Re: Telephone control of X10

["BruceR" <NoSpAm@xxxxxxxxx>]

"Frank Olson" <use_the_email_links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
message news:i1Mlk.113785$kx.15412@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> BruceR wrote:
>> "Frank Olson" <use_the_email_links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
>> message news:CMKlk.57700$nD.5131@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> news groups wrote:
>>>> I believe X10.com has discontinued their unit for remotely
>>>> controlling X10 via the telephone. Does anyone know of another such
>>>> device? My main reason is to reset devices after power surges to
>>>> get things back up and running.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>> Dennis Raher
>>>
>>> You want to reset a device affected in God knows what way by a
>>> "power surge" remotely via your telephone.  I would strongly suggest
>>> that you not do this.
>>
>> Why not? I do it all the time when a router locks up or a camera or
>> other device needs a reboot. Been doing it for years and it's saved
>> me having to call friends to go to the house I'm away from to do it
>> for me.
>
>
> I've seen power surges take out power supplies in ways that aren't
> pretty.  Mind you, when the house fills with smoke, I imagine you'll
> get a text message telling you so...  :-)  In an installation we
> recently took over from a large national alarm company the technician
> had stuffed all the paperwork inside the common control which would
> have resulted in much more than simple smoke.

All true but keep in mind that the X10 relay being controlled remotely
is still likely in the ON position that it was in when the surge
occurred so, turning it off and back on will just do nothing if the PS
is totally fried. If the breaker popped then X10 controls won't respond
anyway. But if what you're trying to do is simply reboot a confused
cable modem, router or PC that's become unstable for whatever reason,
the X10 telephone responder will work quite nicely.