because I have not yet come up with an elegant control scheme. However, I'd like to switch entirely to CFL and LED lighting as soon as possible.

I am also keeping tabs on the state of alternative energy sources. I would like to use solar power for at least a portion of this project, but will likely hold out until the efficiency improves somewhat. I still have research to do on this front.

So there's the basic outline. Whether it is too ambitious remains to be seen, but you have to start somewhere.

I welcome helpful comments and suggestions!