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From: stv@qantel.UUCP (Steve Vance@ex2499)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: BSR X10 Powerhouse: it's time to buy
Message-ID: <703@qantel.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 24-Sep-86 23:47:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: qantel.703
Posted: Wed Sep 24 23:47:00 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 25-Sep-86 08:01:23 EDT
Reply-To: stv@qantel.UUCP (Steve Vance@ex2499)
Organization: MDS Qantel, Hayward, CA
Lines: 60

After reading the recommendations and reviews in this newsgroup on the
subject, I recently sent off for the X10 Powerhouse unit from DAK
Industries, to control all of my BSR modules, which my house was already
full of. 

When it arrived, I was delighted beyond my expectations.  I could now
control all the devices in my home, to turn on and off multiple times
per day, not just the 8 devices/2 times-per-day I was limited to by my
BSR Timer unit.  It will address up to 256 devices, although I still
have less than 16 (having doubled up on some numbers) so that I can use
the same house code on all three of my manual control units. 

But wait, there's more! They only billed me for $19.90 + $4 postage and
handling, instead of the $49.90 I was expecting to pay.  I called their
Customer Service 800 number and complained: "Hey, what's going on, this
is only 40% of what I expected to pay?", and was told that this was the
new price, they were closing them out.  Sure enough, a week later
(namely Sep 10), I got a special catalog, that had the unit listed for
$19.90.  It is a final close-out. 

I'll tell you, I almost paid $125 for the Heathkit equivalent of this
device a year ago.  And, as the previous article said, this unit is
better than that one in several ways.  It originally listed for $129. 
It was a BARGAIN at $49.90.  At $19.90, I'm going to buy a few more,
just for posterity.  If you have an extra serial port on your computer,
as someone pointed out, you can use one of these for a battery-backed-up
clock! Someone posted a program to net.sources last week so that you
could control the device with any computer, not just the ones that DAK
has special software for.  I mean, you should really want one of these
things! Even if you just want a couple of lamps to turn on and off at
random times in your house, or turn something on or off at an exact
minute, like a tape recorder to tape something. 

DAK is closing out all their BSR stuff.  The lamp and appliance modules
are $11.90.  Meanwhile, Radio Shack just started selling some
lower-priced lamp and appliance modules, for $13.95 instead of $18.95. 
They are beige instead of brown. 

To order, call 800-325-0800, anytime.  Use Visa or Mastercard.  There is
a 30-day, no-questions-asked money back guarantee on all DAK stuff.

      ---type of computer--  --order #--
	Commodore 64/128	4378
	Apple IIE/IIC		4379
	IBM PC or clone		4410
	Macintosh		4411

	Lamp module		9779 ($11.90+$1 p&h)
	Appliance Module	9781 ($11.90+$1)
	Wall Switch Module	9780 ($12.90+$1)

If you have technical questions about this unit, you can call their
Technical Support Dept: 800-272-3200, or you can message me or one of
the other guys that posted information on this device. 
-- 

Steve Vance
Qantel Corporation, Hayward, CA
UUCP:	{dual,hplabs,ihnp4,lll-crg}!qantel!stv	    ATTMAIL:	!stv
ARPA:	dual!qantel!stv@ucbvax.berkeley.edu	    COMPUSERVE:	72226,1603