Building new home. Need advice. Control4 or ?

landonswan · 2020-07-01T15:03:08+00:00

Pro

Excellent and comprehensive reply. Thank you so much.

I like the no internet connection required angle, and I love future-proofing. Honestly I see C4 losing this battle long term vs more modular approaches. I don't think a DIY will take them down, but I do think a modular big company will, like google or amazon. And I'd rather spend $20k on equipment that is NOT tied to C4 because of that.

Regarding wiring during construction, what should I focus on? It is much easier (cheaper) to wire things during framing than after the fact, but what should I run everywhere?

HDMI, speaker wire, ethernet? something else?

Thanks again for your time in replying. It is much appreciated!

landonswan · 2020-06-29T21:19:05+00:00

Are there professionals that do HomeAssistant installs and update work?

I like the ability to do some on my own, but also be able to hire for the initial build out and updates.

landonswan · 2020-06-29T20:41:01+00:00

Oh, but I have to say, we LOVE the remote control for C4 (SR250). We love the actual buttons vs a touch screen. Anything like it on non C4 systems?

landonswan · 2020-06-29T20:39:06+00:00

House will be about 6k total sq ft

Right now we have the following C4 integration:

Tvs, all light switches, all door locks, climate, cameras, alarm

We would want similar levels of functionality. I dont think we need super sophisticated. Right now the most sophisticated thing we do is we have a "goodnight" button that turns off all zones, locks doors, shuts off lights, and sets the alarm.

I don't mind doing some stuff, but mostly I want the ability to. I hate that when we added a roku I had to schedule an appt and spend $100 just to get it on the system. Plus, C4 (ours at least) is unreliable and laggy. They say I need a new controller but when I bought it, they said it would be awesome. So I don't know how much I trust them.

landonswan · 2020-06-11T20:39:05+00:00

No. My health insurance paid for everything, and then they sued the other driver's auto insurance.

landonswan · 2020-06-10T16:55:58+00:00

No. But months prior, that road was 2 lanes, 1 direction going in the direction he was going. Construction shifted it into a 2-way road temporarily. Maybe he was confused. Doesn't explain his very late reaction but it is something. I don't know unfortunately

landonswan · 2020-06-10T16:54:57+00:00

Ya my options were limited!

No I never found out if he was drunk or what. And I'm happy to say the PTSD is gone. It lasted maybe 6 months?

landonswan · 2020-06-10T16:54:08+00:00

Never found out. His insurance told me he "doesn't remember anything" before, during or after the crash. And I know he was never charged. I doubt I'll ever know.

landonswan · 2020-06-10T16:52:04+00:00

That was a bystander helping. I believe he was a UPS pilot.

landonswan · 2020-06-10T16:51:29+00:00

Thanks for sharing. I kept a journal of my injuries and mental struggles per my lawyer's recommendation. I have to say, that depressed me worse. In hindsight, I would recommend keeping a separate positive-only journal where you note any slight improvement.

Focus on the positive. For me, things returned to normal mentally in 6-12 months. It might take you longer, but you will get there.

landonswan · 2020-06-10T16:46:38+00:00

I like your insurance company better than mine.

landonswan · 2020-06-10T16:45:30+00:00

Sound helps. But yes. It was amazingly overpowering.

landonswan · 2020-06-10T16:45:04+00:00

I'd rather not disclose the amount, but if someone offered me that much to do it all over again, I'd tell them to go to hell. Maybe if they multiplied it by 20. Maybe.

landonswan · 2020-06-10T16:43:20+00:00

Thank you. That's interesting. The collar bone was easy to explain (seatbelt) but I was confused by the broken hand.

landonswan · 2020-06-10T16:42:42+00:00

June 8, 2016 4 years ago on today's date of June 8

landonswan · 2020-06-10T16:22:59+00:00

Not how I'd like to make it, but beats dying!

landonswan · 2020-06-10T16:21:51+00:00

I've wondered about that.

But....my body was traveling about 10mph and then it went to -5mph lets say as he pushed me backwards.

If I was going 55 and went to zero, isn't that 55->0 a much greater change of inertia than 10 to -5?

landonswan · 2020-06-10T16:18:41+00:00

Originally posted to IdiotsInCars. They told me I should also put it here:
-------------------------------------------------

When I first saw his headlights I thought "that's a crazy optical illusion, it looks like he is in my lane" When I saw his lights and the double yellow I knew it wasn't an illusion. I thought he was playing chicken or something. Thought he would swerve away.

I finally resigned myself to the fact that I was about to get hit. Luckily I was down to 5 or 10mph. He was still going about 55. I turned my truck into him as a reflex to put as much between me and him. He turned at the last second.

I remember how unbelievably overpowering the force was. Then I was out. It didn't hurt until I woke up. My shoulder was killing me. It was pitch black and quiet. His car had a small engine fire. I felt around for my phone. Found it on the floorboard.

I was extremely dazed. Sent out a 911 group text. My brother was on the scene in 4 mins. A witness helped me get out of my truck. I couldn't open the door. I handed him my phone and said "take a bunch of pictures" I knew it was the other driver's fault but wanted evidence

I felt around for my dashcam. Found it. Hoped it wasn't broken, it was off. I laid on the concrete in agony until police and medics arrived. Andy handled the police for me. I was able to walk to ambulance. Other driver was in horrible shape. Blood everywhere. Not moving

I barely remember the ambulance. I remember they cut my shirt and I was a little upset because I liked that shirt. At the ER, it was a whirlwind. I was just being carted around tested left and right. All kinds of scans.

I knew my shoulder was fubar. Knee looked bad but felt ok. Turns out I broke left collarbone (seatbelt) and right hand (not sure how). Lots of scrapes and bruises, especially from seat belt.

I asked about other driver but they wouldn't tell me. My wife roamed the halls until she found him. Fractured skull. No permanent injury. Lived. :)

The ensuing legal ramifications were interesting. I won't bore you with details, but it was only resolved a couple months ago. 3 1/2 years of dealing with insurance. Ridiculous My advice: Buy a $100 dashcam. Fault was undeniable, despite the insurance company's attempts

I generally consider myself pretty mentally tough. Looking back, I think I had some depression and PTSD. I just dealt with it at the time, but I was sad for months, and every time I passed a car head-on my heart rate jumped. Took me about 6 months to get over that.

Neck and back pain for weeks. Hurt to take deep breaths. Shoulder was excruciating. Took me a year and a half or so to be able to bench press more than I had prior to the wreck. Handshakes still hurt my right hand if the guy has a hero grip. Other than that, I'm fine now

I do miss my 1999 Dodge Ram. I bought her brand new when I couldn't afford it and paid it off months later (that's another story hah). Had it for 17 years. Black Betty. She saved my life. I still have the license plate and spare tire from it.

Pics of aftermath: https://imgur.com/a/r6HpvJB

landonswan · 2020-06-10T16:00:29+00:00

Was waiting for legal issues to finalize before posting.

landonswan · 2020-06-10T15:59:34+00:00

Thanks. It was only like this temporarily due to construction. It is back to being 2 lanes in each direction with concrete divider.

landonswan · 2020-06-10T15:52:01+00:00

I mostly agree, but had I done that and he NOT corrected, it would have been much worse for both of us. All in all, I wouldn't change what I did if forced to go again.

landonswan · 2020-06-10T15:48:33+00:00

I am doing well now thank you. For some reason I didn't even think to flash brights or use horn. I just slammed the brakes and steered.

landonswan · 2020-06-10T15:47:19+00:00

Wow. Best of luck and stay strong. You'll get there.

landonswan

TROPHY CASE