Messages

1

Users / Re: Insteon vs. X10

« on: November 12, 2008, 02:06:32 pm »

Perfect - thanks for the detailed replies. I'll probably start with the CM11A and upgrade from there.

One more question regarding phase couplers. The Insteon Phase coupler claims to couple X10 signals as well as Insteon signals. i wonder if the X10 phase couplers will couple Insteon signals as well? As expected, they are cheaper. In fact one guy on eBay appears to simply be selling the correct capacitor (just the capacitor) for like $1.50. I assume the X10 couplers would couple Insteon signals if they used the same frequency and thus the capacitor would let through both since they were on the same frequency. Does anyone know? If not, I'll probably just go with the slightly more expensive Insteon couple to be sure. Thanks again.

2

Users / Insteon vs. X10

« on: November 11, 2008, 10:14:14 pm »

I'm completely new to Linux MCE, but I've searched and read through discussions on this topic; I think I may have confused myself with information overload. It sounds like Insteon is the best way to go, although much more expensive. Since it is backwards compatible with X10, I might start with X10 and plan to upgrade in pieces later. What I don't quite understand is this whole "bi-directional" business. Insteon was designed to be bi-directional, which I can understand could be very helpful, given that X10 is sometimes unstable, according to some. So with Insteon (using the Powerlinc modem a/k/a PLM), every time a light is turned on, the Core will ultimately receive a notification that the light is now on (whether the light was turned on by the Core or by someone flipping the switch in the room with the light). Will this be true even if the light switch is an X10 unit and not an Insteon switch?

In any case, X10 apparently does not do this, so with X10, when the Core turns on a light, it has no way of verifying that the light actually turned on. Also, when someone goes into a room and turns a light on, the Core has no way of knowing this.

But what about Devices that are designed to send information to the Core, rather than the other way around? For example, a motion sensor is designed to tell the Core that motion has been detected - the Core must be "listening" to that sensor (compared to the light which must be "listening" to the Core). So if I had an X10 adapter CM11A interfacing my Home Automation devices to the Core, would the Core be able to even sense motion devices at all?

In other words, my question is whether using a a CM11A would allow me to interface with cheap X10 motion sensors, thermostat adapters, etc. and not just light controls. If it will allow this I'm considering getting this cheaper adapter to start with and later upgrade to the Insteon PLM.  Any help, comments, or thoughts would be appreciated!