It seems I've created a monster.
----------
From: Mark Mumau[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, April 18, 1997 11:33 AM
To: 'Tracy Johnson'
Cc: Don Garabedian; Steve Murphy; Ronen Abramson
Subject: RE: Power LAN!
I have been sitting back trying to contain myself watching this thread get
out of hand. You are clearly a "softhead". X10 power line modulation was
developed over 20 years ago. Have you heard of CEBUS or LonWorks? All of
these protocols are for use in "smarthome" applications. Power line
modulation is not something new. It's here and been happening for quite a
while. Babbage's "hardware" computer, like the chicken, came first.
Software types always loose sight of the fact that no matter how virtual
you try to make your software, you will always need hardware to run it on.
Now maybe everyone will begin to understand why micro-p's have been ending
up in blenders, toasters and other appliances. The power co. would like to
be able to send codes over the grid to take superfluous loads offline
during peak hrs. CEBUS was the offspring of this direction. X10 is cheap
and will probably be eclipsed by other control protocols in 10 years, maybe
more. Why not sooner. Because X10 is very low cost. I have begun turning
my house into a "smarthome". When I'm finished it will be voice activated,
IR and RF and powerline controlled, and fully automated. By picking up any
phone in any room (or called in from anywhere in the world) a person can
turn on/off or dim any light or appliance or status any. If an intruder
trips the IR beams or ultrasonics located at strategic points on the
external of my house then certain lights will come on to let them know they
have already been detected. This deters them breaking a window which when
sensed escalates to the next level. Between IR detectors, glass breakage
and motion sensors with the usual door trips I seriously doubt anyone
except myself could even get close to my property unnoticed. And NO you
can't even hack my house as I've placed an X10 filter on the mains to block
both out going and incoming X10 signal. Wouldn't want Big Brother to
gather statistics on your life style would we. This automated system is
tapped into a local security co. for a low monthly fee and will phone the
appropriate service including cell phones etc. depending on the problem.
(smoke detectors, breached perimeters, temperature hot/cold, AC, spas,
sound, PA systems, water sensors, driveway sensors, alarms, etc) A small
X10 computer or PC can run the whole show for less than you'd expect.
Custom levels of security and home automation can be personalized and can
include integration of the audio/video entertainment system you have. Yep,
If you don't want to use the phone or computer then pull it up on the TV
and use the TV IR remote control to do it all from the couch. And here's
the root of this topic. ALL OF THIS IS DONE USING THE EXISTING POWER GRID,
NO EXTRA WIRES!!!!! You can even put the VGA PC screen on your TV and use
a wireless IR keyboard and keep the PC in the other room. Truly couch
potato territory.
Admittedly the CEBUS and other protocols are slow (approx. 10k bits/sec)
but I personally don't believe that if all I want to do is close or open a
relay (solid state or otherwise) I don't need a P5 or MMX with fluoroinerts
being pumped thru the heat sink to accomplish this. Besides, they already
sell the custom fiber-optic combination wiring for wiring a house for
Lan/Wans.
And with the expiration of the X10 patents this month (April 1997) you will
begin to see considerably more X10 products available in the coming year.
Also, any good hardware type knows that the reason a transformer hums is
because the laminates in the E-core act like an acoustical speaker and
vibrate(physically move in and out) as does the wire move when current
passes thru it. If it didn't, solenoids wouldn't exist. There's nothing
"virtual" about that! But then the limited possession of this kind of
knowledge is why there are so few really good hardware types left. If you
are truly interested I will give you the URL for the smarthome sight. And
of course if anyone is interested in automating their home even moderately,
please stop by and see me. I'm the one holding the real soldering iron in
my hand.
The Hardware Addict
|
