X10 Community Forum
💬General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: thedanc on September 20, 2005, 05:32:30 PM
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I don't work for X10. I'm simply an <BR>engineer who posts helpful information with <BR>the hope that equally sophisticated people <BR>will do the same so that overall, despite <BR>X10's shortcomings, these toys will become a <BR>better product. That is what these forums <BR>are meant to be. How does my desire to be <BR>helpful make anyone think that I work for <BR>X10 given their recent history? At this <BR>point I'll drop from this forum. X10 really <BR>needs a moderator for the diarhea of the <BR>mouth crowd. In short, go away!
Are all x10 products cheap junk? [1 of 5] (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=12304.msg41033#msg41033)
Re: Are all x10 products cheap junk? [3 of 5] (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=12302.msg41762#msg41762)
Re: Are all x10 products cheap junk? [4 of 5] (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=12305.msg41817#msg41817)
Re: Are all x10 products cheap junk? [5 of 5] (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=12306.msg41962#msg41962)
[TTA Edit: Experiment to determine whether or not SPLITTING 'Highly-Viewed' / 'Highly-Replied' but currently INACTIVE threads from LONG, LONG AGO (I'm starting with ~2 years) into parts will allow current ACTIVE threads to appear in the Top 10 Topics (by Replies) section of the Statistics Center (aka More Stats) (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?action=stats) Page.
NOTE: I *WILL* address the <BR> problem...]
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Well, I've been using x10 products for
15yrs now. While for the most part - the
products are cheap in price - I believe the
BCR (Benefit to Cost Ratio) of the products
are very high (much greater that one). I
use the security products, cameras,
sensors, wall switches and outlets and even
some software. The best software I've used
thus far is ActiveHome Pro - this is great
stuff - I even use to control my RCS x10
thermostat.
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Most posts here are from people who lack
even minimal tech skills and get frustrated
with the product because they don't know how
to use it. I feel for them but I can't reach
them. I don't work for X10 either. I've just
never had a problem with their stuff that
couldn't be worked out.
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Lucky you! I guess that proves that x10 is
not junk. Dream on x10 pep squad!
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Lucky you! I guess that proves that x10 is
not junk. Dream on x10 pep squad!
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Cheap yes, junk no.
The people at X-10 are immature and
insulting, however the products are good.
I suspect at the rate they are insulting
and driving away customers that they won't
be in business much longer.
Too bad.
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Damn. I just came here to see if anyone was
having problems.
Bought the low-light cameras to use in my 3
yr old daughters room as a baby cam. Turn it
on didnt see squat. Called tech support first
he said if I didnt like them send them back.
After I got over wanted to beat the hell out
of him, I researched the IR illuminator
suggestion he gave me. That basically worked,
just surprised quality of video output sucks
after about 15 minutes. And I have never
after 2 months of installing, reinstalling,
Windows and Multi-view gotten the software to
work. At least the VA11A drivers work with
XP, but the quality of video still sucks.
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Damn. I just came here to see if anyone was
having problems.
Bought the low-light cameras to use in my 3
yr old daughters room as a baby cam. Turn it
on didnt see squat. Called tech support first
he said if I didnt like them send them back.
After I got over wanted to beat the hell out
of him, I researched the IR illuminator
suggestion he gave me. That basically worked,
just surprised quality of video output sucks
after about 15 minutes. And I have never
after 2 months of installing, reinstalling,
Windows and Multi-view gotten the software to
work. At least the VA11A drivers work with
XP, but the quality of video still sucks.
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Damn. I just came here to see if anyone was
having problems.
Bought the low-light cameras to use in my 3
yr old daughters room as a baby cam. Turn it
on didnt see squat. Called tech support first
he said if I didnt like them send them back.
After I got over wanted to beat the hell out
of him, I researched the IR illuminator
suggestion he gave me. That basically worked,
just surprised quality of video output sucks
after about 15 minutes. And I have never
after 2 months of installing, reinstalling,
Windows and Multi-view gotten the software to
work. At least the VA11A drivers work with
XP, but the quality of video still sucks.
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yes. x10=scam
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yes. x10=scam
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Tech support for x10 often does suck, but
my "low-light" B&W camera produces a
reasonably good image even in dim light (one
90 watt floodlight on the ceiling of the
garage to give you some idea). Dim is NOT
dark though; these are NOT night vision
cameras. They just do better than the color
cameras do when lighting is less than
daylight. I'm surprised that the IR
illuminator helped at all.
Does your camera produce a good image in
good lighting? That would prove my point
about the room being TOO dark. Also -
Multiview sucks. You managed to avoid most
of its problems by having just 3 cameras and
not 4. See my detailed rants in the
software forum.
-Dan
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It's my fault for doing the research, AFTER I
found out how much the cameras blow. I have a
wired IR 2 camera setup that came with 50 ft
of cable per camera. Power and video/audio
plug into a monitor. Worked great in no
light. Got tired of cables.
Found a single camera deal from Radioshack.
Quality in NO LIGHT is outstanding. About 8
IR LEDs surround the lens on the camera and
pumps video and audio wireless to a 5 inch
monitor. Busted the antenna on monitor, so I
ran across x10 and thought what the hell. The
price made up my mind. Only good thing is the
x10 wireless receiver will of course pick up
the signal from Radioshack camera that is a
true functional "low light camera."
I point out the IR LEDs on my other cameras
because I'm pissed I didnt verify how x10
cameras worked. I did look at the pictures of
the cameras and noticed there were no IR LEDs
but figured by the way the worded the
description of the camera they had figured
out another way to provide a method to detect
images in low light.
Yes, the image quality in a fully lite room
is pretty good. The problem is what they
define as low light. A night light in the
bedroom didnt do squat.
The IR illuminator works so-so. I use, or
intended to use the camera in a NO light
scenario, baby cam.
The only way I will get any use of these
cameras is continued position testing of the
illuminator and distance positioning of both
the illuminator and camera.
I'll get it, I'm just pissed at both myself
at x10 for there creative writing.
"even moonlight deliver enough light to
ensure quality pictures from the Wireless
NightWatch Camera." This is from a X10 web
page. I guess it has to be a full freaking
moon to provide light.
Like I said the radio shack camera is
viewable from x10 wireless receiver. I might
just stop dicking with "low light" camera and
get another wireless receiver and use that
for other 3 cameras.
In my area there have been a lot of business
break-ins lately so initially I thought I
could start a business venture with these
cameras. After messing with these that aint
happening.
So I'll look at your multiview rants, can you
provide info on how you got it working.
Every time I start it I get the Microsoft
send an error report crap. Interesting it did
not happen when Intel PC Pro driver was
installed. The app started. Of course I got
no video over VA11A until I installed the X10
USB VA11A driver. Then Multiview started
barfing.
So I do my testing with WINDVR.
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I don't remember all of the points I raised
in my multiview rants. I offered solutions
to about 4 or 5 issues, but the final
solution is to use ActiveHome/iWitness.
Multiview is crap. I tried to get X10 to
do some fixes or at least open source the
code so any reasonably skilled programmer
could fix it. They wouldn't go for it.
As far as your camera experience, thanks
for the plug on Radio Shack. I'd like to
try some truly low-light cameras. X10
grossly oversells what its products can
do. Like I said back when people were
accusing me of being an X10 employee, these
are nice toys that are fun to play with and
can eventually have a reasonable practical
use. I certainly would not use any of this
in a professional environment ... doing a
favor for a convenience store or small
business on a tight budget maybe, but
certainly not anyone really serious.
I do wonder about X10's offers for people
who want to do this as a business. Do
these people get proper documentation,
honest specs, and decent support?
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I don't remember all of the points I raised
in my multiview rants. I offered solutions
to about 4 or 5 issues, but the final
solution is to use ActiveHome/iWitness.
Multiview is crap. I tried to get X10 to
do some fixes or at least open source the
code so any reasonably skilled programmer
could fix it. They wouldn't go for it.
As far as your camera experience, thanks
for the plug on Radio Shack. I'd like to
try some truly low-light cameras. X10
grossly oversells what its products can
do. Like I said back when people were
accusing me of being an X10 employee, these
are nice toys that are fun to play with and
can eventually have a reasonable practical
use. I certainly would not use any of this
in a professional environment ... doing a
favor for a convenience store or small
business on a tight budget maybe, but
certainly not anyone really serious.
I do wonder about X10's offers for people
who want to do this as a business. Do
these people get proper documentation,
honest specs, and decent support?
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From my reading so far in a few of the X10
forums. I have coome to the conclusion that
maybe 3 out of 10 cams may work if they are
reverse engineered and installed by someone
with years of experience in computers and
electronics. We had bought this what I
thought was a simple system. One camera Xray
system with internet ability. Followed the
lame and vague not very user friendly
directions from A to Z and still says unable
to intiliaze. inf file empty windows Xp
still does not even see the supposed
hardware or driver. As mentioned earlier
from the more experienced "Engineer" types.
They are correct in there assumption of the
more simpler people who actually have lives
and have businesses to run do not have time
to sit and figure out why a Plug and Play
simple box camera won't work. After about 4
hours it is getting dismounted and returned
to X10 company. I think they should be
ashamed and maybe investigated in there
business practices. There are so many
comment on how the Engineers or should I say
computer wizzs have gotten there X10's to
work why don't they lay out exactly how they
did it in the forum since service is non
existent from X10 after there first and last
form E-mail. I am a windows XP pro user.
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From my reading so far in a few of the X10
forums. I have coome to the conclusion that
maybe 3 out of 10 cams may work if they are
reverse engineered and installed by someone
with years of experience in computers and
electronics. We had bought this what I
thought was a simple system. One camera Xray
system with internet ability. Followed the
lame and vague not very user friendly
directions from A to Z and still says unable
to intiliaze. inf file empty windows Xp
still does not even see the supposed
hardware or driver. As mentioned earlier
from the more experienced "Engineer" types.
They are correct in there assumption of the
more simpler people who actually have lives
and have businesses to run do not have time
to sit and figure out why a Plug and Play
simple box camera won't work. After about 4
hours it is getting dismounted and returned
to X10 company. I think they should be
ashamed and maybe investigated in there
business practices. There are so many
comment on how the Engineers or should I say
computer wizzs have gotten there X10's to
work why don't they lay out exactly how they
did it in the forum since service is non
existent from X10 after there first and last
form E-mail. I am a windows XP pro user.
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Us computer 'whiz's have no problem because
we understand the O/S and other software
packages we are already using, and how they
interreact.
The problem with X-10 is that their people
don't care. If their techies are as
thoughtless as their customer service
people then I pity the person that has to
call them.
There are probably not 2 computers in the
world with exactly the same hardware,
firmware, software, registry entries, etc
installed. So to "troubleshoot" a problem
is a methodical and logical approach.
Diagnosis becomes even more difficult if
the person is offsite. Is there a worse
job out there than dealing with people over
the phone who download and install things
they don't even realize?
The fact that so many people do use them as
described is proof that they do work when
the conditions are right.
The product is excellent ... the people are
thoughtless and ignorant.
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I agree with DAN, Multiview is crap, I just
installed it, if the USB cord is unplugged,
the Mulitview generates errors when starting
and doesn't start, If the cable is unplugged
after Multiview is started (like by a cat
playing with it), It WILL Crash windows
2000, very bad error handling...makes me
scared to run it as security software...
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DAN: Interesting comment on using x10 as pro.
Here's their propaganda.
X10 Contractor Program Members Receive:
X10 Contractor Program
* Exclusive contractor packages and pricing
* Additional 15% discount on all orders
over $499.99*
* Access to X10 PRO product line
* Dedicated telephone support staff
* Sales and marketing support material
* Access to reseller forums
Interestingly you can view the forums via
the contractor web page. Most of their
"training" points back to web pages already
available. Like this forum.
Makes up my mind about choosing them as a
business partner.
GREG: I would love to document how I got
things to work, but I've tried so many
different variations and configurations that
I've lost track. I too purchased this product
thinking it is a no brainer and could plug
the things in, install the software and
voila. I'm still spectical about the posts
that state they have had no problems. I find
that hard to believe. Unless they live in a
shack with no other electronic components
around them. I have 15 years computer
experience and these things kicked my ass. I
surfed to verify what 2.4 GHZ ranges to use
so these things wouldnt conflict with my
wireless stuff.
I'm working on getting the USB video adapter
to work in Linux to get at least a stable OS
to view these things. Insane.
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You all are idiots! You say the customer
service/x10 company are no good, yet you
say the product is great. Uh, yeah, sure.
For us normal people, the customer service
is part of the product. Poor customer
service = poor product. Are you saying I
should buy x10 because it is great product?
And if it doesn't work, I should shut up,
throw it away and reorder more? Or are you
trying to get people to buy x10 from your
own websites??? Huh? Well, are you???
Huh? Are you??? Go on, admit it, we
won't get mad. Smart home? Radio Shack?
Using these forums as free support for your
own MLM sales?
I take exception with your comments that
the product is good. In your little world
that may be true, but for me x10 has been,
is, and will always be junk. If it is
advertised to do something, then it should
do that thing. If it doesn't do it, it is
false advertising, scam, fraud, whatever.
It is junk! QED!
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Damn. We were doing so well without the
comments from the handicapped. Socially and
mentally apparently.
So you arent happy with the product, post
that and move on. Take your medication first
please.
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Amen JM! I'd also like these forum postings
to be held to technical information so that
there is a place to go for implementation
ideas and troubleshooting tips. I also
dream that the X10 people will read these
tips and ideas and turn them into useful
documentation. Barring that, it would be
nice if the "whine only" postings with no
helpful info could be kept to a minimum.
Vic_tim - no one is saying that you should
buy more of these. X10 suckered you with
their overselling. Your toys are broken and
you can't fix them. Do your crying to cust
service, make the best return deal that you
can, and quit whining!
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You poor souls! Is that what you are all
about? Slopping around like pathetic
Sycophants hoping the great x10 will
publish your lame-ass ideas into
immortality? JM should loan you his
psycho-drugs. They may help you.
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X10 sucks. I'm ripping all of this junk out
of here and ADT is coming to replace it with
quality equipment. They're surprisingly
affordable, give them a call. Throw away the
X10 junk.