<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 10/24/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Jeffery Swan</b> <<a href="mailto:scientist@engineer.com">scientist@engineer.com</a>> wrote:</span><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
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Josh,<br><br>I took no offense what-so-ever by your comments (I'm too old to get offended LOL). As for the Windows boxes, they all have a KnoppMyth CD to boot from so they too can be front ends. Eventually I would like to have an ITX box in each room with a small 4 port switch that also allows a windows, linux, or other ethernet devices to connect. As I said, I have been working on this system for many years and I expect that I will continue to work on it for many more.
<br><br>My original goal of the system was to have independant music available in every room of the house. Then, as video was added, I wanted each room with a TV (12 in all) only connected to the network for all viewing needs (no RF cable). Next came X10, and I use this exclusively for the house lighting. Now nearly every room has a computer for some type of functionality from internet surfing, to TV watching, listening to music, controlling ethernet appliances, etc.
<br><br>Currently I am trying to incorporate solar energy into the house and I am using the network to monitor statistics, optimaly aim solar panels, and calculate the peek energy usage times. I plan on putting this on my Blog as well but time is limited and I can only do so much at a time.
<br><br>One day I would like to have ALL funcionality of the house on the network and controlled via touch screen LCD displays... Well, I can dream can't I?</div></blockquote><div><br><br>That sounds like an interesting dream indeed.
<br><br>I too have toyed with the idea of some kind of off grid, networked house like that. I'm not sure where you are, but going with ONLY solar seems risky. I have a vision of a system that combines wind, solar, and hydroelectric. Where I live (In central New York State) it is a rare occurrence where you have a lack of sun, wind, and water flow. When there's a lot of sun, there could be little wind or water. When there's a lot of wind, there could be little sun or water. Either way, the worst case I can envision would be a situation where it was hot, and dry for extended periods of time, and I'd have to rely solely on solar. Regardless, I'd need some kind of battery buffer, and as a last resort, I could always have a natural gas generator backup (or even better yet, a hydrogen fuel cell powered by on site electrolyzed water). Unfortunately, I'd have to invest about 50 years worth of utility bills in a system like that up front, and then hope it all works until it pays for itself.
<br><br>You're not the only dreamer. <br></div><br></div><br>