SmartHomeUSA.com Home Automation

[ac32cl]

I am new to this but very interested in home automation and want to do some things to my condo. There is so much to go through in finding information so I figured I would post then do more searching on my own later. My problem is that my ceilings are all concrete and unable to run wires through easily, if at all. I assume I am going to have to go wireless or x10 some how. This is what I ultimately want to accomplish:
Lighting control/ Miniblind control/climate control/I currently have an alarm and want to be able to add a surveilence camera/caller id through tv and or remote. I want to tie it all in together to access it on the same remote control with home theater and multi room audio. Also would I be able to access any of those functions such as the alarm and surveilence from an away computer. Can all that be done with x10 or wirelessly and all work together? Where do I get started? A remote I had in mind was the Pronto Pro TSU7000.Can I also view surveilence camera through the remote control screen?

[Ralph]

X10 lighting would require no additional wiring, it simply wires in to your exisiting eletrical wiring. Use the lighting selection guide to select the needed light switches.
Lighting Selection Guide
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/Common/switchguide/smart_switch_selection_guide1.htm

For mini blinds, the up and down function is controlled by a looped string on most and therefor can be controlled with an 800DR, but the angle of those blinds are stick controlled and would not be automated.
800DR
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/ShopByManufacturer/Add-a-Motor/Item/800DR/

RCS makes an X10 thermostat unit, the TXB16 and that would of course function along with your lights and miniblinds from a remote.
TXB16
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/ShopByManufacturer/RCS/Item/TXB16/

For CallerID and Cameras on your television there are two seperate solutions. The CallerTV unit and the Xanboo wireless cameras and receiver. These can't be sent over the internet or be seen on your remote. For internet capability, I would wait for the Home Genie which will email any motion detected by their cameras.

CallerTV
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/ShopByManufacturer/Netmedia/

Xanboo Wireless Cameras to your TV
http://www.smarthomeusa.com/ShopByManufacturer/Xanboo/Item/CMS244-02/

[ac32cl]

thanks for your reply. I will check out some of your suggestions. will these pieces you reference work off of the pronto pro remote I am looking at or am I limited as to what I can control with? I want a remote with a color display. also I have found that in my walls behind all the cable outlets I have unused network cables ran, what are my options with these?

[Ralph]

The Pronto remotes will control X10, and the TSU7000 is a color touch screen remote.

As for the unused network cables, they probably terminate in the basement somewhere, that means that you can put cameras anywhere they are using a simple balun kit to run video and power for the camera over the network cable. Once they are terminated in the basement they can be modulated onto your existing cable line, or modulated onto a new cable line.