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Yeah it's neat and everything, but the protocol it runs on is like NetBEUI for Home Automation.

The reason X10 still exists is that it is cheap and semi reliable (ie I can make it work). I feel that it will go away one day but I'm hoping it will not be replaced by closed systems (closed via excessive developemnt tools or NDA's). The other technologies that are available are hardwire, LONWorks and CEBus. The last 2 tend to be very expensive and very little of it is available for the DIYer. The markets are set up for large developers and not the smaller ones such as myself.

The Hardwire method tends to use RS485 (multidrop) and a baud rate of 1200, 9600 or 19200. You can go higher but this tend to be overkill. If the price of microcontrollers w/ethernet contiunes to drop we'll probably see a lot more ethernet in use. But it does bring added expense. The Linux Home Automation project intends on using the currently available products to pull together the appropriate system to intergate them all.

I went on an EBAY binge this summer and spent ~$700 (US) on terminal servers, a router, parts for my Sun IPX, a Vax Station 3100, network hubs, electronic parts etc. All of this can be used to put together an HA system. Mike Baptiste (of Creative Control Concepts) just released version alpha code for an ethernet to RS232 converted to use the Dallas Semi TINI board. I'm working on doing the same thing with Linux (should work on any modern Unix) serial port and ethernet.

I currently have a Weather station (sensors off line, house was resided), a set of Dallas Semi onewire chips for temperature sensing, an HCS II (HA controller), an Ocelet (HA controller), a couple of X10 CM11A's, a LynX10 board, an X10 CP290, several Dallas TINI boards, a bunch of microcontrollers, HTH's 2400 baud power line controllers and lots of X10 and RS485.

There is too much to list here (and explain what it will do). The best place for this discussion is online in the comp.home.automation newsgroup or on my Linux Home Automation project mail list (see below). You can also email me if you wish to ask HA related questions.
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Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
Linux Home Automation and Linux Home Automation II
The The Linux Home Automation project (SourceForge)

I started the Linux Home Automation project (LHA project) to accomplish something very similar. Currently I have more of a collection of various software (my Linux Home Automation pages). I've just finished collecting a ton of hardware and getting info on the various software needed. I hope to have non-beta base software within the month. For most, the current stage of the project won't be usable. But for the tinker'r it will at least be interesting.

For those who don't mind getting their hands dirty with software they can try Mr. House (I'll correct my pages, sorry). It's written in Perl and is very functional.

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Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/ lig htsey/52 (Graphics)
http://linuxha.sourceforge.net/ (SourceForge)

Not if I get my way! I run the Linux Home Automatin project and most of this stuff can be had and run free! I don't like the idea that the controller for my home is not under my complete control.

Come Pinky, let us take over the world ... (Brain, from Pinky & the Brain)

--
Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/ lig htsey/52 (Graphics)
http://linuxha.sourceforge.net/ (SourceForge)

I've purchased from Zebra, about a year or 2 ago. The ZX81 was less expensive then ($30) but if the demand is enough I can't see anything wrong with his pricing. I mean has has kept them for a while!

BTW, there is a project out there to build a new ZX/TS version of the Z80 with the latest and greatest technology. I can't find the link but I did backup the notes. Very cool to be able to run a ZX81 at 33MHz with up to 1 Meg of ram (not very useful with the way the ZX's ram addressing was set up).

--
Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/ lig htsey/52 (Graphics)
http://linuxha.sourceforge.net/ (SourceForge)

Is the memory access switched also? I'm going to guess it wouldn't be. The memory it self is the slow down. You can fly with the computational speed but when you need to slow down for access to memory we begin to lose the speed (I know that cache helps this somewhat).

I know on the standard Intel setup the memory is one of the slow downs (~100MHz speed, though I believe there maybe 133MHz available).

BTW, my particular need is in the area of I/O and prcessing. The server is processing user reequests (usually from an ehternet) and the either accessing a slow speed device (serially attached) or is hitting a network to attach to the low speed device (uController w/ethernet).

--
Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics)
http://linuxha.sourceforge.net/ (SourceForge)

I've given a bit more thought to the "Home of the Future" and I've come to the conclusion that a lot of this stuff just isn't going to be in there. Such as the toilet (I hope that this company who intends to make this isn't the same company whose toilets caught fire :-) and 'frig with internet access. Now a frig with a virtual view of what's in the 'frig might be a good idea. Keeps me from open the 'frig and gawking. If I want to view the internet I would watch it on the best monitor in the house (or maybe my cell phone, ok maybe not). Now carring on a conversation with a computer about something I'm cooking could be useful (Hal, how much salt did I add the last time I made this....). And maybe some sensors in the bathroom which can determine that I'm taking a shower and the air is too humid. But I don't want a type of vision in the bathrooms. I can see it now, while at work at Big Bad Corp. (don't read anything into the initials I don't work for them) I get called down to security and reprimanded for have the Pot Roast and the glass of milk because it raised the time I spent in the bathrooms from 15 minutes/day to 25 minutes/day. And That I might want to have my colon inspected because it's getting a bit large.

It'll come down to economics, I can spend $500 (US) for a high quality toilet or $1000 (a guess) for a new fancy I-toilet. When the items get added up for the final bill and things need to get trimmed because I've gone with too much quality the I-toilet will be the first off the list. Of course the projection system and surreal sound system will have to stay and maybe even upgraded, after all I did trim the I-toilet off the list ;-).

I think it will come down to this, a lot of this stuff is resolving a problem that doesn't exist. It's a really neat idea but not much else going for it. Fads come and go. The stuff that will stay and work is something that we can set and forget.

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Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics)
http://linuxha.sourceforge.net/ (SourceForge)

Warning: I was tired when I wrote this so it may jump around and skip lots of details. For that I apologize.

I think we'll see home automation within the next 10 years. Despite one poster's assertation that no one can not afford a thermostat in every room (bi-metallic switches are cheap, small processors are becoming just as cheap).

Let's imagine my home, you walk through the front door and it appears to be a normal un-automated home. All the automation is unseen, no wires, no buttons, no mic's, no speakers. Lights go on when appropriate (depending on ambiant light) and go off when appropriate (you're no longer there). The home temperature, humidity and air flow are just right (this is rather kludgy in today's un-automated systems). The audio system works via voice or a remote. When you ask or select an item the appropriate devices go on. Choose the TV, then the TV goes on (maybe the surround sound system also), want to listen to CD's, fine, the TV will go off and the stereo stays on. The system will need to learn as it goes but should have some kind of initial programming with a simple to use interface (that's currently the voodoo). The system will know you are there (or out) and it won't need badges or pins. It will be able to select the correct settings for your bath/shower and it will be able not waste energy by heating the water all day waiting for someone to use the hot water.

Other things that can be automated, tracking of energy usage and monitoring various things. The kitchen stove should know when food is going to burn and avoid it, the 'frig should also know when things are going bad and warn about them. You'll have the system inventory items, order stock and bid for the best price (these last parts begin to make me nervous) and obviously security, physical as in intruder and fire, and as in predictive break down. Everything has to have a manual over ride and the system/owner/user has to have a way of checking authenticity.

The problem are many such as internet access but the technology will be available. The biggest problem I have is permitting automated systems to take full control. I really don't like that idea but there are something I want the automated systems to handle. Such as garden watering and fertilizing. But I don't want my home to order more milk without consulting me. I also find it very scary to have my whole home available via the net. I design networks for a living and know and understand most of the technology. My leariness towards this is because the potential for abuse is extremely high and I expect the real problems will be corporations and not hackers trying the gain control not of my home but of my buying power.

Currently there are a lot of problems that need to be resolved before such systems can be accepted. I just hope the hardware/software community can resolve them before the sales/marketing community can pitch them.

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Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics)
http://linuxha.sourceforge.net/ (SourceForge)

That sounds kind of stupid doesn't it? But keep reading it's not as limited as that. For the sake of brevity I won't go into each detail. I think I'll post an article on my web page with my thoughts on this subject (and I'll go into details). See the links below.

First I have a PIIIx (4M of ram expandable to 8M and OS3.3), This is one tool I find very useful. I'm also a home automation (HA) enthusiast and I've been pondering/considering using inexpensize items to interface to my HA systems. I have a gameboy, a TI-85, an HP28C, a TRS model 100 and the Palm Pilot. Each has it's limitations, the PIIIx/Visor has several things going for it. But it also has limitations, one of which is you can not task switch an application. You can only do 1 thing with it at a time (this is not a limitation of the processor, I think). By adding multitasking you can send and receive messages (not limited to mail, other types of messages also) run an app, have another app interrupt you to let you know something else is going on (not just appointments or timed todos). If I can get an 802.11 interface connectivity/flexiblity would be further increased. There are still lots of problems to overcome and most of what I am describing sounds very silly but the Palm Pilot provides an simple to use and flexible system to interface to other things. And with the cost of the Visor these devices may just replace the TV remote as a simple device found in just about every home (at least in the US).

One other thing, has anyone noticed that the Palm Pilots are only a little larger than the report pads used on Star Trek?

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Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics)

I thought that .uucp still existed but only for the hams. My email (above) address reflects one of my old .uucp addresses. At least what we learned during those day helped us in today's world. ;-)

Actually my home automation started with a 3b1 and a Heath Kit X10 interface. Things have changed since then.

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Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics)

There are quite a few of us out there playing with such technology right now. We are experimenting and some have kept it within limits (to keep the SO happy and live within budgets) but we are playing with the technology. So far I have control of various lighting (using X10) and I have expermental I/O (I/O = switches, variable resistors, LEDS and DMMs) that I can control. I am able to monitor the weather and pull back information from the internet (news, weather, etc). I'm also able to post various info from my systems to the internet, though I must wisely choose what to post as too much info can be dangerous in the wrong hands. And I have voice synthesis output for certain info. Others have more elaborate systems (Bruce Winter's Mr.E House (MH) for example).

There are problems with this technology; cost, reliability, accuracy, redundancy and standards are not really up to expected consumer qualities. But for the most part they do work. Some of the fancier stuff such as the mirror with the built in display is pricey. But thanks to new technologies such as ethernet on a chip, smaller microcontrollers can be used for control and monitoring. Of course you can still use these devices without the network hook ups. This technology will help get the pricing down and allow more items to be centrally controlled by the MCP.

Now this of course begs the question do we really want so much being controlled for us? Or is the energy management and possible conviences worth it? Those are questions I can't yet answer. I don't really put a whole lot of faith in technology and sometimes prefer the old ways of doing certain things. Now ain't that a real kick in the pants.

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Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics)

And, when Unix crashes, you actually have to make a trip out there because there is no way you can walk some average joe through a fix on the phone.

I supported AT&T 3B computer and their networks on a support hotline for 5 years (86 - 91) and I've walked many people (including the unknowing) into restoring a Unix box to where I could access the box. Unix is just as supportable as NT. But I would add that certain equipment was required to do it right (a modem, the original disks, and a recent backup). Most Unix boxes I've worked with followed our recommendations for power (UPS) and access (a modem). I'm not that familiar with NT (my friend is) but I don't see it being any less frustrating than Linux when it bombs out.

Windows gives the average user what they want. Ease of use and out of the box functionality. When Linux matures enough for that then the world will be a better place.

I sort of agree, I find that MS just moves the frustrations from up front to else where. With *nix the tough questions tend to be up front which can scare the users.

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Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics)

The article was severely lacking! Having lived through that period and retained much of the hardware (the software may suffer from bit rot). I remember my first internet access: Rutgers Soup Kitchen (I seem to remember 50 or 60 newsgroups, talk about information overload :-).

I still have my collection of computers, ZX81 (unassembled and assembled), Z80 Starter kit (gorgeous hand wrapped, handmade Al case and upgraded to 10K). My Atari 800/Ominmon, 600XL, 800XL/256K & Omnimon, Atari 520ST/4M, AT&T 3B1, AT&T 3B2/310, Rockwell Aim, a bunch of Commodore 64's, NEC PC8201A, IBM PC (64K w/cassette ports), a bunch of 8088 clones, a Toshiba 8088 laptop, a Zenith 8088 Laptop, a 286 laptop, AT&T Safari 386SL laptop and now my Linux boxen. I've played with SS30, SS50 and S100, I've built a bunch of different ucontrollers and I still have 3 OS9 and 2 OS9 68K boxes. I have Eval boards for the Motorola 6800, 6801, 6802, 6805, 6808 and 68HC11. I have more but I can't remember what they are. I also had an Apple II but it generated so much RFI I had to get rid of it. My neighbors for 200 feet in any direction would complain and my father was fit to kill me. I love that ROM monitor.

Those times were great but they aren't as great as things are today. Lets face it the original price of just 1 of those systems can easily purchase an new box. And it seems easy to find an emulator for almost all of them.

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Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics)

But that doesn't matter much to most of us, because i doubt the passthrough works under linux anyhow - device locking and all.

I think it makes far more sense to add a small RF carrier to the AC signal and modulate your signal onto that. In fact I am designing such a system and will release the plans under something GPL-like when (if :) I get it working. I am thinking make it an Ethernet-like protocol with lookahead collision avoidance/etc. Something I can run IP on anyways.. But don't hold your breath waiting for it :)

You might be interested in the GNU/Linux Home Automation Project . The goals of the project are to produce GPL'd hardware and software standards for Home Automation. Right now the list is down due to technical problems with the mail list.

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Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry - (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 - (Graphics)

Me thinks you have a bit of a way to go yet! I attempted my search for Linux Home Automation and it failed to bring up a site in England (Fortune City). I kept the search to just central & eastern Europe. It only brought up 1 site about Linux (there are quite a few more sites than that in Europe).

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Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics)

I've always had trouble with search engines. I've registered my pages with various services and basically it hasn't helped. Most people find my pages though my sigs. Or off other similar pages which have links to my page.

I did a search on Northerlights and it didn't find my pages but did find pages wih links to my page. I also used the power search but that failed also.

I probably shouldn't be too upset as I get about 1000 hits per month. Since it is a specilaized page I don't think I'll get any more hits. But it does tick me off that if I want poeple to find my page I have to pay for it. I thought a search engines reputation was supposed to garner it more attention and therefor more advertisement dollars. Now to increase their rep's I have to pay them.
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Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics)

The code you mention was written by Dan Lanciani. And though I agree that the code looks ugly it does work. The comments most likely are mine. A couple of weeks ago I had taken the entire package and broken down the files so that it didn't compile as one file. Unfortunately I lost the drive and didn't have a backup of my work. So far I've been too lazy to make any more changes. The reason I prefer it to the other software is that it allows me to telnet to it from another box. None of the others have such an interface. I would prefer if the commands made more sense and the command response were less terse (or at least explained).


Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics)

check out my pages, I collect software and their links for HA.

Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics)

Oops rounding error :-), Sorry but I have no idea what year it is. I started using X10 with my 3B1 (AT&T Unix). The first Linux I had was .9x kernel in 1993. Sorry about that I was concentrating more on the HA stuff.

--

Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics)

The Firecracker is not the same as the CM11A they are 2 different devices. I hope to have the Firecracker protocol on line within the week (and give credit to it's proper author, which is not me).--

Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics GB)

I think what you meant was that each type of X10 controller has different software to control it. The CM11A has x10d, heyu, Mr. House and a few others, the Cp290 has software and the Firecracker has Bottle rocket. There are a few other controllers but they tend to need other hardware to use properly.

--

Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry - ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics)

If you want software and information about Linux Home Automation (HA) please check out my pages http://members.home.net/ncherry or http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52. The software, documentation and link are just a collection of the stuff I've found over the years. It should work with other flavors of unix. I have some other links to HA pages. If you find any interesting Unix/Linux HA projects, software, or documentation please email with the info and I'll add it to the pages.

I've noticed quite a few errant statements about Linux HA and X10. First the X10 technology has been around since the early 70's (which explains it's weird protocol). X10 is a lot like running a Unix operating system (if you just want to sit back and not know much about it I wouldn't recommend it). X10's customer support is weak and their documentation is poor. For the best source of info on HA (and X10 in particular) check out comp.home.automation. Now that I've said all these bad things about X10 I'll add that I use it and I can make it work pretty well. Mine runs correctly 99% of the time and last 1% is probably my fault. This doesn't include when I'm playing with software (which may tend to crash the system from time to time when you're experimenting with new coding ideas).

I've been using X10 with Linux for over 10 years and I have it working pretty well. The only thing that we're really missing is a good GUI to make the software collections easier to use. I currently have 5 devices under X10 control at all times (and at Christmas time I have a lot more). The reason for so few is that I'm working on the rest of the house and I haven't a need for more just yet. I have quite a few more devices I'll begin controlling when the time is appropriate. X10 is not the key technology in HA. But it is useful and when used with other technologies can be very nice. Steve Ciarcia (editor of Circuit Cellar Ink and a great many Byte magazine articles) has a fully automated home (he uses a custom controller which can be purchased ( HCS II).

I hope this is enough to whet some peoples appetite for the HA field.

--

Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics GB)

There are a few of us working on just that. BTW the LIRC can be found on my homepage but it may not be the most up to date code. I better add a link to the LIRC project. My page is a place to collect software and links related to Linux HA. I am also writting some software but I mostly modify others software (see my page ref's below).

I really think that this something the Linux HA really needs. Of course this can be useful in other areas also. I plan to purchase it as soon as possible and see if I can intergrate it into the stuff I'm working on. But I won't forget that other people may not have it so my code won't depend on it.


Linux Home Automation - Neil Cherry ncherry@home.net
http://members.home.net/ncherry (Text only)
http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/lig htsey/52 (Graphics GB)