Re: Insteon -- Any New Experiences?

[James Himmelman <donttry@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston) wrote in
news:44197e5d.412823234@xxxxxxxxxxxxx:

> I'm hoping to send Bruce Robin a ZX-24 based version of roZetta by the
> end of the month. Among the things it will do is allow people to use
> X-10 RF to trigger Insteon actions.

That's actually what I am doing now by way of a W800RF32 and Homeseer.
I still have a bunch of wireless X10 Palmpad remotes, and I'm using them to
control Insteon devices. The W800 works great at receiving X10 RF signals
from those palmpads, as well as some X10 wirless motion sensors and
window/door sensors. At this point, I have rid my power lines of X10
traffic with the exception of an X10 Univeral module that triggers some
floor warming for me. I am looking forward to the eventual introduction of
Insteon "universal" (low votage switching) modules.

I have found that despite X10's weaknesses over power lines, their RF
protocol works quite reliably. I get much better results capturing X10 RF
Palmpad commands with the W800 and sending out the Insteon command of
choice than I ever did with the Palmpads in an X10 only environment. The
W800 is even able to capture the signal from my outside wireless motion
sensors, through the masonry stucco and wire lathe exterior of my house 40
feet away with seemingly 100% reliability. That amazed me.

I always thought that when I pressed a button on my X10 wireless palmpad
and it failed, thet the problem was most likely on the RF side - but
aparently the problem was on the PL side. On the other hand, the W800 is
also a far better receiver than the standard X10 RF receiver plug in
modules.

Jim H.