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The best stuff I've found to run X10 devices is http://tanj.com/heyu/heyu2/.

I am biased as the primary author of this and I are members of the same lug. He's added scripting support and it's a huge improvement over what is available for Winders.

You forgot MS Linux Edition, the one they will fail to distribute properly, so they can say they tried, but people weren't interested in Linux (apologies to Dvorak)

How about: Windows Vista Home Automation Edition

It would come with the X-10 controller software and two X10 modules, so you can build "The Home of the Future" in true Microsoft fashion, using 25 year old technology.

Or you could use what I use, and run Heyu and Bluelava on Apache and Linux (or BSD), I suppose.

Also, NEVER try upgrading your Windows Vista Kiddie Edition with Windows Vista Porn Edition. To say there are conflicts is an understatement.

I don't see this is as being TOO expensive -- particularly when it is a "new device" hitting the market place (though as you've mentioned PLC's are old hat :).

I come across _this_ as I'm working through the next clients (though currently _rare_ for this request :) X10 config for their house. Wealthy, works out of the house (office) -- already has Linux based mail/web/file type server buried in the basement somewhere. The perfect solution. Now -- without the _need_ for a full blown "computer" I can easily control, and custom program using heyu with little added headache and expense ... for the average "Joe Blow" (a person who "don't want Linux" and doesn't have an extra computer lying around and would see a full computer as a major expense).

For me, Un*x was a way of life -- and a Linux box has always been accessible. Sure, you could do the SAME with Windows, but I tend to forget about my computers -- they just work, and I digress. :) The point being -- this device makes such setups that much easier to sell with a combined product/service and NOT have the headache of the computer (Windows) not working. Less wasted time and $$$ all around IMHO. :)

I have serial hookups to the X10 device (home and offices), alarm system hookups (*I* get pages before the police are typically even called by central-station, thankfully rare and so far always false :), along with logging and control of various phone systems. Places that currently _already_ had a Linux computer installed, but by no means wouldn't also work very nicely with just a plug in the wall -- and that's it.

I must have had typos on a couple of links, which got dropped. Here they are:

heyu: http://heyu.tanj.com/heyu/.

ACT filters: bottom of this page.

MisterHouse has been around for a while now and mainly relies on X10 modules. It works fairly well but as one other poster noted it really does need a dedicated box with a bit of muscle or it's a bit slow and frustrating to use. I came across it while looking for X10 software for linux, which it runs on as well as OSX and most versions of Windows. There are many similar products out there for Windows, Mac and even a few simple ones for linux. The most popular/commercial product was a piece of software for the ActiveHome module that came as part of IBM's Home Director kit (I can't remember what the old version was now it comes with HomeVoice). In all my years of using X10 I'd still have to say XTension for the Mac was one of the coolest products out there as it let you create a floorplan pretty easily and it ran well on an old 75Mhz PPC. Lately I've just been using Heyu which is a simple command line interface for linux that supports macros. Anything I want to do I can set a cron job to do automagically or start an ssh session and do from work or wherever. Sure there's no voice control, but personally I always felt a little weird even using speech recognition on the Mac, it could never quite understand "Who's your daddy?" -peel

While I'm not a fan of their advertising practices, I am a fan of the hardware. And there is a Linux driver for the CM11A controller. X10 will allow you to integrate motion sensor events with camera control for /very/ short money - 3 cameras, receiver, x10 receiver, etc. for about $140.

My boss recently asked me about implementing a video security system, and this is the way we're going.

You can block all X10 signals coming in to your house by using a blocking coupler. You put it on your load center, and on outside outlets. You can also get a coupler/repeater, that not only connects phase a and b in your house electrical system, but also repeats any signals it gets to increase reliability.

Not only that, but X10 stuff has gotten a lot cheaper lately. Me, a poor college student has been able to afford some stuff. I have all the lights in the den and my room on X10. The remote I have even works with our TV, VCR, and stereo. I've been thinking about setting up a security system on X10 as well.

I don't think X10 has any patents or anything (note the think), because you can download the protocols for free. Several linux drivers have been written, my favorite of which is currently heyu. ( http://heyu.tanj.com/heyu/). Of course the little computer interface they give you free isn't compatible - try the CM11A interface for linux stuff.

These are fun toys to play with, and in my opinion the $6 is worth it. A lot of stuff is happening in the home automation arena right now, at least for me, since I work on the IBM products :-)

The CM11a serial protocol isn't easy per se, but it isn't that complex either. There are some nasty gotchas, like (AFAIRemeber) a result code that could also be interprated as an result code. A nicer (than the official X-10 one) protocol guide can be found here along with a nifty command line X-10 interface program (named heyu). The newsgroup comp.home.automation is a good resource for X-10 and other HA related things.