Home automation gadgets for free

mamadrum writes "Firecracker is giving (today only) away a starter kit of PC controlled home automation relays and software. It uses a wireless connection between the PC serial port and an outlet, then modulates control signals on the house AC wiring. Seems to be an example of "give away the razors and charge for the blades" since you only get one relay. Still, adding relays is cheaper than opening up my walls to put in 10baseT. Old tech but decent price. "It's 5.90 for the shipping. Anyone played with this before?

Comments

My Firecracker Experience (The First Hit Is Free!)

[Industrial Disease]

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.

The problem with X10

[sean.k]

is that it's unreliable. If you live in a *new house* then you can expect everything to be fine&dandy. If you live in an *old* house or (far worse) an apartment, you can kiss your X10 reliability goodbye. As X10 uses the AC wiring to transmit signals, it's reliant on every wall socket being ultimately connected to every other wall socket via a reasonably clean power system. Many apartments and old homes have either multiple circut breakers or a bizarre power setup that doesn't work well with X10. Where I live now X10 doesn't work at all basically. That said, I've heard of farmers using X10 to control stuff out in fields from their home, so YMMV.

Linux HA and X10

[Ricochet]

Note: I don't make a cent off any of the products mentioned here and this is not an ad for any of the companies. I'm just attempting to add info to the discussion.

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)

FYI

[tgd]

NOT all X10 controllers work under Linux. A bunch of people posted on here about how there is X10 control software, and didn't mention that each one is controller-specific.

This is also NOT a good deal. This is perhaps $40 worth of stuff for $6. They often have deals for $50 that include a dozen or so control modules, and you certainly can't do much with just one. You're going to spend more money buying more modules than buying one of their other "deals".

That said, I'm going to buy one because I don't have a good hand-held controller. I've been using X10 stuff with one of their older control units that actually does work with Linux for several years. Let me repeat again, the linux software may not work with this unit.

You can do some pretty slick stuff with it though. The multi-remote that came with the package I bought works with one of my TV's and VCR's -- and I have perl scripts that are triggered by X10 events to check my voicemail, bring my network link up and down, and stuff like that. Nice webpage on a secure server lets me control the important things like all the halogen lights and my coffee pot, to keep from burnin my place down.

The coffee pot is the most useful. At noon at work when I can't remember if I shut it off I can call into my (also linux driven) voicemail, punch in a pass code and get to an IVR prompt that lets me control the X10 devices in my house (air conditioners, lights, coffee pot, and the three of the PCs on my network so I can turn them on, punch in the "connect to internet" code, and get files off them from remote...)

If you really want to play with home automation (and X10 is OLD technology, most new automated homes use MUCH higher tech stuff these days -- this is poor man's home automation) get one of their larger packages. As I said mine was around $50 or something, and included the computer interface, infared remote, keychain remote, motion sensor (computer tells me if I've got e-mail when I walk into the room), like six or eight light units, two or three appliance units, and a wall switch.