[Link: fcc.gov]

You might want to actually read the FCC Part 15 rules before professing your expertise.

Most garage door and security systems in North America use frequencies in the 300MHz-320MHz range.

Only European X-10 RF is the same as European Pronto RF. The frequency allocations made by CE (which decides these things for Europe) are not as old as those made by the FCC in the US.

X-10 only started selling RF devices in Europe in the past few years.

Are you suggesting that the FCC should reallocate long established frequencies based on what CE chose a few years ago? That would obsolete most of the gear that already exists in the US.

Anthony,

I really don't have the time or energy to get into a drawn out OT debate.

There's nothing at all in common between the innards of a Pronto and the innards of an X-10 RF remote.

In the USA, X-10 uses 310MHz RF for wireless control of lights & appliances and for wireless security systems. They use 418MHz for their Powermid RF extenders (as do several other manufacturers). I think they picked this because it wasn't much used while the range from 300-320MHz is heavily used. Philips probably decided to use it for much the same reason.

There are off-the-shelf RF transmitter and receiver modules available from several manufacturers in 315MHz, 418MHz and 433.92MHz and a few other frequencies.

X-10 USA has used 310MHz since, at least, 1986 and 418MHz since, at least, 1992. You can verify this by going to the FCC ID Number Search page and using B4S which is X-10's FCC Grantee Code. I suggest checking only granted applications and set it to show 99 entries at a time (X-10 USA has been prolific).

In the UK, X-10 did use 418MHz for everything (lights, appliances, security) but changed to 433.92MHz about 2 years ago which is when they first started selling wireless devices in the rest of Europe. All of their European (and UK) RF devices now use 433.92MHz. Had the UK stayed with 418MHz, then UK buyers could use US models of the Pronto with no concerns about the RF frequency.

I have purchased a tsu7000 and rf extender from www.bluedo.com and had no problems in getting it shipped to UK. Beware that you will have to pay import tax which will still be cheaper than UK but not the huge bargain people look for.UK mains adaptors are all you need if you buy the rf extender from the states. The Tsu7000 works perfectly on everything i have which uses a remote.Blue do will ask you to scan your credit card front and back and blank out 4 numbers to protect it.Then send them the pics and they will dispatch. I got mine in 5 days from DHL

May I ask how much you actually paid/breakdown of taxes/duty/delivery/rf extender. I am thinking of going down this road. Also what is the warranty situation

Dave this is my last post on the subject, because I agree, not leading anywhere (because even if we solve the problems of the world none of us has the power to implement them :-) ).

1) I only said that why should the EU change its standard to the one of the US. I never said who should change, you did.

2) I just find that it is a big coincidence that the US and EU versions of the Prontos are compatible with the US and EU versions of the powermids made by X10 in RF and format. I never said a Pronto is the same internally as a powermid, but that the RF part probably comes from the same place. The same way that some equipment not made by Philips use RC5 codes because they by the RC chip from Philips.

3) (my initial point) that RF was subdivided differently around the world long before Prontos, X10 and even cell phones were even a dream, and there might be good reasons other then market protection that makes it so that the same frequency cannot be used in different countries.

So why did the UK switch from 418MHz to 433.92MHz about two years ago when CE realigned the frequencies used by the EU countries?

It only takes one transistor and a few passive components to make a low power RF transmitter. Philips engineers are probably capable of designing one from scratch. If not, they can find numerous schematics on the web. Or, in OEM quantities, they can buy them for less than $1.

http://www.telecontrolli.com/

See the PDF files for their SAW controlled transmitters. Most include schematics.

And while the USA allows 433.92MHz, Canada does not.

Legally you can not use a TSU7000 in Europe. The following is from the Pronto website.

4. Can I use the TSU7000 in Europe?

No you can not.
Due to legal regulations RF devices can not be used in different regions. TSU7000 is FCC approved, but not CE approved. The latter is needed for Europe.

According to Philips, you can't. This is what their web site says about this:

4. Can I use the TSU7000 in Europe?

No you can not.

Due to legal regulations RF devices can not be used in different regions. TSU7000 is FCC approved, but not CE approved. The latter is needed for Europe.

This, of course, doesn't mean that it won't work there.

The Philips response is probably wrong.

You probably can legally use the 7000 in Europe.

What you definitely cannot do legally is use the RF capability i.e. you cannot use the RF Extender.

I received a 7000 this week and it took about ten days to arrive. I bought it from pcseller.com and didn't have to pay any import duty etc as the value on the front was $25!

OK, Having read many threads here about buying the TSU7000 in the US for the UK I bit the bullet and made my purchase from BlueDo.com. They couldn't have been more helpful during my purchase (believe me, I sent them many e-mails with various queries!). The remote arrived in 5 working days via UPS and I had to pay £24.10 import duty (I asked BlueDo to declare it as a gift with a value of £50.00). This made the total price for my TSU7000 £440.00. Bearing in mind that the RU970 retails in the UK for about £575.00 I reckon I got a bargain! Still no release date or price info for the TSU7000 / RU980 in the UK. You can bet it's gonna be in the £800 - £900 area. As far as voltage compatability for the charger goes, I just used my old RU890 power supply with no problem at all. If anyone out there in the UK is considering a colour Pronto, all I can say is buy the TSU7000 from the US, save a fortune and enjoy a fantastic remote!

I'm currently living in Ireland and was just about to purchase the TSU7000, but after reading a few of the replys I need to to ask you a question or two if you don't mind. My concern is I have X10 automation devices for the home cinema lighting etc. and reading the few replys has left me a bit confused. Have you fully tested yours out yet with your existing kit? X10 if you have it.. How do you find the remote? I currently own the RU something or other 2mB memory. How did you rate the web site you bought from? Is there anything I should look out for when ordering? Thanks for your time. Enjoy the remote.....

You can get the RU980 for £506 from qed.

kinchralph,

Hi. I'm afraid I can't comment on X10 'cause I don't have it (yet!). As to your other questions -

I have fully tested the TSU7000 with all my kit and have had no problems at all. The only issue I did have is that my Panasonic TV would not respond to any of the inbuilt code sets but I expected this would happen as obviously the inbuilt IR is for the US market. No problem of course, I just learned the codes instead.

Like you I previously owned an RU890 and all I can say is you have to see the TSU7000 to believe the difference! One of the best things for me is that you don't have to constantly adjust the brightness. It remains perfectly as set.

I bought mine from BlueDo.com and I honestly couldn't fault them. I've bought things from UK based web sites that have taken longer to arrive! I would strongly recommend you ask them to declare the remote as a gift with a low value, that way the import tax is minimal.

In summary, I'm sure you won't be disapointed if you do buy the TSU7000 whether you choose to buy from the US or the UK. It's such a step up from the RU890 in all areas. Even ProntoPro Edit NG is better, not perfect but better! Hope this helps, best of luck.