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Dean
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| Posted: November 19 2004 at 10:05 | IP Logged
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I have my PC that is running PowerHome down in my basement. I would like to be able to take advantage of the speech and sound features in PowerHome. What options do I have besides moving the computer?
1) Run a cable for Microphone in and Speaker out from the PowerHome computer to whatever location I want the speaker/mic. Is there a distance issue with this (i.e. cables can only be up to a certain length)? Where would I get such cables in extended lengths? Do they make any small devices, such as something that would fit in a standard outlet box that contains a small speaker and mic combo, with maybe a button to turn off/on the microphone and/or speaker?
2) Some type of wireless system? Any thoughts on this?
Any other options or thoughts on this? What are some of you guys doing?
Thanks,
-Dean
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TonyNo
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| Posted: November 19 2004 at 13:36 | IP Logged
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I also have my system in the basement.
Speaker and line-level audio can be run pretty far (50'+ is not unusual). I have an amp in the basement that feeds speakers in the basement and my kitchen.
Being lazy (so I didn't have to run wires), I bought a system from Radio Shack that distributes stereo audio and video over exising phone lines. This gets signals up to my second floor. Works well enough until I find something better.
For output, wireless seems the way to go if you can find something that can be controlled remotely and does not need a special program running on a PC on your network just to play files from another machine (server).
For input, I would think that a good wireless mic should be fine. I believe that good open-air mic systems are still a ways off.
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seattlechris
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| Posted: November 19 2004 at 21:17 | IP Logged
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Another option for audio output, perhaps silly and low tech but works great for me, is to place the powerhome controlled speaker in front of a heater vent in the basement. Powerhome speech commands can be heard quite nicely throughout the house using this trick.
Another option for output is to buy an inexpensive audio-FM radio modulator and plug it into your PC, and then use a radio on the other floor.
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Dean
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| Posted: November 19 2004 at 22:29 | IP Logged
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I don't have a heater vent near my PowerHome computer and I think this is a bit too low-tech for me.
I do like the FM radio modulator idea. Is this what you are talking about?
http://store.knbelectronics.com/sf-121i.html
I just did a search on Google and came across the above link. For $11 and change it seems worth a try.
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Dean
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| Posted: November 19 2004 at 23:07 | IP Logged
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I also read somewhere on this forum that there are issues with speach/sound under Windows XP. Something about uninstalling the built-in Windows XP L&H drivers, etc. Does anyone know if this applies to Windows Server 2003? Has anyone run PowerHome under Windows Server 2003 yet?
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TonyNo
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| Posted: November 20 2004 at 08:22 | IP Logged
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I run XP and have no speech output issues. I don't use speech recognition, though.
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dhoward
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| Posted: November 21 2004 at 14:38 | IP Logged
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Dean,
Some people have had problems with SAPI 5 TTS on Windows XP without first uninstalling the Lernout and Hauspie drivers. Some people don't have the problem. But it seems to only be a conflict with the SAPI 5 TTS (PowerHome does not yet support VR using SAPI 5...only SAPI4).
Concerning the audio...Tony is correct. You can run line level or speaker level audio for quite a few feet. Line level, I would probably limit to about 100' using RG-6 with F to RCA connecters. Speaker level you can go even further. You could also look into a number of those devices for connecting your computer to your stereo for MP3 playback, however they tend to be expensive. X-10 sells the wireless A/V units for transmitting wirelessly (just use the audio side for TTS). The FM wireless transmitter is also another idea. Keep in mind this all pertains to TTS. Working with the Voice Recognition is trickier.
To accomplish VR, Ive used wireless microphones. I have one from Radio Shack which looks kind of like a Mr. Microphone and cost about $60.00. You really need a good one here and cheap usually doesnt work to well. The range is fairly good...100 to 200 feet. I use a Radio Shack handheld scanner as the receiver plugged into the mic in on my soundcard. The reason I use the scanner is for the squelch control. When Im not using the microphone, I switch it off. With the scanner and squelch, no signal will go to the soundcard. With a normal receiver, when the mic is switched off, you'll get a lot of hiss and static sent to the soundcard and this wreaks havoc on the VR. Also, keep in mind that VR while very handy in controlled situations, can be very finicky. If you want to have multiple microphones (say in different rooms) combined together, it can be done but it get expensive since now you'll need a mixer (not cheap). The best wired microphone Ive found is the VoiceTracker Array microphone. Ive just recently started playing with this and it looks very promising for having VR in a single room (just don't order one from emicrophones.com. I had very poor service with them).
Another possibility is that I could create a remote client that could run on a remote machine that could do TTS triggered from PowerHome similar to the new DCC. You would have to be running this on a machine in an area where you want the TTS and this machine would have to be on a network so PowerHome could send commands to it. You could also run PowerHome on a second machine and have the master machine send commands to TTS for it. The master PowerHome machine would be located in the basement with all the controllers hooked to it and the remote PowerHome machine could be located elsewhere and able to receive VR commands that are passed to the master machine and reproduce TTS commands sent from the master.
Hope this helps,
Dave.
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TonyNo
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| Posted: January 09 2005 at 16:24 | IP Logged
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Does this mean if I'm using SAPI5 TTS that I can't use VR?
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dhoward
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| Posted: January 09 2005 at 18:05 | IP Logged
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The TTS will be SAPI5 and the VR will be SAPI 4. They can coexist without any problems (it's what Im doing in my own setup  .
Dave.
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TonyNo
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| Posted: January 09 2005 at 18:13 | IP Logged
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Great, thanks!
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PowerHome Messageboard : PowerHome General
Topic: Speech and Sound
