X10 Community Forum

💬General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: HA Dave on August 10, 2007, 05:59:02 PM

Title: How popular is X10
Post by: HA Dave on August 10, 2007, 05:59:02 PM
I have often wondered about the numbers of X10 users. The only users, other than myself that I personally know, are family members I got started with X10.

I have read of people concerned that a neighbors X10 may interfear with their system. I would love to have a neighbor I could trade parts with. I have often wondered what other members experience with the "X10 Community" is.

After  a brief exchange (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=13155.msg73376#msg73376) with MichaelC, I decided to start this thread.
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: KDR on August 10, 2007, 06:02:26 PM
I don't know anyone around where I live that uses X10. I have told several people I work with about it but to date they have not given it a try.

(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)----KDR
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: Brian H on August 10, 2007, 06:56:09 PM
I don't think I have any neighbors, but have given a few of my friends at work some excess x10 stuff to play with. I do love X10 sales but sometimes getting 5 for the price of one or two left me lots of goodies to share.
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: Walt2 on August 10, 2007, 07:34:54 PM
My neighbors aren't "technical", so I doubt any of them would use it.

However, I have a few friends form work, both current and past, that use it.  One of which, I know, lukes here.  :D
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: Boiler on August 10, 2007, 07:56:02 PM
1) My father, who loves his remote controlled ceiling fans.
2) Two neighbors (on the same transformer) with X10 and RF.
3) Several friends at work.

It's Indiana - we have corn and X10.
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: Dan Lawrence on August 10, 2007, 09:23:26 PM
I'm the only X10 user on my block, AFAIK.  If anybody else on my street has it, I don't know about it.  I don't have a big illuminated sign on top of my house proclaiming "I use X10!!!". 

I've turned on several friends who have 10 and love it, but none live close to me.  X10 USA does not mass market, so if you don't know somebody who uses it and will tell others about what it is and what it does, you'll never find out about it.
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: dave w on August 13, 2007, 04:19:37 PM
Quote from: Boiler on August 10, 2007, 07:56:02 PM
1) My father, who loves his remote controlled ceiling fans.
2) Two neighbors (on the same transformer) with X10 and RF.
3) Several friends at work.

It's Indiana - we have corn and X10.

Correction Boiler, we have corn, VX nerve agent, more corn,  meth (sadly), still more corn,  and X10.  Where are you at in Indiana?
I have about 80 modules in Terre Haute. Phil Kingery, another Hoosier, who is an expert in X10 protocol,  has none, 0, zip, nada, X10 modules.  But, we could still start our own little Hoosier X10 club.  ;D
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: Boiler on August 13, 2007, 05:40:55 PM
Quote from: dave w on August 13, 2007, 04:19:37 PM
Correction Boiler, we have corn, VX nerve agent, more corn,  meth (sadly), still more corn,  and X10.  Where are you at in Indiana?

Yep, you're absolutely correct.  Sorry if I left out some of the high points.  I live about 10 miles east of South Bend, right on the Michigan line (500 feet South). 

Quote from: dave w on August 13, 2007, 04:19:37 PM
I have about 80 modules in Terre Haute. Phil Kingery, another Hoosier, who is an expert in X10 protocol,  has none, 0, zip, nada, X10 modules.  But, we could still start our own little Hoosier X10 club.  ;D

I've been to Terre Haute a number of times and have a number of co-workers who attended Rose.

Uncle Phil has zero X10 modules!  We'll have to pick up some cold beverage and pay him a visit.  An explanation is in order here.
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: steven r on August 13, 2007, 05:48:46 PM
The only person I know using it is my ex and the guy she married about a year after our divorce. They were using the old AH stuff I left behind till a few weeks ago when they upgraded to AHP.
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: KDR on August 13, 2007, 07:15:01 PM
To be honest I don't want to tell any of my neighbors. The longer they go without it the better off my system is  ;D.

(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)----KDR
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: Boiler on August 13, 2007, 07:46:57 PM
Quote from: KDR on August 13, 2007, 07:15:01 PM
To be honest I don't want to tell any of my neighbors. The longer they go without it the better off my system is  ;D.

As I said, I have two neighbors with X10 on the same transformer.

The other night I was in the basement checking out a looping macro using module calls.  I had my CM15a and a lamp on a filtered circuit with the macro cycling the lamp on and off at 30 sec intervals.

I heard a knock on the Patio door (walk out basement) and went over to see my neighbor standing outside.  I thought this was a bit odd, it was around 10:00 pm, until I noticed his outside flood lamps flashing in synch with my floor lamp.  I had forgotten to install the filter to isolate the circuit.

After a couple of laughs we both managed to sketch and trade our keep away house codes, my neighbor went away happy.  If may take a bit longer for his wife to recover... 
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: dave w on August 14, 2007, 01:20:43 PM
Quote from: Boiler on August 13, 2007, 05:40:55 PM

Uncle Phil has zero X10 modules!  We'll have to pick up some cold beverage and pay him a visit.  An explanation is in order here.

Road trip!
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: bitman on August 25, 2007, 10:11:09 PM
I live in an upscale area. There should be home automation nuts and or installers about.
I placed an ad in the paper selling x10 lamp controllers for 5 bucks apiece. Not one call.
That's about what one would pay on ebay but because they are being sold locally, there is no
shipping charge.

I do pc service for very wealthy person who has virtually everything x10'ed. He has installers do it all. I saw them show up
one time when I was there with an arm of socket controllers.

I would say not very popular though as my 4 lamp dealies are still here mocking me.  >:(

:Ron
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: HA Dave on September 01, 2007, 11:47:00 PM
Quote from: bitman on August 25, 2007, 10:11:09 PM
I live in an upscale area. There should be home automation nuts and or installers about.
I placed an ad in the paper selling x10 lamp controllers for 5 bucks apiece. Not one call.


I would say not very popular though as my 4 lamp dealies are still here mocking me.  >:(


What I've read here on this thread is pretty much what I had thought. Everyone knows (or has heard of) someone with home automation.... but few people are even aware of what it can do.

We are a small group.... maybe ahead of our time..... maybe, with just too much free time.
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: Oldtimer on September 02, 2007, 08:12:16 AM
Considering the activity on this and other forums and on Ebay I'm amazed at what a relatively small group we seem to be.

Over the years I have only run into three "outsiders" with X10 equipment.  My ex son in law who was also a pioneering early user before we met. A new cat sitter a couple of years ago who said his father used X10 in their house which was about three blocks away.  The cat sitter seemed just as pleased as I was to find a kindred soul. I also worked with an engineer on a project about eight years ago who only used them to control his Christmas lights but thought they were perfect for it.

Other than that it's been 2 family members and one friend, all of whom I've helped with small installations.
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: steven r on September 02, 2007, 09:37:18 AM
Quote from: Dave_x10_L on September 01, 2007, 11:47:00 PM
...We are a small group.... maybe ahead of our time..... maybe, with just too much free time.
Yeah... There's a lot of Muggles out there that just have to waste their free time on boring projects.
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: Dan Lawrence on September 02, 2007, 11:19:08 AM
I suspect the real reason is that X10USA has never mass marketed and that goes back to the CP290 days.
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: -Bill- (of wgjohns.com) on September 03, 2007, 09:35:19 PM
Quote from: steven r on September 02, 2007, 09:37:18 AM
Yeah... There's a lot of Muggles out there that just have to waste their free time on boring projects.

Who you calling a Muggle? 
I'll have you know my wand broke and silicon is way cheaper (if less effective) than Phoenix feathers!   :P   :D
Title: Re: How popular is X10
Post by: bitman on September 09, 2007, 08:52:34 PM
I for one am using x10 appliance modules in a small recording studio with glee.

- Still have those lamp controllers though.