Home automation

The Mystery of Henry Hoke

JonathanGreen — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:55:11 +1000

Like many readers of ManSpace, we at the Institute of Backyard Studies (IBYS) are big tool collectors. Most Sunday mornings you’ll find us out at garage sales, swap meets or the trash’n’treasure, casting expert eyes over piles of rubbish and junk in a search of that elusive little beauty. A Stanley plough plane from 1923 perhaps... or maybe a Wilkinson folding drawknife is just sitting there, waiting for our loving touch. You live in constant hope of that big find and some days are good.

New Samsung Smart TV range

Darcy — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:52:51 +1000

The new 55" Samsung LED8000 Smart TV

Samsung has recently announced the launch of its latest Smart TV models in Australia, featuring a whole host of new functions and features that most of us are more used to seeing in gaming consoles.

On the go again!

wrenton — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:35:25 +1000

It’s been a while since the last update, but there has been quite a delay with the supply of the steel for the upper level, and once a again it felt like there was very little happening. Quite a few of the wall frames had been completed but erecting these all depended on the steel being in place.

Going back a month or so, the bricklayers did a fantastic job with all the lower walls being completed in just under two weeks. It would have been nice if the steelwork had come along as well! Anyway, the clock cannot be wound back, and, as of this week everyone is back on the job.

Crestron UFO waterproof remote control

CF — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 09:32:49 +1000

UFO is ideal for indoor and outdoor use in or around pools, hot tubs, bathtubs, spas, and on yachts. It has even found a place in hospital operating rooms.

“Crestron UFO provides all the benefits of an extended wireless coverage remote without the worries of water damage. There are all sorts of uses for a waterproof remote that floats,” explains Crestron vice president of marketing Sean Goldstein.

New model of the iRoom iDock

CF — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:33:36 +1100

A four-digit code locks and unlocks the iPad, and the code can be reset using a back-up code. Available in landscape orientation, the iRoom iDock with Code Panel can be flush-mounted to seamlessly and stylishly integrate the iPad into any room. A patented motorised docking system opens and closes the iDock to securely store the iPad, and the dock also includes both power and composite audio internal connections.

New iPad tops three million

CF — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:03:12 +1100

The new iPad features a new Retina display, Apple’s new A5X chip with quad-core graphics, a 5 megapixel iSight camera with advanced optics and 1080p HD video, and still delivers the same all-day 10 hour battery life while remaining thin and light. iPad Wi-Fi + 4G supports ultrafast 4G LTE networks in the US and Canada, and fast networks around the world including those based on HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA.

Pro Control Pro Line of robust handheld controllers and central processors

CF — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:41:32 +1100

Pro24.z touch screen controller

Created with a unique combination of one-touch simplicity and robust capabilities, the Pro24.r and Pro24.z touch screen controllers and the ProLink.r and ProLink.z central control processors deliver the power to address the unique demands of today's installations.

Having a bar of it

JonathanGreen — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:36:57 +1100

In the launch edition for ManSpace we asked readers to send in personal stories about their space. Darren Gallagher has answered the call and gives us a first person account of The Flying Sailor Bar & Brewery; his garage retreat inspired by beer, blues music and cool cars: Never a truer word has been spoken since young Tobias talked it up in the 18th century. There is something fantastic about being young and hitting the high seas (which led to being hit from time to time, or from port to port). Having moved around as a lad because of my father’s employment, little did I know that he ...

Like a giant Meccano set

wrenton — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:04:51 +1100

With the holiday break behind us the action on ‘The Block’ is picking up. Early January the scaffolding was put in place, then from that point on there didn’t appear to be much happening. However, we were assured there was plenty going on behind the scenes.

PRODUCT NEWS: Frostdale nanogrid Z-Wave lighting controls

Darcy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:42:13 +1100

Frostdale's award winning nanogrid Z-Wave lighting controls are now available in Australia and New Zealand.

Jetsons 2.0 - live rent-free in a smart home for a year

Darcy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:39:13 +1100

Ausgrid today announced that the search is on for one lucky family to live rent-free in a swanky energy-efficient smart home in Newington, Sydney, for 12 months.

So you have at least 3 quotes, now what?

matthew — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:57:20 +1100

If you have carefully selected your tender list, then choosing your builder should be relatively easy. If you have read my previous blogs you would have already selected builders that can provide what you are looking for. So once you take this variable out of the equation it comes down to scope and dollars.

What you are trying to do here is get all of the builders to price exactly the same scope. Once this is done you can either just go with the cheapest price, or negotiate with your favourite.

The slab is in!

wrenton — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:46:14 +1100

It is hard to believe, looking at the concrete slab, how much work has gone into getting the project to this stage.

The initial setup was done, and once all the string lines were set out the lower corner of the floor seemed to be so elevated it was difficult to get everything in perspective. The fall of the block seemed to create an optical illusion. However, it was a case of wait and see as the preparations continued.

Progress at last!

wrenton — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:26:25 +1100

Who could believe that after signing the building contract, not a blade of grass had been disturbed in three months!!

We finally have some action shown in the photos. The clearing of the block has been completed, the cut has been done for the downstairs, and now the foundations have been poured.

Quotes, and taking the razor to the plans

wrenton — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:31:32 +1000

The three builders quotes have come in and to our horror they are all more than 30% over our original budget. We will now get the razor out and look at where we can reduce the cost of the whole project. We met with each of the builders again and went through in detail all the areas where savings can be made without jeopardising the overall design. They resubmitted their quotations and we have chosen Jake - a local builder who is very keen to build our home. The next step is to complete the Project Building Specifications as required by the Master Builders Association. This is a 30 page ...

Jumping through hoops - permits and builders!

wrenton — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:53:39 +1000

Our planning permit was finally approved six months after being submitted to Council. The approved plans state that the works must be in line with the stamped plans, which note that the Manna Gum tree at the front of our property ( on Council land) is to be removed at our expense: The next step in our building project is to meet with our architects and proceed the advanced stage of the design development and working drawings. Further on from there we were presented with our interior design drawings which include all interior specifications including cabinetry, kitchen design ...

A Day Made Of Glass - by Corning

Darcy — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:14:29 +1000

A captivating video that looks into the many interesting roles that glass may play in future technology.

Panic room automation

Darcy — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:21:03 +1000

Where do you go when there’s nowhere else to go? To your very own panic room of course!

Open platform home automation

Darcy — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:26:13 +1000

Open platform systems allow devices to communicate using an 'open', standardised protocol.

What is open platform home automation?

Automated climate control

Darcy — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:43:18 +1000

Make your home a smart house

Darcy — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:08:44 +1000

There are many ways you can turn your ordinary home into a smart home.

Decided that you want to retrofit 'smart home' technology into a house, but you're not sure what's involved? The first thing you'll need to do is figure out what sort of systems you're after, and how they'll be integrated.

What is a smart home?

Darcy — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 09:57:20 +1000

Tablet controls are a popular option for smart homes.

What is a smart house?

PRODUCT NEWS: The McTiVia

Darcy — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:22:34 +1000

McTiVia wirelessly sends and displays any content from your Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, Android and BlackBerry devices to your TV.

PRODUCT NEWS: Oceanic Distribution iPhone app

Darcy — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:09:56 +1000

Oceanic has launched its new iPhone app. The app is a full catalogue with details on all products including RRP prices and pictures.

Energy consumption and home automation

elisehughan — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:57:36 +1000

With the right tools, your smart home can reduce your energy consumption.

Home automation is only energy efficient when the house is programmed to be that way, otherwise the energy used to power the other automated systems surpasses that which is saved.

Home automation for special needs

elisehughan — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:37:45 +1000

How to make a smart home

elisehughan — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:36:22 +1000

What is home automation?

elisehughan — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:27:37 +1000

Home automation gives you full control of your home at your fingertips.

Regardless of what you might've seen in horror movies, a living automated home, provided that it's designed right, is often far safer and more efficient than a regular home.

What are smart meters?

elisehughan — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:16:50 +1000

Smart meters allow you to read your energy usage in real time.

Smart metering systems measure your electricity consumption, and are implemented to replace manual methods of gathering information about energy usage.

What are timers?

elisehughan — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:11:24 +1000

What are controls?

elisehughan — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:22:06 +1000

What are sensors?

elisehughan — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:18:43 +1000

Automated lighting

Darcy — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 23:05:31 +1100