Re: X10 Home Automation and Physical Security

Agreed on all up to this point.

WARNING: The following is off topic.

Here we differ.  True Muslims are not terrorists.  The
unfortunate truth is that more people have been killed in the
name of Christ (who certainly preached peace) than any other
religion.  I happen to believe in Christ.  I also believe that a
lot of people who go around proclaiming themselves to be
Christians while practicing hatred and violating every principle
of Christianity are as bad as any terrorist who claims to be
Muslim.

Side note:  The "Christian Right" is neither.

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Regards,
Robert L Bass

Bass Burglar Alarms
The Online DIY Store
http://www.BassBurglarAlarms.com

I agree with Robert about X-10 being easily breched and I'd like to
add, accidently triggered by your neighbors!!!

An added suggestion is to switch your external outlets.  In my house,
all of the external outlets are controlled by a wall switch to prevent
electricity theft and control Christmas lights, etc. from the warm
interior of the house.

Tag Line: If Islam is a religion of peace then sticks of dynamite
are only candles!

Good thinking.  A little paranoia goes a long way.

Yes.

***Never*** allow your security to be controlled via X10.
There's no protection against inadvertent or deliberate acts
which can disable your protection.

There are filters which can block X10 signals coming in from
external outlets.  However, the technology is too easily breached
to be used as an input to your security system.  As a
convenience, you can certainly use X10 outputs from the security
or home automation system to control non-critical services.
Anything that is as critical as security, fire alarm, etc.,
should not depend on X10 nor (for that matter) should X10 be the
only means of operating anything critical.

If you need help designing something, feel free to post more
questions here or ask me directly.  I run an online store selling
security and home automation stuff.  Email is the best way to
reach me as I'm presently (Jan-Apr, 2006) in Brazil.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

Bass Burglar Alarms
The Online DIY Store
http://www.BassBurglarAlarms.com

I am new to the automation arena and have a computer security background
so I am thinking with my "paranoid" hat on now.

Our house has a couple of external outlets for convience while doing yard
work and other activities. Looking to install some X10 devices and maybe a
security system in the future.

Could someone with physical access potentially impact the X10 devices on
the inside of the house? I am generally thinking lights and appliances but
also the security system if the control panel is able to talk X10. I
realize that they would need some kind of controller and/or laptop while
standing in front of our house.

Any thoughts?

Kevin