Re: No more X10 at Radio Shack?

[Marc_F_Hult <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:25:36 GMT, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
<AQidh.369$Gr2.67@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:

>IBM, RCA and many others got out of X10. From what I've heard the number
>of complaints reached suffocating levels. Sure, you and I and most folks
>on this NG know how to make it work. But John Doe doesn't. Neither does
>the neighborhood electrician. Let's face it, Jeff's XTB is probably the
>best thing that happened to X10 since sliced bread. But you cannot buy
>it in a store or electrician's supply house.

To give credit where credit is also due, ACT's www.act-solutions.com  A10
technology and products also post-date sliced bread and although
distribution was initially limited to trained and knowledgeable suppliers,
at least some products are available from retail outlets. I have also
purchased from ACT directly.

In particular, the TI103 RS-232 --> Powerline transmitter
http://www.act-solutions.com/pdfs/PCCSpecs/ti103_spec.pdf has a form-factor
and transformer that is very similar to Jeff's subsequent XTB.  They also
both increase available current and output voltage compared to X10's
transmitters.

My non-authoritative understanding is that ACT is also leaving the X-10
arena.

(FWIW, I will be parting with both my TI103 and XTB in the near future
through an electronic 'porch sale'. )


... Marc
Marc_F_Hult
www.ECOntrol.org