x10 vs wireless network

It depends on what you mean by "X10 system"? X-10 light and appliance modules and switches use 120kHz on the powerline and 310MHz for wireless.

If you're talk>Since they both use 2.4Ghz, is there a problem with trying to set up an

Since it sounds like your talking about the X10 Wireless cameras that operate at 2.4 GHz, then it is my understanding that you will have trouble as the X10 wireless camera uses the entire 2.4GHz range. I haven't had the camera on while my 802.11 network has been running so I can't say for sure.

As Dave was pointing out the X10 power line controllers and modules do not interfere with the 802.11 network and the handheld RF devices don't interfere with and 802.11 network either.

Aha! The X10 stuff should work okay if I use 110V-outlet-based equipment, eh?

Overall, what is your opinion of how the X10 equipment works when being controlled by a computer?

I want to have a system that mainly controls lights -- dimming, and turning on when someone walks into an area (temporarily lighting up stairways, etc.). I'd also like a pseudo-emergency setting that turns on all the outside lights and many of the inside lights.

While I'm at it, I think I'll have the computer control the four HVAC zones in the house.

Thanks,

Lew

Neil Cherry wrote:

!@#$% you just threw a hand grenade into a mine field! ;-)

I'm one of X10's critics, it can be tempermental but can be controlled. While I can control the sending and receiving of signals I can't control X10's quality (other venders have better quality). I have a switch in the garage that needs to be 'woken up' by manually using it every once in a while then it works fine for months. I don't think it was meant for a garage environment (near outside usage). Also their lamp module has a high bulb burn out rate (certain low watt bulbs purn out faster if on a lamp module than on an appliance module).

This is just a matter of getting the correct hardware and software. But you'll need to do some programming. How much progamming depends on the software you use.

I saw this reported before, but really don't understand the mechanism. The turn on surge is a bulb killer, and that should be the same for either type of module. Some bulbs will "sing" when dimmed. Maybe that mechanical vibration causes the life to be shortened. But that would be the same on any dimmer module, not just X10. There is certainly nothing unique about the X10 protocol that would cause bulb life to be shortened.

We actually have experienced very good life with incandescent bulbs here. All our X10 switches are the Leviton type that ramp up and down over several seconds. I also do that with plug-in modules via a series of bright or dim commands from the Ocelot. (For this to work, they are set to max dim instead of off.)

Jeff

You may have read my report, I'm not aware of anyone else report this problem (though others may have it too).

I think it may be the X10 quality as opposed to the protocol both the lmap module and wall switch (cheap push button one) are made by X10 and not the Pro stuff.

Mine are turned off and I never use the dim or bright commands. It was simply a matter of convience that I used the lamp module for the hutch lamps. The switch was used in the garage because it was so ugly I wouldn't use it in the house.