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(s)he is probably talking about the discontinued X10 Mouse Remote from x10.com. Read about it here.

(s)he is probably talking about the discontinued X10 Mouse Remote from x10.com. Read about it here.

It worked, and I was happy.

Then I tried to think of something to use it for. And came up empty.

Reminds me of that free X10 stuff you can get. It works, and it's not a scam, but still .. it's kinda lame. A briefly amusing toy.

Which does not mean, of course, that I'm not going to run out first thing tomorrow and pick up one for myself. 8^)

Yep. Free gizmo to plug into some port and make your computer look cooler, thereby attracting the babes.

Screw an irman. Too expensive/difficult to configure. If you want a cheap, easily set-up remote solution, get an X10 mouse remote and use the Max10 software (on sourceforge). It's great, it's RF, and it allows you do some really neat stuff. Not only that, but It'll control your whole home theatre system, so you can just be lazy. I've had a dvd player for quite awhile now, and never really enjoyed it till I got a remote... It's a joy to sit in my basement, press some keys and hear music from my room. It's also great for those lazy days when I don't want to get out of bed. On the DVD front; get a Creative Encore system. It'll do dolby digital out (you have to have an outboard decoder, but it's real ac3) and tv-out for dvds with a much better picture than I've seen on any other solution. But first, check out the X10 Website. Okay that's enough geeking out for me....

For my senior project, I used an HC11 to a) receive and interpret X10 home automation (extended) codes and b) act as an LCD clock. The idea was to show that you could use many of these cheap devices anywhere in your home and they could all be kept in sync.

Best of all, it worked! With less than 1024 bytes (BYTES) of memory to play with... Imagine what you could do with 16 or 32k.

I mean, using C or any other high-level language, you can barely even compile a "Hello world" inside of 1k.

uCs may not be as elegant as a SPARC, but they've got their uses. Even if it's only for hobbyists and students. You gotta start somewhere.

Also, I don't know what kind of HC11 you're programming, but last I checked, B was an 8-bit register, while X was a 16-bit index register. It's gotta be tough for Motorola's engineers to justify an instruction that only copies B to X.

Besides, you could do that with: CLRA, XGDX. It's not at all counter-intuitive.

--

I know, I know, this sounds a lot like a Don Henley song, but excuse me, I'll pass thankyouverymuch. It's easy to say "Oh, we'll make mistakes. People will die." It's unfortunate that 1) this is true and 2) we even take this attitude. Certainly there are ways to avoid these doomsday scenarios. But this requires people thinking about the situation first, then acting. Quickly. These are hard problems that demand quite a bit from the general population, but nonetheless have to be addressed. If our history is any indication of the future, someone else will do the acting before the thinking. That's all that Katz is trying to say.

It would seem that a lot of Slashdot readers don't care of Katz's writing...think it's too sensationalistic. Ya know folks, he's just playing the Devil's advocate. He's trying to get us to think about our frickin' world so that we might take part in it someday more than hooking up X10 modules to our lamps and coffee maker. There are people in the world that know far less about technology than us (and don't care) but have enough power to have a major impact on the course of the human race, both in good and bad ways. If we can't find our way into those kinds of positions, we should at least find a way to clue them into doing the Right Thing with our research/code/hardware.

Okay. I'm a little verklempt. I'll give you a topic. "Third world nation with a hatred for the US gets a hold of genome map and develops a virulent biological weapon. Discretely brought into the country, a distributed attack is made in every major metropolitan area in the US." Next summer's blockbuster or current event in the year 2010? Discuss.

When I started doing MP3's a couple years ago, I decided to get a really nice sound card and really nice computer speakers. The benefit to me was that I could also improve my computer game experience (especially now with the A3D surround sound in games) So I have my own happy computer stereo solution.

However, I do understand that some people have extremely expensive stereo equipment, probably hooked up with the TV enjoyment, so I do understand the need to maybe move the music from the computer to the 10' tall speakers in the living room!

But there is a cheaper solution, and it's been out for a year now: x10.com's MP3 Anywhere. It will broadcast your MP3's from your PC wirelessly to your stereo. I can't vouch which technology they're using since their web site has changed since last year, but probably a radio frequency since walls are not a problem. I suggested this to a friend of mine who needed to get music from his bedroom's computer to the living room (60 feet away, down some steps - obviously wiring wasn't a solution)

So, maybe it's X10's fault for not being a market figurehead like Dell. So let's look at Dell's black box. What the hell does it DO??? From their zero specs, It looks like it contains a network connection, buttons on the front, and a in-out port to push ALL the data straight to the Aux Input of the stereo.

I'm curious who is PLAYING the Mp3. Is it the computer? Or this black box? Hopefully it's the black box, then they could add usefull features like a CD-R tray in front, and make it a stand alone player. Truly... to make this component shine, it should be just like the diskman. PLAYS mp3's. Heck, options could be to include hard drive space, CD-R, or even DVD-R. You can fit a lot of music on a 5.4GB DVD. And THEN and only then have this "added" value of being able to access your computer's mp3 storage.

It's just seems WAY too pricey for something that won't work alone. I'll say it one last time: accessing your computer mp3's would be the killer feature for a stereo component that already played MP3's.

Rader

Right, but that's what MP3 Anywhere is for, and at a fifth the cost. So the question remains, what makes this worthwhile?

X10 is a communications protocol for communicating over 110V wiring. Here's a FAQ. One company that sells X10 compliant equipment (along with wireless cameras) is X10.com.

Regardless of this particular company's advertising methods, the technology is still cool and useful.

---
Have you ever noticed that at trade shows Microsoft is always the one giving away stress balls...

FYI, I thought the same thing you did, until I checked out the site a little more. Pretty cool stuff that they do.

For all that people are talking about HPNA being a no brainer and that it uses existing wiring...my house is 100 years old and there is only one phone socket. I could tear out skirting boards and put in more but for me (and, I guess, for many others) wireless networking is a better answer.

Unfortunately the conspicuous lack of technical specs for the x10 kit means I won't be buying from them... (e.g: what kind of connectors does the kit use? If its audio and the mp3Anywhere contains a codec then I can use this with linux...).

X10, the makers of the great home-automation products, already sell a wireless version of something similar. Specifically, it is merely an audio sender/receiver that can plug into the back of your stereo. They market it as "MP3-Anywhere", but could obviously be used for anything. For the windows users in the crowd, it comes with plugin's for some of the popular mp3 players so you can control it remotely using an X10 remote as well.

I do the almost the same thing. I ordered an X10 firecracker kit when they were featured on here and freshmeat. I don't know if it still can be ordered, but the link is here. It was only $5.90 and it comes with a serial passthrough that has an RF transmitter in it. All you have to do is send it simple commands and it will turn on and off up to 16 things that are connected to X10 control modules. Works great too.

I've found a number of good X-10 and home automation resources at HomeToys.com. The prices for X-10, video/audio distribution, and DIY security are usually better at SmartHome.com than at X10.com (and they don't tend to send you so much spam!). The best prices I've found for X-10 stuff (they also have security and video surveillance equip) are at Worthington Distribution. I've had good Web and phone interactions with them. They know what they're talking about when you need technical help, both before and after they make a sale (I can't say as much for X10.com or SmartHome.com).

First, you can buy X10 products from the X10 web site. Should you do so, be aware of two things:
1. They've taken marketing to a whole new low. They offer "specials" on everything, all the time. For instance, they recently put out an offer of $17 off in honor of March 17. (gag)
2. If you buy through them, use a junk email address: you WILL get spammed by them offering these "deals." Remember, it isn't a deal if you don't need it, no matter how "attractive" the price.

That said, X10 gadgets are quite useful. They have home security devices including motion sensors, and you can control an ungodly number of devices from one control pad. They provide (Windows-based) software for controling the devices, and you can find Linux software for X10 devices.

I would reccomend gx10. gx10 uses the bottlerocket software, and provides a link to it.

I would reccomend putting your serial device on COM2 if you use an external modem, since apparently the bottlerocket software can cause problems with an active modem signal. If you do this, make sure to alias gx10 to /where_your_binaries_are/gx10 -x /dev/ttyS1.

I can't think of much else that would be useful. E-mail me if you have further questions.

PS--you can check freshmeat for more X10 utils.


Who am I?
Why am here?
Where is the chocolate?

So - how am I supposed to find out about all the cool new X10 products?

A website like this makes it all too easy to collect confessed secrets and blackmail the confessors, which would be rather negative feedback for the confessors! I do wonder, however, how is the security at real-world confessions? Would it be difficult to slip a bug or tape recorder (or XCam :-) into the confession chamber? "Accidentally" leave one behind after your confession?

There seem to be so many potentials for abuse with a religion that rests your morality on the confession of sins. I know that the Catholic faith was (a few hundred years ago) greatly abused (see Chaucer's Canterbury Tales); is it prevalent or uncommon or impossible now?

Daniel J. Peng

All I have to say is:
OpenBSD, Making Linux 'security' look like X-10.com's Rex-10 product.

Gratiutious 'quotation marks', the sign of a true cynic!

I know there are several external VGA to NTSC converters available. Some of them don't require any drivers and are therefor OS independent. This is also an alternative if you are out of slots, or if you're running a laptop.

I know TIGER software used to have a bunch of these for sale, though I can't recommend the company, it might at least give you a starting point for comparing brands and features.

Also, I know x10 makes an external VGA to NTSC product, (that uses a 2.4 Ghz wireless transmitter/recvier combination so the output can displayed on any NTSC device in your house) and they have been fairly good about releasing linux drivers for their products if it does turn out to need drivers.

One caveat though, I have never thought these products did a great job converting 640x480 to NTSC, they might be better converting NTSC level resolution from the VGA out port to NTSC though.

I know there are several external VGA to NTSC converters available. Some of them don't require any drivers and are therefor OS independent. This is also an alternative if you are out of slots, or if you're running a laptop.

I know TIGER software used to have a bunch of these for sale, though I can't recommend the company, it might at least give you a starting point for comparing brands and features.

Also, I know x10 makes an external VGA to NTSC product, (that uses a 2.4 Ghz wireless transmitter/recvier combination so the output can displayed on any NTSC device in your house) and they have been fairly good about releasing linux drivers for their products if it does turn out to need drivers.

One caveat though, I have never thought these products did a great job converting 640x480 to NTSC, they might be better converting NTSC level resolution from the VGA out port to NTSC though.

What exactly constitutes spying equipment? For example, I just bought a wireless A/V system from X10. They also market a package that includes a small camera. I suppose you could use it as a security camera, but their ads (with women) imply you'd use it for other purposes.

------------------------------------------------ -------

Here are some examples:

1. X10.com: I had a great experience with them this x-mas. Many members of my family ordered from them, they shipped in about 3 weeks. Very trustworthy.
2. chapters online: I ordered a Creative Labs Nomad from them and had it shipped "express" but several weeks later I checked the status of my order and discovered it had been canceled... but I received no notification of why it was canceled. So far I've sent them three emails and they have not responded at all. I am a Chapter's Online shareholder and I'm not impressed.
3. PERL Magnets: I ordered some perl magnets (can't remember the URL right now). They shipped fast. No problems.
4. Linux Mall: I ordered a "tux" (stuffed penguin) from Linux mall. Shipped fast, no problems.
5. Future Shop: This was by far the worst experience. My mother ordered a Diamond Rio MP3 player on-line. She was told via email on two different occaisions when the product would ship. It never shipped. She phoned a 1-800 number and the staff were rude and explained there was no way they could possibly ship the product until the new year and asked why she didn't order earlier (she ordered in the first week of November!).
6. Peter Zale: I ordered a copy of Techies Unite: Helen Sweetheart of the Internet (a comic strip). It shipped fast, no problems.
7. Sound Forge: I ordered a copy of Acid Pro 2.0 for my brother. It shipped kind of slow considering I paid US$30 for shipping and while I called UPS to have them hold the package so I could pick it up at night it took them 3 business days to change process the "hold" order. UPS didn't please me. Other than that it was a good experience.
8. Sears: I ordered several things for my mother from sears on-line order form. This was a great experience. Their on-line order form is kind of lame, but the shipping was lightning fast, dirt cheap, and their return policies are wonderful. Sears has been doing mail-order sales for decades and know how to do this stuff... these stores that say this is a new business model are lying... mail order is an old business model; Internet stores are just mail order stores with dynamic catalogs.

If there is a lesson to be learned, I guess it would be: don't buy from big on-line stores. Buy from experienced mail order houses and "the little" guy. They'll deliver and they actually care that your satisfied.

This is the ultimate geek hobby. The price-to-play is surpsisingly cheap (you can get simple controllers and applications modules from X10 for miniscule sums of money, but as you catch the bug, you can scale all the way up to Crestron's high-sex-factor touchscreens.

Home automation scales. Start with setting up a couple of controllers that call switch on or kill all your houselights from the bedroom; and you'll find yourself scaling up rapidly to astronomical clock-driven blinds-controllers that open and shut individual slats of your vertical blinds to cut off monitor glare while simultaneously flooding the room with lights. Many of the controllers are IP aware, so you can have your doorbell send email to your pager.

Most appliances plug into the wall socket to suck the juice, right? So all the toaster company has to do is put an X10 device in the toaster, and boom it's communicating with every other X10-enabled appliance in your home. It's cheap and effective, and your desktop PC can act as a database server and/or an internet gateway (through cable modem or ADSL). In other words, connectivity is a solved problem.

-- Guges --

Instead of getting an IP for each appliance in your household, why not just set up an X-10 system? I have one set up in my Manhattan apt run by a 10 year-old Mac SE/30 using Thinking Home Software. It monitors motion detectors, light detectors, outdoor weather station and runs lamps, an air conditioner, air filters and a coffee maker. I can communicate with it securely over the Internet (try to do that with a 10 year-old 286 PC running a GUI) and either turn on/turn off lights, etc. or be informed if someone has walked in -- complete with a Connectix QuickCam picture.

As for ease, I think an X-10 system is much better than trying to rig every freaking household appliance with an IP. This also sounds like another excuse for big corps to sell us more stuff we don't need anyways. X-10 allows you to existing electrical appliances.

I'm glad someone finnaly mentioned X10. I purchased the X10 programmable super remote on sale for about $25 and not only can i program it for ANY infared device, but I can also turn on/off lights appliance or anything else I can dream of.

you can check it out at http://www.x10.com They even have free shipping.

Dozing
Webmaster for Dozing's Entertainment Warehouse
http://www.dozings.com/

X-10 has a really cool remote that I have found to work quite well. It's called the Learning Super-Remote. There are two versions, make sure you get the learning one. This baby has three communication methods built in, IR send like any remote, IR recieve so you can point the original remote at it and program functions, and a radio transmitter so you can control your X-10 Firecracker modules with it. I have my whole apartment wired, so not only is my whole entertainment system controlled by my remote, my lights and popcorn maker are too. Isn't technology grand?


Tell a man that there are 400 Billion stars and he'll believe you

It was able to learn the commands for my Princeton 29" presentation monitor that I use in the living room which no programmable remote could handle, handles the sattelite dish and vcr great from 30' away and was only $25. It even has a button that causes all the buttons to glow red in the dark :)

Now I just have to figure out how to program the ir-port on my laptop to control the mp3-player with the remote...

Yes, but, this digital camera also operates at exactly 2.4GHz ... hmm ... can i fry eggs on that camera? would it cook my hands when i hold it? can you say "sue!"?

Try
http://www.x10.com/removeme.cgi?emai l@host.com
(replace email@host.com with the email address the spam is coming to, duh)

to get removed from the x10 spam. :o)

Actually this is a great way to go. Borrowing this link from below, you can switch video input into a capture card. Any combination of coax wired and wireless (I'm not sure if you can use more than 1 X10 device in a building.) cameras should work. You can even use 2 capture cards and use both output streams if you need more speed. I think your server should be able to compress and write the images fast enough.

It's inexpensive, fast and flexible. Hmmm this may be able to help me solve the mystery of which of my 2 dogs is eating my remote controls...

You may be able to use cheap video cameras and a video capture board. An example would be this or the camera offered by WalMart that was mentioned a couple days ago. I don't know what video capture capabilities BSD has and I don't know exactly how to switch from one camera to the next but I suspect that it's possible. If so then you could cycle through the cameras, saving a frame from each with each cycle.

I've seen these little buggers advertised all over the place recently. $150 for a wireless color camera... interesting.

Probably not. There is a FAQ concerning using a dimmable wall switch with ceiling fans, flourecent lights, etc. and the bottom line is it wont work. The Wall Switch (and presumably the lamp module) are wired in series to the lamp (or other), which means that control signals have to pass through the lamp (or other) to get to the switch. If the (other) is a significant load, the signals get dampened to where the module doesnt respond.

I read this after installing a wall switch for a ceiling fan. With the light on (fan on or off) the wall switch responds fine. With the light off and the fan on and the wall switch off, the wall switch will respond to turning on , but then wont respond to turning off.

Oh well, which way to Radio Shack?

kz

I followed the link and read the story about the "great husband" that Curtis is because he can lower the lights and turn on the Barry White CD from the other room (this turns on his wife?) I guess they don't have X10 controls for, uh, 'battery operated' appliances...

Or, Curtis can show his kids he cares without even leaving his home office.

Finally, Curtis can water the lawn automatically.

I don't have a wife, kids, or a lawn. My NYC studio apartment is so small that I can get to most things in it in a couple of steps anyway.

Here's my problem: I'm a geek (I'm reading and posting here, right?) and I like gadgets. Can anyone suggest a realistic scenario taking into account my limited needs for this possible toy? (I certainly appreciate the geek's desire to do something simply because it's possible - I tried to turn my HP48 into a remote control - but that's not what I'm after.)

I thought of something I could do myself - turn my stereo into an alarm. (I don't already have a clock radio but with such a device I could maybe even play a CD/tape/etc.) Anyone have any other suggestions?

i was looking at their product list and couldn't help thinking about an arthur c clarke book i read eons ago where the networked house still functioned (albiet what was still left) after a nuclear war.

it's all fiction of course (emp, power etc) but the food processor would fire up breakfast every morning, dispose of the remains and happily fulfil the daily requirements of the now charred occupants.

I bought one of these sets during the ZDNet offer a few weeks ago. Here's what you get:

• The serial computer interface: a pass-through DB9 module, about 1"x.75"x.5". Has no noticable effect on the pen pad I have connected to that port, although I have yet to use both at the same time.
• 1 transciever/appliance module: 3"x3"x1", plugs into a 2-prong polarized outlet. It serves two purposes: First, it receives the signals from whatever remote you're using, and relays it into your electrical system. Second, it acts as a remotely-switchable outlet for any appliance you plug into it. You must plug this in, even if you don't used its switched outlet. there's a button on the module to override it.
• 1 Lamp module: 3"x3"x1", plugs into a polarized outlet. Doesn't act as a transciever, but does allow you to switch and dim a lamp plugged into it. You can override this module by switching the lamp off and back on.
• 1 Remote control: 3"x4"x.75", allows you to switch appliances on or off, or adjust lights, individually.
• The Firecracker software: Win95/98/NT program to be downloaded from X-10's web site. (No source, before you ask.) Simulates a remote control. In fact, the default interface looks exactly like the aforementioned remote. Also lets you print a label strip for the (physical) remote, but doesn't do much else. Most importantly, no timer or macro functions.
• A ton of e-mail. X-10 sends me ads daily, which would be annoying if I didn't just filter it into its own folder. If you're interested in using their other home automation products, these ads have some huge (50-75%) markdowns from their normal prices. Other than their own ads, I don't think my spam level has gone up since I ordered, but I'm not certain.

My experiences: I've only used the computer interface for pure novelty value. But then, I live in an apartment where I can walk to any appliance in the apartment almost as quick as I can load the program. Also, most of the electrical stuff in my apartment is either stuff I don't want to switch at the socket, or lighting from convenient wall switches. For the most part, I only really use the handheld remote and a lamp dimmer which is currently hooked up to a lamp in a hard-to-reach corner. I like the kit for that, but don't think I would have spent any more than the $6 S&H that I did.

On the other hand, my dad is more heavily into the X-10 stuff. At his house, he's replaced several wall switches for ceiling lights with X-10 wall switches. He has a more advanced controller package and software (again, Windows-only) which does have timer functions, macros, etc. Although the software allows him to program the controller, the controller itself operates independently of the computer and will continue timer functions, etc. wehn the computer is off. He used to use the old mechanical timed switches to make the house look occupied on vactions; now he uses this Firecracker stuff.

Warning: The special $6 Firecracker deal may be only for new customers. My dad, who had bought their stuff before, ordered a set. He just got his credit card bill, and had been charged $20. I don't know if this was a clerical error, or whether the that's the price for existing customers. Still, that's less than he'd pay for an extra lamp module and appliance module.

From what I understand, X-10 is just one supplier of these home automation gizmos. They sell several types of wall modules, switches, and controllers, as well as security equipment. They also have stuff for letting you control your computer from your TV. I know Radio Shack sells compatible gear, and I'm sure someone has written Linux controller software for some of the existing control units.

Anyway, I may get some more of their home automation stuff in the future (a keychain remote to turn on the lights before I go in might be nice). Which is the point: this deal is just to give you a taste of their products. This new computer module seems to have more novelty value than anything else, but the remote control and switches aren't bad.

I bought one of these sets during the ZDNet offer a few weeks ago. Here's what you get:

• The serial computer interface: a pass-through DB9 module, about 1"x.75"x.5". Has no noticable effect on the pen pad I have connected to that port, although I have yet to use both at the same time.
• 1 transciever/appliance module: 3"x3"x1", plugs into a 2-prong polarized outlet. It serves two purposes: First, it receives the signals from whatever remote you're using, and relays it into your electrical system. Second, it acts as a remotely-switchable outlet for any appliance you plug into it. You must plug this in, even if you don't used its switched outlet. there's a button on the module to override it.
• 1 Lamp module: 3"x3"x1", plugs into a polarized outlet. Doesn't act as a transciever, but does allow you to switch and dim a lamp plugged into it. You can override this module by switching the lamp off and back on.
• 1 Remote control: 3"x4"x.75", allows you to switch appliances on or off, or adjust lights, individually.
• The Firecracker software: Win95/98/NT program to be downloaded from X-10's web site. (No source, before you ask.) Simulates a remote control. In fact, the default interface looks exactly like the aforementioned remote. Also lets you print a label strip for the (physical) remote, but doesn't do much else. Most importantly, no timer or macro functions.
• A ton of e-mail. X-10 sends me ads daily, which would be annoying if I didn't just filter it into its own folder. If you're interested in using their other home automation products, these ads have some huge (50-75%) markdowns from their normal prices. Other than their own ads, I don't think my spam level has gone up since I ordered, but I'm not certain.

My experiences: I've only used the computer interface for pure novelty value. But then, I live in an apartment where I can walk to any appliance in the apartment almost as quick as I can load the program. Also, most of the electrical stuff in my apartment is either stuff I don't want to switch at the socket, or lighting from convenient wall switches. For the most part, I only really use the handheld remote and a lamp dimmer which is currently hooked up to a lamp in a hard-to-reach corner. I like the kit for that, but don't think I would have spent any more than the $6 S&H that I did.

On the other hand, my dad is more heavily into the X-10 stuff. At his house, he's replaced several wall switches for ceiling lights with X-10 wall switches. He has a more advanced controller package and software (again, Windows-only) which does have timer functions, macros, etc. Although the software allows him to program the controller, the controller itself operates independently of the computer and will continue timer functions, etc. wehn the computer is off. He used to use the old mechanical timed switches to make the house look occupied on vactions; now he uses this Firecracker stuff.

Warning: The special $6 Firecracker deal may be only for new customers. My dad, who had bought their stuff before, ordered a set. He just got his credit card bill, and had been charged $20. I don't know if this was a clerical error, or whether the that's the price for existing customers. Still, that's less than he'd pay for an extra lamp module and appliance module.

From what I understand, X-10 is just one supplier of these home automation gizmos. They sell several types of wall modules, switches, and controllers, as well as security equipment. They also have stuff for letting you control your computer from your TV. I know Radio Shack sells compatible gear, and I'm sure someone has written Linux controller software for some of the existing control units.

Anyway, I may get some more of their home automation stuff in the future (a keychain remote to turn on the lights before I go in might be nice). Which is the point: this deal is just to give you a taste of their products. This new computer module seems to have more novelty value than anything else, but the remote control and switches aren't bad.

And speaking of the CM11A and discounts, it appears that they are offering their ActiveHome kit for $50 (normally $130).

--
Timur Tabi
Remove "nospam_" from email address

Best part is, I haven't read the manual yet, and it's all done under Linux.

ya know, it's ironic how mr gates is insisting of running everything of his operating system

i do recall him building his house around the same ideas... i also recall the tremendous amounts of problems his NT servers caused =)

"bill gates" +home +problems
the net's just full of em'...

what about x10? x10.com .. they have some pretty cool shit