[misterhouse-users] Is MisterHouse for me?

[mark <ma...@va...>]

Hello,

I'm new to HA and am planning a system in a house that will be built this summer. I want to have a comprehensive system--lighting, whole-house audio, video/motion, phone, spa/sprinkler control. Everything must be 2-way, as I want a web-based control/status panel and I want everything to be integrated so that a single "scene" can affect any or all of the above.

At first glance, MisterHouse seemed like a great "glue" to put all this together. I was interested in MisterHouse as a way to add sophistication to a system by interfacing with various controllers (like JDS Stargate or an AD Ocelot) and providing centralized control. However, after lurking on the mailing list for some time now, I've come to the conclusion that most people are using MH as a replacement for, rather than a complement to, these other controllers. If I use MH, are these controllers redundant? Or is this a price issue and if the budget allows  a sophisticated controller, is that the easy path? Or is the ideal system one with one or more controllers *and* MH?

I've got lots more questions, but I'll only bring up one more topic. In theory, wired lighting controls are better than X10. In practice, it is difficult to find a controller that supports wired lighting. Is this due to a lack of standards? The only ones I have found lock you in to proprietary controllers and some rather ugly switches. Nothing as nice-looking as the SwitchLinc, which is X-10 only I believe.

Thanks.
Mark Thomas
mt...@th...