RE: Re: xPL/xAP an alternative to C-Bu$ ?

["Kenneth Watt" <kwatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Which leaves X10, which is cheap, unreliable and relatively
> incapable, but it is affordable.

Sorry David but I totally disagree with that, except the affordable bit in
part as its totally unfair to X10 devices.

It is cheap as HA systems go, very flexible with regard to installation and
is easily retro-fittable. As Li has also pointed out, if the installation
is
planned correctly just like any other installation, then it is extremely
reliable as well into the bargain. I've been using DIN rail modules for
some
three years or so now and in that time one appliance DIN module has failed
and a few fuses on plug-in modules, hardly what I'd quantify as unreliable
by any standard. As for missing commands, in the space of a month I would
be
pressed to find one failed event and usually they are down to poor
programming of the control device, not an X10 problem IME.

But it is a powerline system and that means that other devices, especially
cheap crap transformers IME, interfere with the X10 commands but this would
be a problem with any powerline control system and not just an X10 problem.

It is my assertion that it is totally unfair to draw a direct comparison to
a dedicated BUS system of any kind with X10 which is a powerline system as
the two are fundamentally different and, as such, have different pricing
and
target markets.

I openly accept that it may well not be the fastest or the best system
around, I have never said it was, but it is very good on balance against
cost, ease of installation and ease of control. I also accept that it's not
pretty with sexy blue LED's or fancy modern looking switches but those
strike me as having one hell of a price tag attached to them.

Incapable in what way? I don't find that at all, it can control lights,
execute scenes, control appliances and is easily controlled by a plethora
of
different methods. Show me a lighting/device control system that does
anything else as, in the end, a dimmer's a dimmer it's just the control
method and speed along with some features on ramp speeds etc that are the
essential differences IMO.

K.