From: "ron thigpen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
Just FYI: I've uploaded some screenshots for my SlimServerMod project (AMX NetLinx automation system interface to the Squeezebox). If you click here:
<http://sourceforge.net/project/screenshots.php?group_id=62827&ssid=10665>
looks nice.
for those of us unfamiliar with this platform/device, could you gives us a bit more information about how this works? for example: is there a receiver/server component? what hardware is required? how does it network, etc...
i found them on the web, but there was only information on individual components and not a lot about how they worked together or how you might deploy a system.
Okay, the point of my message (and the screenshot) was to demonstrate that the SlimServer CLI is really MUCH better than in the V5.4 days, and is really quite useable now. I worked with Fred Thomas (whom you can thank for all the CLI enhancements) on this, and the result is what you see in those screenshots.
This is totally off topic, but you folks asked, so ...
An AMX NetLinx system is an automation system. It automates anything you've got. For me, it controls every TV in the house. It controls lighting, HVAC, a hot water circ pump, and other various doodads. It also does all Audio/Video control in my home (Family Room, Theatre Room). It's a "professional" automation system, designed for installation by a professional.
For more details, you can go to http://www.amx.com.
To control a Squeezebox, you minimally need a controller (ME-260, or an ME-260/64, or an NI series, or whatever) and a touchpanel. That's it. The screenshots that were displayed were on a Modero MVP-8400, which you can find described on the AMX web site: http://www.amx.com/new-products-public.asp (search for "Modero ViewPoints").
The value of an automation system: total, "one button" control. If I'm in the family room and touch "DVD", everything happens to watch DVD (turn monitor on if it's off, turn on preamp if needed, tune to DVD if needed, turn on amp, etc etc).
If I'm in the theatre room, I do the same thing (press DVD). But there, it also controls a projector rather than a monitor, and it controls a video processor, and it closes the drapes and dims the lights, etc. All that happens automatically (no additional buttons or controls). Some things are controlled via relays, some things are controlled via RS-232, some things are controlled via I/R, and some things (like the SlimServer) is controlled via TCP/IP. Doesn't matter: On my touchpanel, it's all seamless.
The reason sprinklers are controlled: It varies when you need to turn them on. And, if it rains a bunch unexpectedly (Seattle is known for rainy weather), you'd want to turn them off for a while until things got dry again. Don't waste water and all that. The sprinkler control is outside. Yes, I could go outside to adjust it (frequently in the rain), but it's a whole lot easier from a touchpanel, anywhere from inside the house.
Surprisingly enough, my wife was the one that made me get the automation system. I do all the programming for it (indeed, I was the one that wrote the SlimServer module). But when we decided to set aside a room for a "media/theatre room", she put her foot down, so to speak. If it wasn't very easy to operate, she didn't want to do it. The only way to guarentee that: An automation system. So she said, "buy it, or lets scrap the entire idea of a media room".
AMX (and Crestron) automation systems are expensive. Like thousands of dollars, depending on exactly what you get. This will likely price it right out of range for nearly everyone reading this. Also, unless you have programming skills and some electrical knowledge (not much of the later, but plenty of the former), you won't be able to set it up or make changes on your own - you'll need to pay someone. That will cost even more money.
But that said, if you have one, it's quite nice. It controls nearly everything in my home, with very simple one-button control, mostly. My housekeeper's 6yr old son was using my system with no instruction after just looking at the panel a bit.
Hopefully this answers everyone's questions,
-- Jeff _______________________________________________
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