From the Ground Up: Smart Home Networks

By: Max Alexander (Page 6 of 6)

Illustration: Ian Worpole

Enlarge this image Illustration: Ian Worpole

Photo: Mark Viker

Photo: Courtesy of USTEC

Smart Hub
Firewire is a super-high-speed cable used chiefly to transfer data between electronic devices with Firewire ports (typically computers and digital cameras; increasingly, TVs, stereos, DVD players, and cable boxes). But now, thanks to a new "smart hub," these devices can communicate directly through a house's Cat5e network, giving homeowners the ability to control everything remotely through a TV screen. Firewire also simplifies installation. "You plug in the device to the hub and the system will automatically 'see' it, find the drivers that control it, and give you the option of adding it to the network," says Tweeter Home Entertainment Group's Dave Tovissi, who's installing a Firewire-to-Cat5e system at the TOH TV project house in Carlisle.

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Where to Find It

Our thanks to:
Greg Smizer
Sprint Security Systems
Waltham, MA
781-891-6633
www.sprintsecuritysystems.com

Network wire and cable:
CablesPlus
Richmond, VA
866-678-5852
www.cablesplususa.com

Glass-break detector:
International Electronics, Inc.
Canton, MA
800-343-9502
www.ieib.com

Network outlets and control panels:
The Siemon Company
Watertown, CT
860-945-4200
www.siemon.com

ENT chase:
Carlon
Cleveland, OH
800-322-7566
www.carlon.com

Standby generator:
Kohler Power Systems
800-544-2444
www.kohlerpowersystems.com

Whole-house surge protector:
Innovative Technology
Brooksville, FL
800-647-8877
www.itvss.com

Door and window alarm contacts:
George Risk Industries
Kimball, NE
800-523-1277
www.grisk.com

Heat and motion detectors:
Honeywell Security and Custom Electronics
800-233-6261
www.security.honeywell.com

Security camera:
Silent Witness
Blaine, WA
888-289-2288
www.silentwitness.com

As Seen on TV —
One-touch control:
STX-1700 CXP wireless touch panel
Creston Electronics
Rockleigh, NJ
800-237-2041
www.creston.com

Smart hub:
Tweeter Home Entertainment Group
Canton, MA
800-893-3837
www.tweeter.com

Wrist-watch controlled security system:
5804 Timex digital watch
Ademco Group
Syoset, NY
800-645-7492
www.ademco.com

Faster Than a Speeding Electron:
Custom Electronics
Falmouth, ME
207-781-2326
www.customelectronics.com