Rich Wonneberger,

02-Oct-99 21:27:00, Rich Wonneberger wrote to Andy Roberts
 RW> *** Quoting Andy Roberts to Rich Wonneberger dated 10-01-99 ***
          Subject: x10 (was Modem Upgrade?)

 AR>> House2.Zip                      06-18-99       1,305,948
 AR>> HOUSE/2 ver. 1.8 - Home Automation & Security for OS/2 Warp version 3.0

 RW> Isnt the cm11 (or 12) the device Radio Shack (ugg) sells under
 RW> their name??

Probably, Radio Shack does carry a few X-10 devices, but probably not more
than Sears, Home Depot, Lowe's or most other hardware or computer stores.  It
is common for Radio Shack to re-badge many items that they do not make and I
think that applies to X-10 devices as well.  For sure Radio Shack did not do
any of the design nor re-design of any X-10 devices.  AFAIK Leviton, a
company that makes many Decora switches and industrial quality electrical
devices, is the only other company that actually has re-designed and makes
their own brand of X-10 compatible devices that are equal to or better than
the devices X-10 makes.  And in almost every case the Leviton X-10 device
will cost more than the original.  As to whether the Leviton X-10 devices are
actually worth their higher price or are more reliable may be questionable,
but they are commonly used by electricians and available in electrical supply
stores such as Branch Electric.  I have mostly original X-10 devices (over
100 of them) and some are close to 20 years old, in service and still going.
I get most of my devices via Mail Order from either HCC or Baron-Harper.  You
can get an HCC catalog by calling 1-800-266-8765.  HCC carries quite a few
made by X-10.  Actually there are quite a few other companies that have
unique X-10 devices.  Radio Shack has nothing unique for X-10 AFAIK.  For
personal reasons I almost never buy anything from Radio Shack.  And I can
always find X-10 devices cheaper some where else.  HCC sometimes offers a
major price discount for orders of $300+.  So I tend to stock up on the most
common devices to avoid emergencies.

BTW, I don't have the CM11 yet.  I was using X-10 long before the PC was
developed.  My first X-10 computerized system was on an XT which is quite
adequate for up to a few dozen X-10 devices.  My present X-10 system uses a
386 and the DOS prgm HC2000 that requires the TW-523 (2-way interface).  I
programmed my own GUI that even talks (but doesn't listen) around HC2000.
And since that has the most powerful If-Then-Else capability, I have yet to
be enticed to try any of the newer computer interfaces or prgms.

I certainly have had an interest in the OS/2 X-10 prgms.  Especially those
that incorporate VoiceType.

     Thanks and Good Luck,        Andy Roberts
                                  andy@shentel.net
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