[mh] New User: Simulate Sunrise with Insteon PLM & dimmer

[<sou...@tg...>]

Hi guys, I'm cross posting this from the SmartHome forum where I posted 
it a few days ago.  Probably should've started with this forum, so here 
goes:
-----------------------------------------

Hi,

I'm new to the HA (but not to technology) and have been meaning to get a 
small Insteon installation going at my house. My first project is to do 
a simulated sunrise with a couple of incandescent lamps in my bedroom.

The idea is to dim them on slowly over a period of 10 - 30m or whatever 
I can do. I'd like to start as cheaply as I can, and probably will be 
trying to use Misterhouse or some other Linux-based solution for 
controlling the system.

Based on the reading I've done, I think I'd do fine with these two pieces:

The 2413U PLM

http://www.smarthome.com/2413U/PowerLinc-Modem-INSTEON-USB-Interface-Dual-Band/p.aspx

and the 2456D3 lamp dimmer:

http://www.smarthome.com/2456D3/LampLinc-INSTEON-Plug-In-Lamp-Dimmer-Module-3-Pin/p.aspx

Does this sound like a reasonable solution to those of you with some 
experience (especially anyone who's using Misterhouse or another Linux 
solution with a PLM)? Is there a simpler or cheaper route I could go 
while still getting started with some of the base Insteon hardware I 
might need when I get around to doing more?

I'd rather use USB so that I don't have to fiddle with some sort of 
adapter to go from serial to something that'll actually work on the PCs 
I'll be using.

Thanks.