I am just starting into x-10 - this is great stuff - 2 days into it!!!!

Here's my current hardware:

I have a Denon receiver (avr 3000), tape deck, and cd player. I have a Sony tv and General Instruments cable box.

Here's what I want:

I want a remote that controls all of this with macros AND I WANT CONTROL OF BOTH LAMP LIGHTS AND CEILING LIGHTS. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO MACRO THE ENTIRE START-UP OF MY HOME THEATER, INCLUDING THE LIGHTS. I AM NOT SURE HOW TO INTEGRATE THE LIGHTS INTO THE EQUATION. HOW DO I GET THE LIGHTS TO ALL DIM AT THE SAME TIME WHEN SOME ARE LAMPS AND SOME ARE CEILING LIGHTS? I DO NOT WANT TO RE-WIRE, BUT USE AN ADAPTER THAT TIES TO THE LIGHT FIXTURE - FOR EXAMPLE, SOCKET ROCKETS.

ALSO, ON NEWER REMOTES, I HAVE HAD TROUBLE FINDING THE CONTROL CODE THAT WORKS ON MY DENON AVR 3000.


ANY HELP - I AM REALLY EXCITED TO DO THIS, BUT I AM NOT SURE HOW TO TIE IT ALL TOGETHER AND WHAT TO BUY.

WHAT REMOTE DOES ALL THIS?
WHAT TRANCEIVER TIES TO THE REMOTE OF CHOICE?
WHAT LIGHT CONTROLS ARE NEEDED?
IS THERE A WAY TO PROGRAM A REMOTE WHEN THE CONTROL CODES DO NOT MATCH OUT OF THE BOX?

Many thanks in advance to the experts out there.


ps. Have any of you heard of the new remote by Invoca. This remote is voice activated and has an x-10 capability. I tried to use this for my solution, but the control code for my Denon receiver did not work.

I have the Pronto TSU 2000 and think it is the best all in one remote serving infared signals, especially with an unlimited amount of programmable macro functions. The only problem can I find with using the Pronto is that most of the home automation gadgets I have heard about seem to work on radio frequencies. This can be remedied with a IR to RF converter like the IR 543. Don't know how well this works but I should be recieving my converter and first set of switches/receivers in the mail tommorow (hopefully).

One cool gadget that seems like it would work great with the Pronto was the Lutron Spacer Lighting system that can be controlled with IR signals.

I will keep you posted on how it works out.

The IR543 (aka 4040) is NOT an IR to RF converter, but an IR to power line carrier (aka X-10) converter.

Paul,

Here are my suggestions:

Get a Pronto for the remote. (> $250)

Get an IR543 for IR to X-10 conversion. (about $23)

Forget the socket rockets and buy a nice PCS or Switchlinc switch. I would suggest the PCS for total compatibility between the lamps and ceiling lights. Use a PCS SS1LS600 for ceiling lights (about $60)
Use a PCS MM2LS800 for lamps (about $110)

A control code is note required with a Pronto. You can use codes from this site, or use your existing remotes to program the Pronto.

Paul,

If you can afford the Pronto, great. I can't.

So I bought the Sony RM-AV2100 and I doo all that you have mentionned with it.

Plug-in lamp modules can be bought for as little as US$3.49. No they are not the high quality ones, but will do the job. You can guage this yourself from your budget.

Same goes for wall switches. I recently purchased "Decora" style switches from smarthomeusa.com for US$7.95 each.

The X-10 IR543 can be bought for about US$20.00.

With the older x10 remotes, the IR code was 014. It may also be 167 or 0167 with some other remotes. I'm still trying to figure out how to send IR for x-10 numbers 11 to 16.

-CL

What equipment would be needed to have the lights slowly dim when a macro button is pushed? All I see is the standard X10 modules which would turn them on and off. I too would like to kit one button, have the lights slowly dim, all the stuff come on and the movie play.

This is where the PCS smartswitches come in. Yes,they are more expensive but you get more than you pay for. With these switches you can adjust the dim rate from instant to I believe 14 minutes. You can adjust them to any level you want also without having to go to full brightness first. Each switch can be programmed individully and then one X10 command operates each switch as programed. For a HT room it's the way to go. check them out at http://www.homeautomationnet.com

Skip,

I'm starting to think that you've become a PCS believer! :)

If you guys are not aware of Radio Shack's 15-1994 remote control, you definitely need to check it out. It controls 7 devices (including X10 with the IR543), it can learn to almost every button, does macros, is back-lit and feels soooo good in your hand. There is a yahoo group called jp1 and the guys there have built a box to allow upgrading and customization of the remote codes on the PC. Oh, I almost forgot the best part, it is only $40, but can be bought for $30 on sale almost monthly. Check out the thread with over 630 messages at the Universal Remotes Forum.

I concur with either a Pronto TSU2000 or a Marantz RC5000i remote. The use of an Ocelot controller, a SECU16 (both from Applied Digital www.appdig.com) and a Digital BOB with sensors from SmartLinc www.smarthome.com for intelligent control of power to the A/V equipment. Write to [email protected] for his application note on programming a Pronto and Ocelot for Home Theater. Adding X-10 to this program is relatively straight forward. The Ocelot requires a TW-523 powerline interface for X-10 use. No other X-10 transceivers are required. Scene control devices will be required for simultaneous dimming of all the lights. www.homeautomationnet.com

get an ocelot, because you will eventually realize you need one.

i have the invoca voice activated remote control and i lost the manual any body knows how can i get a copy of it...

Yamil,

Did you try the manufacturer's web site?

I can not believe it. Diffrent people still asking the same question over and over again. How can I have a one-do-all-remote that will control lights also?

Question everybody. Why do we need to reinvent the wheele all the time? I can think of 12 diffrrent ways to do it just off the top of my head. But in this X10 section, It does not matter how we choose to do it somebody else is going to shoot our idea down because that way costs too much, or "I did it this way, so it should be done that way".

So, Larry from TN. You are in charge. Please come up with a way that is the best for eveybody to use. X10, Panja, PCS, Lutron I don't care. Be the first to set the standard here and we will all follow. You have been a great help in the past. Please keep up the good work.

Larry from CA.

Yep, plenty of ways to do it ranging from really cheap to very expensive. Skipo's already outlined the option that I'd choose. You'd be the one to talk about the higher-end options.

BTW, I'm not in charge. It's Daniel's site.