IBM Home Director panel in my basement

[Buglover]

Hi, can anyone help?
We bought a home and in the basement there is a white rectangular "IBM Home Director" panel (box) on the wall.  It's locked, no round key!  I'm told it is to smart wire the entire home, sounds great but don't have ANY remotes, software, nothing.  We can't even open the panel. 

Does anyone know where I can buy a new key, and get this thing working right?

I've read somewhat and know that IBM has gotten out of this arena but surely replacement parts can be purchased somewhere (keys, remotes, software)?

Help!
Non-techy,
Buglover in Canada

[Noam]

I would first suggest contacting the previous owner, if you can, to ask them what they know about it.
If that doesn't work, you can try drilling out the lock (or call a locksmith) to get the panel open.
From there, you need to figure out what you actually have.
From the searches I did, it isn't home automation, but rather a central wiring panel for phone, network, and A/V connections throughout your house.
Of course, it may be completely empty. You won't know until you can get it open.

[dhouston]

An IBM press release from 1998 when they introduced Home Director...

• http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/2460.wss

I guess they intended their Home Director branded X-10 products to complement the networking solution...

• http://www.hopco.com/x10/hd.htm

I don't recall exactly when they discontinued the line (~2004?) but I bought several of the packages shown in the Hopco link above when IBM dumped them. I paid $5 + S&H each. 

[cjhallx]

Dhouston,
IF you still have several, are the keys all the same?

[dhouston]

IF you still have several, are the keys all the same?

I bought several of the IBM branded X-10 packages like the one in the Hopco link in my earlier post. I had no need for their networking product so there were no keys involved.

[Brian H]

There are manuals and diagrams in the support area of the Home Director Web Site.
http://www.homedirector.com/index.php5

The 2008 catalog {latest one I guess}. Shows the enclosures with an option to match your present key code. So it looks like there where different ones supplied.
I would look at the lock on the panel and see if it has a key code stamped on it.

[Noam]

It might be cheaper to drill out the lock (or get a locksmith to do it), and just replace the lock afterward.
Trying to get replacement keys from a company that no linger supports the product might be more of a hassle, and cost a lot more.

[dhouston]

The link Brian gave takes you to the website of the company that IBM spun off in 1990. It is not clear whether they are still active - the page hasn't been updated for quite some time (2008?) but it might be worth a phone call

[dave w]

Someone corect me, but I think buglover is probably mixing apples and oranges. Did the Home Director panel have anything to do with the Home Director remote control / home automation package?

My guess is no, that the Home Director "panel" was a Cat5/video junction box unrelated to the X10 based home control. Anyone know for sure?

[Dan Lawrence]

What happened to Buglover who began this topic?  Not a peep from him with the problem