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[thedanc]

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]

Re: Are all x10 products cheap junk? [3 of 5]

Re: Are all x10 products cheap junk? [4 of 5]

Re: Are all x10 products cheap junk? [5 of 5]


[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) Page.

NOTE: I *WILL* address the <BR> problem...]

[sam t.]

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.

[alex]

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.

[Sam_Eye_Ham]

Lucky you!  I guess that proves that x10 is
not junk.  Dream on x10 pep squad!

[Sam_Eye_Ham]

Lucky you!  I guess that proves that x10 is
not junk.  Dream on x10 pep squad!

[barrington]

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.

[john murphy]

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.

[john murphy]

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.

[john murphy]

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.

[paul]

yes. x10=scam

[paul]

yes. x10=scam

[thedanc]

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

[john murphy]

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.

[thedanc]

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?

[thedanc]

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?