LGR Oddware Follow-up: "The Timer" X10 System Controller

[@tvtech2582]

When I moved into my new townhouse apt in 1990 I installed the X-10 kit.I bought it from U -Do -Do It Electronics in Needham Massachusetts for $199.99. It came with 4 window sensors,2 door sensors,1 infrared motion detector,1 110 db power horn,the main console,a remote control and a key fob, what a buy.Later I added wall switches,dimmer controls and switch modules.It had a telephone dialer built in to call any number you would program into it.The whole system worked very well for the 22 years I lived there. When I moved out in 2012 I took most items with me and today I still use the 28 year old console to control my lights.

[@NyxHarmonia6976]

rad

[@johnh8268]

I love U-DO-IT Electronics! I was working in the area a few months ago and it was a great place to browse for hard to find electronics. It's unfortunate that these type of places are disappearing these days.

[@bajaxbajax910]

I've kitted almost my whole house out with X10 just this year. It was simple, cheap (easy to find used), doesn't require rewiring anything, doesn't eat up wireless bandwidth and has the ability to work with Siri and Alexa. All the other stuff I looked at requires annoying security features you wouldn't need on a hard-wired device (granted wireless X10 is a huge security problem, I don't use it), require always-on cloud connections (hello Big Brother) or is way too expensive. I don't understand why more home automation stuff doesn't just use the power wiring to communicate like x10 did. They have ethernet-to-powerline adapters that get as much as 100mbps last I checked, it's not an issue of bandwidth OR two-way communication being infeasible.

[@joshdupont2209]

I have the Sengled system to control 2 lights in my house. And at least twice a month I have to delete and add the lights back. Just had it for like 6 months or so

[@billc6087]

I got my first X10 setup in the late 1970s. I still use it because I'm waiting to see which new protocol will ultimately win out before I move forward!

[@rdxdt]

Ohh the satisfaction of this IBM PC AT turning on noises.

[@NonsensicalSpudz]

never got experience this far back PC wise, but its so satisfying to hear. my current PC takes 7 secs to fully boot lol

[@PJBonoVox]

Yeah man. I was thinking "please don't talk over it please don't talk over it". I need to get out more.

[@trekaddict]

Being used my newish (threeish months now) PC with an M.2 SSD as C: drive, my two reactions to that AT were 1, "Holy balls of steel that thing is loud." and 2: "Takes forever to boot!"

[@tiikoni8742]

Haha, me too! Talking over would have ruined the moment. Loved those sounds :-)

[@RockRedGenesis]

I know, it's so grindy and beepy, love all the old PC hardware, they just don't build them like that anymore

[@PeacefulAutistic]

It's great to see you do videos based on items you get in the thrift videos. Really makes everything feel connected. Keep up the good work Clint!

[@Charlesb88]

Amber Lynn Martin Most of the items he picks up at thrift shops are intended as possible content for future videos. In some cases he picks up items for other reasons such wanting the box the item came even those he already has a unboxed or poorly boxed copy he has already covered in a past video. I would also imagine he sometimes change his mind after the fact about stuff bought at a thrift stores as to how interesting a video it would make, though he could reconsider if he gets low on ideas for some week. The biggest issue is that he’s only putting out two videos a week and that can mean a large lag between when you see an item in a thrift video he plans to do a video on and when he gets around to actually doing the video and releasing it. Also consider in fact that he also gets stuff from other sources like donations, eBay, etc. that he also wants to cover too including stuff he thinks should be bumped ahead of still waiting thrift store items due to the newly acquired item being more interesting to him or his audience.

[@natekates]

agreeeeeeed

[@HackThePlanetNow]

Charles Bunnell I’m pretty sure she knows why he goes to the thrift stores seeing as she’s watching the videos. Pretty sure she was commenting that this video came out so fast like only a week later. This is the longest mansplain I’ve ever seen. Good job on that.

[@Wonderbrite]

It was really cool seeing him getting it and then looking forward to the in-depth review. Almost like a little trailer.

[@WarrenZevonFan]

The Lazy Game Reviews Cinematic Universe.

[@dodgecukc]

This object basically sums up LGR for me.

[@dodgecukc]

Everything needs woodgrain

[@thevectrex1482]

Indeed, Woodgrain + 80's computing = LGR

[@phantomaniperv]

This gives him wood(grain).

[@johnlee7164]

Not to mention complex computing device just to dimming a light remotely. Puts the Lazy in LGR

[@budmeister]

All cars need wood grain trim.

[@lordpolvo222]

I love how you are silent during the PC boot. its relaxing to just sit back and listen to that beautiful beast wake up.

[@aaa000777]

I have used X10 since it came out and was sold by Sears and Radio Shack. The control system sends out two signals at the "zero crossing" point of the AC waveform. The first signal is to alert the device that you want to control. The second signal tells the device what to do (ON,OFF,DIM,BRIGHT). X10 unfortunately is not a two way system. The controller has no idea if the device turned on or off. And if the last device alerted didn't "hear" the new alert signal for a different device then it also did what the second device was commanded to do. The upside of this was that you could select several devices and command them with one command (ON,OFF,DIM,BRIGHT). Also, the commands can travel to any electrical circuit that is on the same power company step-down transformer as you. This was the purpose of the house code. Each house on the same transformer could have it's own "code". The BSR Timer in your video can only work on one house code at a time, so it is limited to controlling 16 devices. The computer interface will work with all house codes. I lived with X10 for awhile until I got a TED5000 from TheEnergyDetective.com It is a real-time power monitor that installs in your home's electric box and communicates back to it's control computer over the power line. This caused all sorts of havoc with my X10 system. I eventually migrated everything over to Zwave and have been a happy camper.

[@Magiobiwan]

mipmipmipmipmip Because there's still electrical connectivity between circuits. All the wires in your house are connected together in some form through your circuit breaker. Until you hit a transformer or something that breaks connectivity (some circuit breaker modules can).

[@38911bytefree]

This old PLC systems worked on clean lines, with no SMPSUs of CFLs of LED lamps. Just because X10 sends very small amount of info it can survive but PLC aplications suffer a lot from noise. PLCs moved foward to use OFDM modulation (similar to DSL modems) to fight noise and keep them working. They are more expensive than radio solutions, like Zigbee or MiWii or similar. Another negativo point is this systems have hard time jumping from one phase to another. Need couplers and their distance is not so great.

[@FrankConforti]

X-10 is the gateway drug to full home automation. I’m living proof. My addiction started back in the late 70s when BSR first distributed these. Over time, however, all of these modules started failing on a regular basis. I had to learn how to fix them which got me into the details of the hardware, the communication protocols, etc. Anyone hear remember the old Ciarcia “HCS” dedicated system? Yup, had that in the 1980s Then I bought an excellent program I recall in early 1990s (really early) called Homeseer. Ran on 95, 98, then XP. I honestly don’t remember when I got this software. Now I have a very powerful Homeseer-based central system with all the bells and whistles. It’s to the point that when Microsoft does a major upgrade that kills auto sign-in we immediately miss her (yes, she has a name). My wife will text wherever I am in the world and I have to sign in to the system and restart the software (stoopid Microsoft) else I have a very unhappy spouse. I have enjoyed my decades-long addiction thanks to those first five X-10 devices.

[@youknow5569]

I started with the BSR Version (brown color X10 Modules), then I ordered a few from JS&A their tag line was "Products that Think" Then Radio Shack had their version called Plug N' Power. I still have quite a few of them. I had to use the Bridging Adapter in my new house as of 04/30/2024 I am still using the timer along with their iPhone app and X10 WIFI. If the power goes out the WiFi looses programming, however the Timer with the batteries has been rock solid

[@koolkiop]

i can see the clock being us full by the bed side for last second programming for your house before bed, and the pc to do whole house overhaul on all the devices and timing. really cool stuff. Keep the odd ware coming =]

[@johnfreeman2956]

@6:35 wow, what an amazing startup sequence, thanks for including that

[@mikelastname6469]

I love your closed captions! “PC whirring to life, disk and hard drive noises dominating the soundscape”. A nice touch for someone watching your video in a noisy area. :-)

[@SuperJet_Spade]

I'm really fascinated by all these old pieces of technology. This video is a nice follow-up the X-10 home automation video as well as the previous LGR Thrifts video

[@virtualchimera]

Loved the first Oddware video about this thing, cool to see a follow-up! Watching at work, your content has helped me get through a lot of boring workdays. Good stuff!

[@bag2430]

random ramble of the day: every video those speakers show up in... I used to have those exact same altec lansing speakers. an older lady stopped me as I was walking out of a flea market as it was closing for the weekend. she explained that her and her husband were retiring and closing their business that tested software. don't remember the name of the company, but it was based either out of Chicago or a suburb of, and was around from the early '80s til aboooout 2009. they had gotten rid of all their computers, their projector, and most other things. as I was walking out she asked if I wanted any "computer stuff for cheap". her little kiosk and lawn table were set up so they were the first thing you saw walking in, or the last thing you saw walking out. table had some random cables left, a small filing cabinet, some swingline staplers, an old wooden Post-It note holder, some little jar for holding paperclips, an ergonomic keyboard, a stack of windows 95 mousepads ... mostly junk... and a set of speakers with a subwoofer. I was told that they worked "beautifully" and had only been used occasionally for giving presentations and for webinars. I asked what she wanted for the speakers, $5. She decided to throw a mousepad in as well. took them home and the speakers did sound beautiful. surprisingly good, actually. half a decade of gameplay and sound came from those speakers for less than the price of a pack of socks. maybe the set up was ideal, who knows? what I do know is those computer speakers paired with the bulky subwoofer sounded amazing and I miss them. I wish my cats hadn't chewed all the cables.

[@hairycoo56]

Much love from a surprisingly sunny Scotland Clint, love chilling out to your videos 👍

[@Mrcockington]

People complain about the new youtube algorithm, but I'm just happy I get your notifications again. I haven't been getting them for like the past year or so and I used to watch your videos religiously.

[@nimblehealer199]

Diamond Shaped Turd I stopped getting them the other day, and then I updated the app and now I get notifications again

[@Mrcockington]

I don't know about you, but I subscribe to well above 200 channels by now. I don't kid myself that I have the persistence of mind to keep up to date on them all and sometimes one of them just drifts out of my feed. I just like youtube to notify me when I've turned on notifications for a channel, I guess that makes me not give a shit?

[@hi-friaudioman]

Woot! Thanks for the new video Clint! You should do more follow-up's!

[@Scobragon]

Thank you for not editing out or talking over that computer start up, I think that merits a subscribe.

[@mobydoux]

Tha way you put the stuff on your desk is truly perfect. You have the spirit.

[@EmmettSherlock]

Look it's an odd LGR thing! 6:13 Engage Thrusters

[@sage-ry9dp]

Emmett Sherlock Roger that, ready for takeoff.

[@EmmettSherlock]

!!!

[@NyxHarmonia6976]

T minus 10 seconds

[@GeminaLuna]

Make it so!

[@CattoRayTube]

New LGR? "Aw yee." 👌

[@DrunkDoglol]

I swear we're all drones. Was about to post "aww yee" until I saw this.

[@Tronnus]

Nice to see that some folks keep there promises! Love your work, Clint!

[@SuperNicktendo]

I always enjoy these. Thanks for sharing!

[@SanMartianRover]

I love your channel bro, it's a staple in my KZbin lineup. Thanks for all your hard work.

[@Dkentflyer]

I just love this retro woodgrain stuff, always look forward to your videos Clint.

[@UncleJackOnline]

that was quick, knew you couldn't resist testing it, nice

[@Turnbull50]

I remember you getting this from the Thrift shop and you of course kept your word to show it. Thanks

[@ezioauditoredafirenze5453]

I really liked this video. Thanks from doing the follow-up episode Clint. I saw that The Thrifts episode where you found that X-10 Timer. Have to watch that older episode(s?) about X-10 devices. Great video again Clint 👍👍👍 You really bring joy in peoples lifes. 😃

[@StarlancerAstro]

Thank you for not editing out that beautiful boot sequence at 6:17

[@Markimark151]

Love these oddware Clint, especially something that looks like from the 1980s, and like an old clock.

[@playstationfandude746]

I'm glad i saw this channel, I really learned a lot about software and hardware and other stuff.

[@cuddlesthetiger5739]

I have this exact clock. I got it at some thrift store or economy store as a teenager. I just bought it because I loved the look of it. And was impressed by the fact that you could control the lights in your home with it. I still have it here with me and use it as my clock in my room. I love it, it's in great condition and it never left my sight in the 10+ years I've had it. I've been trying to find out when it was made. My guess is somewhere between 1977-1983, but I wish I knew exactly when.

[@AmyraCarter]

I honestly love seeing that little LEGO IBM PC sitting right there. I remember watching that video as well as both the Oddware episode and the Thrifts episode in question. Speaking of LEGO projects, are you going to do another one of those in the near future? I'd love to see another LEGO build...

[@patmsb1]

I really look forward to your shows. Keep up the great work.

[@L.L.2045]

Always nice to hear from Future LGR!

[@bobbym3155]

The sound of that thing booting up brought me back, wow, like an airliner taking off. Love it.

[@666lordofdestruction]

Hahahahaha thank you, Clint, for leaving the boot sequence in. I haven’t heard mine boot for... crap, nearly 25 years.

[@itsaPIXELthing]

Incredible stuff! Thanks for showing, Clint!

[@DodgeWatt]

So glad you did this so soon after finding it!

[@JohnathanRavan]

I lose so many hours of the day in your channel. I love it!

[@phazonclash]

A new LGR video always makes me happy

[@nilus2k]

Love the sound of that AT starting up. Brings back memories. Like a jet engine on your desk :)

[@Mrcockington]

1986 was the future!

[@thetinpin]

I love how you included the IBM's power on through the POST beep!

[@Biedronecqa]

I must say, having started watching the TV series Halt and catch Fire really made me appreciate more these videos. I guess with understanding more comes the joy.

[@DeliriumTremensTWU]

[PC whirring to life, disk and hard drive noises dominating the soundscape] ^^ This is what we come to LGR for. Nice job on the subtitles.

[@rowantritton8659]

Loved all the recurring elements from previous episodes popping up again, including that boxy lamp and Lego computer

[@0311Mushroom]

LGR, a little info about BSR. That was the in-house brand for DAK Industries, and the were leading edge of tech in the 1980s. They sold a lot of high tech stuff then, and the owner (Drew Kaplan) wrote all of their ads. They were the ones that really kicked off the CD-ROM revolution with their $300 drives in the early 1990s. They went bankrupt in the mid-1990s, but is still around in a lesser form today. Hearing that is a BSR unit took me back many years.

[@Turnbull50]

I remember the X-10 system being advertised in the eighties but never saw it in use. Thanks LGR

[@MrPenriquez]

I’m actually impressed at how well they worked for the time They should have more notoriety than they have

[@martinr4940]

I've got a bunch of the old X10 stuff, and a Radio Shack version of that controller unit.

[@The_Laser_Channel]

I did see the X10 video but I am still impressed that home automation can be run with such bare minimum on hardware. Sure, it doesn't integrate with phones or voice controls, but it's still interesting to see how so many people didn't jump on the "smart light" bandwagon until Philips Hue became a thing and yet, this was available just over 30 years ago!

[@FightingForceSoulless]

It's woodgrain, therefore awesome.

[@culturelab9679]

Was really interested when I saw this in thrifts. So glad you followed it up!

[@mooniejohnson]

I'm both awaiting and scared of the day you cover your whole recording house and storage areas with wood-grain. At that point, Clint, I'm taking up a collection to get you help...

[@dupwnt]

6:18 Mmmmm, booting ASMR. Feels good. I need more of this.

[@ModernClassic]

The funny thing is I was actually using an X-10 controller just like this (a little more modern looking, but not much) as a security light timer for when I was away from my house up until literally 2 months ago. I didn't even think about it being "retro" yet, although I was pretty cognizant of the tech itself being ridiculously outdated. I did finally upgrade to some LIFX bulbs, which are great. The X-10 system worked well enough to stick with it until recently, but the big issue I had with it is that it's extremely sensitive to how your wiring's routed. Only a single outlet in my entire house would work for my controller, and I had to use specific lamps (also because of where they were plugged in) to reliably control my lights. I can't believe I waited as long as I did to upgrade to wifi bulbs.

[@ricardobornman1698]

Dude, That IBM starting up is just the most awesome sound!

[@TerryMcKean]

Awesome device, and beautiful wood-grained cabinet, too. :-) Thanks for sharing.

[@TroyRoss]

You made my night, thanks pal.

[@captainjd02]

Ah, right in my childhood. My parents had several of these throughout the house.

[@grumpyoldwizard]

Thanks for the video. I needed something calming and cool. You supplied.

[@itzspencerr1403]

“This is not a radio, it’s a clocko”

[@ashkat64]

I'm scared, i read this comment exactly when he said it in the video...

[@vwestlife]

He said "it is a clock, though".

[@LordThanathos]

VWestlife I like his version better.

[@neiloch]

@@vwestlife Stop crushing our dreams with facts

[@Zizzily]

My grandparents had and used that exact X-10 timer. They'd had it in their house as long as I remember, and it was there up until they sold the house two years ago. Don't know if the current owners still use it, though. Haha.

[@3dlabs99]

6:15 ... those sounds totally bring me back to my parents house when i was a kid :)

[@jasonblalock4429]

OK, speaking of your previous thrifting vid, I'm sure I'm not the only one who's curious if you went back for the laserdiscs or at least tried to haggle them down... (Also, I just cannot get tired of hearing that jet turbine roar from turning on old IBM PCs. Ah, the memories. :->)

[@LGR]

Haven't gotten them, but they're still there as of yesterday. My plan is to let them take up space for a while, see if I can get a lower price later!

[@jasonblalock4429]

Makes sense!

[@sebytheman]

I know I don't have a horse in this race but it's going to break my heart if someone else scoops them up hahahah

[@DrewberTravels]

6:39 That was the most satisfying boot sequence I have ever seen.

[@justinm6110]

How did this not take off back in the 80,s? its brilliant,

[@cliffg.4205]

The 70s and 80s were really in love with woodgrain. They put it on everything back in those days.

[@DesertPunks]

I found one of these at a goodwill! Glad i found it

[@DrFruikenstein]

I remember Kim Kamando talking about one of these switching systems on her radio show, and why it's a good reason to keep the old 486. That was around '03.

[@dannyzorc3259]

This is the most LGR thing of all time. Woodgrain thrifted oddware?! Yes please! Keep it up Clint.

[@wjckc79]

I had an X10 unit with a wireless handheld controller that operated a couple lamps. It was pretty useful. It was in use all the way up until a couple years ago when it died. It sure went the distance though.

[@blmartech]

My father had the x10 stuff and the original stuff from bsr from the 70s through to about the 90s. He provably still has most of it including this timer.

[@scofield117]

6:16 the sounds of that pc booting up hit me right in the childhood. Now I want to build one to play with.

[@iansharrock6546]

Yes! I'm so glad you made this! My interest was incredibly piqued after Thrifts.

[@TerryMcKean]

06:13 Nice. What a sweet sound... that definitely made me smile. : D Very awesome, the IBM PC-AT, no doubt.

[@KairuHakubi]

i had forgotten how complicated gadgets like this used to be. it was a heck of a challenge figuring it out when I was a kid. it's sad how easy it would be to do this sort of thing on just about any simple computer program now, yet how almost none include the functionality.

[@RaccoonHenry]

my dad used a similar setup in his room when I was a kid. I don't know if it was x-10 or compatible, or if it operated on a completely different principle. I just thought it was awesome to be able to control the lights (and a small tv) from the bedside clock!! this was a nice throwback :)

[@St0rmcrash]

Curiously enough I was skulking around on Ebay the other day and discovered that IBM sold X10 eqipment back in the day under the IBM Home Director brand. It looks like standard X10 stuff with the IBM logo printed on it but still interesting to see how hard companies were pushing into consumer tech in the 90s. It looks to use the same Serial wall wart that the HAL 2000 used

[@phreapersoonlijk]

I sometimes think about these video's, and then hope you actually use this daily, Clint !

[@Cetega]

I will absolutely never tire of hearing vintage computers power on and start up.

[@cyberkreig]

I have some slightly newer (1998?) X10 items that were given to me, including lamp modules, a remote control, a universal TV remote with X10 buttons, and the 'Firecracker' serial module for Windows computers. Neat stuff!

[@SarahLJP]

That's really neat. I've been interested in home automation for a long time. Since the 90's, I guess. I like that it's becoming more mainstream these days. More companies are investing in home automation products and systems.

[@AshtonCoolman]

Your Goodwill has the craziest retro stuff around. I no longer find good stuff here in Houston. I think my IBM PS/2 Model 70s were the last good piece of retro kit I found back in 2015.

[@awilfox]

The Lego IBM next to the real IBM just looks so freakin' cute. Like the AT has a little buddy. Love The Timer!

[@Dave-rn6bg]

Seeing that all together around the 6min mark is glorious. Though I feel a proper 70s-80s lamp was required

[@pcbjunkie1]

X10 is pretty awesome. I have a similar timer clock X10 controller and use it to turn on and off some lights in the bedroom. 40 year old technology ftw!

[@stridermt2k]

I so dreamed of this stuff back in the day. That The Timer is awesome

[@doctorx0079]

Amazing that you found this at a Goodwill, and that you knew what it was

[@somecoder3054]

From the sound of it, it has to be a pretty sturdy piece of hardware.

[@wombora]

the sound of empty floppy drives - soo awesome, liked that noise back then

[@MartinKronstrom]

I would be very curious to know how that sort of products that taps into your home electric wires went from Spy-Gadgets to the Consumer market. And what other 'real' usage you could do with the concept.

[@jmr5125]

Martin Kronström Well, the main technology that uses power lines today is networking -- you can use your home's standard electrical wiring for Ethernet, which has some bandwidth advantages over wireless adapters.

[@SpearM3064]

M Reed Very true. I remember helping set up a retirement community's main office that way. It was easier to network the computers through the electrical wiring than to run Ethernet through an old building that was not designed with computer networks in mind.

[@androidaleccc]

Yeah, I was gonna say powerline ethernet is a pretty practical solution now if you are outside of wifi range and dont care to run ethernet lines all about your house.

[@masterrhyno]

the power up sounds were so satisfying

[@DallyBearNK]

Was the wait because the timer sent the off signal until it turned to 2:00? That is when the software turned the light on.

[@4jp]

x10 sends each command twice. Technology is one way (most cases). System has no idea if anything is received. It stops after second signal..

[@AltimeterAlligator]

Whoa, battery tray took me by surprise! First time I've seen anything like that.

[@Large-UwU]

Good morning notification squad. Greetings LGR! Here's your weekly motivational comment. Keep up the great work, Clint!

[@gaybrahderpwood]

Never knew BSR (DAK) sold stuff like this. I own a BSR 4000XR and was shocked to see that logo on a home automation system.

[@Scoopta]

I actually had a clock like this that used powerline for lights, although it had no computer stuff, was just a programmable central timer for lights

[@idied2]

powering that IBM on sounds so enjoyable. 80's smart homes are neat

[@SteelSkin667]

I find it fantastic that X10 remains a widely used standard for home automation.