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From: dennisg@fritz.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re:  How does BSR stuff work?
Message-ID: <4060@fritz.felix.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 31-Mar-87 20:23:13 EST
Article-I.D.: fritz.4060
Posted: Tue Mar 31 20:23:13 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 4-Apr-87 06:31:33 EST
References: <3271@ece-csc.UUCP> <1929@hoptoad.uucp> <4012@fritz.felix.UUCP>
Reply-To: dennisg@fritz.UUCP (Dennis Griesser)
Organization: FileNet Corp., Costa Mesa, CA
Lines: 61

Here's part 2 of the X-10 information, a bibliography

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.

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 appliaance 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.


Thanks for the chance to pay the net back for help I've gotten over the years.

[Disclaimer- I like the X-10 system, but don't make a dime whether you
buy it or not.]