HOME AUTOMATION

Home automation is a hobby of mine. I've done a bunch of projects and I'm always on the lookout for the next one.

HOME NETWORKING

My network is what ties everything together and I've learned a lot about how to keep it running smoothly.

HOME THEATER

My home theater is where most of my technology converges - network, stored media and automation all in one place.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Home improvement projects are not fun for the whole family, but I enjoy doing them anyway. I love the satisfaction of seeing my vision become reality.

HOME ORGANIZATION

Whether it's tools in my workshop or files on my server, I love organizing things. Keeping them organized is sometimes more challenging.

GADGETS & GEAR

I’m a geek by nature and proud to be an early adopter of the latest tech toys. Discovering new technology and figuring out how to apply it to my world is fun.

Welcome to SweetHomeTech.com! My name is Ted and this is where I keep notes about the various projects I work on. I've been wanting to create this site for awhile but just never found the time to get it going. Then I realized that I had already been creating the content I wanted to post every time I documented one of my projects to pass along to someone who wanted to learn more about what I've done. I dug through my sent mail and that gave me just what I needed to get a jump start on this.

I'm a software engineer by trade, but in my current position I don't get as much hands-on development time as I used to. Having that background is very helpful when I can't find a product or tool that does what I want since I can often roll my own. But whenever possible I try to use things I can find that have already been built (and tested) to get things going.

I love technology and especially any opportunity to use technology to make my life easier in some way. Automation projects are the most fun for me. I started with some X10 devices back in the 90's but they looked a bit odd and weren't reliable enough to do much more than play with. I finally decided to take the plunge with Insteon and I have no regrets. I think it's a great automation system for a DIYer and allows you to start small and add on as needed which makes things a little easier on the wallet.

In addition to technology, I enjoy home improvement projects and the ability to take raw parts and turn them into something wonderful with just my own hands (and some tools).

SELECTION

There are hundreds of INSTEON and INSTEON compatible products available to serve almost any home automation application.

AVAILABILITY

INSTEON products can be purchased easily online through sites such as Amazon.com and Smarthome.com as well as in many retail outlets and home improvement stores.

EASE OF INSTALLATION AND USE

Replaces existing switches, outlets and devices using the current household wiring. Products have a familiar interface that requires no learning for users.

RESPONSIVE AND RELIABLE

INSTEON devices respond to commands with no perceptible delay. They utilize a dual mesh network for reliability that sends signals both wirelessly and over the powerlines.

AFFORDABLE

Does not require a large initial investment. You can start small with a single switch and grow your network over time. And each device acts as a repeater, so your network gets stronger as it grows.