Re: CBus / X10 Opinions please

[Kevin Hawkins <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi...

christopher purves wrote:

>Seriously - I have had X10 and CBUS and I don't really think there is
much
>of a comparison. When X10 works it is fine but in my particular case it
was
>flakey - the WAF was low.
>
>
Ditto, in my previous house X10 worked well but in my current house it
doesn't so the move to C-Bus was forced upon me - but I'm delighted it
was. I do still have some X10 here.

>We have a complete house CBUS installation and it is designed to be
rock
>solid - very high WAF factor.
>
C-Bus just works - and it works independently of a controller (eg
HomeSeer) .which means that a light switch always turns the light ON and
timed devices come on always as expected,, even immediately after a
power failure and if your PC crashes.

One thing to bear in mind is that logic interaction (IF..THEN) and Timed
actions are not built into C-Bus and need a device like a 'timer
controller' or the PAC....or interfacing to some software application
like HomeGate, C-Lution, C-Schedule or HomeSeer (xAP Floorplan etc)..

>  Interestingly, CBUS now has the PAC controler
>which will do the homeseer/comfort/homevison role for you in a rock
solid
>way. If you buy it instead of the normal cbus pc interface is only a
few
>extra ££.
>
>Chris
>
>( Using CBUS / Mainlobby / Homeseer / Comfort / Russound)
>
>
>
Interesting.... - can you explain a little more about how you have
interfaced the PAC to HomeSeer/MainLobby.  Do all the C-Bus groups
appear as devices in HomeSeer and hence can be scripted and reflected
into graphics (buttons etc) in MainLobby ?    I know the PAC is
essentially a standalone programmable controller for C-Bus and maybe
that's the bit you meant (a rock solid  embedded controller) but I'm
sort of assuming you have MainLobby lighting screens that control C-Bus.

Have you any comments about using the PAC itself like features, ease of
use and capacity ??
Sort of thinking here ... is it worth me writing a C-Bus lighting
control plugin for Homeseer too or is it not now needed if you have the
PAC.

Kevin