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Re: 32 years using x-10



I'm also a 28 year user of X10 and have had the same experiences. I
swapped most of my X10 stuff to Insteon and it is indeed very reliable
but far more difficult to administer.  Shortly after I did that Jeff
Volp came out with his XTB line of X10 coupler/repeaters.  Since the
Insteon stuff works with X10 I installed the XTB-IIR and had excellent
results - X10 signals reached parts of the house that had previously
been "X10 sterile" even with ACT repeaters! I recently bought a very
good Insteon controller so now I use a combination of the two
tecnologies.

In my new second home I am installing all X10 hardware (the stuff I took
out from the other house) and an XTB-IIR with perfect results so far.

For your case, you have a choice. Since everything is on one leg you
could use the XTB which simply plugs in to any outlet and your
controller plugs into it.  However, for not too much more money, you can
use the XTB-IIR which installs to both legs of the powerline and will
give you ultimate flexibility.  The key to this equipment is that it
puts out an X10 signal that is 25 times greater than a standard
controller and 4 times greater than any other repeater. That will blast
through almost any noise and it eliminates the need to constantly add
more repeaters.

If you go with the XTB then you should also install a coupler just in
case you want something on another leg.  But if you can access both legs
to make a 220 volt outlet that's the best choice.  See it here:
http://jeffvolp.home.att.net/xtb_files.htm

 greenpjs wrote:
> (I posted this in alt.home.automation yesterday.  I thought I would
> try this group today.  Any input?)
>
> Background:
>
> I've been successfully using X-10 for 32 years now.  Like many of you,
> I have had my share of issues but always managed to use filters and
> phase couplers to solve them.  Again, like many of you, the last five
> years have seen the level of intermittent operation increase.  Every
> new piece of electronics brought into the house usually requires
> another day of troubleshooting.  I managed to swap circuits around in
> the breaker box such that all X-10 equipment is on one side of the box
> thereby eliminating the need for a phase coupler, but problems still
> occur.  Of the 16 modules in use (all on one house code), 14 work all
> the time while the other 2 work most of the time.  It's that "most of
> time" that drives me nuts.  (By the way, our house is a little over
> 1300 sq ft in size plus a basement so I don't think my issues are
> caused by excessively long runs).
>
>
> The question:
>
>
> Is it time to upgrade to a new technology?  Insteon, Z-Wave, Zigbee,
> etc all sound promising, but I have no real experience with them.
> What, in your opinion, is the right choice if I were to decide to
> start over?  Which, if any, of the above has a chance to be around
> decades from now such that spare parts will still be available?
>
>
> Secondary question:
>
>
> Why is the new stuff so expensive?  I have typically paid $10 - $15
> for X-10 modules.   (Although I have to admit that has been true all
> these years in spite of inflation).  The new stuff seems to cost $50
> to $70 per module.  I just retired so I'm watching my spending... $69
> is a lot of money for a wall switch.  Multiply that by 16 or so
> modules and add a few controllers (manual controllers and a computer
> interface) and we are talking a lot of money.  Maybe I should just buy
> a few more X-10 filters ;-)
>
>
> Final question:
>
>
> If I stay with X-10, do the signal boosters I see discussed here
> really work?  Many of the devices are designed to solve the
> cross-phase issue which I don't have (as stated above, all my X-10
> equipment is on one phase).   While I do believe my problems are
> caused by low signal levels rather than noise, I believe the low
> signals are caused by each new electronic appliance cutting the signal
> just a little more.  There isn't any one thing I can unplug which
> solves all the issues.   Filters have solved the big issues (eg, Sony
> TV's), but I'm guessing that many minor issues are now adding up to an
> overall marginal situation.
>
>
> What would you do?  Thanks in advance for your opinions!
> Pat




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