Re: Product Idea: X10 to UPB/Zigbee/Insteon translator

["BruceR" <br@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Very interesting project there! I'd be interested in helping out on the
translator if there's anything I can do.

From:Marc F Hult
MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 21:11:43 GMT, "BruceR" <br@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
> message <jAR8f.2682$Jo3.347@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
>
>> I don't know how big a deal it would be but I wonder about the
>> feasibility and marketability of a device that would accept the same
>> connection & signal input that the TW523 uses to then translate and
>> issue a command in one of the newer HA formats. The device could be
>> specific to one translation or could be a more universal device that
>> could do all three.
>> I think that such a device would be helpful in propagating the new
>> technologies while enabling a user to use their "legacy" controller
>> and support multiple formats rather than having to scrap everything
>> and start over.
>> Opinions? Dave H?
>
> The topic of translators/converters comes up from time to time. As
> I've posted in comp.home.automation before, in my opinion what is
> needed is a hydra-headed device that can input an X10 signal (either
> TW523/TTL-level or CM11a/RS-232) and output said X-10 dialect  *and*
> one or more additional protocols.
>
> Otherwise, it seems to me that the usefulness of a
> converter/translator-only device would be typically limited to folks
> willing to abandon all X-10 all at once based on limitations of
> existing hardware and software in common use which typically allow
> for one X-10 connection (Savoy's CyberHouse was one exception).
>
> A hydra-headed device would accept the input of choice and allow
> routing of different addresses to different output devices by
> reference to a routing table sent to the device. This would add
> DMX512, UPB, Zigbee, UPB, whatever capability to an existing system
> using software already installed without disrupting existing use of
> X-10 (or other primary signal/protocol).
>
> I've been plugging away as time permits on a such a
> translator/converter/controller for my ActiveKnob motorized
> potentiometer system and have posted recent progress on the Netmedia
> BX24p-based circuit board here:
>
> http://www.econtrol.org/16-pos_ak.htm
>
> I hope to get the board files out to the fabricator within the month.
>
> ... Marc
> Marc_F_Hult
> www.ECOntrol.org