X10 home networks use the electrical wiring of the home for communication. It's an industry standard for home automation networks. Make your house look lived-in while you're away and even wake up each morning by scheduling your bed-side lamp to turn on! Easily expand your X10 automation system and customize it to your exact needs and wants!
The technology behind X10 has been developed over several decades and remains popular today despite competition from other standards. X10 utilizes either wired power line or wireless radio communication methods. With X10 home automation kits and software you get everything you need! Turn lights on and off from anywhere in your home, turn security lighting and sprinkler systems on and off when you choose, dim lights – even if they couldn’t dim before – and much, much more! Control your lights, appliances, home theater and more by remote, motion sensor or PC with X10 home automation kits and accessories! This is cool stuff! X10 Equipment X10 equipment is the best-known (and probably best-selling) home automation equipment around. It may surprise you that it is also very inexpensive, and that inexpensive computer interfaces are available, and that there are (free) open-source software packages to work with that computer interface. An X10 home automation environment utilizes sensors and control devices that communicate with each other and manage various household appliances. X10 devices most commonly interface with:
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X10 Network Protocol
Several X.10 protocol commands work specifically with lighting systems to control their brightness. Others also support temperature control and security systems. X10 devices communicate over either wired power line or wireless radio links.
If you are interested in more details about the protocol, please go to the following web page: http://www.x10.com/support/technology1.htm
X10 Devices
Devices communicating using the X10 protocol can then be controlled by your Linux system. This brings sprinklers and timers, thermostats, humitiy sensors, motion sensors, security gates, security cameras, nany cams, lighting (simulated home occupation), home theaters, ... under the control of your Linux computer. Plug-ins also exist to support the MP3 player XMMS to create an MP3 juke box controlled via a remote (RF or IR). Sixteen home codes each supporting 16 devices for a total of 256 devices on a single electrical network can be supported. X10 networks have limited range, are insecure (no encryption) and may be suceptible to electrical noise. The network is required to all be on the same 2 phases of a 3 phase input circuit which enters the house (typical).
X10 devices can transmit (TX), receive (RX) or both (2 way). The X10 devices which receive signals generally turn devices on or off. Some may receive a level accociated with the "on" (dimmer). The two way devices can report their status (on/on level/off).
| Device | Capabilities | X10 model number |
|---|---|---|
| Appliance module | on/off | AM486 |
| Lamp module | on/off/dimable | LM14A |
| Motion sensor | MS13A | |
| Firecracker | DB9 serial port transmitter | CM17A |
| PC receiver | Serial port device | MR26A |
| Computer interface | Two way controller TX/RX | CM11A |
| Remote | Infrared (IR) and Radio Frequency (RF) |
Source: http://compnetworking.about.com | http://www.yolinux.com
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