X10 ActiveHome SuperDeal

Ara Adjamian @ Jan.29.2000

Introduction:

Imagine this: You come home from a long day at work, while walking towards your home you press a button on your key-chain remote, and your house comes alive! Your stereo starts playing your favorite song, the lights in your house go on to welcome you, and as you walk into your house you notice that your computer and TV are both turned on. All this with just a press of a button, can this really be done you ask? Well we're here to tell you that it can be done, and it's easier than you think. The ActiveHome SuperDeal system from X10 allows you to control all of your lights and electrical appliances from your computer. For only $149.99 you can be one step closer to living like a king!.

Setup:

Setup is really as simple as 1, 2, 3…

1. Plug an appliance/light into an X10 module.
2. Set the House and Unit Code on the X10 module. (i.e. A3)
3. Plug into wall socket!

After that is done, the rest is a piece of cake! Modules can be turned on or off from the ActiveHome software or the X10 SuperREMOTE.

In order to access it from your computer, you must first plug your computer's power into the Computer Interface module, and then plug the module into a wall socket. Secondly, you must plug the Transceiver Appliance Module into a wall socket so that the Computer Interface can communicate with your house wiring. Afterwards, install the software from the provided CD-ROM. After that is all completed, you tell the software what kind of appliance is plugged into your module of choice (i.e. A3, Lamp). The software's simple Graphic Interface and drag/drop features will make it easy for you to get up and running.

If you are planning on using your remote, then you do not need to install the software or hook anything up to your computer, you just use your X10 SuperREMOTE to turn on/off any appliance or light in your house! For example, if your stereo is set to A5, all you need to do is press the X10 button on your SuperREMOTE, and press A, then 5. To turn it off, you do that same sequence again. The SuperREMOTE doubles as a universal remote, so you can control your TV, VCR, and Stereo from a single remote. This eliminates the need for several remotes that clutter your house.The only appliance that the SuperREMOTE did not function with was our Sony DVD player.

Features:

The X10 ActiveHome SuperDeal system allows you to connect your PC to your appliances and lights. With a click of a mouse you can turn your coffee pot on or off. Don't feel like getting up and turning your hallway light off? Then just click the button on your computer pertaining to your hallway's light! X10 has made it very simple to turn on/off anything in your home! In order to turn on "room lights" you must install the Wall Switch Module that is provided with the package. As with the appliance and lamp modules, a house and unit code must be selected. Then, simply remove your old light switch and install the X10 Wall Switch Module. Your "room light" can now be operated from your X10 SuperREMOTE, computer, or even your X10 Key Chain Remote Control! The Key Chain Remote Control allows you to control two appliances/lights by simply pressing the on/off buttons. X10 graciously provides all the batteries that you will need for the ActiveHome SuperDeal package. They are all AAA batteries, thus making your key chain remote and SuperREMOTE very light.

The SuperDeal package also comes with the Hawkeye Motion Sensor, which can be used to turn on a light or appliance when it senses motion. It can also be set to run a macro, which is a list of events you program into your computer (i.e. Turn on bedroom light, dim living room light, turn on bedroom fan, etc.) This can be done with the ActiveHome software that is included in this package.

Here are some examples of Macros that can be made with the ActiveHome Software:

Fun: You're driving home after the movies and you're ready to create the ultimate romantic mood. This time you use your exciting, new technology. From your keychain remote control, you push a button and activate your ActiveHome Romance Macro; the lights in your living room come on at a dimmed setting, your incense burner starts, the romantic music starts, and the hot tub starts to bubble. When your "date" walks in the door, they will be in the mood.

Home Security: Your family decides to go camping for the weekend. When you leave, you activate your ActiveHome Security Macro which turns on lights, radio, and television at your normal "lived-in" times and waters the lawn. For example, your living room lights automatically turn on from 6PM - 9PM, then the bedroom lights turn on from 9PM - 10PM. At 10 PM the lights start to dim and finally turn off. You can also program a Macro to turn on lights at random times.

Energy Savings: With the rising costs of electricity you can use ActiveHome to control the temperature in your home while you're away and when you're home. You can program ActiveHome to cool the room before you arrive home from work. You can heat the house before you wake up. ActiveHome allows you to utilize maximum energy efficiency for comfort and cost savings.

Content:

X10 ActiveHome SuperDeal Package:

1 ActiveHome Kit: Includes 1 computer interface, 1 SuperREMOTE, 1 keychain remote, 1 transceiver module, software, 1 lamp module.

3 appliance modules: Plug-in modules for controlling appliances such as fans, air-conditioners, dehumidifiers, coffee pots, stereos, TV's, etc. Controlled by any X10 programmable, wireless, or telephone controller.

1 Wall Switch Module: Upgrades your existing standard single pole wall switches. For automation of indoor/outdoor lights including front porch, patio, hallway, and stairway lights.

1 Motion Sensor: This powerful little device can be set almost anywhere. Upon detection, it can turn on lights or appliances (fan, heater, etc.) or run ActiveHome Macros (I'm Home Macro, etc). Built in photocell works like a watchful eye and will turn lights on and off at dusk and sunrise. This will save you energy as it only detects motion in the dark.

4 Lamp Modules: Plug-in modules for incandescent lamps. Ideal for controlling bedroom, living room, and family room table lamps. Lamps connected to this module can be dimmed.

Tech Support:

X10's tech support is one of the best I have seen from an Internet company. At this time, unfortunately for some, X10 only offers online tech support. I, however, found this much more convenient than having to wait on hold for a technical support representative to answer my call. I had some trouble getting my Christmas Tree lights to work with the X10 ActiveHome software. My Christmas Tree lights would turn on/off with the SuperREMOTE, but not with the software. Thus, I went ahead and asked the technical support how my problem could be solved. Within 24hrs, I received an informative reply from a technical representative. After following his recommendations, I had no problem controlling my Christmas Tree lights.

I have included a snippet of his reply:

"We receive quite a few messages around this time of year pertaining to Christmas tree lights. In the majority of these messages, most customers indicate the fact that an appliance module is the most effective way to control the lights. Due to the low wattage of each individual bulb and the varying number of bulbs per string, these types of lights can often require a bit more planning to control. Similarly, due to the differences in separate strings of bulbs, the total wattage of the string also needs to be considered. A standard X-10 lamp module (LM465) is has a maximum wattage rating of 300 watts (incandescent). The standard appliance module (AM486) is rated a bit higher, at 500 watts. Be sure the string (or strings) of bulbs on each module do not exceed the maximum wattage. You mentioned that these lights work normally from your hand held controllers, but not from your PC. We've found that our transceiver modules supply a slightly stronger signal than the computer interface. It is possible that an amount of power line interference is present and distorting the signal sent from the CM11A. To combat this interference, we normally recommend increasing the strength of X-10 signal. The easiest way of doing this is by selecting the "multiple transmissions" box within the timer setting window for the lights. You'll find this by clicking first on the "Special" button in the "Options" field of the timer. Once you've selected "multiple transmissions", be sure to re-download the timer. This option will cause the CM11A to send a series of signals to the Christmas tree lights instead of only a single command. Additionally, if the lights are controlled via timed settings only, there is no need to leave the CM11A connected to your computer. You will very likely find more consistent results if disconnecting the interface from your PC and moving it to another outlet (perhaps one that you have successfully tested with the transceiver). If the problem persists after taking these steps, please let me know."

Conclusion:

For only $149.99, the X10 ActiveHome SuperDeal Package is the way to go if you are looking to automate your home. Sure there are more expensive packages from other companies, but is it really worth the hassle to spend thousands of dollars for the product? And on top of that, you have to hire a professional to fiddle with your home's wiring just to get a home automation system to work. This system is a great because of its ability to upgrade, ease of use, and convenience. I have found the X10 ActiveHome to be the best choice for consumers who would like the convenience of home automation. You will never look at your home the same way again!