Home Automation Today!

The HTINews is our Bi-Monthly Online Magazine featuring the most up to date Home Automation news available. Here you'll find feature articles, product ads and reviews, interesting columns and interviews as well as press releases announcing the latest technologies available from those companies pioneering the Home Automation industry.

Past issues are available and we've compiled libraries of all the feature articles and product reviews for easy reference.

Home Director Pro - The full scoop
X-10's Hottest Products
NEC Ruling Affects Safety & Growth of HA

Uncle Phil Part VII
New HA Forum
Complete Home Automation Controller
HA Abroad
Interoperable Control Systems
Buy HA in Europe
Gates' Net escapes
Telephone Wiring

Review - Cardio Home Controller
Contest Prize - HAL2000

Be sure to read the article and interviews about IBM's Home Director Professional. It's more than just another gizmo to plug into the wall. In my opinion it's a big step towards the total home solution. My understanding is that the HDPro will be a bomb-proof PC c/w Home Network Operating System (by Savoy Software) designed to mount in your HA closet. Basically it's a brain connected to the outside world and your home systems. IBM stresses the Open Architecture approach thus allowing 3rd party manufacturers to add software and devices to the system. Whatever the fans and skeptics may say ... it's going to be fun watching this one unfold.

If you're interested in getting into this quickly evolving industry (or just interested period) you should definitely attend the Home Automation Show and Conference being held in Orlando (February 8-10, 1998). This is where you'll find many of the systems on display and have a chance to discuss the pros and cons with the experts. If you get a chance, attendance at one of Phil Kingery's X-10 courses sounds like a must.

Tony Stewart representing the Home Automation Association has posted a serious concern about the NEC's ruling NOT to require that the neutral conductor be included in all switch boxes. As Tony states in his letter "Since the ground wire is provided in the switch boxes, home automation installers may incorrectly & often routinely use this wire in place of the insulated neutral. This places current flow on an un-insulated wire! The NEC panel must realize that placing electrical current on the ground wire is dangerous!" Tony asks that you contact the NEC and voice this concern.

Another new feature ... (I try to come up with something each issue) ... HTI Interactive allows you to post your opinion about the topic of the month and read what others think. It's pretty basic and simple but I hope you'll participate and help us build a library of opinion about various issues. This month the topic is "Home Automation Controllers".

Speaking of Home Automation Controllers ... have a look at Jeff Vogel's article. He not only tells about his but gives complete instructions including schematics and circuit board layouts so you can build one from scratch. Major effort from Jeff ... lets hear some applause.

For you automation buffs overseas there are a few things to look at in this issue. Ken Wacks sent in an article about some of the developments in Japan and Europe. In addition I've added a column about HA in the UK. It's a copy of Mark McCall's UKHA bulletin and contiains some handy info. You may also want to have a look at a new website from IntelliHome which offers Home Automation products in Europe.

And ... on the technical side, Doug Moses tells us how to wire that telephone jack and Uncle Phil Kingery continues on with the adventures of Captain Coupling. Part 7 of his series continues with more about 3 and 4 way switch automation.

Of course, any well rounded issue contains a bit of humor and Ken Sinclair's satire about Bill Gates does the job this month.