Education

[nklght]

Is there a book that I can purchase which explains home automation and how to implement it?  Something enitiled X-10 for dummies.

[steven r]

...X-10 for dummies.

Maybe it is time for such a book. Put a $10-20 price on it and then toss it in free with a starter kit of X10 products.

The most usefull information I've read is online. Unfortunately not all in the same place.

The book would need to cover the basics in the early chapters but also include chapters on noise filters (discusing the different kinds), phase couplers (including the pros and cons of do it your self solutions), macro examples, cameras with setup examples, etc. Last but not least a common problems chapter including cross references to chapters with more detailed descriptions.

eg. Line phases: If people understood what phases were and how it often means that your signal has to take a round trip to the street they would be more understanding of the value of having a phase coupler. 

[nklght]

I also have learned more about X-10 by using this forum and following links to other websites, I consider it sad that company named after a standard cannot offer the products or information provided by other companies.

[dave w]

"I consider it sad that company named after a standard cannot offer the products or information provided by other companies."

Actually "X10 Inc", X10 USA", "X10 LTD" etc. etc. invented X10 protocols and early products back in 1979-1981. So really the defacto standard "X10" was named after the company. So it is unlikely "X10.com" will have information on other manufacturers making X10 protocol products, since they are competing for the same market.

Here are some of my favorite X10 sites which may or may not be interesting.

http://www.accessx10.com/
http://www.edcheung.com/automa/ha.htm
http://groups.google.com/group/comp.home.automation
http://www.automationfaq.com/fom-serve/cache/1.html
http://www.homeautomationindex.com/
http://www.idobartana.com/hakb/index.htm
http://www.remotecentral.com/cgi-bin/mboard/rc-x10/list.cgi
http://www.laureanno.com/
http://www.xasa.com/grupos/comp/thread/comp.home.automation
http://www.cocoontech.com/index.php?s=9bcccc0db44b9be7e65e2be9352ce8c7&showforum=7
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Tparent/HA/default.htm
http://www.nomad.ee/micros/x10faq.html