| X10 Cameras are becoming very popular for several | | | | either bridges the two phases at the transformer at |
| reasons. But what is X10?X10 is a communications | | | | the street or via some 220V appliance in the home. |
| language that allows compatible products to talk to | | | | When this doesn't happen, a simple plug-in phase |
| each other using the existing electrical wiring in the | | | | coupler called SignaLinc will solve this problem.What |
| home.Most X10 compatible products are very | | | | devices are known to interfere with X10 |
| affordable and the fact that they talk over existing | | | | commands?There are many devices in most homes, |
| wires in your home means that no costly rewiring is | | | | which interfere with the X10 signal, preventing it from |
| necessary.X10 is SimplePress a button on the | | | | getting to its destination.Some have circuits which |
| transmitter and the signal is sent over the home's | | | | eliminate noise (conditioners). These circuits absorb the |
| wiring to a receiver.In the past, if you wanted to be | | | | X10 signal, making it weaker throughout the house. |
| able to control certain lights and appliances from one | | | | Other devices put noise on the power line making it |
| location, you would have to run hundreds of feet of | | | | difficult for the signal to be heard.The following lists of |
| wire to route the power switches of each device to | | | | devices are likely to interfere with X10 signals: |
| one location.Using X10 modules, you don't have to do | | | | |
| this, since the X10 House/Unit codes and commands | | | | Televisions |
| are transmitted over your existing house wiring.X10 | | | | Computers: Clone-type computers seem to be more |
| devices can be categorized into 3 distinct groups: | | | | of a problem than name brands |
| | | | Computer monitors: No-name brands are bigger |
| Transmitters | | | | problems than big name brands |
| Receivers | | | | Laptop computer power supplies: NEC is a known |
| Transmitter/Receivers (2 way devices) | | | | problem |
| X10 communicates between transmitters and | | | | Ozone/Air ionizers and filters |
| receivers by sending and receiving signals over the | | | | Game Systems: Nintendo, X-Box, PlayStation, etc. |
| power line wiring. These signals involve short RF bursts | | | | Audio/Video components: Satellite receivers, CD |
| which represent digital information.Using simple dials or | | | | players, VCRs, DVD players, Cable boxes, Tape |
| buttons you assign each product with one of up to | | | | Decks, TIVOs, AV Receivers |
| 256 addresses.If you want more than one device to | | | | MIDI musical instruments Synthesizers, Electronic |
| respond to the same signal, simply set them to the | | | | pianos, Drum machines, Mixers, Reverbs, etc. |
| same addresses.All X10 compatible products can be | | | | Fax machines |
| freely mixed and matched.It is estimated that X10 | | | | Surge-protection power strips, UPS's, and Power |
| compatible products can be found in over 10 million | | | | Conditioners. |
| American homes.Advantages | | | | Noisemakers (Devices that actually put out electrical |
| | | | noise onto the electrical line) |
| Inexpensive | | | | Transformers: Motors: Refrigerator, heating systems, |
| No new wiring is required | | | | pumps, attic fans, treadmills |
| Simple to install | | | | Microwave Ovens |
| Hundred's of compatible products | | | | Fluorescent-based lighting and ballast transformersCell |
| Control up to 256 lights and appliances | | | | phone chargers, Toothbrush chargers, Razors, etc. |
| Time proven, this technology has been around for | | | | Importance of Noise FilterX10 technology is simple, |
| over 20 years. | | | | inexpensive, and compatible with almost everything.But |
| How to avoid problems?Most of the time, X10 | | | | because it is using the same power source of |
| products works without any problems. However, | | | | electronic appliances like cordless phone, computer, |
| because they talk over your home's electrical wires | | | | computer monitor, television, satellite, dryer, electric |
| they may have difficulties in two situations.The first is | | | | toothbrush it is important that you spend a few extra |
| when there is an appliance running that generates | | | | dollars on noise filters for these electronic devices.The |
| "noise" onto the power lines.Appliances that may | | | | reason to get noise filter is because X10 signal looks |
| cause problems are motors (e.g. dryer, treadmill, | | | | like electrical noise and quality power supplies used by |
| vacuum cleaner, etc.) and advanced electronics (e.g. | | | | computer for example, will destroy the X10 |
| switching power supplies on some laptops, some big | | | | signal!Christian Rivard is the publisher for working for |
| screen TV's, etc.).The good news is that all you need | | | | several years in the digital photography industry, |
| to do is plug the appliance into a noise filter.Quality X10 | | | | Christian created a site about digital photography and |
| noise filter are sold for $20 or less.The second | | | | now is publishing a site about wireless security camera |
| situation is when your X10 transmitter is on one side | | | | where you can find all the information you need about |
| (phase) of your home's electrical wiring and the | | | | X10 cameras. |
| receiver is on the other side.Many times the signal | | | | |