Archive
Cutting drywall safely
January 19, 2015
Cutting Drywall isn’t all that difficult, and we’ve talked about it in the past few posts. Because you never know what’s behind a wall (even with a good stud-finder that can detect metal and A/C current), you should always cut…
Installing an outdoor security camera
January 27, 2015
Foscam cameras are great for indoor and outside covered areas, but I recently wanted to step up my security camera game by adding a high-res camera high on an outside wall exposed to the elements. I chose this TriVision 1080P…
Install an SSL proxy for secure video feeds
February 23, 2015
We’ve covered Foscam security cameras and this Trivision 1080p model, and have even discussed a good way to access these cameras remotely with a personal VPN connection. If a personal VPN isn’t in the cards for you but you’d still…
Automate your toilet
April 1, 2015
The Insteon TriggerLinc is a great device for sending basic open/close information to your Insteon system. It’s not as discrete as the hidden door sensor, but it gets the job done. And, it doesn’t have to be used for just…
Installing ceiling speakers is easy
April 6, 2015
Installing speakers in your ceiling isn’t as hard as you may think – especially if you’re installing them in a middle floor with space between levels and no insulation. 1. Select a location for your speakers There really is a…
Modular, low-voltage wall jacks with Keystone connectors
April 9, 2015
We’ve talked about installing ceiling speakers but didn’t cover much about what’s on “the other side”. You could just stick the wires through a hole in the wall, but that’s not going to offer you the cleanest look. Instead, look…
Check out the CastleHub on Kickstarter
April 11, 2015
One of the things I enjoy most about this blog is getting to know you all, the readers of my humble little corner of cyberspace. One person in particular who I’ve been collaborating with is Zachary Trautenberg. Zach has a…
ISY994i not working after updating Chrome?
April 22, 2015
Google Chrome is arguably a much better web browser than the atrocity known as Internet Explorer (that Microsoft is thankfully euthanizing), but it’s still not without its… challenges. While software that updates itself is nice, I really question Google’s decision…
Apple Watch and Insteon
April 25, 2015
There are lots of ways to control your Insteon home automation system – with an iPad, touch screen, iPhone app, voice control, or even just by your location. With the impending release of the Apple Watch, chalk up another great…
Amazon Echo: Alexa Skills Kit is awesome for home control
July 15, 2015
I’ve been playing around with the Amazon Echo (buy it today to save $50!), and its ability to integrate into my Insteon-based home automation system. I’ve been using the Alexa Skills Kit integrated with my custom software IntelliHome, and it’s…
Insteon HomeKit not quite ready for prime time
September 2, 2015
Last week I got an email from reader Matt Chroust who recently became (or at least tried to) an Insteon HomeKit early adopter. While he didn’t spend much time with the setup, his experience did not sound like a good…
Relocate your media center for a cleaner look
September 6, 2015
It dawned on me about a year ago that now that I had the ability to run ethernet between floors, send HDMI signals long distances, install ceiling speakers, and cleanly connect everything together, the media center taking up space in…
Get rid of unneeded wall plugs with some drywall patches
September 9, 2015
When I relocated my media center for a cleaner look and one less piece of furniture in my family room, I was left with a plethora (it’s a word – look it up!) of outlets and wall plates under my…
First look at Universal Device’s ISY Portal
September 12, 2015
Back in June, Universal Devices announced a new service called ISYPortal, which looks like a stellar addition to an already great product. In a nutshell, it will allow users to access their ISY994i devices from anywhere in the world, without…
Why Amazon is Awesome (and Dell Sucks)
September 16, 2015
Last year I wrote a gushing review of Amazon’s support, fully disclosing that this site is supported by any purchases you, dear reader, make after following a link from this site. In that post I alluded to why Amazon is…
Insteon can lights make for easy scenes not previously possible
September 18, 2015
A relatively new device added to the Insteon stable is the LED Bulb for Recessed Lights: They’re great additions in larger rooms with multiple lights where you would like individual lights to turn on for different reasons – something not…
Multi-bulb scene control via an Insteon KeypadLinc
September 22, 2015
Now that we’ve changed the wiring in our switch to leave the power to our ceiling lights always-on, we need a way to actually operate them. Because you’ve invested in these relatively expensive lights, you probably don’t just want all…
Logitech Harmony Ultimate: a fantastic remote
September 30, 2015
I had an old Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote for years and absolutely loved it until it met an untimely end (don’t ask!). In 2013 Logitech decided to sell the Harmony line (doing an about-face shortly after), and ultimately discontinued…
HDMI Matrix connects multiple sources to multiple displays
October 4, 2015
As discussed recently, I relocated my media center for a cleaner look in the living room. But it wasn’t just the living room that benefited from this relocation; I actually have 3 TVs and one projector in the house, and…
Installing a wall safe is easy
October 8, 2015
We’ve covered quite a few security topics on these pages, both digital and physical. Today’s post falls firmly in the latter camp: it’s easy and inexpensive to install a biometric wall safe. Basically, you simply use a jab saw to…
Cutting drywall safely
January 19, 2015
Cutting Drywall isn’t all that difficult, and we’ve talked about it in the past few posts. Because you never know what’s behind a wall (even with a good stud-finder that can detect metal and A/C current), you should always cut… Installing an outdoor security camera
January 27, 2015
Foscam cameras are great for indoor and outside covered areas, but I recently wanted to step up my security camera game by adding a high-res camera high on an outside wall exposed to the elements. I chose this TriVision 1080P… Install an SSL proxy for secure video feeds
February 23, 2015
We’ve covered Foscam security cameras and this Trivision 1080p model, and have even discussed a good way to access these cameras remotely with a personal VPN connection. If a personal VPN isn’t in the cards for you but you’d still… Automate your toilet
April 1, 2015
The Insteon TriggerLinc is a great device for sending basic open/close information to your Insteon system. It’s not as discrete as the hidden door sensor, but it gets the job done. And, it doesn’t have to be used for just… Installing ceiling speakers is easy
April 6, 2015
Installing speakers in your ceiling isn’t as hard as you may think – especially if you’re installing them in a middle floor with space between levels and no insulation. 1. Select a location for your speakers There really is a… Modular, low-voltage wall jacks with Keystone connectors
April 9, 2015
We’ve talked about installing ceiling speakers but didn’t cover much about what’s on “the other side”. You could just stick the wires through a hole in the wall, but that’s not going to offer you the cleanest look. Instead, look… Check out the CastleHub on Kickstarter
April 11, 2015
One of the things I enjoy most about this blog is getting to know you all, the readers of my humble little corner of cyberspace. One person in particular who I’ve been collaborating with is Zachary Trautenberg. Zach has a… ISY994i not working after updating Chrome?
April 22, 2015
Google Chrome is arguably a much better web browser than the atrocity known as Internet Explorer (that Microsoft is thankfully euthanizing), but it’s still not without its… challenges. While software that updates itself is nice, I really question Google’s decision… Apple Watch and Insteon
April 25, 2015
There are lots of ways to control your Insteon home automation system – with an iPad, touch screen, iPhone app, voice control, or even just by your location. With the impending release of the Apple Watch, chalk up another great… Amazon Echo: Alexa Skills Kit is awesome for home control
July 15, 2015
I’ve been playing around with the Amazon Echo (buy it today to save $50!), and its ability to integrate into my Insteon-based home automation system. I’ve been using the Alexa Skills Kit integrated with my custom software IntelliHome, and it’s… Insteon HomeKit not quite ready for prime time
September 2, 2015
Last week I got an email from reader Matt Chroust who recently became (or at least tried to) an Insteon HomeKit early adopter. While he didn’t spend much time with the setup, his experience did not sound like a good… Relocate your media center for a cleaner look
September 6, 2015
It dawned on me about a year ago that now that I had the ability to run ethernet between floors, send HDMI signals long distances, install ceiling speakers, and cleanly connect everything together, the media center taking up space in… Get rid of unneeded wall plugs with some drywall patches
September 9, 2015
When I relocated my media center for a cleaner look and one less piece of furniture in my family room, I was left with a plethora (it’s a word – look it up!) of outlets and wall plates under my… First look at Universal Device’s ISY Portal
September 12, 2015
Back in June, Universal Devices announced a new service called ISYPortal, which looks like a stellar addition to an already great product. In a nutshell, it will allow users to access their ISY994i devices from anywhere in the world, without… Why Amazon is Awesome (and Dell Sucks)
September 16, 2015
Last year I wrote a gushing review of Amazon’s support, fully disclosing that this site is supported by any purchases you, dear reader, make after following a link from this site. In that post I alluded to why Amazon is… Insteon can lights make for easy scenes not previously possible
September 18, 2015
A relatively new device added to the Insteon stable is the LED Bulb for Recessed Lights: They’re great additions in larger rooms with multiple lights where you would like individual lights to turn on for different reasons – something not… Multi-bulb scene control via an Insteon KeypadLinc
September 22, 2015
Now that we’ve changed the wiring in our switch to leave the power to our ceiling lights always-on, we need a way to actually operate them. Because you’ve invested in these relatively expensive lights, you probably don’t just want all… Logitech Harmony Ultimate: a fantastic remote
September 30, 2015
I had an old Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote for years and absolutely loved it until it met an untimely end (don’t ask!). In 2013 Logitech decided to sell the Harmony line (doing an about-face shortly after), and ultimately discontinued… HDMI Matrix connects multiple sources to multiple displays
October 4, 2015
As discussed recently, I relocated my media center for a cleaner look in the living room. But it wasn’t just the living room that benefited from this relocation; I actually have 3 TVs and one projector in the house, and… Installing a wall safe is easy
October 8, 2015
We’ve covered quite a few security topics on these pages, both digital and physical. Today’s post falls firmly in the latter camp: it’s easy and inexpensive to install a biometric wall safe. Basically, you simply use a jab saw to… 
