Digital Home Buying Guide

Buyers' Guide to Digital Home

• Home automation technologies
• Wireless technologies
• Hardware
• Other considerations
• Useful links

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From lighting and climate control to home cinema and video surveillance, a growing range of home networking, remote control and automation technologies promise unprecedented control at our fingertips. Unfortunately, the dream of a digital home is complicated by this diversity, making integration a tricky business. So, before embarking on a home upgrade, it's worth taking some time to become familiar with the various systems, how they differ, and how they can be co-opted to work together in harmony.

Home automation technologies

X10 Automation: Lighting, Climate, Security, Home Cinema and Beyond

When it first appeared in 1978, X10 became the standard in home automation technology. Using conventional home electrical wiring, X10 transmits digital packets through up to 256 compatible devices on a single power circuit. A control centre for an X10 system may be a standalone hardware unit or a PC running Linux or Windows. Remote controls and keypads can also be used to control light dimmers, TVs, VCRs, security alarms, door locks and surveillance equipment.

With no specialised wiring required, X10 is an affordable and reliable beginning to any digital home project. For around $350, an X10 starter kit usually contains PC and hand-held remote controls as well as modules for two appliances, two lamps and a ceiling-mounted light. To use a module, you simply plug it into a power socket and then plug the appliance into the module. The appliance is then controlled via an infrared remote control or a power-point control module such as a keypad or PC adapter. Once the software is installed, the system can be run from a Windows, Mac, Linux, OS/2 or Amiga computer. A wide selection of freeware applications for use with most X10 controllers are available online. 

Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) -- Networking the Home with Microsoft

As clever as it may seem, X10 is essentially a glorified remote control system for your home, limited to on, off and dim commands. In an attempt to create "intelligent" appliances that communicate via a home network, Microsoft launched their Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology in 1999. UPnP offers Ethernet connectivity to household appliances. These can range from lighting dimmers and climate control systems to security and audiovisual appliances. This means, in theory, that any networked Windows PC can control UPnP devices around the home (Windows ME and XP have native support for UpnP. A free upgrade for Windows 98 is available from Microsoft). It also means that you may eventually have remote access to do things like record a TV show on your home VCR via a Web browser. Unfortunately, it also means your household appliances are open to the possibility of being hacked or hijacked!

Although slow to be adopted by manufacturers, some recent UPnP devices such as standalone media players have emerged. Version 2 of the UPnP protocol is in development. This is expected to be more widely implemented than its predecessor by incorporating support for technologies such as IPv6 and .NET services.

xAP

Likened by some to UPnP, but with a smaller overhead, xAP is a network protocol designed to be independent of operating system and programming language. Although available to any mode of transmission, it is currently only implemented via serial port or Ethernet connections. The goal of xAP is a lofty one -- to provide interconnectivity between all household devices including lights, telephones, Hi-Fi units, heating systems and computers. Although in its infancy, xAP has a dedicated developer community and may emerge as a contender in the future of home automation.

Jini -- Networking Home Appliances with Java

If Java is more your thing then Sun Microsystems' Jini technology can network any device with a Java Virtual Machine over Ethernet, Firewire or HomeRF (a proprietary radio frequency wireless networking technology). Although it has the backing of vendors such as Sony and Philips, Jini remains within the realm of Java purists and programmers prepared to build their own interfaces and hand-code appliance drivers.

Wireless technologies

The term wireless is generally used to refer to the wireless Ethernet standards, also known as Wi-Fi (or 802.11), but this is in fact just one of the wireless technologies available to devices around the home.

2.4GHz Devices

The 2.4GHz spectrum is a non-regulated range of radio frequencies used internationally for domestic devices such as cordless phones and baby monitors, as well as cordless mice, keyboards and joysticks. Generally, these devices are not capable of interacting with each other -- in fact, they have a tendency to produce nasty interference.

802.11

The group of standards known collectively as 802.11, Wi-Fi, or more broadly as "wireless", offer Ethernet connectivity to computers equipped with wireless network cards or WNICs. Generally, wireless is used to connect notebooks to existing wired networks via access points or specialised routers, although ad-hoc networks can be formed between multiple computers with WNICs. Most wireless Ethernet occupies the same 2.4GHz spectrum as cordless devices (excluding 802.11a) and can be used by compatible devices for digital home networking. The bandwidth of wireless networks ranges from 11Mbps (802.11b) to 54Mbps (802.11a and 802.11g). Although this is slower than the 100Mbps available to most wired networks, it is fast enough for Web browsing and streaming multimedia content. Some proprietary standards have also emerged that can double these speeds to up to 108Mbps.

Ultrawideband

Ultrawideband (UWB) is a wireless technology that provides a maximum throughput of 1 gigabit per second. Like 802.11, UWB uses radio frequencies but in a much wider spectrum than the 2.4GHz range used by conventional wireless and cordless devices. As these frequencies are restricted by most international authorities, the future of UWB is uncertain. If the fears of UWB interfering with existing systems are overcome, then it may emerge as the wireless technology of the future.

HomeRF

HomeRF is a wireless networking standard developed by a working group of vendors in 1998. Version 2.0 is capable of speeds up to 20Mbps. As it offers similar capabilities within the same frequency range as 802.11b, HomeRF was once considered a competitor to Wi-Fi. With the emergence of Wi-Fi speeds of 56Mbps and greater, however, HomeRF is largely a redundant technology.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is another radio frequency technology used by compatible computers, mobile phones and other handheld appliances for data transfer. Although capable of 723kbps over a range of up to 10m, Bluetooth is intended to be a short range and low speed standard to connect devices. While not suitable as the centrepiece of a digital home, Bluetooth does provide the option of using a PDA or mobile phone to interact with computer-controlled devices over a wireless or wired Ethernet network.

IrDA

IrDA is an infra-red technology for transferring data between devices such as laptops, PDAs and digital cameras. It is very short range but offers speeds up to 1.152 Mbps (in version 1.1). Like Bluetooth, it is not particularly useful as a basis for networking, but does offer remote control possibilities to networked devices.

FM Transceivers

The least hi-tech contender is arguably the most convenient means of beaming digital media around the home. Pocket-sized FM transmitters available for less than $50 can plug into portable digital media players or PC sound cards, allowing any FM radio receiver to be tuned to play MP3 files. This is also an excellent alternative to in-dash car MP3 players or CD tuners. Additionally, FM video transmitters, available for around $100, let you use your TV to watch AVI and Quicktime movies playing on your PC. Although no match for the new wave of wireless digital media players, it is to home cinema what X10 is to home lighting!

Z-Wave

Z-Wave is a proprietary wireless technology that is like a radio frequency version of X10. Using inexpensive RF enabled devices attached to appliances around the home, Z-Wave can be used to automate lighting, thermostats, alarms and other mains power operated appliances. The latest version includes support for UPnP and .NET extensibility, making it a candidate for an integrated digital home system.

HomePlug, HomePNA, CEBus and Neverwire

Inspired by X10, but aiming for better networking capabilities, a range of new protocols have emerged in recent years that utilise conventional electrical wiring for PC networks. HomePNA and HomePlug (also known as Powerline) are two competing standards that provide Ethernet connectivity using existing power circuits, adapters for which are available from major vendors. Another variation on this theme is the CEBus Home Plug'n'Play standard, which lacks the vendor support of the competing technologies. The Phonex Neverwire devices employ the same concept, but provide integrated broadband sharing capabilities for networking PCs over power cables.

Readywire

Although a proprietary technology in its early stages, Readywire, from the makers of Neverwire, looks set to bridge the integration abyss between the limited realities of X10 and the unrealised possibilities of UPnP. Similar to X10, Readywire is capable of delivering home automation controls to up to 250 devices in 15 domains. Additionally, the USB adapter is equipped with an ARM 946 processor and up to 8MB of RAM. This delivers 168bit encryption to safeguard your appliances from hijacking. It can also drive 15 near-CD quality audio streams and seven full-duplex voice lines around your home -- all using standard power lines. Add to that, shared phone line and V90 modem functionality via any power outlet, and Readywire could become the easiest way to integrate home automation, networking and audio distribution in one easy package.

Hardware

Landlines, Mobile Phones & 3G

As mobile phone technology booms, they are increasingly becoming candidates for digital home remote controls. Using home automation software and dial-up access, any touch-tone phone can function as a remote control for your household appliances. Additionally, wireless connectivity using 3G and Bluetooth can provide remote access to software-controlled X10, Z-Wave, xAP or UPnP devices. At 384kbps, 3G is currently only capable of half the speed of Bluetooth, but it is expected that 3G networks will achieve 2Mbps in the near future. However, the real benefit of 3G over Bluetooth isn't its speed, but the potential network coverage, being at least the equivalent of the current mobile phone network. The remote control possibilities of using 3G for digital homes in the future includes face recognition security over video calls as well as a long range alternative to FM and Wi-Fi for streaming media around the home -- and beyond.

Digital Media Adapters (DMAs)

The appearance of a new genre of media players, known collectively as Digital Media Adapters, is bridging the gap between the PC and home cinema. These devices plug into your AV receiver or TV with standard RCA cables and provide an on-screen menu that can be navigated by remote control. A built-in wireless adapter or standard Ethernet cable connects the device to your LAN, giving you instant access to your movie or music collection. There is no need to run AV cables through the house, and the UPnP compatible models are accessible from any Windows PC. Although these units provide new levels of convenience, they are essentially mini-computers and can thus be limited in the types of media they can play. For example, the Linksys WMA11B supports WMA, MP3, JPG, GIF, TIF and BMP files, although firmware updates may widen compatibility in the future. Other DMAs, such as the DSM-320 from D-Link, have native support for MPEG-4 video formats, making them an appealing alternative to a dedicated lounge room computer. If you want full support for all digital media formats and desktop access, however, then a dedicated PC is the way to go.

Entertainment PCs

Many DVD players now support MPEG-4 formats like XviD and DivX. These devices can play back files previously only available to PCs. Unlike DMAs, which can stream media over the network, these players still require you to burn disks for playback. It's no wonder then that PC home cinema is becoming a popular alternative. A lounge room or entertainment PC with DVD drive, network connection and digital TV tuner can replace a set top box, DVD player, CD player, radio tuner and DMA -- all for a competitive price. At around $500, stylish bare bones PC systems are providing an inexpensive alternative to component systems, as well as being a chic complement to any existing home cinema. Running personal video recorder software such as the freeware GB PVR, a single interface can access all your TV channels and network media files from a cordless keyboard or specialised remote control.

As a sign of things to come, Microsoft has launched a special edition of Windows XP called Media Center Edition, specifically designed to run on entertainment computers. Due in Australia later this year, the operating system will no doubt coincide with an increase in the popularity of these lounge room PCs.

Other considerations

Security

Alarm and surveillance systems have long been available for X10 installations, allowing remote control of cameras, door locks and the like. More recently, though, software compatible with a wide range of camera types has made video surveillance more accessible to home users. Web cams, IP/Ethernet cameras and analog video capture cards can all provide real-time video signal that can be monitored from a PC. Once the domain of expensive specialised hardware, advanced features like motion-triggered capture and time-lapse recording are cheaply available via software. Computer-based security systems can also be configured to send notifications via SMS, email or voice over the telephone. When integrated with X10 security devices, intruder detection can also be used to trigger alarms and locks as well as disabling lights and communications systems for lock-down situations.

Cabling vs. Wireless

The benefit of dedicated network cabling around the home is simple. It ensures high bandwidth with minimal interference. Conversely, power line and X10 networking is subject to interference from various appliances on the same circuit and in some cases from other homes on the same power cabling. Wireless Ethernet is subject to interference from cordless devices around the home, and has the additional potential threat of being hacked from outside. Yet running network cabling around the home can be an expensive project. In most cases a combination of the two presents the most appropriate solution. For example, wired Ethernet might be used between two or more PCs, and a wireless router installed to provide Internet connection sharing as well as Wi-Fi laptop connectivity. Add a wireless DMA or entertainment PC and roaming PDA, and that's your TV, LAN and media sharing covered too. This leaves your power circuits untapped for installing X10 should you want to experiment with lighting and appliance automation. All that's missing is a great piece of software to manage it all, and that is possibly something that should be well road-tested before launching on a full-scale digital home project.

Home Management Software

It's a bit of a catch-22, on the one hand the choice of software can dictate what technologies are applicable for your home, but you can't test it without investing in a bit of hardware. If you are only interested in X10, however, you are bound to find something that suits your needs. There are a lot of applications to choose from, for Mac OS, Windows and Linux; many of which are free. For a combination of UPnP and X10, however, you are limited to a handful of commercial applications, including Premise Home Control 2.0 ($US199) and HomeSeer 1.7 ($US149.95). While Home Control has native support for both X10 and UPnP, HomeSeer has plugins for xAP and Z-wave, the latter of which supports UPnP. Both applications have a wide range of compatible hardware and a long list of features, including programmable extensibility. It is worth evaluating the demos as best you can before deciding which way to go. Note that both of these programs are for Windows and, although there is a UPnP Linux SDK available, there are currently no existing applications on that platform that support it. The most likely candidate for the future is the appropriately named Linux Home Automation project, which currently only supports a limited number of X10 and weather station controllers.

                                          Useful links

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