Re: X-10 Mister House Motion sensor problems

[Marc F Hult <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, 9 Jun 2006 11:48:42 -0400, "Robert Green"
<ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
<BM2dnQrdKs0kBBTZnZ2dnUVZ_qWdnZ2d@xxxxxxx>:

>"Marc F Hult" <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message >
><ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>

>
>Get what?  That you think mongrelization to save $10 is a good thing? I
>would NEVER recommend an Insteon Icon switch in place of a slightly more
>expensive two-way X-10 switch for a newbie X-10 user for two reasons:
>
>One is the lack of codewheels.  I like to be able to see what a module is
>set at without a lot of hoopla.  I've seen how new users like my wife react
>to devices with codewheels compared to Hawkeye "morse code" address entry.
>
>I like modules and switches to retain their settings.  Especially if they
>are buried behind wall plates, in drop ceilings and behind furniture.
>Especially if I am going to be asked by that end user for help with their
>system.  I am not convinced Insteon switches can retain their settings in
>all environments.
>
>The second reason is homogeneity.  I would not introduce a second protocol
>into a system if I really didn't have to.  That's just introducing another
>possible failure vector for no gain whatsoever.  I've been bitten by mixing
>manufacturers in X-10.  Lots of little "gotchas" there is absolutely no
>reason to inflict on a newbie.
One reason for of the price comparison is remind folks that the implicit
notion in most of these discussions that reliable X-10 is less expensive
than the alternatives is demonstrably not so.

With respect to the ID issues: Code wheels should go the way of DIP switches
and jumper pins and BCD SCSI drive selectors in my (and many others')
opinion. Yours may be different.

INSTEON _does_ have to get this part right. Interestingly, in some folks
experiences, the too-hard part has been to get devices to _forget_ (return
to factory settings).  If you can learn to live with a headless PC (no
keyboard, mouse or screen attached to pPC) you can learn to live with a
'headless" wall switch (assuming that the remote access actually works well
enough).

With respect to the interference issue, by analogy, you would never allow
more than two (even human) speakers in a room at the same time lest there be
"mongrelization".

Do you have a microwave? If so, presumably you don't also use a [long list
of RF devices here].

I also do think that it is useful to both save $10 _and_ begin to accrue the
benefits of a new technology rather than putting time and effort in
known-defective one.  Jist my opinion and what I am doing (although the X-10
remains as a residual in my case). So far no problem, but I'm keeping my eye
out for stray hippopotamuses.

When folks start shouting NEVER about things, it is time for me to bow out.

... Marc
Marc_F_Hult
www.ECOntrol.org