new to home automation!

["chipstix24" <chris_drye@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

Can you clear up for me some queries about X10 equipment. I'd like to
be able to control, at present, 2 mains sockets (powering low voltage
halogen lights via an adaptor in each case) remotely. I'd
particularly like to do this without having an additional remote, but
would prefer to use an existing InfraRed remote. For this task, I
found a bit of kit on a web site that takes an IR signal (which
presumably must have line of sight with the controller - so would
need to sit on top of the DVD player, say) and then I used to think
that it converted it to RF to control the 'plug-in' mains receivers
(confusion arising because I have seen some RF based 1-contoller/4
plug-in adaptors on eBay), but now have a sketchy understanding that
these recevievers are somehow controlled through the mains circuit?
Can someone clear this up for me?

my next question is over the programming of the remote with the
correct IR codes to control the IR receiving component. Currently, I
have a learning remote that came with my Pioneer Home Cinema (VSX-
D812) receiver. Will this work - if I had to 'teach it' the controls,
how would I do this?

At some point in the near future I intend to upgrade the remote to a
One-For-All Kameleon 8. What is the compatibility for the X10 IR
signals like with this controller - I am aware that the Kameleon 8
can be updated online - but are the necessary codes available for
this remote?

Finally, could someone point me to the model of the simplest and
subtlest equipment to meet my requirements.

Thanks!