Re: is x10.com dead?

[Neil Cherry <njc@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 16 Feb 2006 18:52:09 GMT, Dave Houston wrote:
> If you are referring to Insteon, it doesn't use the X-10 protocol (although
> it can be set to use it) and it only uses RF to couple the phases.
>
> When set for Insteon, all of the modules and switches repeat the signal (up
> to five times) over the powerline which tends to give good signal strength.
> And all commands are ACKed, so reliability is excellent. But Insteon will be
> affected by the same types of signal sinks as X-10. Insteon uses 131.65kHz
> versus X-10's 120kHz.
>
> When set for X-10, the modules and switches do not repeat the signal.

To add one more point to Dave's comments, the main controller doesn't
send out RF signals. It only sends out power line signals. The
SignaLincs repeat the power line signals via RF. So far there are no
RF modules like there are in X10 that can turn on & off (has that
changed yet?). The main purpose of the SingaLincs is to 'bridge' the
phases of a '2 phase' system and only the Insteon commands not the X10
commands.

> "Dennis" <djr-google.djrlar@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>There's one big problem with the x10 alternatives. Most of the
>>automation packages, such as HAL, do not support them. If I understand
>>the new Smart Home system, it uses the X10 protocol but enhances it by
>>sending it over both the power line and RF methods.  This would appear
>>to be a good solution to both the reliability problems and the support
>>issue. Have you, or anyone else, had any experience using this system?
>


--
Linux Home Automation         Neil Cherry       ncherry@xxxxxxxxxxx
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