On Aug 25, 2007, at 11:15 AM, Neil Cherry wrote:
>
> Cedric Chang wrote:
>> Have you looked at INSTEON as a successor to X-10 ?
>> Cedric
>
> Odd method of quoting, I've fixed it at least you trimmed and
> didn't top post, thank you. ;-)
>
> Yes, there are very good things about Insteon and some annoying
> things.
>
> The good:
>
>   X10 compatible - controllers can respond to X10 if programmed to
>   handle X10. Power line transceiver can handle both X10 and
>   Insteon. Insteon protocol is closed loop (yeah!). It's also
>   a bit more programmable. It's much faster than 50 bps,
>   normally about 2kbps and the protocol is more flexible.
>
> The bad:
>
>    In its infancy (it's getting there) so it has growing pains.
>    The quality of the devices comes into question from time to
>    time. The interface protocol (and the Insteon protocol) is
>    not free. It was $99 for a dev kit, it's now $199 and the
>    only difference is the Windows software (grr, windows tax).
>    The signal suffers from the same black hole and other
>    mysteries that X10 does. The protocol is also more
>    complicated.
>
> When Insteon was first introduced I spoke with a gentleman
> there who had no problem with my Open Source software explaining
> how it talks to the PLC. He's now gone and his replacement and
> I haven't exactly been able to see eye to eye on a great many
> things. I worry that the permission I received may be revoked.
> The License/Dev Agreement says one thing, the first representative
> gave permission for limited information sharing. This has me
> worried. I'm still continuing to work on my Open Source code
> but tip-toeing along (my book, school, work, family etc).
>
> BTW, there is also UPB (US and Canada only) and ZWave. ZWave
> and I didn't see eye to eye on the Open Source issues but
> someone else seems to have resolved that issue.
>
> I hope I've kept my personal opinion out of the above.

I like top quoting.  Not too many do.
I have no problem reading backwards.
I am committed ( or maybe I should be in an institution ) to Open  
Source.
I am glad to hear you are fighting the good fight.

Do you prefer X-10, Insteon , UPB or ZWave ?
Are you writing a new book ?

I am trying to adapt a CrystalFontz module since it has nice features  
and
is based on a PSOC processor.
http://www.crystalfontz.com

Cedric

-- 
Linux Home Automation         Neil Cherry       ncherry@linuxha.com
http://www.linuxha.com/                         Main site
http://linuxha.blogspot.com/                    My HA Blog
Author of:    	Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist

-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist