A little X10 advice for a newcomer. . .

[czucker]

Hi,
I am looking to get some control of the lighting in my TV room. . . I've built a HTPC for myself and use Girder to control certain aspects of it.

I would really love to be able to get girder to control the lights as well (from my HTPC remote). I'm having a little trouble figuring out exactly what I need though.

So far as I can tell I need to get 3 way X10 dimmers for the two light switches in the room and a firecracker to interface my PC with the X10 over RF.

Sound good so far?

My next thought is what if I want to operate the HTPC from an X10 controller. . . How can I go about doing this? What are the hardware requiremtns?

Any thoughts, advice or sources of good, simple info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

[Promixis]

Chris,

The firecracker is a one way device. You might want to do 2 way with the cm11a or usb powerlinc.

What remote do you want to use? What receiver?

[czucker]

Well as a remote I'm using the Hauppauge remote that comes with the PVR-350 and a Gyration Media Center Remote.

The Hauppauge remote is an IR remote that comes with it's own IR receiver. I'm ordering a USB UIRT today though. The IR blaster I have is not compatible with girder which is conversation ender.

The Gyration remote is RF and comes with a proprietary RF receiver.

In terms of having 2 way communication between the PC and X10 is there a way to do this whithout having to run a cable from the computer to an outlet?

My PC is not close to an outlet. I have an extension cord running a surge protector to the PC and stereo. X10 won't work through a surge protector. correct?

[Promixis]

A surge protector may stop x10. There are ways around this. You don't really need 2 way so the firecrack should be fine.

[czucker]

Alright then. . . So on top of the Firecracker I just need an X10 RF receiver that plugs into an open outlet?

And just out of curiosity. How can I get around the X10 through a surge protector issue?

[Promixis]

goto smarthome.com - they have some devices

[giova-v2]

i dont know the firecracker, here what i can say about X10 device:

By my own knowledge, you have 3 way to control your lights:

1) using an LM12 per lamp, that module is plugged into an outlet.

2) Using a Rail DIN module LD11has to be placed inside your (how to say that) Electrical box.

3) LW11 wall dimmer (can control 2 lights) but warning !!! with that device, U MUST have phase and neutral wires inside your wall's dimmer slot.

for thoses 3 solutions, U also need a CM11 that will be controled by Girder and will send order to your X10 modules, so control your lights. The CM11 is also pluged into an open outlet, and need a free COM port on your computer.