John. You might want to check out the X-10 Forum on this web site for more postings on this subject. Many people use the Pronto to control lights, but you can really do just about anything with Pronto. This is because Pronto sends X-10 IR signals that can be easily converted to X-10 powerline signals with the use of a transceiver. Once you have an X-10 transceiver, your Pronto can control lights, ceiling fans, your home's heating and cooling system, your sprinkler system, coffee maker, etc.
Most people begin by controlling lights. There are many types of X-10 compatible receivers for controlling lights and lamps. Some have nice features like "soft start". This feature brightens the lights from Off over a 1-2 second period placing less strain on the light bulb and your eyes. Another nice feature is "memory dim" that remembers the last dim level the light was at before it was turned off. The next time the light is turned on it returns to that level. "Local Dimming" allows the light to be dimmed at the wall switch as well as with your Pronto (some swithes will not dim by pressing the wall switch). "Automatic Gain Control" is a feature that gives the switch improved sensitivity to X-10 signals, allowing improved performance when noise is present on the AC powerline. Some switches have a "real rocker" action while others don't. If you are going to invest money in X-10 switches, it is worth spending a little time considering which features you are interested in first.
Robert
RCI Automation
[Link: ourworld.compuserve.com]
