03-21-2018, 09:00 PM
Been meaning to do this for some time.  I've always found reading about other peoples systems to be one of the more interesting areas of the forum, especially the pictures. This is my attempt to give back a bit and have a place I can send friends to when they ask about my hobby.  Would be great to see more action in this section. 
I've incorporated many different ideas from other folks over the yearsÔǪ so just a general thanks to all those that have ever shared their ideas.┬á┬á
I started with CQC around 2008/2009. I was drawn in after seeing how nice some of the systems looked that had been shared here and on the main web page.  I was careful to pick equipment that had drivers while building up my HA and AV equipment.  At almost 10 years in now I've constantly added and changed things over this time. I never seem to get to a finished stage so just sharing what I use currently. 
Sharing my main screens with a bit of a write-up on what each section is used for or does. Questions/comments or improvement ideas are welcome:
I've tried to have One Main overlay that gets loaded with specific  functions  in the middle for HVAC, Alarm, Music etc . I also use 2 smaller overlays on top and bottom that either keep a more static set of templates presenting an overall picture of pertinent things in the home or specifics to supplement the main overlay.  In some modes the top/bottom overlays get auto loaded with specific items related to the main function selected.  (Like music for example gets more music related info loaded when in that mode)
I also took the approach of having┬á just a Master Server/IV all on one machine originally so templates were designed to control the whole house and didn't get room specific.┬á I've liked this approach as it's easy to maintain, but can present a challenge with crowding the IV.┬á A balancing actÔǪ┬á┬á
MAIN:
This one shows most of the home (3 levels) status at a glance.  Lights, stereo/TV's can be interacted with to turn on/off as well.
![[Image: Main.png?raw=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/ys3xm26j7po04y6/Main.png?raw=1)
MUSIC:
Select albums and play from 3 Sources (2 CQC Media players for MP3's and Squeeze Server/player for Shoutcast, I also have a 4th source that I recently added to route a Spotify source to various zones.  Spotify control done on phones for now.
I did some work to capture recently played albums/songs in the variables Driver so I can play recent stuff with a single click which is represented on the bottom overlay.  
Select Music:
![[Image: Music%20Select.png?raw=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/h3naxi5go698t6n/Music%20Select.png?raw=1)
Source2 Playing:
![[Image: Music2Playing.png?raw=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/7uzgpx2cpe9sp1i/Music2Playing.png?raw=1)
Multi Room Audio:
I use a B&K CT610 and 2 AVR's (Denon/Onkyo) with an old SoundBlaster card paired to KXAudio drivers that basically turn the card into a 4 source 4 discrete outputs card.  CQC can interact with the drivers via command line commands to route any source to any output (or all outputs at once).  Zones can be turned on/off from Music screens by touching the desired zone name or from an overall zone management screen.
Zone Select:
![[Image: MusicZoneSelect.png?raw=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/hrrdjx2plqmo2x5/MusicZoneSelect.png?raw=1)
Weather:
Nothing too fancy, Would like to get the radar going again at some point.  This one is mostly stolen from the old auto gen system.
Irrigation:
This one was stolen from Jkish's templates and modified slightly.  They work great as is so have been left mostly as is.  One day I will dig into them and make them fit my theme a bit further.
HVAC:
Stemming mostly from cheapness/need for a challenge, I decided to skip spending on an AprilAire way back and just used relays on the Elk to run my 2 stage furnace and AC.  I've written rules in the Elk to give basic heating if needed with various safety bits to make sure excessive run-times etc can't happen. I then got more elaborate within CQC to create what I think is basically a Nest feature equivalent HVAC controller.  If CQC fails, the Elk takes over via a watchdog timer and if that fails then I have a manual thermostat standing in.  Some graphing done via Graphamatic and MySQL DB.
![[Image: HVAC2.png?raw=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/bin0wvoj15y3eav/HVAC2.png?raw=1)
Alarm:
Fairly basic just working through the Elk M1.  One nice thing we use is a guest mode that bypasses a motion sensor and arms/disarms the alarm later/earlier to avoid false alarms.  Also I turn on the irrigation sprinklers and some lights  if there's repeated motion in the yard.  Only soaked myself once so far!
![[Image: Alarm.png?raw=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/7a88c54nr1s6pmh/Alarm.png?raw=1)
Lighting:
I'm using Insteon from when it came out and went through massive failures at first, but thankfully SmartHome stood by their stuff so have stayed with Insteon.  I have about 30 devices and has been very solid the last few years with an ISY99 interfacing to CQC and the lights.  I worked with Dean to add a double tap action to the ISY driver a couple years back.  We get a lot of use from various switches around the house initiating actions from double taps on switches and remotes like close/open the garage door, turn lighting scenes on/off for a duration and blinds etc. One of the most used features for us on lighting.
![[Image: Lighting.png?raw=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/8ct853jcvqub5a9/Lighting.png?raw=1)
Automation:
This is a bit of a catch-all screen to turn on the fireplace and I created a Thermostat mode for that.  Blinds are controlled via an RFXCom to RollerTroll DIY blind motors.  It's also become a bit of a universal remote control to turn on X-Box/PC's and TV's and set proper inputs etc.
I am also a believer of the house anticipating and doing things automatically. I have some stuff like this but plan on doing a bit more here soon.  So far I have triggered/scheduled events doing  garbage/recycling day reminders when pulling into the garage or motion in the living room at a certain time,  safety or system failure alerts and security auto arm/lights off type things.
![[Image: Automation.png?raw=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/kw9ernc188pc5h8/Automation.png?raw=1)
Cameras:
I'm using Zoneminder as my camera control/DVR and the new Web Camera widget to display cameras in CQC.  I'd like to integrate more into Zoneminder's API to turn various cameras on/off for motion detection and perhaps display the latest recorded events.  I think this can be done with just web calls to the ZM server from CQC.
I've incorporated many different ideas from other folks over the yearsÔǪ so just a general thanks to all those that have ever shared their ideas.┬á┬á
I started with CQC around 2008/2009. I was drawn in after seeing how nice some of the systems looked that had been shared here and on the main web page.  I was careful to pick equipment that had drivers while building up my HA and AV equipment.  At almost 10 years in now I've constantly added and changed things over this time. I never seem to get to a finished stage so just sharing what I use currently. 
Sharing my main screens with a bit of a write-up on what each section is used for or does. Questions/comments or improvement ideas are welcome:
I've tried to have One Main overlay that gets loaded with specific  functions  in the middle for HVAC, Alarm, Music etc . I also use 2 smaller overlays on top and bottom that either keep a more static set of templates presenting an overall picture of pertinent things in the home or specifics to supplement the main overlay.  In some modes the top/bottom overlays get auto loaded with specific items related to the main function selected.  (Like music for example gets more music related info loaded when in that mode)
I also took the approach of having┬á just a Master Server/IV all on one machine originally so templates were designed to control the whole house and didn't get room specific.┬á I've liked this approach as it's easy to maintain, but can present a challenge with crowding the IV.┬á A balancing actÔǪ┬á┬á
MAIN:
This one shows most of the home (3 levels) status at a glance.  Lights, stereo/TV's can be interacted with to turn on/off as well.
![[Image: Main.png?raw=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/ys3xm26j7po04y6/Main.png?raw=1)
MUSIC:
Select albums and play from 3 Sources (2 CQC Media players for MP3's and Squeeze Server/player for Shoutcast, I also have a 4th source that I recently added to route a Spotify source to various zones.  Spotify control done on phones for now.
I did some work to capture recently played albums/songs in the variables Driver so I can play recent stuff with a single click which is represented on the bottom overlay.  
Select Music:
![[Image: Music%20Select.png?raw=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/h3naxi5go698t6n/Music%20Select.png?raw=1)
Source2 Playing:
![[Image: Music2Playing.png?raw=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/7uzgpx2cpe9sp1i/Music2Playing.png?raw=1)
Multi Room Audio:
I use a B&K CT610 and 2 AVR's (Denon/Onkyo) with an old SoundBlaster card paired to KXAudio drivers that basically turn the card into a 4 source 4 discrete outputs card.  CQC can interact with the drivers via command line commands to route any source to any output (or all outputs at once).  Zones can be turned on/off from Music screens by touching the desired zone name or from an overall zone management screen.
Zone Select:
![[Image: MusicZoneSelect.png?raw=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/hrrdjx2plqmo2x5/MusicZoneSelect.png?raw=1)
Weather:
Nothing too fancy, Would like to get the radar going again at some point.  This one is mostly stolen from the old auto gen system.
Irrigation:
This one was stolen from Jkish's templates and modified slightly.  They work great as is so have been left mostly as is.  One day I will dig into them and make them fit my theme a bit further.
HVAC:
Stemming mostly from cheapness/need for a challenge, I decided to skip spending on an AprilAire way back and just used relays on the Elk to run my 2 stage furnace and AC.  I've written rules in the Elk to give basic heating if needed with various safety bits to make sure excessive run-times etc can't happen. I then got more elaborate within CQC to create what I think is basically a Nest feature equivalent HVAC controller.  If CQC fails, the Elk takes over via a watchdog timer and if that fails then I have a manual thermostat standing in.  Some graphing done via Graphamatic and MySQL DB.
![[Image: HVAC2.png?raw=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/bin0wvoj15y3eav/HVAC2.png?raw=1)
Alarm:
Fairly basic just working through the Elk M1.  One nice thing we use is a guest mode that bypasses a motion sensor and arms/disarms the alarm later/earlier to avoid false alarms.  Also I turn on the irrigation sprinklers and some lights  if there's repeated motion in the yard.  Only soaked myself once so far!
![[Image: Alarm.png?raw=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/7a88c54nr1s6pmh/Alarm.png?raw=1)
Lighting:
I'm using Insteon from when it came out and went through massive failures at first, but thankfully SmartHome stood by their stuff so have stayed with Insteon.  I have about 30 devices and has been very solid the last few years with an ISY99 interfacing to CQC and the lights.  I worked with Dean to add a double tap action to the ISY driver a couple years back.  We get a lot of use from various switches around the house initiating actions from double taps on switches and remotes like close/open the garage door, turn lighting scenes on/off for a duration and blinds etc. One of the most used features for us on lighting.
![[Image: Lighting.png?raw=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/8ct853jcvqub5a9/Lighting.png?raw=1)
Automation:
This is a bit of a catch-all screen to turn on the fireplace and I created a Thermostat mode for that.  Blinds are controlled via an RFXCom to RollerTroll DIY blind motors.  It's also become a bit of a universal remote control to turn on X-Box/PC's and TV's and set proper inputs etc.
I am also a believer of the house anticipating and doing things automatically. I have some stuff like this but plan on doing a bit more here soon.  So far I have triggered/scheduled events doing  garbage/recycling day reminders when pulling into the garage or motion in the living room at a certain time,  safety or system failure alerts and security auto arm/lights off type things.
![[Image: Automation.png?raw=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/kw9ernc188pc5h8/Automation.png?raw=1)
Cameras:
I'm using Zoneminder as my camera control/DVR and the new Web Camera widget to display cameras in CQC.  I'd like to integrate more into Zoneminder's API to turn various cameras on/off for motion detection and perhaps display the latest recorded events.  I think this can be done with just web calls to the ZM server from CQC.