Home Automation Today!

The HTINews is our Bi-Monthly Online Magazine featuring the most up to date Home Automation news available. Here you'll find feature articles, product ads and reviews, interesting columns and interviews as well as press releases announcing the latest technologies available from those companies pioneering the Home Automation industry.

Past issues are available and we've compiled libraries of all the feature articles and product reviews for easy reference.

ISC Expo - Chicago
CABA Conference
Security Manuals Online
CEBus Becomes ANSI Standard
Lonworks Demo
HAA AWARDS
House that Listens

Uncle Phil Part VIII
MediaCenter  Software
International  HA
Sweet Automated Dreams

Review - Marantz RC2000 MKII
Contest Prize - FaxJ-300 from Viking Electronics

Technology :-( aaaaaaargh. I love it when it works but ... when it don't it don't. Last week I had 2 hard drive failures and a Win95 glitch which killed my dialup networking necessitating a complete reload of the operating system and all applications and files. Right now me and Bill aren't speaking. In spite of all this however, we managed to get this issue ready in time and it's a good one.

You'll notice that many of the articles etc. have been spruced up with some nifty graphic titles etc. Special thanks to my son Luke for the efforts here. It's easy to tell who the artist in the family is. By the way ... PLUG!!! ... he's available for hire ( luke@hometoys.com ).

This is our first Theme issue ("Home Theater Control") and I think the idea worked better than expected. As you can see we received many excellent feature articles on the topic. Jonathan Somers contributed some nifty PC entertainment software (MediaCenter) and promises more in the future. Gary Bridwell's article (Almost Automated Home Theater) points out some pitfalls and Peter J. Carian (Home Theater  Control) spells out the basics. Some products to learn about include The Ball from Adcom, TVMessenger from TriNexus and Elan's MultiZone PreAmp. Janne Fielding over at Crestron points out that their system is Not your father's remote control! and Tim Skaja has some Sweet Automated Dreams in his wild Master Bedroom. Patrick Robert's Home Theater column sorts out the Too Many Remotes question and I had the opportunity to review the Marantz RC2000 MKII which neatly solves that problem. For a practical perspective, Doug Moses tells how to install Low Tech Speaker Wiring.

Of course, Uncle Phil continues with this X-10 technical series with Which One Should I Use, Part VIII - Troubleshooting Three-Way and Four-Way Switch Circuits. More invaluable info. Ken Wacks returns to fill us in on International  Home Automation Standards and Jeff Vogel contributed a detailed article about using Homation with his Complete Home Automation Controller (CHAC).

Dave Rye and Brian Baker continue to contribute each issue with their columns on X-10 and CEBus. This month Dave shares a Case Study interview which helps to open our eyes about the scope of the X-10 organization and Brian helps us understand what the CAL (Common Application Language) is. He says that soon my toaster will be able to talk to my hot tub. That's OK as long as they don't plot an assassination or the result isn't a totally relaxed piece of soggy toast for breakfast.

This month's opinion forum asks the questions "How do you control your Home Theater System ... Universal Remote / Automation Controller / Other? Are you happy with the present technology? What would be the ultimate controller?" Please take a moment to submit your thoughts. We can learn from each other.

• CEBus Becomes ANSI Standard - The EIA-600 series is intended to handle existing and anticipated control communication requirements at minimum practical costs, consistent with a broad spectrum of residential applications.
• HAA AWARDS - Mark of Excellence Awards presented at the Home Automation Show.
• Lonworks Demo - Home products are monitored and controlled via an Internet demonstration
• House that Listens - HAL, ITRAN & Jackson and Tull partner to develop a light switch with built in microphone and speaker which communicate over the power line.
• Simon D. S. Mason has started up a Cyberhouse Mailing List. To subscribe, go to www.coollist.com  and subscribe to list cyberhouse. Other lists are available in the Link Library.

We have a record number of entries in the Tips and Tricks contest and many of them are excellent. Be sure to drop by and vote. The new contest will be accepting entries until May 15/98 to win a FaxJ-300 telephone / fax line sharing device from Viking Electronics.

Thanks as usual to our advertisers. Without them we wouldn't be around. Connect to the Future with a Siemon Cabling System. HomeVoice 2.0 has been released. X-10's Hottest Prods - buy them here. CABA Conference - May 14 - 15, 1998 in Dallas. HAL Voice Control - Talk from anywhere in the world.  LonWorks Networks - Home Automation, Utility Management, Building Control, Security, Lighting Control, Sprinkler Control, Entertainment Control, etc.Eliminate the Expense of Dedicated Phone Lines! with Viking Electronics. Vidan HX-1 Controller, Cardio by Secant,   LC-6-X10 from Wadsworth.

A new feature in the works at HTI is a list of Automated Model Homes. You'll be able to look up a home in your region so that you can visit and play with the toys. One problem so far. No homes yet on the list. Please have a look and send in the info so that the list will be ready for the June issue. In case you've forgotten we have prepared other lists and directories as well including the Training Calendar, Home Automation and Security Directory and the Events Calendar.

Next issue's theme will be Security and Lighting so if you'd like to contribute please drop me a line. I hope there will be as much participation as we had for this one. Future issues will be:

August = Cabling and Communication
October = Gifts and Gadgets / HVAC
December = Home Office Automation

Many thanks to those of you who contribute time and effort to this publication by submitting articles etc. When I started the HTINews I had no idea that the response would be so incredible. Keep sendin' those cards and letters and I'll keep publishing them. We all gain from the sharing of our expertise.