Home Hacking Projects for Geeks

Book description

Take a geek and a PC, add one soldering iron, a home, and a copy of Home Hacking Projects for Geeks, and you'll give new meaning to the term, "home improvement." From fearless neophytes to tool-wielding masterminds, the home hacker in any geek will find new inspiration and plenty of hands-on guidance to take on a variety of home-transforming projects once relegated to the world of sci-fi. This fun new guide combines creativity with electricity and power tools to achieve cool--and sometimes even practical--home automation projects. Never again will you have to flip a light switch when you enter a room or use a key to open your front door. With a few off-the-shelf devices, some homemade hardware, and a little imagination, you can be living in your own high-tech habitat. Home Hacking Projects for Geeks shows hackers of all ability levels how to take on a wide range of projects, from the relatively small but energy-conscious automating of light switches, to building home theaters using Windows or Linux-based PCs, to more complicated projects like building home security systems that rival those offered by professional security consultants. Each project includes a conceptual diagram, a "What You Need List" and a small "Project Stats" section that describes the relative difficulty, time involved, and cost of the project. What's more, each project is a workable, practical way to improve your home--something unique that you can customize for your individual needs. The thirteen projects in Home Hacking Projects for Geeks are divided into three categories: Home Automation, Home Entertainment Systems, and Security, and include projects such as:

  • Remotely Monitor Your Pet

  • Make Your House Talk

  • Remotely Control Your Computer's MP3 player

  • Create Time-Shifted FM Radio

  • Watch Your House Across the Network

  • Build a Home Security System

If you've ever thought the Jetsons had it made, or looked around your house and thought, "I could make that better " then you're ready for Home Hacking Projects for Geeks.

Table of contents

  1. Contents
  2. Preface
    1. Introduction
    2. Why Your Home Will Love This Book
    3. Audience for This Book
    4. Organization of This Book
      1. Part I, Home Automation
      2. Part II, Home Entertainment
      3. Part III, Home Security
    5. Project Downloads
    6. Using Code Examples
    7. Conventions Used in This Book
    8. How to Contact O’Reilly
    9. How to Contact the Authors
    10. Acknowledgments
    11. Disclaimer
  3. Part 1: Home Automation
    1. Chapter 1: Automate a Light
      1. Project Overview
        1. X10 overview
        2. X10 addressing
      2. Light Switch (1/2)
      3. Light Switch (2/2)
        1. 1. Disconnect power
        2. 2. Test the switch
        3. 3. Replace the switch
        4. 4. Reconnect power and test the switch
        5. 5. Configure the switch
      4. Motion Detection
        1. 1. Connect the wireless transceiver
        2. 2. Set up the motion detector
      5. Wrapping Up
      6. Extensions
      7. Exhibit A: Bill of Materials
    2. Chapter 2: Automate Your Porch Light
      1. Project Overview
      2. Light Switch
      3. Motion Detection
        1. 1. Install and configure the motion detector
        2. 2. Install the wireless transceiver
      4. Logic and Timer (1/2)
      5. Logic and Timer (2/2)
        1. Instructions for Windows
          1. 1. Connect the X10 computer interface
          2. 2. Install Perl
          3. 3. Install Perl modules
          4. 4. Establish communication
          5. 5. Create the script
          6. 6. Run the script
          7. 7. Schedule the script
        2. Instructions for Linux
          1. 1. Connect the X10 computer interface
          2. 2. Install Perl
          3. 3. Install Perl modules
          4. 4. Establish communication
          5. 5. Create the script
          6. 6. Run the script
          7. 7. Schedule the script
      6. Understanding the Script
      7. Wrapping Up
      8. Extensions
      9. Exhibit A: Bill of Materials
      10. Exhibit B: Script Source Code
      11. Exhibit C: Software Versions
    3. Chapter 3: Remotely Monitor a Pet
      1. Project Overview
      2. Motion Detection
        1. 1. Install X10 light switches or lamp modules
        2. 2. Install the wireless transceiver
        3. 3. Configure and install the motion detectors
      3. Image Capture (1/2)
      4. Image Capture (2/2)
        1. 1. Install the video capture card
        2. 2. Install the wireless cameras
        3. 3. Install the wireless video receiver
        4. 4. Connect the X10 computer interface
        5. 5. Install core software
        6. 6. Install Perl and X10 modules
        7. 7. Configure webcam
        8. 8. Create the script
        9. 9. Run the script
        10. 10. Schedule the script
      5. Understanding the Script
      6. Image Retrieval (1/3)
      7. Image Retrieval (2/3)
      8. Image Retrieval (3/3)
        1. 1. Install Apache
          1. 1. Harden your system
          2. 2. Configure a static IP address
          3. 3. Install Apache
          4. 4. Update Apache
          5. 5. Configure Apache
        2. 2. Open the firewalls
        3. 3. Determine your IP address
        4. 4. Get a domain name
        5. 5. Connect to your web server
        6. 6. Install Image Display System (IDS)
      9. Wrapping Up
      10. Extensions
      11. Exhibit A: Bill of Materials
      12. Exhibit B: Software Versions Used
    4. Chapter 4: Make Your House Talk
      1. Project Overview
      2. Weather Information
        1. 1. Create the temperature retrieval application
      3. Speech Interface
        1. 1. Find SAPI.DLL
        2. 2. Create the speech console application
      4. Whole-House Audio
        1. 1. Install X10 appliance modules
        2. 2. Install speakers
        3. 3. Install wireless audio
      5. Scheduling and Logic
        1. 1. Install the Firecracker, Perl, and Perl X10 modules
        2. 2. Create the script
        3. 3. Run the script from the command line
        4. 4. Schedule the script
      6. Wrapping Up
      7. Extensions
      8. Exhibit A: Bill of Materials
      9. Exhibit B: Software Versions
  4. Part 2: Home Entertainment
    1. Chapter 5: Remotely Control Your Computer
      1. Project Overview
      2. The Infrared Receiver
        1. 1. Prepare the perfboard
        2. 2. Assemble the components
        3. 3. Assemble the connector and cable
        4. 4. Attach the cable to the receiver module
      3. Infrared Signal Processor (Linux)
        1. 1. Install the software
        2. 2. Configure the remote
        3. 3. Configure the audio player
      4. Infrared Signal Processor (Windows) (1/2)
      5. Infrared Signal Processor (Windows) (2/2)
        1. 1. Install and configure the WinLIRC driver
        2. 2. Test the receiver
        3. 3. Teach the driver your remote
        4. 4. Configure the audio player
      6. Wrapping Up
      7. Extensions
      8. Exhibit A: Bill of Materials
      9. Exhibit B: Ready-Made IR Receivers
    2. Chapter 6: Control Your Home Theater
      1. Project Overview
      2. The IR Transceiver
        1. 1. Assemble the UIRT2 circuit
        2. 2. Program the PIC chip
        3. 3. Mount the UIRT2 in a project box
        4. 4. Build the external connections
      3. The IR Signal Processor (1/2)
      4. The IR Signal Processor (2/2)
        1. 1. Obtain and install Girder
        2. 2. Program Girder to control IR-controlled equipment
        3. 3. Switch inputs on multiple devices simultaneously
      5. Wrapping Up
      6. Extensions
      7. Exhibit A: Bill of Materials
    3. Chapter 7: Build a Windows-Based Home Theater PC
      1. Project Overview
      2. The Hardware Platform (1/2)
      3. The Hardware Platform (2/2)
        1. 1. Select your components
          1. Chassis
          2. CPU
          3. CPU cooling
          4. Motherboard
          5. Memory
          6. Video card
          7. Hard drives
          8. Infrared receiver
        2. 2. Prepare the motherboard
        3. 3. Install the motherboard in the chassis
        4. 4. Install the video card
        5. 5. Install the IDE devices
        6. 6. Install the floppy drive
        7. 7. Install the TV tuner card
        8. 8. Finish up
      4. The Software Platform
        1. 1. Install all current service packs and security patches
        2. 2. Install the latest hardware drivers
        3. 3. Install .NET Framework, Windows Media Player 9, and DirectX 9
      5. The User Interface
      6. The Services Layer (1/3)
      7. The Services Layer (2/3)
      8. The Services Layer (3/3)
        1. 1. Add the TV tuning service
          1. Install WinTV-PVR drivers and software
          2. Configure the TV module in myHTPC
        2. 2. Set up the program guide using XMLTV
          1. Install MSXML 4.0 SP2
          2. Fix the listings file
        3. 3. Configure the IR remote control
        4. 4. Add gaming console support
          1. Create a metafile to list the games
          2. Add the "my Games" module to myHTPC
        5. 5. Configure a weather report
      9. Wrapping Up
      10. Extensions
      11. Exhibit A: Bill of Materials
      12. Exhibit B: Drivers and Software Versions
    4. Chapter 8: Build a Linux-Based Home Theater PC
      1. The Platform
        1. 1. Install software prerequisites
          1. Setting up automatic login
        2. 2. Install the Debian Advanced Package Tool (APT)
        3. 3. Install the ATrpms kernel
        4. 4. Install the video card drivers
      2. The Services Layer
        1. 1. Install the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA)
        2. 2. Install MythTV
        3. 3. Install tuner card drivers
        4. 4. Install LIRC
        5. 5. Set up MySQL
      3. The User Interface
        1. 1. Configure MythTV
          1. General
          2. Capture cards
          3. Video sources
          4. Input connections
          5. Channel editor
          6. The Program Guide database
        2. 2. Finishing touches
        3. 3. Configure MythTV’s optional components
          1. MythMusic
          2. MythGames
          3. MythGallery
          4. MythVideo
          5. MythWeather
          6. MythDVD
      4. Wrapping Up
      5. Extensions
      6. Exhibit A: Bill of Materials
      7. Exhibit B: Remote Configuration (.lircrc)
      8. Exhibit C: Drivers and Software Versions
    5. Chapter 9: Create Time-Shifted FM Radio
      1. Project Overview
      2. FM Receiver
        1. 1. Choose and install an FM card
        2. 2. Install FM Tools
        3. 3. Connect the antenna
      3. Audio Recorder
      4. Audio Playback
        1. 1. Configure automatic login
        2. 2. Install and test XMMS
      5. Whole-House Audio
        1. 1. Choose a transmitter
        2. 2. Build or hack your transmitter
        3. 3. Connect and tune the transmitter
      6. Whole-House Control Distribution
        1. 1. Choose an IR relay system
        2. 2. Configure the transmitter and receivers
        3. 3. Install the IR keyboard
        4. 4. Program the remote
        5. 5. Install XBindKeys
      7. Scheduling and Buffering (1/2)
      8. Scheduling and Buffering (2/2)
        1. 1. Install the Perl modules
        2. 2. Create the script
        3. 3. Understand and hack the script
        4. 4. Schedule the recordings
        5. 5. Configure .xbindkeysrc
      9. Wrapping Up
      10. Extensions
      11. Exhibit A: Bill of Materials
      12. Exhibit B: Software Versions
    6. Chapter 10: Access Your Entire Media Collection Over the Internet
      1. Project Overview
      2. The Media Player
      3. The Backing Store
        1. 1. Create the filesystem for your media library
        2. 2. Create a virtual directory to access your media library
      4. The Web Interface (1/2)
      5. The Web Interface (2/2)
        1. 1. Create the default page script
        2. 2. Create the page display script
        3. 3. Create the playlist generator script
      6. Wrapping Up
      7. Extensions
      8. Exhibit A: default.asp
      9. Exhibit B: display.asp
      10. Exhibit C: playlist.asp
  5. Part 3: Home Security
    1. Chapter 11: Keyless Entry Welcome Home
      1. Project Overview
      2. Linking the Physical Plant to the Control Medium
        1. 1. Determine how the remote functions
        2. 2. Embed the remote control circuit
        3. 3. Build the button-pressing circuit
      3. The Control Medium
      4. The Controlled Devices
      5. The Intelligent Dispatcher
      6. Wrapping Up
      7. Extensions
      8. Exhibit A: Bill of Materials
      9. Exhibit B: Script Source Code
    2. Chapter 12: Watch Your House Across the Network
      1. Project Overview
      2. Video Cameras
        1. 1. Plan your camera layout
        2. 2. Select the cameras
        3. 3. Install the cameras
      3. Video Capture
        1. 1. Install the video capture card
        2. 2. Install the wireless video receiver
      4. Video Transfer (1/3)
      5. Video Transfer (2/3)
      6. Video Transfer (3/3)
        1. 1. Install Helix Universal Server
        2. 2. Install Helix Producer Basic
        3. 3. Configure the network
          1. Secure your system
          2. Configure a static IP address
          3. Configure your firewall
      7. Video Playback
        1. 1. Install Free RealOne Player
        2. 2. Establish the connection
      8. Playback Control (1/3)
      9. Playback Control (2/3)
      10. Playback Control (3/3)
        1. 1. Install the Firecracker
        2. 2. Install Perl
        3. 3. Install the X10 modules
        4. 4. Create the script
        5. 5. Run the script from the command line
        6. 6. Install a web server
          1. Installing IIS
          2. Determining your IP address
          3. Getting a domain name (optional)
          4. Forwarding traffic from your router
          5. Connecting to your web server
        7. 7. Configure a web page
        8. 8. Run the script from the web page
      11. Wrapping Up
      12. Extensions
      13. Exhibit A: Bill of Materials
      14. Exhibit B: Software Versions
    3. Chapter 13: Build a Security System
      1. Project Overview
      2. Intrusion Detection (1/2)
      3. Intrusion Detection (2/2)
        1. 1. Protect the windows
        2. 2. Install door contact switches
        3. 3. Install motion detectors
        4. 4. Install environmental sensors
        5. 5. Add a panic button
      4. Intrusion Deterrence
        1. 1. Install light switches
        2. 2. Install audible alarms
      5. Gathering Evidence (1/2)
      6. Gathering Evidence (2/2)
        1. 1. Install cameras
        2. 2. Install video capture tools
        3. 3. Configure off-site storage
      7. Arming
      8. Monitoring and Alerting (1/2)
      9. Monitoring and Alerting (2/2)
        1. 1. Install remote speakers
        2. 2. Connect the X10 computer interface
        3. 3. Install the Perl modules
        4. 4. Create the Perl script
        5. 5. Understand and hack the script
        6. 6. Schedule the script
      10. Wrapping Up
      11. Extensions
      12. Exhibit A: Bill of Materials
      13. Exhibit B: Software Versions
  6. Index (1/2)
  7. Index (2/2)
  8. About the Authors
  9. Colophon

Product information

  • Title: Home Hacking Projects for Geeks
  • Author(s): Eric Faulkner, Tony Northrup
  • Release date: December 2004
  • Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
  • ISBN: 9780596004057