OT: Computer controlled home automation

[geoschmo]

Anyone here have any experience with this stuff? Let me back up a bit.

The problems we've been having with the PBW site going down lately are pretty simple. The cable modem that connects the server to the internet goes offline occasionally. Usually if I leave the thing alone long enough it comes up on it's own. Or if I power cycle the modem it comes right back up. I've talked to the ISP and they aren't much help unfortunatly.

What I was thinking about was investing a little bit in some hardware that will let me power cycle the cable modem remotly. I can get the hardware I need for about 50 bucks. Basically it's a unit that the power cord for the modem plugs into, and a controller unit that has a USB connection to the server. Then I'd need some software running on the server that would monitor the internet connection, and if it loses it, it sends the signal to the recieving unit to power cycle the cable modem.

Anyone here done anything like this before? Maybe you could give me some advice?

Geoschmo