On Thu, Feb 22, 2007 at 12:40:19PM -0700, Andrew Jorgensen wrote: > On 2/20/07, C. Ed Felt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > * I would like to avoid X10, if possible, and stick to IP, or actual > > wired relay based solutions (if it's not too expensive). > > Why avoid X10? It seems to be pretty well supported in Linux and > power-line carrier really does seem the right way to go to control > stuff that's already connected to power.
X10 is very unreliable. Motors from vacuums, blow dryers and especially power spikes cause them to turn on and off quite often. X10 has no ACK like protocal so they don't always get signals if a controller is far away and it's possible to turn neighbors X10 devices on and off too unless your coordinate to be on different channels, but at a moments notice they can turn all your lights on and off if they want. X10 works off a set number of (I think) 128 addresses, and all you have to do is send a signal "18:on" and any device who's switch is set to 18 will turn on. No security to keep people from even driving by (if you have an rf X10 remote) and turning lights on or off. Insteon though takes it a few steps further and repeats and acknowledges signals and you must program a switch to listen to a specific switch in order for you to remotely turn it on or off. Zigby is even more secure than Insteon in that you're not allowed to "join" the automation group unless you allow it to (this is what I remember but I can't promise it's right) --Brandon /* PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug Don't fear the penguin. */
