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Home alarm system with X10 and linux

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inode:
Hi all,

my idea was to build a little home alarm system using some X10 sensor and a Linux. I'm a newbie in X10, feel free to tell me if I'm doing something wrong. I'm in Europe, so the X10 products are not so simple to be found.

The main unit is a RaspBerry (http://www.raspberrypi.org/) with a little UPS, I would use mochad to attach:

- CM19E (the X10 USB interface)
- DS18E (door/window sensor)
- KR21E (security keychain)
- In the future some light components (KR22 etc).

Anyone see problem in security to do that? Any tips?

I saw that mochad is mainly working with US components, anyone tried with the EU components?

The last question, anyone know why in europe the cost of X10 is higher than US?

Regards,

inode

Brian H:
I would check and verify that the Security Type Messages can be properly handled by your equipment and planed software.
As they are not a standard x10 command that is used to turn thing On Off and Dim.

Cost differences could be.
European modules have to meet the countries requirements and safety standards
Like using a different RF frequency for X10 RF signals. US and Canada 310 MHz European 433.92 MHz.

inode:

--- Quote from: Brian H on January 02, 2013, 06:40:35 AM ---I would check and verify that the Security Type Messages can be properly handled by your equipment and planed software.
As they are not a standard x10 command that is used to turn thing On Off and Dim.

--- End quote ---

Theoretically mochad project handle the Security Messages commands, so it should work.

http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/mochad/index.php?title=Mochad_Reference#RF_Security_Commands


--- Quote from: Brian H on January 02, 2013, 06:40:35 AM ---Cost differences could be.
European modules have to meet the countries requirements and safety standards
Like using a different RF frequency for X10 RF signals. US and Canada 310 MHz European 433.92 MHz.

--- End quote ---

I saw that the frequency is different, but the cost is the double...

inode

dhouston:

--- Quote from: inode on January 02, 2013, 07:19:55 AM ---I saw that the frequency is different, but the cost is the double...

--- End quote ---
The fundamental problem is that Europe still has a mix of plug styles so you end up with a fragmented market where manufacturers must make different versions for different countries - several markets, all much smaller than the US/Canada which use a common system. And, as you noted, things are a bit harder to find as a result.

PS: Keep us informed on your progress. I'm sure there will be widespread interest in using RaspberryPi as a home controlller.

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