Homeowner Forum / Home Automation / October 2003

I just bought a 7 kW Generac automatic generator for my cottage (in spite of
the fact Generac in WI said that these were not available in Canada - I
called a few dealers and hey presto, next day delivery!)
So does anyone know if I can hook this generator up to my control systems or

I have a CP290 from the dark ages and I was interested in using it with
my extensive X-10 setup. However, I can't make the current version of
ActiveHome (v1.42) recognize it. Am I missing something? Are there some
CP290's so old that they don't work with newer software?

Posting this so that it may help others, plus I have yet to find a
solution and need help and input.
I have been a long time X10 fanatic (since the 70's? when it was
introduced by BSR) and finally in a new home, rural location (no one

I was wondering if anybody has tried hooking up one of those wireless
x10 cameras to a $10 solar panel from Harbor Freight.  In theory, it
should work, but I was wondering if anybody has actually tried it.
The x10 Xcam2 needs just under a watt and those cheap solar panels put

Question: How best/cheapest to hook electric circuits up to 802.11b. I
am making a simple electonic robot out of a radio controlled car and
want to send commands to it to turn left, right, go, stop from
software on my PC. I think 802.11b is the way to go so then it can be

Does anyone know of an internet retailer where I can get an ir543ah X10 to
IR controller?  I specifically want the ir543ah (i.e. not just the ir543),
which allows all house codes.  I tried Smarthome USA and they just can't
seem to get anything right - Nothing but difficulty with ...

Problem:  New construction, but neither the low voltage or high voltage guy
wanted to handle the front doorbell.  I at least got the low voltage guy to
run a Cat5 from the porch to the wiring closet.  Now I'm evaluating my
options.  These are what I've discovered so far:

Could sometime give me or point me to a primer for this?  How similar is it
to X-10?
Thx,
Mark

Does anyone know of an internet retailer where I can get an ir543ah X10 to
IR controller?  I specifically want the ir543ah (i.e. not just the ir543),
which allows all house codes.  I tried Smarthome USA and they just can't
seem to get anything right - Nothing but difficulty with ...

I am experimenting with different software packages for Home Automation. I
am trying to get the software to send an X10 command when the PC receives a
different X10 command through the CM11. For instance, I turn on lamp A3 with
the RF remote (received thru TM13) and another lamp A2 ...

I finally recieved my ActiveHome kit from X10. So much for FedEx shipping,
it took a bit longer than expected.
My question is this. I plugged in the lamp module and plugged a lamp into it
in the den. Installed the tranceiver module in a central location in the

Hi,
I'll be rewiring my existing house soon.  The original wiring only
puts phone in the LR, MBR and Kit of a 4BR house, and video only in
the LR and MBR.  I'm planning on putting in 2 drops, each with 2 CAT6

Searching through old postings I've come across a few shareware and hobby
software sites that were last modified in the late nineties. Can anyone
point me to good up-to-date shareware or X10 discussion sites out there?
Thanks,

I'm looking for an interface in the form of a touch panel.  The GUI will be
resident on a CPU, and then output to (what I'm hoping to find) a
touchpanel....similar to the touchpanels that Crestron and AMX sell.  I'm
trying to stay under the 10.4" standard.

Dont ask why (I suspect i am over complicating matters somewhat) but I am
thinking about attempting to control the central heating via pc.
To do this I need to take two tempreature readings (flow and return) and
feed this information to the PC (the capacity for a third room ...