OPTON@UHVAX1.UH.EDU (03/25/88)
Talking about the appliance controllers reminded me of this. Off and on for the last couple of years, I have been wanting to design and build some stuff that will respond to BSR X-10 controllers, but I don't know what their coding protocol is. Anyone know where I can find out? Lee Thomison BITNET:OPTON@UHVAX1 landline: (713) 749-3127
dennisg@felix.UUCP (Dennis Griesser) (04/06/88)
In article <8803241752.AA10155@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> OPTON@UHVAX1.UH.EDU writes: >Talking about the appliance controllers reminded me of this. Off and on >for the last couple of years, I have been wanting to design and build >some stuff that will respond to BSR X-10 controllers, but I don't know >what their coding protocol is. Anyone know where I can find out? This question crops up every couple of months. Here's a repost of my X-10 bibliography dated 1 Apr 87 01:23:13 GMT. [Parenthetical notes signed "psf" come from a followup by psfales@ihlpe.ATT.COM (Pete Fales), dated 3 Jan 88] o "Computerize a Home" by Steve Ciarcia Byte, January 1980, page 28 Notes: An overview of the X-10 system is presented, along with some photos and block diagrams of the commercial system. Special attention is given to the ultrasonic command wand which communicates with the base station and can control any of the units under the house code that the base station is set to. One suggestion is presented that uses a pair of CMOS MUX chips to simulate matrix closures in the control keypad. This approach is discouraged. Steve then goes on to describe an interface that takes commands from a parallel port and sends them ultrasonically to the X-10 box. $80, plus cable, interface, and power. [Includes a complete description of the format of the ultrasonic signals - psf] o "Plug-in Remote Control System" by Steve Ciarcia Radio Electronics, September 1980, page 47 Notes: Better details on the inside of the X-10 system, including schematics of the base station, lamp module, and appliance module. No buildable project, just lotsa nice info. o "A $5.25 Interface to the BSR X-10 Home Control System" by Alan Trimble Byte, September 1980, page 314 Notes: A Z-80 assembly routine is presented to directly drive a 40 kHz transducer. This provides a software-intensive, but low budget way to do what Steve Ciarcia did in Byte, January 1980, page 28. o "Apple X10 Control" by Wayne Arczynski Byte, December 1981, page 469 Notes: A 6502 version of Alan Trimble's software-driven ultrasonic transducer. This version is intended for the Apple II. o "Ask Byte" by Steve Ciarcia Byte, December 1981, page 254 Notes: More information about using relays to "press" buttons on an existing X-10 base station. Also a suggestion about bypassing the ultrasonic link by injecting the signal into the control circuitry via an opto- isolator. o "An 8080-Based Remote Appliance Controller" by David Staehlin Byte, January 1982, page 239 Notes: An optoisolator is used to couple a home computer into an existing base station. Most of the article is fancy control software to make it all work. A more recent article (Radio Electronics 1985, I think) describes a dedicated single-board computer for home control purposes. It includes direct generation of X-10 signals and injection into the AC line. A bit over a year ago, Steve Ciarcia described his "Home Run" computer system with similar capabilities. I can look these up, if you need them. [ "Build The Home Run Control System - Part 2: The Hardware" by Steve Ciarcia Byte, May 1985, page ??? Notes: This article provides a detailed description of the signals that are sent over the AC line. - psf]