ULTIMATE
GUIDE
to
Home Automation
© 2010 EH Publishing
Unbelievably easy control of my
home theater with the touch of a button.
Bye-bye remotes. Hello, coffee table.
my coffee table and manage all my entertainment gear – like DVR’s, movies, music,
and game stations – right from my TV screen. The same system lets me control sound,
lighting, security, temperature, and all the other gadgets in my home. I started with
one room and added more capabilities throughout the house, transforming my
home virtually overnight without breaking the bank. Finally, a home control solution
COPYRIGHT © 2009. Control4 Corporation. All rights reserved. Control4, the Control4 logo and Everyday Easy are registered trademarks or trademarks of Control4 Corporation
in the United States and/or other countries. Other names or brands may be claimed as the property of others.
CE Pro’s Ultimate Guide:
Rediscovering
HOME
Sure our comprehensive
chart includes all the old
faithful home control
Automation
manufacturers, but don’t
forget the little guys
either. by Julie Jacobson
S
Sponsored by: OME THINGS NEVER CHANGE in home automation. After all these years, we still
have the old faithfuls: AMX, Crestron, Elan, HAI and Vantage. We all know those
companies, each of which has been selling home control systems for over 20 years.
But we also have at least one other old-timer, JDS Technologies, that continues
quietly to crank out great products and support. JDS, a pioneer in home controls for 32
years, is the go-to brand for many successful integrators, but most CE pros have probably
never considered the company.
Don’t let the dated Web site fool you. The company has rock-solid hardware in its Stargate
line and a wonderful newish programming platform and interface called HomeRunner. Easily
import any image and create hotspots and icons to trigger any event.
JDS founder Jeff Stein likes to show off applications that simulate the status of every room.
For example, if you take pictures of a bedroom with lights on, lights dimmed to 50 percent and
lights off, you can display the graphical status when the appropriate event is initiated.
You can do this with the high-end systems, of course, but JDS was one of the first to
incorporate this type of GUI into its control systems — and it may be one of the cheapest
such solutions on the market.
Not that dealers should all run out and start installing JDS for their customers. It’s just one
example of what the little guys bring to the table. And they bring plenty more.
Mi Casa Verde’s new Mios system, for example, is a Z-Wave-enabled energy management
Look for the “Mobile Devices/Platforms Supported” columns in our chart to see
how smart phone-friendly the manufacturers are.
and control platform that gives you the basics for $300 … and
all the extras you want through a consumer-oriented app store.
HomeLogic was still a “little guy” when it came out with pos-
sibly the first embedded app for the iPhone. To demonstrate the
capabilities of the then-new mobile platform, HomeLogic set up
a system in its own corporate headquarters that enables consum-
ers to log in and mess with a variety of subsystems — not secu-
rity, of course.
Sand Hill Engineering and Perceptive Automation have qui-
etly been making Mac-based automation software for many
years, and Perceptive’s Indigo has a particularly large following
among Apple fanboys.
And here’s another thing that the little guys do particularly
well: consumer and installer forums. The top products by DIY/
pro providers — such as HomeSeer and Charmed Quark —
have strong and active followings among folks who are passion-
ate about home control. The company’s proprietors are active in We’re guessing that many CE pros don’t know about JDS Tech-
online discussions as well. nologies’ programming platform and interface, HomeRunner.
Whether you’re already loyal to one or more home-control Our chart should change that.
vendors, it’s worth it to check out some of the newer providers,
as well as the older and quieter veterans in the space. In addition to the companies listed, several other vendors
Our chart includes just a small portion of the information offer home-control products, but CE Pro did not receive their
we collected from home automation vendors. More data can be forms in time to include them in our chart. Check the online
found at www.cepro.com/whitepapers. story for a more comprehensive list.
Feel free to
take control
TSU9800
www.pronto.philips.com
ULTIMATE GUIDE TO HOME AUTOMATION
GENERAL INFO CHARACTERISTICS
No. systems
Years in installed Typical price Third–party No. of No. of
Home systems in of installed subsystems keypads/ touch- Software– On–screen
Control the U.S. system supported touchpads screens only (TV)
COMPANY NAME Business (thousands) Key brands (thousands) (excl. IR) offered offered option? display?
2gig Technologies
1 25k–100k Go!Control <$5k <15 1–4 1–4 No No
2gig.com
AMXhome,
AutoPatch, Endeleo,
AMX
27 >100k Metreau, Mio, >$25k >100 >10 >10 No No
amx.com
Modero, NetLinx,
ViewStat
Calrad Electronics
12 >100k xLobby $5k–$25k >100 0 5–10 PC Yes
xlobby.com
CeBotics
6 <5k HouseBot <$5k <15 0 0 PC No
cebotics.com
Cinemar MainLobby,
9 >100k <$5k >100 0 1–4 PC Yes
cinemaronline.com MLServer, DVDLobby
Colorado vNet
8 >100k $5k–$25k 15–50 0 1–4 No No
coloradovnet.com
Cortexa Automation
5 >100k <$5k 15–50 0 1–4 No Yes
cortexa.com
V–Panel, Isys,
Crestron Electronics DigitalMedia,
40 >100k >$25k >100 >10 >10 No Yes
crestron.com Prodigy, Adagio,
RoomView, e–Control
Embedded Automation
5 >100k mControl, mPanel <$5k 50–100 1–4 1–4 PC Yes
EmbeddedAutomation.com
Exceptional Innovation
6 >100k Lifeware $5k–$25k >100 1–4 1–4 PC, Mac Yes
life–ware.com
KEY: (e) Estimated by CE Pro; not supplied by vendor MOBILE DEVICES/PLATFORMS DIY ACCESS: Consumer programming: 0 - No consumer programming, 1 - Consumer
SUPPORTED: Other: [1] Nokia N800, [2] Palm WebOS, [3] J2ME, WAP can make modest changes after pro installation, 2 - Consumer can make substantial
programming
consumers?
Dealer base
Distribution
Mobile/Win
Consumers
Purchasing
Blackberry
Consumer
interface?
Windows
Training
Android
Dealers
RIM OS
CE/.net
iPhone
Sell to
Demo
Other
Req.
CLAIM TO FAME (FROM COMPANY)
First self–contained home security and home
Web automation system complete with color
✓ fee fee 3 None Limited Ltd./authorized Yes Yes touchscreen, GSM/cellular radio, and built–in
app Z–Wave chip.
changes, 3 - Consumer can program start to finish, Note: Multiple answers due to dif- DEALER ACCESSIBILITY: Dealer Base: Primarily DIY, Most dealers will qualify,
ferent product lines Sell to Consumers: Most products, Some products, No products Limited no. of authorized dealers
No. systems
Years in installed Typical price Third–party No. of No. of
Home systems in of installed subsystems keypads/ touch- Software– On–screen
Control the U.S. system supported touchpads screens only (TV)
COMPANY NAME Business (thousands) Key brands (thousands) (excl. IR) offered offered option? display?
Omni, Lumina,
Home Automation Inc. (HAI) Omnistat, Omni-
25 >100k $5k–$25k 50–100 1–4 1–4 No Yes
homeauto.com Touch, HAI Lighting
Control (HLC)
PRO–100, Ho-
HomeSeer meTroller,
11 25k–100k $5k–$25k >100 0 1–4 PC Yes
homeseer.com HSPRO, Z–Troller,
HSM100
HomeWorks,
Lutron Electronics
49 >100k RadioRA 2, $5k–$25k 15–50 >10 0 No No
lutron.com
Sivoia shades
Perceptive Automation
8 25k–100k Indigo <$5k 15–50 1–4 1–4 Mac No
perceptiveautomation.com
Philips Pronto
12 >100k Pronto $5k–$25k >100 0 1–4 No No
pronto.philips.com
Promixis
10 25k–100k Girder, NetRemote <$5k 15–50 0 0 PC, Linux No
promixis.com
KEY: (e) Estimated by CE Pro; not supplied by vendor MOBILE DEVICES/PLATFORMS DIY ACCESS: Consumer programming: 0 - No consumer programming, 1 - Consumer
SUPPORTED: Other: [1] Nokia N800, [2] Palm WebOS, [3] J2ME, WAP can make modest changes after pro installation, 2 - Consumer can make substantial
programming
consumers?
Dealer base
Distribution
Mobile/Win
Consumers
Purchasing
Blackberry
Consumer
interface?
Windows
Training
Android
Dealers
RIM OS
CE/.net
iPhone
Sell to
Demo
Other
Req.
CLAIM TO FAME (FROM COMPANY)
Home automation software manufacturer,
offering true speaker–independent, speech rec-
free free 3 Most Most Broad <$25k ognition for home control and multiple means of
access and control to the home.
changes, 3 - Consumer can program start to finish, Note: Multiple answers due to dif- DEALER ACCESSIBILITY: Dealer Base: Primarily DIY, Most dealers will qualify,
ferent product lines Sell to Consumers: Most products, Some products, No products Limited no. of authorized dealers
No. systems
Years in installed Typical price Third–party No. of No. of
Home systems in of installed subsystems keypads/ touch- Software– On–screen
Control the U.S. system supported touchpads screens only (TV)
COMPANY NAME Business (thousands) Key brands (thousands) (excl. IR) offered offered option? display?
Savant Systems
5 <5k Protege, Rosie $5k–$25k >100 5–10 >10 No Yes
savantav.com
Stardraw
5 <5k Stardraw Control <$5k >100 0 0 PC, Mac No
stardraw.com
URC
(formerly Universal Complete Control,
19 >100k $5k–$25k >100 1–4 1–4 No Yes
Remote Control) URC
universalremote.com
InFusion, Enspire,
Vantage Controls
24 25k–100k ScenePoint, >$25 >100 >10 5–10 No No
vantagecontrols.com
WireLink, RadioLink
Visiomatic/Siedle
11 <5k VisiPad, VisiServer >$25 >100 1–4 >10 No Yes
visiomatic.com
Xantech
27 >100k Video–Link $5k–$25k 15–50 >10 >10 No Yes
xantech.com
KEY: (e) Estimated by CE Pro; not supplied by vendor MOBILE DEVICES/PLATFORMS DIY ACCESS: Consumer programming: 0 - No consumer programming, 1 - Consumer
SUPPORTED: Other: [1] Nokia N800, [2] Palm WebOS, [3] J2ME, WAP can make modest changes after pro installation, 2 - Consumer can make substantial
Crestron PMC2
Prodigy Media
Controller
programming
consumers?
Dealer base
Distribution
Mobile/Win
Consumers
Purchasing
Blackberry
Consumer
interface?
Windows
Training
Android
Dealers
RIM OS
CE/.net
iPhone
Sell to
Demo
Other
Req.
CLAIM TO FAME (FROM COMPANY)
Apple–based control, automation and enter-
tainment system solution, Savant technology
unifies all audio, video, lighting, security,
Native free 1 None Limited Ltd./open Yes <$25k Yes climate, communications and Internet into
one seamless experience.
changes, 3 - Consumer can program start to finish, Note: Multiple answers due to dif- DEALER ACCESSIBILITY: Dealer Base: Primarily DIY, Most dealers will qualify,
ferent product lines Sell to Consumers: Most products, Some products, No products Limited no. of authorized dealers
Stardraw
Control 2010
Exceptional
Innovation
Life|ware
COMPANY NAME
2gig Technologies
ZW ZW ZW
2gig.com
AMX
amx.com ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Calrad Electronics
xlobby.com ✓ ✓
CeBotics
cebotics.com
Charmed Quark Systems, Ltd
charmedquark.com
Cinemar
cinemaronline.com ✓
Colorado vNet
coloradovnet.com ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Control4
control4.com ✓ ZIG ✓ ZIG ✓ ✓
Cortexa Automation
cortexa.com
Crestron Electronics
crestron.com ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Elan Home Systems
elanhomesystems.com ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Elk Products, Inc.
elkproducts.com ✓
Embedded Automation
ZW
EmbeddedAutomation.com
Exceptional Innovation
life–ware.com ✓
Home Automated Living
IN, ZW IN, ZW
automatedliving.com
Home Automation Inc. (HAI)
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ P
homeauto.com
HomeSeer
homeseer.com
Jasco Products Co.
jascoproducts.com ✓
JDS Technologies
jdstechnologies.com ✓ ✓
JET home automation
3nyx.com
Lutron Electronics
lutron.com ✓ ✓
Perceptive Automation
perceptiveautomation.com
Philips Pronto
pronto.philips.com
Promixis
promixis.com
Remote Technologies Inc (RTI)
rticorp.com
COMPANY NAME
Residential Control Systems (RCS)
resconsys.com ✓ ✓
Sand Hill Engineering
shed.com
Savant Systems
savantav.com ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Schlage, Ingersoll Rand
ZW ✓ ZW
link.schlage.com
Schneider Electric
mySEhome.com ✓ ✓ ✓
Stardraw
stardraw.com
URC
✓
universalremote.com
Vantage Controls
vantagecontrols.com ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Visiomatic/Siedle
visiomatic.com ✓ ✓
Wayne–Dalton
wayne–dalton.com/access ✓ ZW ✓ ZW
Xanboo
IN ✓
xanboo.com
Xantech
xantech.com ✓ ✓ ✓
KEY: SUBSYSTEMS OFFERED: Native support for off-the-shelf Insteon (IN), Universal
Powerline Bus (UPB), X10, Z-Wave (ZW), ZigBee (ZIG) lights, thermostats and sensors
ELAN HOME SYSTEMS JASCO PRODUCTS CO. REMOTE TECHNOLOGIES INC (RTI)
1. Complete whole-house entertainment, 1. Do-it-yourself system 1. Professional-grade control products
management 2. Affordable name brand products 2. Powerful, efficient programming
2. g! first uniform cross-platform 3. All Z-Wave products work together environment
interface 3. One program: all RTI products
3. Industry’s first Smartphone control JDS TECHNOLOGIES 4. Only available through professional
software 1. Any picture can become GUI. integrators
4. Only free, live iPhone demo 2. Same platform for control, editing 5. 256 devices within one file
5. First hybrid touchpad: Olé 3. Individual password protection
4. Different UI for all RESIDENTIAL CONTROL SYSTEMS
ELK PRODUCTS, INC. (RCS)
1. IP Accessible - LAN/Internet JET HOME AUTOMATION 1. Powerline thermostats: UPB,
2. Smart phone integration, no fees 1. Based on customer’s home floorplan LonWorks, X10
3. Wireless capability: 144 Inputs 2. Easy and intuitive navigation 2. RF stats: Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, ZigBee
4. Integrates with 48 partner products. 3. Applicable to new constructions, coming
5. More economical than comparable retrofits 3. More communications: relay, RS-232,
systems 4. Scenes programmable by the user RS-485
5. Users can control remotely 4. It’s a sleeper: CommStar automation
EMBEDDED AUTOMATION 5. Temperature sensors and more
1. Most device drivers are free LUTRON ELECTRONICS
2. Integrates with Windows Home Server 1. We’ve added temperature control SAND HILL ENGINEERING
3. Supports Windows 7 and x64 2. Keypads in 50+ styles/colors 1. Continuous development for 14 years
platforms 3. Patented Clear Connect RF technology 2. Over 5,000 systems internationally
4. Supports Insteon, Z-Wave, ZigBee, 4. Retrofit and new-construction solutions 3. Commercial and light industrial
KNX 4. Modular add-ons
5. New mStation home control appliance. PERCEPTIVE AUTOMATION 5. Dynamic graphic views
1. Remote Insteon device link
EXCEPTIONAL INNOVATION management SAVANT SYSTEMS
1. Software-only option 2. Native controls for devices 1. Apple-based control system
2. Lifeware hardware not required 3. Client/server architecture 2. Unique user interfaces
3. Wide range of price points 4. Built-in Web server 3. No custom programming
4. Complete automation sans Media 5. Plug-in and RESTful APIs 4. iPhone-like gesture navigation
Center 5. Solution across many markets
5. Commercial solutions also available PHILIPS PRONTO
1. Pronto has evolved into a full control SCHLAGE, INGERSOLL RAND
HOME AUTOMATED LIVING system 1. Z-Wave-enabled wireless door locks
1. Home automation since 1995 2. Focused on Custom: training and 2. Remotely monitor lights, thermostats,
2. Support for energy management support security
(HALemc) 3. Quality and Reliability; 100% Belgian 3. Featured in Apple’s TV commercial
3. Voice recognition requires no training made 4. Available at RadioShack, other
4. Support microphones, intercoms and 4. Numerous plug-and-play 2-way retailers
telephones solutions 5. Integrates with security panels, alarm.com
5. Multiple means of user-control 5. Easy to program and configure
SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC
HOME AUTOMATION INC. (HAI) PROMIXIS 1. Wiser controls: TV, touchscreens, Web
1. Retrofittable 1. Open systems, hardware-agnostic 2. Mix wired, wireless lighting
2. Scalable 2. Commercial system for disabled 3. Elegant European styling
3. Affordable individuals 4. Visit Showroom in LaVergne, Tenn.
4. International applications and 3. Dealer version runs Windows, Linux 5. Virtual home tour: www.mysehome.
languages com/tour.html
5. Great option for light commercial