Re: Suggestions for X10/Automation Widgets

[nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)]

Jeff,

There was an article in Nuts & Volts in September 2001 titled "Build the
X-Lock" by Jeff Mazur that was along the lines of what The Alien is
suggesting. It listened to the powerline and, when it heard an alien X-10
command, jammed it by corrupting the signal. It used a COP8FLASH µC.

The approach has the advantage that it works without modifying any existing
modules. It has the disadvantage that it will cause an eternal duel for
control of the powerline should the controller (or repeater) sending the
signal be one that senses collisions and automatically retransmits. ACT
controllers, RR501s, Ocelots, some coupler/repeaters and others
automatically resend after collisions.

For The Alien,

Insteon only responds to commands sent from devices that have been
"enrolled" in the system. You need physical control of a device to enroll
it. Each device has a "unique" ID. Commands include the ID of the sender and
target receiver.

"Jeff Volp" <JeffVolp@xxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>"The Alien" <Someone@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>news:dfahq1tn475kinlmobk681ribnl7c5ta42@xxxxxxxxxx
>>
>> How about incorporating security into X-10?  Not house security but
>> command security.... have the modules only respond to your commands
>> and not your neighbors!
>>
>> One example:  My X-10 is set to "128", when my neighbor turns on
>> "A-1", my "A-1" ignores the request,  when I turn on "A-1", I send a
>> "128" first, then "A-1" "A-on" then module responds.   If it see a
>> "A-1" "A-OFF" it will ignore it because 128 did not preceed the
>> command?
>>
>> Or something along those lines?!  THEN I would be glad to turn my X-10
>> stuff back on and start using it again!   Until then, the market is
>> TOO saturated with X-10 stuff.  Just check my neighborhood, turn on
>> "A-1" and about 3 other houses light up along with yours!!!
>
>It might be possible to do something like that using perhaps a two character
>housecode and a custom module.  A "high security" module would respond to
>X-A-1-ON, but not just A-1-ON (where X is a housecode other than A in this
>example).  Modules so modified would have to be controled by high-end
>controllers that have the ability to transmit multiple housecodes.  I recall
>someone developed a PIC version of a X10 module, and this may be something
>that could be incorporated into that design.
>
>You can probably solve your problem much more simply by just changing your
>housecode.  If you still have problems, try the whole-house blocker.
>
>I was just looking for a few needs that could be met within the existing
>protocol.  Some good suggestions have been received here and by e-mail.
>Dave Houston's CM15A conversion looks very useful.  One that I still like
>myself is a souped up TW523 that could drive both phases so no repeater or
>coupler is necessary.  There seem to be a fair amount of interest in
>wireless temperature monitoring.  And there were a bunch of other individual
>suggestions.
>
>I plan to start working on some of these as the new year rolls around.
>
>Thanks again to all who contributed to this thread.
>
>Jeff
>