Welcome to Home Technology DIY
Wiring Your Home for Voice, Data and Video
Written by Jason
When you get ready to wire your home for technology infrastructure, there are several questions you should ask yourself before you begin. What type of cable will I need? How much cable will I need? Where will I run the cable? How will I connect the cable to my equipment? These are just a few of the question you will need to answer before you can begin wiring your home. This is the first in a series of articles which you should find helpful for answering these questions and completing your wiring project.
The first question, "What kind of cable will I need?" is probably the most important when it comes to making sure your equipment and systems work properly when your cabling is complete. Lets start with cable for your telephone and computer networks. You may have heard or seen the terms Cat3, Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, etc.. while shopping for computer network or telephone cable. These are all categories of UTP cable (unshielded twisted pair).These category ratings refer to the signal transmission capability of the cable.
Wednesday, 24 June 2009 19:44
When you get ready to wire your home for technology infrastructure, there are several questions you should ask yourself before you begin. What type of cable will I need? How much cable will I need? Where will I run the cable? How will I connect the cable to my equipment? These are just a few of the question you will need to answer before you can begin wiring your home. This is the first in a series of articles which you should find helpful for answering these questions and completing your wiring project.The first question, "What kind of cable will I need?" is probably the most important when it comes to making sure your equipment and systems work properly when your cabling is complete. Lets start with cable for your telephone and computer networks. You may have heard or seen the terms Cat3, Cat5, Cat5e, Cat6, etc.. while shopping for computer network or telephone cable. These are all categories of UTP cable (unshielded twisted pair).These category ratings refer to the signal transmission capability of the cable.
Last Updated on Thursday, 25 June 2009 21:11
Read more...
How to View Your Security Cameras Remotely
Written by Administrator
This article will cover how to set up a home video server. If you already have a security camera connected to a "networkable" DVR then you are ready to procede to Step 1, if not below is a little info that you may find helpful.
Most of the time a DVR listed as "networkable" can act as a video server and allow the live cameras and recorded video to be viewed on PC's connected to the DVR via a network. I use a 4 channel DVR I bought for $299 and added a 160G hard drive. I have 4 b&w cameras connected, 2 dome cameras and 2 bullet cameras. I paid about $90 total for the cameras. You may have any camera configuration you like as long as they are viewable on your DVR. You can find many good sources for cameras and DVRs listed on the links page. Once you have your cameras connected and can view them on the DVR monitor, you are ready to proceed to Step1. If you dont have a monitor you can view them on your PC after the network connections are established. I use my PC for viewing because I have no space for another monitor. In a future article I'll cover how to set up the cameras and DVR including cables, connectors, power supply and more. Check back here soon for a link.
Wednesday, 10 June 2009 16:41
How to View your Security Cameras Remotely via the Internet (From Anywhere)
This article will cover how to set up a home video server. If you already have a security camera connected to a "networkable" DVR then you are ready to procede to Step 1, if not below is a little info that you may find helpful.
Most of the time a DVR listed as "networkable" can act as a video server and allow the live cameras and recorded video to be viewed on PC's connected to the DVR via a network. I use a 4 channel DVR I bought for $299 and added a 160G hard drive. I have 4 b&w cameras connected, 2 dome cameras and 2 bullet cameras. I paid about $90 total for the cameras. You may have any camera configuration you like as long as they are viewable on your DVR. You can find many good sources for cameras and DVRs listed on the links page. Once you have your cameras connected and can view them on the DVR monitor, you are ready to proceed to Step1. If you dont have a monitor you can view them on your PC after the network connections are established. I use my PC for viewing because I have no space for another monitor. In a future article I'll cover how to set up the cameras and DVR including cables, connectors, power supply and more. Check back here soon for a link.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 June 2009 15:15
Read more...
What is X-10?
Written by Administrator
The most basic system is a remote, and a reciever. The reciever is a small box about the size of an AC power adapter. It has a plug on one end, and has two knobs on it. Turn the knobs to set the codes. The letter sets the house code, while the number sets the device code. For instance you can set a reciever for A1, and plug a lamp into it. The remote has a similar knob on it to set the house code, but has buttons for each device code. Just simply push the button of the device number, number one in this case, and the light comes on!
Wednesday, 10 June 2009 16:53
X10 was developed in 1975 by Pico Electronics of Glenrothes, Scotland to transmit information over household wiring to control devices in your home. The most basic system is a remote, and a reciever. The reciever is a small box about the size of an AC power adapter. It has a plug on one end, and has two knobs on it. Turn the knobs to set the codes. The letter sets the house code, while the number sets the device code. For instance you can set a reciever for A1, and plug a lamp into it. The remote has a similar knob on it to set the house code, but has buttons for each device code. Just simply push the button of the device number, number one in this case, and the light comes on!
Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 June 2009 11:53
Read more...
How to Use Your Honeywell 6270 Keypad to Control Lights
Written by Administrator
The 6270 Keypad by Honeywell has a built in X10 switching feature, accessed by the "Lighting" button on the main menu screen. You need only to replace the standard transformer that powers the alarm panel with a 1361X10N Transformer/X-10 Interface kit. The kit is actually just another transformer with 5 screw terminal instead of 2. Simply locate the standard power transformer, and replace it with the X-10 transformer. Chances are there will not be enough condutors in the cable connecting you transformer to the panel. You should run a second cable (such as 22-4) along side the existing cable, if this is the case. Connect the cables to the new transformer and to the wires from the kit to the 8 pin connector on the panel. Dont worry about the actual color of the wires connected to transformer. Just make sure they are connected to the proper color on the 8 pin connector.
Wednesday, 10 June 2009 17:00
How to use your Honeywell (ademco) 6270 Keypad to control X10 lights or devices
The 6270 Keypad by Honeywell has a built in X10 switching feature, accessed by the "Lighting" button on the main menu screen. You need only to replace the standard transformer that powers the alarm panel with a 1361X10N Transformer/X-10 Interface kit. The kit is actually just another transformer with 5 screw terminal instead of 2. Simply locate the standard power transformer, and replace it with the X-10 transformer. Chances are there will not be enough condutors in the cable connecting you transformer to the panel. You should run a second cable (such as 22-4) along side the existing cable, if this is the case. Connect the cables to the new transformer and to the wires from the kit to the 8 pin connector on the panel. Dont worry about the actual color of the wires connected to transformer. Just make sure they are connected to the proper color on the 8 pin connector.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 June 2009 17:15
Read more...
How to Install a RJ31x Jack
Written by Administrator
With Any Alarm System An RJ-31X Telephone Interface Is Recommended. This Ensures That The Burglar Can Not Take Your Telephone Off The Hook And Prevent Your System From Dialing Out.
The Following Steps Will Show You How To Install Your RJ-31X Jack.
Wednesday, 10 June 2009 17:13
With Any Alarm System An RJ-31X Telephone Interface Is Recommended. This Ensures That The Burglar Can Not Take Your Telephone Off The Hook And Prevent Your System From Dialing Out.
The Following Steps Will Show You How To Install Your RJ-31X Jack.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 June 2009 11:57
Read more...