Thanks to all who responded. The comments at Moose's link (below) tells
me that I've probably been correct to concentrate on Insteon devices
(see www.smarthome.com). They seem well rated for reliability, are not
terribly expensive and have a wide variety of equipment.
One thing I just discovered is that their IP cameras can not only take
photos but can also send an email with a photo attached. 2 cameras
watching likely break-in points (both back doors) and 1 watching the
thermostat I think would meet my requirements while also probably
meeting any insurance requirement for inspection of the premises.
Still more research to be done but I have a better idea where to look now.
Thanks again,
Chuck Norcutt
On 8/8/2012 4:09 PM, Moose wrote:
> On 8/8/2012 7:58 AM, Chuck Norcutt wrote:
>> ... Getting someone to do a regular check is very unlikely. Switch
>> controls such as Insteon or Z-wave can be signaled by a controller which
>> can be stand-alone or programmed from a PC or smartphone. A simple
>> programmable controller can be had for under $100. More sophisticated
>> ones at about $300.
>
> I've had X10 devices controlled by programmable controllers for decades. The
> current controller is a simple, white box
> that lives in a wall plug and gets hooked up via USB maybe once or twice a
> year. It has battery backup of 4 AAAs, as I
> recall.
>
> I only use it to control lights and fountains, but there are many other uses.
> The x10/Smarthome software to program it
> is only slightly odd, and that only when you start doing fancy stuff. It
> knows about the annual changes in daylight, and
> can adjust for that, as well as randomly vary on off times from that, so
> stuff turns on and off in un-patterned ways.
>
> It's on all the time, whether we are here or not.
>
> The X10 web site is awful, full of over the top promo stuff, apparently run
> by marketing types on steroids. OTOH, the
> stuff works fine.
>
> As to bridging the two legs of 120/240, there are commercial bridges, a macro
> work-around, or the scarier solution of a
> simple capacitor. My late brother, a serious electrical/electronics wizard*,
> simply connected a 1600v ceramic capacitor
> across the entrance breaker box of his house. He's been gone about 20 years,
> but the capacitor is still there and still
> working.
>
> Smarthome software and the controller allow making macros that relay commands
> using RF from the controller to an
> X10/etc. wireless receiver on the other leg, so the command goes out both
> ways.
>
> I see there's all sorts of other automation stuff out there, some using the
> same old X10 codes. There's a pretty good
> looking comparison here. At least it might get you started on the pros and
> cons of the various options.
> <http://cocoontech.com/forums/topic/18390-insteon-vs-zwave-vs-zigbee-vs-upb-comparison-2011/>
>
> X Ten Moose
>
> * He had a wizard hat he had been given by users in the IT center he ran for
> a UC department. :-) He reworked an early
> X10 manual controller to control more than one house code at a time - and
> light up which code was active at the time.
> His last years were spent as a freelance computer designer.
>
--
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