*BSD News Article 28758


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From: dsmith@dcs.simpact.com
Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.apps,comp.os.386bsd.misc
Subject: Re: X-10 Software for FreeBSD-1.1-BETA (new version)
Message-ID: <1994Mar23.174832.96@dcs.simpact.com>
Date: 23 Mar 94 17:48:32 PDT
References: <STARK!GENE.94Mar19065422@stark.uucp> <1994Mar20.050734.15776@martha.utcc.utk.edu> <2mgqq8$df@sparc10.entropic.com> <2mi4vp$2bo@mojo.eng.umd.edu>
Followup-To: comp.os.386bsd.apps,comp.os.386bsd.misc
Organization: Simpact Associates, San Diego CA
Lines: 26

In article chuckr@glue.umd.edu (Charles B. Robey) writes:

> : X-10 is system for controlling various electrical devices in your home.  It
> : broadcasts signals to control boxes using your AC wiring system.  You plug a
> : control box into a wall outlet, then plug your lamp/coffee maker/whatever into
> : the control box.  Each control box has an adjustable station identifier on it,
> : and you can issue commands to the control boxes via a console.  Typically these
> : just turn on or off appliances, dim lights, etc.  There's a computer interface
> : for this, so you can have your computer turn lights on and off at certain
> : times, etc; this is a Unix interface to the X-10 controller.

> Interesting.  Could you suggest a source for the hardware part of this?
> Not the light dimmers, etc, the interface from my system to the
> power line.
> --

I bought one at EggHead Software a couple of years ago.  I assume that
they still have them.  They work great.  I even hooked mine up to water
my flower bed and orange tree with a drip irrigation system.

I have also seen these advertised in Nuts 'n' Volts by mail order 
vendors.  If you have any trouble locating a vendor, send me some
e-mail and I will dig up a mail order vendor for you.

Dave Smith