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[newx10_girl]

I want to buy the active home product, I have
a lot of lighting I wish to control. I have a
few questions about what lighting modules to
purchase. I have outside poarch lights approx
6 of them, which are all controlled from 1
light switch. I would like to be able to have
these lights controlled via x10. The lights I
believe are too small to add the socketrocket
device. So what would be my options? I
thought the x10 internal switch would work?
Any suggestions?

ALso what about controlling swimming pool
pumps? I hope that there is an option for this.
Let me know.

THanks!

[Brian H]

Do you know if the lamps are a standard
incadescent type or if they are either a low
voltage or CFL Type? Is the pool pump 120 or
220 volts and if it is pluged into a socket
or hared wired to an electrical box?

[AccessHA]

If you are looking to control your pool pumps
or even a hot tub, check into the Jandy Aqualink.

www.AccessHA.com
The fastest growing X10 and INSTEON technical
forums!

[bob]

DON'T BUY ACTIVEHOME-PRO
Unless you want to continually fix it from
time to time.  It's just not reliable -
period.  The software is great, but there's
an inherent hardware issue.

There are a lot more relaible products out
there; I know they've been recommended on
this site by others.

[todd]

I am not impressed at all with the X10
products.  Some have a solid feel others are
cheap and flimsy.   The use interface
appears to be underpowered or prone to
outside interferance.

BIG Question then  what to keep what to
return,  I have a collection of 4 xps3-iw
switches,  quiet and solid, 8 sr22y outlets,
noisy in operation, 8 rws17 dimmers - cheap
in feel, marginal operation,  1 credit card
remote,  no range 8 feet or less in range.
USB interface, not enough power or something
else.  either wal questionable reliability
for controlling house


Also,  can a few people suggest better
products to try ?  just want to do timers,
lights (some florescent), dimmers etc.


tia

[Decline to state]

The x10 powerline signal scheme was designed
decades ago before UPSs, switching computer
power supplies, and a flood of home
electronics devices that interfere with x10
code transmission.  Each problem can be
solved, but be prepared to either a) put up
with inconsistent and unreliable operation,
or b) budget for a phase coupler, a few plug-
in signal filters, and the time to test and
troubleshoot the installation.
(Troubleshooting may require turning off
house breakers and using an x10 signal
strength meter.) Furthermore, the AHP
interface and software is known to suffer
bad wireless reception, so don't  count on
it being your only wireless tranceiver in a
3000 sf home.

In spite of the advertisements, in most
modern homes reliable x10 use is *not* a
plug-n-play operation.  Be prepared to add
filters and troubleshoot.

[Decline to state]

(Forgot to mention:  vendor websites tend to
focus on their particular product lines, not
alternative products or technologies.  There
are several independent home automation
message boards on the web that might give
you a better idea of what's available and
the costs/benefits.)

[todd]

So if Active Home isn't the product to buy
then do you have any suggestions what is?

Spending several thousand just to turn on a
light at night or a coffee pot doesn't make
much sense...

[roger1818]

Todd:  X10 is certainly the low end when it
comes to home automation.  It works fine for
some people, but isn’t adequate for others.
For me say which system is the best for
everyone to use is like saying what make and
model of car is best for everyone.  It all
depends on what your needs are and how much
you are willing to spend.  If all you want to
do is turn on one light and a coffee maker,
it doesn’t make sense to buy a $1000 system.
If you are automating a multi-million dollar
mansion, a $50 controller wouldn’t be adequate.

[todd]

$50 dollar system?  where do you get your
prices,  I'm over 500.00 inst this and it
doesn't work.  I told I need a phase
coupler and a bunch of filters, range
extenders and so on.

extm new cost closer to 750 to 1000


so you can't make any suggestions of what
products to at least look at?

and you can't tell me what products work
better than x10.  

[roger1818]

I said $50 controller, not $50 system.  There
is much more to a system than just a
controller.  What all you need depends on
many factors including (but certainly not
limited to) the size of your house and how
many devices you want to control.

Other than X10, you can look at UPB, ZWave
and Insteon.  All of these will cost much
more than X10 though.  If you are already
using X10, you might want to look at Insteon
since it is both forwards and backwards
compatible with X10 but I haven’t used any of
them so I can’t make any recommendations.
Automated Outlet sells all of them so you can
do price comparisons there.

[anonymous]

My mistake, I misread your last post.
Thanks for the info on alternative systems.
I'll have to wait on if what improvements
the filters and phase coupler make..