Homeowner Forum / Home Automation / January 2005

I am thinking of buying the M1 and wanted to get some feedback from
"those that went before".  Anyone buy the M1 instead of the M1G
(Automationman?, Spike?)  Any regrets?  Have you run up against
limitations of the M1 that the M1G would have solved?  What have you

Back some months ago I had posted this same message asking for a
suggested color standard when using Cat5e for phone wiring.
Meaning... which colored pairs of the Cat5e match up with the old
style Black/Red/Green/Yellow phone wiring.

I bought a completed 'prototype' BX24-AHT board from MBX-USA last
June, and some eggbeater antenna parts.  I realized I don't have any
instructions on assembly, and went to download some.
Sometimes I can get into Embed-X to the BX24-AHT files section, but

I need a humidistat with some sort of computer interface (serial? network?)
monitor the humidity in a large room.  If I can find one that's inexpensive
enough I'd like to get a couple.  Any recommendations?
                                ---john.

This is going to sound like a very dumb question to many... but when
wiring a new phone or network jack into a wall plate, what is the
suggested placement of the plastic release tab?  Top of the jack, or
bottom of the jack?

I'm looking for small flat monitors, which I can put in my kitchen, so I
can keep up on the game when making a beer run. (in or out)
4 to 8" range, video or rf input. TIA

I have a firecracker interface. This interface seem to work on older
computers, but not on new ones. It works on an old K6-500, but not on
a Pentium 4, Athlon XP 1700, and Athlon XP 2400.
Have you encountered the same problem?

X10 are offering a free starter kit:
http://www.x10.com/promotions/x10starter-freeoffer.html
I started with this kit, and it really is free!
Bob

I'm new, still getting my bearings and reading through all the old
posts......
I'm getting ready to cut into my first floor ceiling to install recessed
lights. I figured since I am in there I might as well run some wiring that

I am wall mounting a Sharp LCD TV which has an AC Adapter brick (12v dc
/ 5.0A). I need to splice the cord from the brick to the TV in order to
run it through the wall. I saw another post here for using 16/4 wire to
accomplish the same with a PDA.

Just a few questions about setting up a motherboard.
a)Are all ATX motherboards now standard fitting for all new cases?
b)Is it possible to purchase an atx motherboard without having the
input audio inputs/outputs?

Does anyone make a noise filter that's small enough to fit in a light box
(octagon)?
I replaced a couple of CF screw ins a month ago and they have started to
block the signal. They did not do this when new!

I'm a new home owner and currently shopping for a home burglary/fire
monitoring and automation system. The home does not have existing
security system/wiring and I prefer the one I install doesn't require
too much wiring. I'm looking for a system that is easy to install and

I'd like to know which one i must buy... the Powerlinc II Serial
interface (1132B) or Powerlinc USB interface (1132U)?
I'm a programmer, and the serial interface look very interesting to
program, unfortunatly the USB version don't have any SDK available...

I've been thinking about this issue myself for a long time now. I
agree, motion detectors completely fail in this respect.
I think there are, in fact, at least five expensive ways to do
occupancy detection right now. Including software to monitor video