Hello everyone,
I am finally planning to build our own house with my family. I don’t want to do without a smart system and have already done some research.
Loxone is basically off the table for me because it mainly relies on its proprietary system and products.
Of course, I have repeatedly come back to KNX (as here in the forum as well). However, I am not entirely happy with it because I don’t want to have to call a programmer every time I want to make a change; I also don’t really want to buy the ETS license. Additionally, I want to integrate and network fingerprint scanners, Sonos, and a heat pump, but I haven’t fully figured out how to do this with KNX.
The house basically has two floors with an open-plan kitchen/living area, entrance hall, utility room, bathrooms, children’s rooms, bedroom, garden, and so on.
The following systems should be connected:
- Lighting (some dimmable)
- External blinds / weather station
- Underfloor heating
- Heat pump
- Music system (Sonos)
- Fingerprint access
- Video intercom
- Some switched power outlets
- Photovoltaic system
Since I am technically fairly knowledgeable, I want to be able to manage, adjust, and optimize my system myself in the end.
Does anyone have good input here? Or already experience with Loxone, KNX, or others?
Thanks and best regards,
Stefan
I am finally planning to build our own house with my family. I don’t want to do without a smart system and have already done some research.
Loxone is basically off the table for me because it mainly relies on its proprietary system and products.
Of course, I have repeatedly come back to KNX (as here in the forum as well). However, I am not entirely happy with it because I don’t want to have to call a programmer every time I want to make a change; I also don’t really want to buy the ETS license. Additionally, I want to integrate and network fingerprint scanners, Sonos, and a heat pump, but I haven’t fully figured out how to do this with KNX.
The house basically has two floors with an open-plan kitchen/living area, entrance hall, utility room, bathrooms, children’s rooms, bedroom, garden, and so on.
The following systems should be connected:
- Lighting (some dimmable)
- External blinds / weather station
- Underfloor heating
- Heat pump
- Music system (Sonos)
- Fingerprint access
- Video intercom
- Some switched power outlets
- Photovoltaic system
Since I am technically fairly knowledgeable, I want to be able to manage, adjust, and optimize my system myself in the end.
Does anyone have good input here? Or already experience with Loxone, KNX, or others?
Thanks and best regards,
Stefan
B
bonkers22321 Feb 2020 11:29Hello everyone,
I finally have time to get back to this. I noticed that I started a huge discussion here.
I’m drawing my own conclusion and would say there is no perfect system; each one has its advantages and disadvantages.
Since I liked myGEKKO as a system and concept from the start, I have been looking into it.
There is the so-called "Raumbus" concept, which is essentially based on KNX, where the components already come preprogrammed with group addresses, allowing me to use myGEKKO without ETS.
If I ever want to change something, I have KNX in the house and can intervene myself without being tied to any proprietary system.
At the same time, I have the option to use additional standard interfaces or integrate my photovoltaic system with SunSpec, my heat pump possibly with Modbus, as well as Ekey and Sonos. AND I can also combine all this with KNX.
The myGEKKO display can apparently also be used as a SIP indoor intercom.
I find this really great and appreciate not being dependent on anyone.
I still need to get concrete price information, but based on rough estimates, the costs seem similar to KNX.
What do you think of this concept?
I finally have time to get back to this. I noticed that I started a huge discussion here.
I’m drawing my own conclusion and would say there is no perfect system; each one has its advantages and disadvantages.
Since I liked myGEKKO as a system and concept from the start, I have been looking into it.
There is the so-called "Raumbus" concept, which is essentially based on KNX, where the components already come preprogrammed with group addresses, allowing me to use myGEKKO without ETS.
If I ever want to change something, I have KNX in the house and can intervene myself without being tied to any proprietary system.
At the same time, I have the option to use additional standard interfaces or integrate my photovoltaic system with SunSpec, my heat pump possibly with Modbus, as well as Ekey and Sonos. AND I can also combine all this with KNX.
The myGEKKO display can apparently also be used as a SIP indoor intercom.
I find this really great and appreciate not being dependent on anyone.
I still need to get concrete price information, but based on rough estimates, the costs seem similar to KNX.
What do you think of this concept?
untergasse4321 Feb 2020 11:34If it works for you, go for it! They will also be at Light & Building in Frankfurt in March, so depending on the distance, you might consider going and checking it out. I personally find this massive "display" extremely unattractive, and the surface is far from nice. But of course, that’s a matter of taste. What bothers me much more is the lack of transparency of the whole system.
B
bonkers22321 Feb 2020 11:42Exactly, I wanted to see it live for myself as well.
According to the colleague I spoke with on the phone, there is now also a small DIN rail controller (similar to a Loxone Miniserver) that can do exactly the same as the display.
As I said, the display becomes interesting if I can use it as an indoor intercom.
The interface is, of course, a matter of personal preference; for me, it’s fine. There is also an API available, so I could potentially develop my own app, which wouldn’t be a big deal for me as a computer scientist.
I’m definitely curious; conceptually, I think it’s a good solution.
According to the colleague I spoke with on the phone, there is now also a small DIN rail controller (similar to a Loxone Miniserver) that can do exactly the same as the display.
As I said, the display becomes interesting if I can use it as an indoor intercom.
The interface is, of course, a matter of personal preference; for me, it’s fine. There is also an API available, so I could potentially develop my own app, which wouldn’t be a big deal for me as a computer scientist.
I’m definitely curious; conceptually, I think it’s a good solution.
S
Steffen8021 Feb 2020 15:53Patricck schrieb:
Actually, the category title shouldn’t be Smart Home but KNX...
If you make suggestions that are independent of KNX, you’re considered uninformed. I haven’t experienced anything like that in a moderated forum before. That’s because... no system can compete with KNX... with KNX you simply outclass everything... period!