Re: X10 to Insteon Translator is shipping!

["BruceR" <br@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'll try that test with the X10 signals both with and without the
translator plugged in and report the results later next week. Since most
of my X10 stuff works just fine it would be just dandy if the two can
coexist and I can upgrade as needed. One thing I've noticed is that when
an X10 macro executes, some lights may not come on - always the same
ones. Just changing the order that they're listed in the macro can solve
that sometimes. I'm hoping that Insteon will be a solution for that.

From:Dave Houston
nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx

> Bruce,
>
> Insteon uses BPSK modulation which is reputed to have good noise
> immunity. Two phases (180° apart) are used to denote logical 1 and 0.
> The problem with X-10 is that the receivers (especially the older
> designs) can be blocked by low level noise as high as 200kHz.
>
> One test I only thought of after I had returned the Insteon starter
> kit would be to flood the line with X-10 (e.g. by holding down a
> button on an HR12A) and sending an Insteon signal. Of course, that
> won't work with the translator in the system.
>
> 131.65kHz is likely to be affected by the same signal sinks as X-10
> so I think filters will still be needed. Many problems blamed on
> "noise" are really due to signal sinks. The Insteon receivers are
> more sensitive (10mV) than most X-10 receivers which will help some.
>
> "BruceR" <br@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> I placed my order for the X10 to Insteon Translator along with the
>> Insteon starter kit and some other Insteon products and got
>> confirmation that it shipped today. I was pleasantly surprised by
>> this as the translator was not shown "in stock" yet on Smarthome's
>> web site. I'll report on it after I play with it next week.  I plan
>> to install the modules in some trouble spots around the house to
>> give them a good workout.  I will be using a JDS Stargate to control
>> them. Stay tuned!
>>
>> I'm really keeping my fingers crossed on this because Insteon seems,
>> for now, to offer a broader line of products at more reasonable
>> prices than the UPB stuff. I played with a UPB starter kit but
>> didn't go far with it since it couldn't be readily controlled by
>> Stargate. In reading the Insteon description it appears that it uses
>> PLC at 131kHz, just 10kHz higher than X10 signals. While that would
>> seem to intimate that it would be just as susceptible to "signal
>> anomalies" I guess that the closed loop operation, RF capability and
>> different signal protocol is supposed to get around that.
>>
>> P.S. Stargate is now offering a firmware upgrade to support UPB but
>> it requires removal of the telephone/IVR board (thereby downgrading
>> it to a Stargate Lite) to do that. I rely too much on the telephone
>> board to remove it. Of course, there's the recently announced X10 to
>> UPB translator option if the Insteon stuff is a bust.
>>
>> Happy Holidays to All!