Do all the X-10 plug in recievers make that loud click sound when you turn on the lights?? I have tried the ones from radio shack and Powerhouse and they both make a very annoying noise when clicking on or off. HATE IT!!

I just purchased two of the 2 way X10 lamp modules from Home Automation Systems (smarthome.com)and they are absolutely silent. They fade on/off over two seconds and turn on to the dimmed level they were at when you turned them off. I replaced a couple of Radio Shack units and they are much more acceptable. These are the PLM21 units. I believe the SmartHome catalog # is 2000TW. They also have what looks like a nice wall switch that operates the same way, but it's fairly expensive ($100 or so). These plug in modules were about $30 each, and worth it. The rest my components are Radio Shack, so I know thay are compatible.

The dimming type units of all sorts should be silent as they are solid state triacs or similar devices. The appliance modules on the other hand are relays as in CLICK, CLUNK.

My Radio Shack dimming units loudly clicked on. You could, of course, silently dim them to 0% and silently fade them up again, but if you turned them off they clunked back on to full brightness when reactivated. I don't have any experience with other brands or models, only the one's I purchased at R.S. Not until I began reading this forum did I realize that life could be better.

Jack

In thinking further about the Radio Shack units, they must have a relay that takes them on or off line in addition to the any solid state triac type dimming device that works when they're on line. That's about the only explantation for the clunking on and off. I do know I sure like the more expensive units better. Isn't that always the way?

Some X10 wireless remote RF receivers(base units) have a built in appliance switch for unit code 1. It does make a 'clunk' anytime unit code 1 is turned on or off, even if you're controlling a dimmer switch elsewhere. I either don't use unit code 1 or put a seldom used device on it.

Doug

Right you are. I'm using a Radio Shack RF receiver, but putting the dimmers on code 2 and code 3 and getting silent action. If I were to activate code 1 on the receiver I'd get a clunk. All in all, the SmartHome 2000TW (PLM21) X10 dimmers are working good for their relative low cost ($30) and don't seem to have any of the negatives mentioned in the earlier posts. They retain fade level memory, automatically fade up and down when activated, etc. So that this thread doesn't get completely off subject, I'm working toward controlling these with a Pronto which I don't have yet. SmartHome has a IR to X10 rf converter. I also want to look into the touchlinc 2 ways Jack Schultz mentioned earlier. They look even better. The good news is that we have some viable choices showing up for reasonably priced home theater light control using the Pronto.

X-10 remote controls send an RF signal to communicate with X-10 modules (lamp, appliance, macros in ActiveHome etc.). They also send IR signals to A/V equipment.
I read earlier that Pronto only sends IR commands. Is this right?

X-10 remote controls send an RF signal to
communicate with X-10 modules (lamp, appliance,
macros in ActiveHome etc.). They also send IR
signals to A/V equipment.
I read earlier that Pronto only sends IR commands.
Is this right?

Grant:

X-10 remote controls send out only an RF signal. They do not send out IR at all. In order to use them with an IR remote such as the Pronto, you need to have an IR to RF converter box (not too expensive) to make the X-10 modules recieve a signal they can respond to.

I'm not an expert on these matters and perhaps Jack Schultz will want to jump in with a different thought or solution.

Grant and Deane,

I've seen many IR universal remotes that also send X10 RF. Keep in mind that to use the X10 RF you will need an X10 RF transceiver/base in addition to the X10 switches or dimmers installed. Good luck.

Doug