Mailbag - X10 goodies!

[@GadgetReboot]

In the 90's I knew someone who had a condo outfitted with X10 and I envied it. What a great haul!

[@stevesfascinations1516]

I started with X10 on my PIC microcontroller. Lots of C code! Then I graduated to a Pi with a Firecracker and it is still going strong. Home Assistant has trouble with CM19A which is all I had "extra". The haul has made a huge difference, it is reliable and now I can rollout more vintage controls that cost a fraction of current devices. The added bonus is that if the wifi ever goes down, X10 will work! Old school redundancy !

[@MrJozza65]

I had a whole X10 setup about 15 years back, controlled from a computer module and a remote web app; it was so far ahead of its time. I dumped all of it for recycling a few years back, going over to Sonoffs and ESP8266 boards to replace all of it - but this could be a very cheap and easy way to get some automation up and running. Thanks for a detailed and interesting video, brought back a lot of memories of my early nerdy days!

[@stevesfascinations1516]

Home automation is fun. You must have spent quite a bit of money 15 years ago. The sonoffs and ESP boards with Tasmota work well. The problems I have seen are - they do not work if the network goes down. AHoles with Deauth can wipe out your automation system. And they are not as aesthetically pleasing as a commercial device. I found that AliExpress was good for inexpensive controls and electronics. Now eBay is better - for shipping and reliability of receiving the goods.

[@MrJozza65]

@@stevesfascinations1516 I was lucky enough to get an X10 kit on clearance from my local DIY store which started it off, but yes it didn't come cheap, and there was nothing like the information and experience on line that you can tap into nowadays! You are right about anything bound to the local network infrastructure; X10 was a lot simpler and less prone to failure/hacking for sure.

[@KameraShy]

Radio Shack was not the first. These devices were originally developed, labeled and distributed under the BSR name. That UK-based company was originally known for turntables, reflected by its name Birmingham Sound Reproducers. The X10 project was conceived in 1975 with engineers from Pico Electronics, named because it was the tenth project. By 1985 BSR went out of business and X10 (USA) was formed. I still have original brown BSR units and boxes and they still work.

[@stevesfascinations1516]

Thanks for the info KameraShy! X10 is amazing for its time, and like you say, it still works! Very innovative, and likely safer than having wifi IOT things blasting brain sells. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@murraybowser3731]

Another great video keep up the good work.

[@stevesfascinations1516]

Thanks Murray, now the fun will begin! It was cool to have my original HAS running the X10 stuff, but frustrating to be unable to connect and control with HassIO. I am now ready to control my world :)

[@pileofstuff]

Nice. I remember when X10 was big. i also remember all the spam that x10,com used t send... Feel free to submit your future mailbag videos to /r/MailBagVideos on Reddit . (I've already put this one there).

[@stevesfascinations1516]

I am trying to diversify, a sprinkle of x10, a dash of 433MHz, and a cup of MQTT. Trying not to put all my eggs in one basket!

[@beaudeni]

I know this box

[@stevesfascinations1516]

You sure do! You made an old guy very happy! Thank you for shipping it out of province Denis! I have so many plans and ideas - I am retired now so I actually may "get around to it" LOL. Hey, check out Home Assistant - very cool automation platform and it has an amazing amount of integrations that are easy to setup. Check out Dr. Zzz's videos - very informative!