Q What home automating system would be user-expandable to include wireless video and control? I mean to send video from the barn to the bedroom and then on to the internet. One example would be to spy on the horse, pan the camera, from either bedroom or distant office. And to also monitor the house fire alarm, refrigerator, etc., from the distant office. And all DIY. - John

A. Hi John,

This feature is fairly common for home automation systems, even for DIY products.

For super-simple and low cost, take a look at Mi Casa Verde. Click here to read a review.

One of the most popular and feature-rich DIY products is Homeseer.

Home Automation Inc. has a variety products to suit your needs, but they can be a little complicated — search for it at smarthome.com

We also list dozens of home automation systems in our Ultimate Guide to Home Automation 2009. It distinguishes the products that are DIY vs. Pro-only.

Hope that helps.

Julie Jacobson - Editor, Electronic House; Editor-at-large, CE Pro

Julie Jacobson is editor of Electronic House and editor-at-large for CE Pro magazine, the trade magazine for home technology. She co-founded parent company EH Publishing in 1994.