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[goluxgo]

Hey Dan, <BR>Sounds like a good set up and I bet it <BR>works decent.I ended up buying 2 floods,I <BR>realized,like you,that you need the right <BR>stuff to get a good result.It takes time <BR>with the product to figure it all out.It's <BR>fun stuff and impressive when it works <BR>right. <BR>A few words on field of view.You can't have <BR>it all.Although a pain,60 degrees is <BR>good.When we would install cameras to cover <BR>a teller counter in a normal size bank.Four <BR>or five cameras were required.In order for <BR>the police to identify a suspect,a 1" head <BR>size on a 17' monitor was the minimum we <BR>could go.The color cameras are nice <BR>looking,but the field of view makes objects <BR>too small for positive ID.I would like a 6 <BR>camera system and double up.It is a big <BR>tradeoff trying to get by with only 4 <BR>cameras,as you found out.I have 6 but they <BR>are not tied together as well as I would <BR>like. <BR>Larry <BR>

Are all x10 products cheap junk? [1 of 5]

Re: Are all x10 products cheap junk? [2 of 5]

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

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

[thedanc]

For identification purposes, you really do
need to take a composite since it is very
difficult to get a single useable photo.
When reviewing the pile of autostills and
snapshots of me working in the yard, I found
that I could not recognize myself in most of
the pictures where I was more than 15 feet
away from the camera.  Because of the color,
I could tell I was a white guy with a beard,
but it wasn't until I was actually ON the
porch that I got photos clear enough for a
reasonable ID.  So, a dozen partial photos
of a white guy with a beard and a green
shirt, but in that same short time period my
face with the same shirt should work as an
ID.

Now the front porch ... For identification I
find that color information is very valuable
so I don't want to use the black and white
camera.  Sadly, the 60W porchlight is not
nearly enough.  That dark, 6'4" figure on
the porch is pretty menacing at midnight,
until I realize it is just me and there
certainly is not enough light to do that
with the camera although my eyes can see
just fine.  I haven't found a decent X10
ready-made solution, so I'm looking at home
depot for a larger porch light.  It should
be big enough that I can hide a camera
inside it with a little dremmel work and
also add an X10 inline dimmer.  That way I
can stay at an energy conscious, neighbor
friendly 60W until the motion detector finds
someone on my porch and then via a macro I
can raise the lighting up to maybe 120W
without being obnoxious.

Is anyone else doing anything similar?

-Dan

[anonymous]

I bet a 300-500 watt halogen would work well
with a color camera...nice white
light.Sounds like you have the brains and
energy to make it work.
I live in a town of 1000 people.I spoke to
the RCMP before purchasing.Because they know
all the trouble makers,ID can be made just
on body language.The audio seems more useful
than I thought.Helps to tell peoples
intentions and also voice recognition.Most
of these kids operate in pairs.This would
not be as important in a larger center where
everyones anonymous.
larry.

[johnniki]

Dan,
Hi, thanks for the offer.  goluxgo has been
giving some suggestions for me under the
thread I had started "advice on multiple
cameras how to hook up", video switches,
etc.  Mainly I'm trying to get wires from
multiple cameras (3 or 4)to the TV & be
able to switch between them using a remote
control of some sort without a crazy mess
coming down from the attic.  Pretty much
think I need to stick with wired for the
cameras but not opposed to wireless from
the attic to the TV IF it would be reliable
(have cordless phones, etc. & want decent
quality so I can recognize what I'm looking
at)  I'm open to everyones suggestions, am
researching the switcher devices I was
pointed at right now.  Not in the know
about such things at all, so I'm learning.

Niki

[x-10 nothing works]

Just want to go on the record to say that
after reading this forum, I have come to the
conclusion that X-10 products are junk.  Not
professional quality and not worth the money
they are charging.  I could go to Radio
Shack and build a better camera with the
needed parts.  I have to give credit to the
guy who created this company, he is making
million or maybe even more for selling
products that don't work to consumers like
all of us.  The sad part is that we all have
bought the products even if just to try it -
and that is exactly what they want - more
fools to come and try the product and then
complain in these kind of forums while they
enjoy the money.

[x-10 nothing works]

Just want to go on the record to say that
after reading this forum, I have come to the
conclusion that X-10 products are junk.  Not
professional quality and not worth the money
they are charging.  I could go to Radio
Shack and build a better camera with the
needed parts.  I have to give credit to the
guy who created this company, he is making
million or maybe even more for selling
products that don't work to consumers like
all of us.  The sad part is that we all have
bought the products even if just to try it -
and that is exactly what they want - more
fools to come and try the product and then
complain in these kind of forums while they
enjoy the money.

[x-10 nothing works]

Just want to go on the record to say that
after reading this forum, I have come to the
conclusion that X-10 products are junk.  Not
professional quality and not worth the money
they are charging.  I could go to Radio
Shack and build a better camera with the
needed parts.  I have to give credit to the
guy who created this company, he is making
million or maybe even more for selling
products that don't work to consumers like
all of us.  The sad part is that we all have
bought the products even if just to try it -
and that is exactly what they want - more
fools to come and try the product and then
complain in these kind of forums while they
enjoy the money. GOOD LUCK TO ANYONE WHO
BUYS THE PRODUCTS - LIKE SOMEONE SAID
EARLIER IN THIS FORUM - IT IS DEFENTENTLY
NOT PLUG AND PLAY. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR
PHONE READY OR E-MAIL BECAUSE YOU WILL BE
CALLING TECH SUPPORT AND BE PREPARED TO
WAIT.  OH YEA IF YOU ARE CALLING FROM A 2.4
GHt PHONE NONE OF YOUR CAMERA'S WILL WORK..
(smiles).

[x-10 nothing works]

Just want to go on the record to say that
after reading this forum, I have come to the
conclusion that X-10 products are junk.  Not
professional quality and not worth the money
they are charging.  I could go to Radio
Shack and build a better camera with the
needed parts.  I have to give credit to the
guy who created this company, he is making
million or maybe even more for selling
products that don't work to consumers like
all of us.  The sad part is that we all have
bought the products even if just to try it -
and that is exactly what they want - more
fools to come and try the product and then
complain in these kind of forums while they
enjoy the money. GOOD LUCK TO ANYONE WHO
BUYS THE PRODUCTS - LIKE SOMEONE SAID
EARLIER IN THIS FORUM - IT IS DEFENTENTLY
NOT PLUG AND PLAY. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR
PHONE READY OR E-MAIL BECAUSE YOU WILL BE
CALLING TECH SUPPORT AND BE PREPARED TO
WAIT.  OH YEA IF YOU ARE CALLING FROM A 2.4
GHt PHONE NONE OF YOUR CAMERA'S WILL WORK..
(smiles).

[x-10 nothing works]

Just want to go on the record to say that
after reading this forum, I have come to the
conclusion that X-10 products are junk.  Not
professional quality and not worth the money
they are charging.  I could go to Radio
Shack and build a better camera with the
needed parts.  I have to give credit to the
guy who created this company, he is making
million or maybe even more for selling
products that don't work to consumers like
all of us.  The sad part is that we all have
bought the products even if just to try it -
and that is exactly what they want - more
fools to come and try the product and then
complain in these kind of forums while they
enjoy the money. GOOD LUCK TO ANYONE WHO
BUYS THE PRODUCTS - LIKE SOMEONE SAID
EARLIER IN THIS FORUM - IT IS DEFENTENTLY
NOT PLUG AND PLAY. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR
PHONE READY OR E-MAIL BECAUSE YOU WILL BE
CALLING TECH SUPPORT AND BE PREPARED TO
WAIT.  OH YEA IF YOU ARE CALLING FROM A 2.4
GHt PHONE NONE OF YOUR CAMERA'S WILL WORK..
(smiles).

[daniel toner]

Amen brother

I made a lot of posts earlier on in this
forum; I pretty much said all I need to say.


Now for your tip of the day:
When the package arrives at your door, X10
cameras go in your plastics recycle bin. You
can keep the box; it's the most useful item
you'll receive from X10.

[daniel toner]

Oh and for everyone who posts, that server
error you get when posting doesn't mean your
post failed to post, it did, but X10 servers
are junk too.

[goluxgo]

Got all the cameras installed and working
sort of...one big hang up.....motion sensors
don't work below 40F.I live in Canada.Have no
way around it,so recording is impossible
with Vcr commander.Only possible solution is
internal 3v power supplies running out to
sensors.Take back everything positive I have
said.Stay clear of this company.Bad news.
Larry.

[thedanc]

I'm in the mountains of Colorado and the
temperature here hasn't gotten above 40F in
three days, yet all my sensors are working.
The only temperature related thing about
these sensors I can think of would be the
batteries.  Are you using rechargeable
batteries?  Rechargeables are the worst
possible choice.  I just use fresh, 1.6V
alkalines from Walmart and they're good for
many months.
-Dan

[anonymous]

Hi Dan,
Thanks for that.I have new ray o vac
aKalines but they could be defective.I'll
try a couple of freshly charged NiMh and see
how that goes.
larry.

[thedanc]

That's a bit backwards.  What I found with
the detector just outside the window in the
front of my house is that I needed two
alkalines (1.6V each for a total of 3.2V).
A well charged NiMH is usually just 1.3V
each leaving you 0.6V less than the cheap
alkalines.  The more voltage you can supply,
the stronger the signal and the better the
range.

Secondly, the shelf life on these
rechargeables is crap.  They tend to self-
discharge pretty quickly (as in dead in
three weeks even when just sitting on a
shelf).  This is really bad for a long term,
low drain device like the motion detector.
The cheap alkalines will last on the shelf
for a couple of years and last many months
in the sensor.

Third, cold weather suppresses battery
voltage.  I'm sure you've seen this with
your car.  It's the physical aspect of
chemistry.

When I had the sensor in the living room,
the signal was strong but it could not see
out the window.  The motion detector is
infrared, meaning heat detector, and since
the double pane windows insulate so well
there is no IR to be seen.  I HAD to put it
outside so it could see people on the porch,
but then the aluminum siding degraded the
signal back to the X10 receiver.  I had to
buy an SR731 repeater to fix that.  Check e-
bay and google for those.  They are like $60
from X10, but I got mine for $45 by shopping
elsewhere.
-Dan