Home Automation project - Tips appreciated

[dmills27]

Hi Everyone,
I am a newbie to this forum but have been reading through posts for a few days. I am embarking on a home automation project and just trying to spec out the hardware/system set-up that I want. I have a few stumbling blocks and was hoping that somebody could point me in the right direction.

Problem 1 - Multi-room audio - This is one of my main desires for my house; and I have been looking into it for a while - I want the system to be a minimal and integrated as much as possible so I have come up with a few different options but my issue is with how to amplify the audio; it seems that if you add "multi-zone" to the description the price of the amp rockets by around 300%. I would like the option to play different music in different rooms etc but am prepared to compromise. To me it seems that the best solution (i.e. cheapest) is to link my input (Mac running itunes) to one reasonably good amp, then run all the separate zones speakers to it via some sort of switcher box. I will have six zones so need a switcher box with one input and 6 outputs - these are easy enough to find but here's my problem: as I want my whole house set-up to be as automated as possible I don’t want to go and press a button downstairs every time I want to change the output to another zone. I would have thought that some sort of IR device was on the market so that I can integrate this into some home automation software and be able to control it from any room (Via WI-FI).

Sorry if this was a long winded way of asking the question but does anybody know of such a device for less than £100?
Thanks in advance!!!

[Isco 3]

It sounds like you do not want different music in every room, at the same time, am I correct?
I do not know if I have it right, but all you need is a 1 input, 6 outputs splitter,which is easy to control?

There are lots of ways. A cheap way (that does more from what you want)would be the system 6 from Elan. You have 6 inputs, and 6 outputs, so you can have different music in different rooms. It has the power amp on board.

You can use a Pronto to control it via RS232, or have local IR receivers in every room and use the system's discrete codes. That way you can add more sources in the future, without breaking the bank.
You can even use the Nokia N800 to control it, but you'd have to buy Elan's version(not cheap). Plus the fact that if you do the wirring right, you can even add some cheap OLE touchpanels in the future.

There are other ways, don't take me wrong. I just thought that an integrated package with some scalability might be a good way to start. The one input, 6 outputs , limits you from day one.And you still have to buy a 12 channel power amp, with some sort of volume control.

Others might have some ideas too, just wait...

ps: I have just noticed the £100 budget. How can you get a splitter and a 12 channel power amp with that?

[dmills27]

Hi,
thanks a lot for the reply - I will spend some time thinking about your suggestion. The £100 was only for the splitter. Just basically wanted to have the following setup:
1. Normal amplifier - the sort you would use on a two speaker system.
2. Six separate zones, each with two ceiling speakers.
3. Switcher box so that I can control by remote which speaker set the amp goes to.
Thanks!