Here's how I plan on playing with X-10 from a hobbiest point of view.

I picked up an RCA Home Control Kit from a local drug store for CAN$20
(Vancouver,Canada). The model no. on the box was CHCKIT1. The kit included a
universal remote (model CHC1310) and an X-10 transceiver module (model
CHC50RX).

After opening up the remote control I found a nice little circuit board
containing an RF transmitter - that is compatible with the Ming receiver
(model RE-99) available from Digi-key. The transmitter board is half the
size of the Ming transmitter (model TX-99) and should fit inside a Gamboy
cartridge (that's a whole different list =)).

I plan on generating the control signal using a PIC (or a Gameboy) and using
the stolen tx board or a TX-99. But I have to figure the pulse train first.

Of course the AC power line side I'd be using off the shelf X-10 modules.

Ken