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[Kaulele]

I have been an X10 fan now for about 20 years and have enjoyed  the convenience very much.  Granted, I have had problems but have acquired enough troubleshooting experience to deal with whatever issue pops up - and most of the issues have been my fault, not the X10 equipment.  I live in a modest house on the Big Island of Hawai'i and would characterize my X10 system as relatively complex - a true X10-wired home.  This includes a security system with four cameras including the professional pan/tilt XC21A, contact and moition detection alarms and over 35 modules, all controlled by Active Home Pro on my laptop.  Oh, I've had the usual interference issues, inoperative modules, phase problem, etc. all of which I carefully worked through and solved by myself.  I even use Vanguard and Active Home Remote My House on the internet which can be slow at times but generally works great.  I think the biggest problem I have had is the door/window sensors in the security system which occasionally malfunction.  They are cheap enough to just replace - the postage being more to return the defective units.   Overall, the price for individual units and those that are on sale frequently is extremely reasonable.  The most expense item I have in my system is the Pro Pan/Tilt Camera for which I paid $499 and is now being offered at $299.  It was worth $499 in my opinion.  I have demonstrated my system to many neighbors and visitors most of whom now have X10 equipment themselves.  My recommendation, whenever you have a problem, is to carefully and logically go over the entire system asking yourself what changes on additions you have made in your house since the last time the system was working fine.  Yes, 2.4 ghz telephones play havoc with the security system, and that's why I switched to 5.8 ghz telephones.  I suddenly noticed about five light fixtures that stopped responding to X10 commands and narrowed it down to the battery charger in a new Black and Decker portable drill I had just purchased.  Well, a filter solved the problem with that (I use about 6 other filters in the house to eliminate problems).  So, am I happy with X10.  Yes, I am very happy with it.  It's cheap, fun to use, and very convenient.  Folks, just be patient and take a logical look at your system whenever you have problems.  Nothing's perfect in life you know!  Aloha!

[dave w]

Wonderful to hear X10 accolades and not a bunch of whining. As you have said, and I have echoed many times; X10 takes a little effort, but it is inexpensive and fun.

[Dan Lawrence]

I'm also a happy X10 user.  I've been using X10 since the DOS days, all the way through Active Home Pro. Virtually every room in my house is X10 equipped. The latest upgrade to AHP corrected the only problem I had, incorrect status of certain modules , which was a software problem, timers and my single macro always worked flawlessly.

[TakeTheActive]

GREAT *FIRST* POST!!!

dave w beat me to it, but it's still worth repeating that X-10 is INEXPENSIVE and FUN, taking a bit of 'learning' - WHINING NOT REQUIRED!

My only comment, and it's meant in the MOST POSITIVE / CONSTRUCTIVE manner, is that I found your 'ONE paragraph' post difficult to read (YEAH, I'm an 'old fart with bifocals'.  )

I've also been playing with X-10 for ~30 years - YEAH dave w, I *KNOW* it's only 27½ or 28½; I like to ROUND (*AND* it takes a LOT of fingers, along with lifting up my glasses, to create the '½'  ).

Just a few paragraphs, maybe something like the following, would help:

I have been an X10 fan now for about 20 years and have enjoyed  the convenience very much.  Granted, I have had problems but have acquired enough troubleshooting experience to deal with whatever issue pops up - and most of the issues have been my fault, not the X10 equipment. 

I live in a modest house on the Big Island of Hawai'i and would characterize my X10 system as relatively complex - a true X10-wired home.  This includes a security system with four cameras including the professional pan/tilt XC21A, contact and moition detection alarms and over 35 modules, all controlled by Active Home Pro on my laptop.  Oh, I've had the usual interference issues, inoperative modules, phase problem, etc. all of which I carefully worked through and solved by myself.  I even use Vanguard and Active Home Remote My House on the internet which can be slow at times but generally works great. 

I think the biggest problem I have had is the door/window sensors in the security system which occasionally malfunction.  They are cheap enough to just replace - the postage being more to return the defective units.   Overall, the price for individual units and those that are on sale frequently is extremely reasonable.  The most expense item I have in my system is the Pro Pan/Tilt Camera for which I paid $499 and is now being offered at $299.  It was worth $499 in my opinion.  I have demonstrated my system to many neighbors and visitors most of whom now have X10 equipment themselves. 

My recommendation, whenever you have a problem, is to carefully and logically go over the entire system asking yourself what changes on additions you have made in your house since the last time the system was working fine.  Yes, 2.4 ghz telephones play havoc with the security system, and that's why I switched to 5.8 ghz telephones.  I suddenly noticed about five light fixtures that stopped responding to X10 commands and narrowed it down to the battery charger in a new Black and Decker portable drill I had just purchased.  Well, a filter solved the problem with that (I use about 6 other filters in the house to eliminate problems). 

So, am I happy with X10.  Yes, I am very happy with it.  It's cheap, fun to use, and very convenient.  Folks, just be patient and take a logical look at your system whenever you have problems.  Nothing's perfect in life you know! 

Aloha!

P.S. Formatting (bold, color, etc...) is OPTIONAL! I'm just 'addicted' to it...

[Tuicemen]

There definitely is a learning curve to this! I can't remember when I started with this( not as long as TakeTheActive , maybe close to 20 years? ) and I'm still learning and having fun doing it!

[dave w]

I've also been playing with X-10 for ~30 years - YEAH dave w, I *KNOW* it's only 27½ or 28½; I like to ROUND (*AND* it takes a LOT of fingers, along with lifting up my glasses, to create the '½'  ).

(YEAH, I'm an 'old fart with bifocals'.  ) .

Yeah, I am too. But I wear those little reading glasses and look up over the top of them. This leaves my hands free which permits the use of fingers for counting. Thus my ability to calculate that X10, "30 years ago" lived as a BSR turntable. Now if you owned the BSR Accutrac 4000, then I will begrudgingly conciede the "30 years" to you on a technicality. Some proof of ownership must be submitted for this concession.

[TakeTheActive]

I've also been playing with X-10 for ~30 years - YEAH dave w, I *KNOW* it's only 27½ or 28½; I like to ROUND (*AND* it takes a LOT of fingers, along with lifting up my glasses, to create the '½'  ).

(YEAH, I'm an 'old fart with bifocals'.  ) .

Yeah, I am too. But I wear those little reading glasses and look up over the top of them. This leaves my hands free which permits the use of fingers for counting...
...Some proof of ownership must be submitted for this concession.

BSR (Partial) GROUP SHOT (more IN SERVICE!):


BSR WALL SWITCHES REAR:


BSR & RS REMOTES:


BSR PACKAGING:



Bring back any memories?     

[steven r]

BSR & RS REMOTES:


Bring back any memories?     

I believe I recall that BSR remote. Wasn't it ultra sonic?

[TakeTheActive]

BSR & RS REMOTES:


Bring back any memories?     

I believe I recall that BSR remote.

Whaddaya mean 'recall'?!?  Why aren't you still using it??? 

Wasn't it ultra sonic?

Mine *STILL* work! 

ALONG WITH THE BSR TIMER:




My *favorite* feature of this TIMER is the 1 - 2 hour 'delay'! 

[I can turn on the AC behind it for 1 or 2 hours and the TIMER will shut it off - operation is like a Clock-Radio - you press SLEEP once or twice! ]

THE EARLY MINI-CONTROLLER HAD KEYHOLE SLOTS ON THE BACK:

So, I mounted it (and a small telephone) behind the door of the compartment in the bed's headboard! 

[steven r]

...Why aren't you still using it???...

Might of lost it in a move but I believe it and/or its remote finally died.

[Don N]

Gee, I walked to school barefooted and uphill both ways ... can I join the old geezer group too?   Sorry I couldn't resist.  As most have said already, a little patience and some trial and error goes a long way in having fun with this stuff.  Just like life itself.

[TakeTheActive]

... can I join the old geezer group too?   Sorry I couldn't resist...

SMILE when you say that, partner! 

P.S. I don't see any 'Smiling' [       ] smilie in your post?!?   

 

[Charles Sullivan]

Wow, TakeTheActive, you really ARE a Senior Member!!!   :-)

 I'm impressed with your collection!!!  Did you acquire the components new at the time or have you been picking up antiques on eBay?

My antique collection (acquired new at the time) consists only of a CP290 and one each of the sidewheel Lamp and Appliance Modules.

What's the story on the Sears "Ultrasonic" controller?

[TakeTheActive]

Wow, TakeTheActive, you really ARE a Senior Member!!!   :-)

What? You didn't believe me? 

I'm impressed with your collection!!!  Did you acquire the components new at the time or have you been picking up antiques on eBay?

Collection?   Antiques??   eBay??? 

What are you talking about? This is *MY* Current Setup!!  NEW! Of course!!

But, I am getting tired of taking pictures tonight! <WHEW!> [Certainly clobbered the TOTAL HOURS ONLINE counter today, huh?  ]

There's also a pair of the RS Security Systems (the first one that plugged into the wall like a 4-horn siren) that I gave to my son, a pair of GE HomeMinders that I finally threw out (both blew their video drivers - wasn't 'cost-effective' to repair with the CM11A already in service; or was it the TW-523 on the IBM PC running my 'custom' GWBASIC program with the Votrax RS-232 Speech Synthesizer?), the HeathKit SL-5320 (before the PR511 - hardwired to HC 'C'), and a few early RR501s (the ones that *ONLY* did 1-8 *OR* 9-16; I have 1 Stanley - my son has the rest.)

My antique collection (acquired new at the time) consists only of a CP290 and one each of the sidewheel Lamp and Appliance Modules.

HOW ABOUT HIS RS TRS-80 COLOR COMPUTER 'BUDDY':


Ah. Another "Youngster", from the "just this guy" / -Bill- (of BXVC) era?

What's the story on the Sears "Ultrasonic" controller?

As to???  Grill, transducer, clicking sounds, line-of-sight...

BTW, just to be sure you know, I'm kidding with you above!   [Remember what happened "that other time", eh?    ]

[Charles Sullivan]

TTA:
>"As to???  Huh Grill, transducer, clicking sounds, line-of-sight..."

Did it talk directly to modules or to a powerline trnansceiver?

>"BTW, just to be sure you know, I'm kidding with you above! Smiley  [Remember what happened "that other time", eh?  Shocked  Embarrassed ]

Kidding with respect to the ultrasonic?   Or something else?   I don't remember much anymore :-(