Home Remote Control

[admiral]

Hi,

I'm looking for PC based system to remotely control my home central heating system. I've looked at the 'X10' based systems but they don't seem to do what I want.

I spend most of the week away from my home. I take my laptop away with me and have a VPN connection back to the home.
I have an older son who still lives at home. He comes and goes as they do, however he only seems to be able to switch things 'On' or 'Up'. 'Off' or 'Down' are difficult concepts for him.

In these days of very expensive energy, I want to be able to switch the heating/hot water on or off. I also would like to be able to adjust the setting on a room thermostat.

Does anybody know of any systems?

Regards

Admiral.

 

[Loiq]

won't be cheap but a AMX control system will it I guess you can even open close curtains and all that stuff. we fitted out someone's house with it all bloody gurd stuff.

http://www.amx.com/

 

[turbine_2]

X10 should do all that. I've got one that will do the lights automatically (turns all lights off at a set time just in case someone's forgotten to turn them off, turns on some lights automatically). You can also get X10 thermostats which you can either link to the central heating or replace radiator valves with electrically operated ones and another X10 unit to control. If you're really lazy, er, interested you can get X10 curtain openers / closers.
The only issue with X10 is it's reliability, sometimes messages can be missed by the units.