Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watnot!watmath!clyde!rutgers!sri-unix!husc6!necntc!ames!oliveb!felix!fritz!dennisg From: dennisg@fritz.UUCP Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: How does BSR stuff work? Message-ID: <4124@fritz.felix.UUCP> Date: Tue, 7-Apr-87 13:24:37 EST Article-I.D.: fritz.4124 Posted: Tue Apr 7 13:24:37 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 11-Apr-87 03:42:30 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: 74 My mailer couldn't reply to sun!hoptoad!gnu, and this is general enough to post, so... --- How do I actually use X-10 stuff? I've only got a one-bedroom apartment, but it's pretty thoroughly wired with the X-10 line. Two lamps and a fan in the living room, a light in the kitchen, two lights and a heating pad (for my frog) in the bedroom. I have the timer, but unplugged it when I got the computer interface. The interface really blows the timer away! I also bought the telephone interface, but unplugged it after never having occasion to use it in two years. It's cheap enough to leave in, on the off-chance that I might use it, but some of my friends leave the phone ringing long enough to get the X-10 box, and think that it's a malfunctioning answering machine. I have control consoles in the living room and bedroom. These are the older tall style, with ultrasonic receivers. The kitchen has no base console yet, but the ultrasonic wand is kept there. It works nicely bounced off the hall wall into the living room. The bathroom is sadly devoid of X-10 equipment. The building is old, and the only AC outlet in the bathroom is built into the lamp over the mirror. Both the lamp and outlet are controlled by the wall switch (ugh). If I put an X-10 wall switch in, I'll have to disable the plug, lest a hair dryer nuke the switch. If I plug a module into the outlet, it's at the mercy of the wall switch. Sigh. I have another control console on order from DAK, along with a couple more modules. I believe that modules go for around $11, command consoles for $9.95, plus tax and shipping. Always nice to have spares... The only problem with the system is that the control console sometimes locks up and refuses to take ultrasonic commands or keyboard input. This has only been observed once or twice, and only when the TV is on. I suspect that high frequency noise from the TV jams the ultrasonic input. I moved the console a couple of feet and it hasn't happened since. --- More info about ultrasonic remote The ultrasonic wand does offer a complete set of controls: 16 units, on/off, dim/bright, all_lights_on/all_off. It takes one 9-V alkaline battery, and sucks real hard on it. Even without using the wand, you only get about 4 months before you have to replace it. Constant use drains it quickly. Carbon batteries don't last more than about a week and decrease range. I performed some minor surgery on my remote, putting a slide switch in series with the battery. Now it last a very long time :-) ! If you take this route, get a very small switch and carefully pick a place to install it. They don't leave a lot of room. I put mine on the right side, about half-way along the length of the unit. One side of the switch touches the case seam. It's handy to my thumb, holding the wand in my right palm, pressing buttons with left hand. I can get about 20 feet from my ultrasonic wand, line-of-sight, with fresh alkaline battery. You can bounce it off walls to go around corners. Perhaps the remote would offer better range and lower power if it used infra-red. Converting it should be easy, but I don't plan to try anytime soon. Note: the Sears control consoles, old tall style, do not have ultrasonic receivers in them. Saved a buck, I guess. I don't know if the new slim control consoles speak ultrasonic. The mini controlers, I think do not. --- Responses to sun!hoptoad!gnu Does your mention of Sears closing out X-10 stuff mean that the stuff is on sale for cheap? The radio control model sounds nice, but it looks like I need to live in a house to take advantage of it. Should be nice attached to the garage door opener...