OK, I talked the wife into an IR543 and some lamp modules to use with our Pronto. Found 9 places on the web that had prices listed for the IR543. Started calling the lowest price outlets first, to confirm that they had them in stock. I eliminated 4 of the cheapest since they didn't actually have any to sell. X-10.com surprised the heck outa me when their salesman recommended I go to Smarthome.com since he didn't have an IR543 and he knew smarthome did. A CALL to smarthome confirmed that they had them in stock, but also surprised me when their salesman told me to order what I wanted online so I'd get free shipping. Amazing...Two salemen in one day that didn't actually seem to want my money!

At smarthome I got a package of 6 magnavox lamp modules for $29.95. $5 a piece seemed pretty good for modules "functionally identical" to all the others. Does anyone have experience with magnavox lamp modules? I've got 30 days to send them back if I need to.

David,

The Magnavox modules are essentially the same as the cheapest lamp modules made by X-10. They are probably produced from the same plant in China, with perhaps lower quality control standards than the X-10 versions.

These modules work, but do not have memory resume, soft start, increased X-10 signal sensitivity, or lighting scene capability. To put this into perspective you could say that these modules are equivalent to say a $10 universal remote control.

Please don't take this the wrong way because I am making this observation in general. I have been sort of surprised that people that own probably the best IR remote control in the world, have been purchasing the bottom of the line lighting and lamp modules, that lack many nice features that are great for home theater. In addition, the higher end modules and switches offer greater X-10 signal sensitivity (equates to greater reliability), and many programmable features. The PCS products even have a 5 year warranty.

Robert
RCI Automation
rciautomation@compuserve.com
[Link: ourworld.compuserve.com]

Generally you don't need more than one Universal Remote, but many modules. It's a question of affordability. I use the cheap modules and have no problems with them yet when I bought a controller I bought Homevision. Same reason here, you don't need more than one controller so I wanted the best.

>I have been sort of surprised that people that >own probably the best IR remote control in the >world, have been purchasing the bottom of the >line lighting and lamp modules, that lack many >nice features that are great for home theater. >In addition, the higher end modules and switches >offer

Ed,

I understand that budgets prohibit buying higher end equipment. But some features that are lacking in the low cost X-10 receivers would seem to be unacceptable to most people. For example, let's say you like your lights to be dimmed to 30% in your viewing room in the evening. With the low cost modules you turn them on to 100% (which can be quite bright depending on the wattage), and then slowly dim the lights down to 30% with successive button presses. With the higher end switches and lamp modules, you just send an ON command and the light slowly ramps up to the last dim level in memory (in this case 30%). This would be easier for you, easier on the eyes, and easier on the light bulb.

Robert
RCI Automation
rciautomation@compuserve.com
[Link: ourworld.compuserve.com]

I'm doing this now with the modules and homevision. I dim the lights I want a soft start on to level 0. When I start them I use the brighten command to the level I like. I even do this with my bedside light using a wait timer to step it up over 15 minutes giving me an artificial sunrise in the morning rather than waking up to a bright light.

Ed,

Dimming a lamp to 0 percent brightness via X-10 commands still allows current to flow through the bulb fillament, even though it is not always visible. This sometimes creates a slight buzz or humming, and decreases the life of the bulb.

Since the low cost modules do not have a "soft start" feature, the module can't be in an off state if it can brighten from 0% without going to 100% first. If it was actually off (no current flowing), it would come on to 100% when it was sent either a "bright" or "on" command. This is the design of the low cost modules.

Just for the benefit of other readers, I don't recommend this practice. But if you choose this approach, remember to send OFF commands to all of the modules that you have dimmed to 0% when away from the house for an extended period.

Robert
RCI Automation
rciautomation@compuserve.com
[Link: ourworld.compuserve.com]

Robert:

Thanks for your input. Since I've never tried ANY lamp modules, cheap or otherwise, I figured $30 for 6 cheap ones was a painless way to experiment. I'll be completely integrating high quality x-10 switches, outlets, motion sensors, etc. in my NEXT house, but I wanted to experiment first. At 5$ a piece, I won't mind "demoting" these lamp modules to other rooms. I've been using some touch pad light switches ( a black disk that sets on the side table) where one touch gives me 20%, then 50%, then 100% brightness. In other words, they scale up from dim to bright. There are More times than not that I'd prefer full bright on the first touch, as I want LIGHT. When I DO want to watch a movie, I've probably got the lights on full anyway before I want to dim them. I suspect these inexpensive lamp modules will suit me fine. If I'd though it would have been intollerable I'da popped for the nicer ones. Money isn't really the object. Experimentation is. Who knows, I may conclude that X10 lighting control is really impracticle for my lifestyle. Should that be the case, I'm out easy.