Tivo Series 4
Posted by nexus99, Mar 2 2010, 10:46 PM
Tivo was poised to reinvent the DVR... and then they didn't. I honestly see absolutely nothing that would make me want to go out and buy a unit. I remember when the S3 came out... I drove to 5 different stores to be able to plop down my $800 bucks. And it was worth every penny. The S4 doesn't even have the guts to grab my attention at this point.
The hope was that the unit would do at least some of the following:
1) Bring back the front display. The S3 trounces all the existing units in front panel functionality. I know I look to see what is recording there often.
2) Streaming of HD content from LAN servers. This device needs to be able to display MKVs. (Hopefully I just missed this.)
3) Integration of multiple TIVOs. The software for all units really needs to be updated so they can work as a team.
I guess we get to wait another 3 years and hope that Tivo is still relevant when they release the S5.
I suppoe they will be able to sell S4s to people taht dont own a Tivo... or for those that have units die. If you have a S3 or newer there is just no compelling reason to upgrade.
2010 Direction for Home Automation/Audio
Posted by nexus99, Feb 20 2010, 11:29 PM
I finally got off my butt and installed 5 of the UPB switches I had bought at Thanksgiving. At this point the living room and kitchen lights are fully automated. I need to replace the wall power plugs with decora style units to match.
I have many more switches to replace but i will be doing this slowly... unless I find a pile of used HAI switchs somewhere sometime.
I am picking up a Russound ST2 so I can have 2 radio tuners available to my CAM 6.6 and controllable with the UNO control pads I have throughout the house. It should be here soon.
The Russound TCH1 is almost in reasonable range now (about $288. If I can find one closer to 200 I will buy) so I will soon have iPhone/iPod control over my CAM6.6.
I am looking for a touchscreen and it looks like the iPAD will be the winner. I still will probably do a HAI 5.7e mounted close to the front door somewhere and use the iPAD as the mobile touchscreen.
I updated my Home Automation/Audio schematic to a realistic state:
Landscaping Day 3
Posted by nexus99, Oct 3 2009, 09:08 PM
Grass is in. Next up will be mulch for the flower bed and a cap for the drain. That should pretty much take care of this phase. Now if i can just keep from killing everything. I have already flooded it once :-(
Landscaping Day 2
Posted by nexus99, Sep 28 2009, 10:18 PM
Trees and some plants are in. Rock for the side of the house is ordered. I hope white looks good!
Landscaping day 1
Posted by nexus99, Sep 26 2009, 11:30 PM
Demo of the old grass started today. The back yard got leveled out a bit too. If you look closely you can see the sprinkler heads. Grass is about a week out now.
Sprinklers
Posted by nexus99, Sep 24 2009, 10:50 PM
The sprinklers are finished. I added an extra head for a little more coverage on the back left of the yard. The only snag was that one of the sprinkler bodies was defective and I couldn't tell until everything was hooked up and running. Luckliy it wasn't too difficult to pull the one body up and replace it.
I want to thank Jess Striker at www.irrigationtutorials.com for all the how-to information. I followed the site and it didn't send me the wrong way!
I just got word from mcsSprinklers that their Windows Home Server sprinkler software is now ready. It runs as a service so its forgiving when your PC reboots unexpectedly, patches, etc. www.mcssprinklers.com. I'll get some screenshots up when I decide on the version I am going to buy. Currently I am planning on a direct connect Rain8 box hanging off a UPS.
On Saturday I have a landscaping company coming out to lay sod, plant some trees, grade the front yard, etc. I am using J. Sanchez Nursery and Landscaping. I have let the front yard grow for 3 weeks so it looks truly horrific. Its really all just weeds at this point. It should make for some great before and after photos though!
Irrigation Installation Started
Posted by nexus99, Sep 11 2009, 10:26 PM
I have gotten really bored with digging so I decided to put some pipes in today. I got the anti-siphon valve connected to house water and all the cables are run. I still need to wire everything together tomorrow... but that should be a quick 20 minute job. Not that I need the valve to open yet... since there are no sprinklers attached and lots of pipe to lay yet.
The really run part of this is upcoming. I have started to look into a cool sprikler controller. I have a thread open here on Cocoontech so if you have any suggestions please let me know! So far I am liking mcsSprinklers mated to a Pro Rain8 UPB.
On to the pictures. (Sorry these are always so bad... but I do all this labor in the evenings after work so the pictures are always at sunset.)
All Trenches Started
Posted by nexus99, Sep 8 2009, 10:41 PM
It looks like the best way to handle these trenches (other than renting a trencher) is to pre-wet everything and just take it slice by slice. It looks like I will be able to do 2 inches per day pretty easily. This should get me to where I need to be with the trenches by Friday hopefully. I'd really like a full day on Saturday or Sunday to play with the pipes.
On the following photos you can see where all of the trenches should end up. I dug out the loose top soil and soaked the area so I will have an easy 2 inches of mud to pull out tomorrow rather than 2 inches of diamond hard rock-dirt.
I hope Mr. Tree #1 doesn't mind a little root disturbance. He will have to get over it.
And the long shot from Mr. Tree #1 to Mr. Tree #2.
And Mr.Tree #2's area. his roots will get a little company too.
The Irrigation Saga
Posted by nexus99, Sep 7 2009, 10:44 PM
I am too tired to actually make any comments. The dirt here is HARD.
Patio Day 4
Posted by nexus99, Sep 6 2009, 12:52 AM
I ordered 3 yards of top soil to get ready for sod... but they sent me 4. So I now have more dirt than I wanted! The painful part is that I had to cart it all from the driveway to the backyard.
Sprinklers are next looks like.
Some pics with the new soil:
And the extra I stuck on the far side of the house.
Yesterday, 03:59 PM
on 2010 Direction for Home Automation/Audio