dennisg@felix.UUCP (Dennis Griesser) (02/02/88)
This posting is a potpourri of notes and observations on the X-10 home control system. Some of the information came from "X-10 Powerhouse Newsletter", a flyer dated 9/29/87 that X-10 just sent me. Thanks to Pete Fales (psfales@ihlpe.ATT.COM) for his 1/3/88 repost of my X-10 bibliography. He saved me the trouble of digging it up myself. X-10 (USA) does do business directly with the public. Small quantities are not a problem. You can call them at (800) 526-0027. They can take telephone orders via MasterCard, Visa, or American Express. Mail orders can pay by card or check. They have a flyer that they can send out, too. Their direct-mail prices are not very good, though. They want list price for everything. That's $49.99 for the burgular alarm module. Heath wants $39.99 for the same thing. They also want $4.00 for shipping and handling, plus 6% tax for New Jersey residents. Here's the direct-mail price list from X-10 Powerhouse. CP290A computer interface - Apple IIe/c $49.99 CP290C computer interface - Commodore 64/128 $49.99 CP290M computer interface - Macintosh $49.99 CP290P computer interface - IBM $49.99 RC5000 RF controller system $49.99 RT504 radio transmitter $19.99 RT501 radio receiver $29.99 TC262 timer, w/battery backup $39.99 SC503 maxi controller $24.99 TR2700 telephone responder $39.99 BA284 burglar alarm $49.99 MC260 mini controller $11.99 TH2867 thermostat controller set $39.99 LM465 lamp module $14.99 LM486 appliance module, 2-pin $14.99 LM466 appliance module, 3-pin $15.99 WS467 wall switch module $14.99 WS4777 3-way wall switch module $24.99 CS277 extra remote switch for 3-way $7.99 SR227 wall receptacle module $24.99 HD243 220V 15A appliance $19.99 HD245 220V 20A appliance $24.99 Many of the controllers that you buy come with a mail-in coupon that gets you a module directly from X-10 at a reduced rate. You return the card with your warranty registration and a check. Tax and postage are included in the prices, which I remember as LM465 lamp module $10 LM486 appliance module $10 HD243 220V 15A appliance $15 HD245 220V 20A appliance $15 This is a good deal, especially the 220V appliance modules which list at $20 and $25 and rarely found discounted. Examine the packing material carefully for a coupon next time you buy a timer, base station, or computer interface. Various third-parties sell the X-10 computer interface with software and cable for other computers. Some include ROM cartridges. Call for details: TI99/44A - TEX-COMP (818) 366-6631 Atari 8-bit - Terrific Corp (617) 232-2317 Apple IIGS - Mainframe Software (207) 799-8812 Apple II+ - KADO Systems (512) 990-2390 Heathkit is a good source of some of the stranger X-10 parts, such as the thermostat and burglar alarm interface. These parts can be hard to find at other outlets. Heath takes credit-card orders at (800) 253-0570. If you have a catalog more than a couple of months old, they have recently re- numbered the X-10 parts. Everybody wants to know about a wall switch module that handles flourescent lights, ceiling fans, and appliances. X-10 makes one that Leviton sells under their "Decora" line. X-10 literature that mentions this part explicitly mentions that it is available only through electrical distributors and NOT through X-10. Leviton Manufacturing Company 59-25 Little Neck Parkway Little Neck, NY 11362 (800) 824-3005 (outside New York) (718) 821-7770 Sears still carries X-10 parts. Contrary to a recent posting, they still carry the dual-switch in-wall incadescent lamp switch. At least my local Sears had quite a pile of them. GE seems to be getting out of the X-10 control business. DAK is "closing out" GE lamp and appliance monules for $6.90, an exceptional price, when you buy one of the X-10 wireless remotes. DAK can be reached at (800) 423-2866 (inquiries) (800) 325-0800 (orders only!) Their regular prices are $10.90 for appliance and $9.90 for lamp modules. DAK changes a dollar shipping on each module. U.S. General, a mail-order tool company just started selling X-10 stuff. Their prices are silly, but it's nice to see the line getting wider exposure. Radio Shack continues to carry the modules, mini controller, and timer. Lamp and appliance modules are $12.95 apiece nowadays. They have gone on sale in October of the last two years for around $9. Radio Shack has a new item that lends credence to notion of GE's exodus from X-10 land. A flyer dated 1/25/88 offers a "Plug n Power HomeMinder" for $59.95. The copy claims an original dealer cost of $287. A blow-out if ever there was one. And the picture shows two name plates. One says "Plug n Power", Radio Shack's name for the system. The other says "HomeMinder". The close-out GE modules were marked that way. This unit sits on top of your TV and generates video to create a menu through your set. Commands are entered through a hand-held IR remote. The base unit has no real controls on it. A key on the remote switches between TV and HomeMinder. Presumably the base station contains a video switcher. The base station derives power from the AC line, but battery backup of settings and schedules is provided. The HomeMinder lets you turn X-10 modules on and off. Lamp modules may be brightened and dimmed. The unit also functions as a programmable timer. No mention is made of how many events can be entered. The HomeMinder also hooks up to your telephone. You can call into it and perform normal X-10 functions through an ordinary touch-tone telephone. In addition, you can leave "one of two messages". Sounds like this means that you can punch in a number where you can be reached and/or a time at which you will return. The messages can be retreived through the video menu. Is the HomeMinder any good? All I know is what I read in the ads. It looks like it would work as well as the regular X-10 timer, with a more spiffy user interface. It looks as functional as the X-10 telephone responder, but without the need for a remote beeper. Everything else is gingerbread.