Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!hao!gatech!purdue!umd5!mimsy!oddjob!gargoyle!ihnp4!homxb!antique!dh
From: dh@antique.UUCP (David N. Horn)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: X-10 remote control
Message-ID: <2021@antique.UUCP>
Date: 5 Jan 88 23:51:06 GMT
References: <1530@zodiac.UUCP> <171@conexch.UUCP> <7769@eddie.MIT.EDU>
Reply-To: dh@antique.UUCP (David N. Horn)
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel, NJ
Lines: 56
Keywords: X10, X-10 Powerhouse, power line carrier control, HOMENET
Summary: Info on support chips, and source of info on protocols, support SW, and HOMENET system. Also experience interfacing with BSR X-10

>In article <171@conexch.UUCP> root@conexch.UUCP (Larry Dighera) writes:
>>In article <1530@zodiac.UUCP> jshelton@ADS.ARPA (John L. Shelton) writes:
>>>
>>>Can anyone refer me to published information about the X-10 remote
>>>control standard?  I'd be interested in any of the following:
>>>
>>>1.  Description of the protocol
>>>2.  Hobbyist articles describing construction projects
>>>3.  Reviews of manufactured X-10 devices.
>>>

>>DAC Industries Inc. (800-325-0800) used to offer an X10 controller that
>>could be driven by a computer system via an RS232C interface.  Called 
>>The X10 Powerhouse, it provides the capability of controlling 256 remote
>>modules.  The cost was about $25/each.

>It's called the CP290, and it's still available from Heathkit and many
>other places.  X-10 Inc. offers software for the IBM PC, Commodore
>64/128, Apple II, and the Mac.  Radio Shack used to offer their
 etc....

I have in front of me a Signetics Linear (Integrated Circuit) Data Manual, Vol.
1: Communications (1987).
On page 5-26 is a preliminary specification for the NE5050 "Power Line Modem",
which is used, among other things, to transmit data over a.c. power lines.
Following on pages 5-30 to 5-43 is an Application Note (AN1951) called
"NE5050 Power Line Modem Application Board Cookbook", which contains detailed
application information and several example circuits.
On page 5-42 is the following paragraph:
"General Electric's HOMENET operation[1].
HOMENET is a software package copyrighted by General Electric Company for the
purposes of power line and twisted pair communication in a residential
environment. The SW package is called the HOMENET Link Layer and is compatible
with the X-10 Home Control System manufactured by BSR and GE. 
... (details ommited)...
Note:
[1] HOMENET is a Trademark of GE Corp. The HOMENET Link Layer is available as
a SW package with the Commodore 64 PC. Current version no. available by
contacting: The Industry Standards Staff, General Electric Corporation,
Fairfield, CT 06431."


I also have played about with my home BSR system control module (actually
obtained from Radio Shack). I found that the keyboard is implemented as a
matrix switch, and I was able to operate the switchpoints via opto-isolators
connected across the matrix. I.e. one opto-isolator is used for every switch
that you want to operate remotely. The opto-isolator can be driven from any
current source, such as a parallel port (NOT a printer port, you will probably
have to build your own, and I do not know how long the switch has to be closed
for to be recognised) on a PC. BTW, the use of opto-isolators is strongly
advised for safety.

I hope the above information is useful. You can probably get the Signetics
Application Note by itself, though it does not contain details of the protocol.

	Dave Horn, AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel, vax135!dh