Re: XTB - the Future of X10 has arrived!

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

"BruceR" <br@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

<stuff snipped>

> The big question in my mind is, "why didn't X10 develop this
> 20 years ago and eliminate all the repeaters and other "fixes" and
> problems that have plagued it?"

I have two theories.  One is size and cost - it costs a little more to add
the circuitry and I assume it would make all the X-10 modules larger.  I
don't know how Insteon achieves higher voltage in a small package but from
some of the reports it seems they may not be doing it quite well enough to
avoid lamp flickering during a transmission.  Since the XTB is a discrete
module, there's very little chance of any kind of interaction with the
transmitting device's circuitry.

The second theory is that X-10 still envisioned a world where everyone was
using X-10 and the 5 volt limit was a way to prevent interference between
adjoining houses on the same power transformer.  I've been tempted to take
my Monterey next door to see how strong the signal is, but I fear that after
that test, any light that blew or device that failed next door would some
how be attributable to my X-10 devices.

I am sure that my neighbors on the left don't use X-10 and the ones on the
right that just moved in and had a houseparty bonfire that nearly burned
*my* house down - well, I'm just praying they use X-10 and never hear about
the XTB.  <g>

--
Bobby G.