What are the differences, if any, between X10 and Radio Shack's "Plug N Power"? I want to use the Radio Shack 15-1994 Universal remote to shut off lights. Any clue or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!!!

I use the Radio Shack X10 gear as well as units from X10 and other X10 vendors. They look very much the same and seem to interoperate fine. I suspect all come from the same source but just have their own manufacturer's labels put on their devices

It is my understanding that the Radio Shack items are one and the same with the X-10 brand. I just wired my whole house with the RS items today and it works great with a Pronto and IR 543.

I have maybe 5 or 6 different "brands" of X10 devices in my house and they all work fine together. I use the 15-1994 to control the HT lights. Check www.smarthome.com for lots of X10 stuff.

Note that X-10 is the language used and not the brand name... It's sort of like saying your going to xerox a copy... on a cannon. Or like you want a Coke to drink when you should say soda...

Several companies make X-10 items (some just have different names on them). X-10, Leviton, Radio shack, IBM, RCA, PCS, Smartlinc, JDS, Adicon and on and on.

Most alarms available have X-10 outputs and the new (RCA) ,I think, satallite even has X-10 outputs.

Don't worry about the brand. If it says X-10, it will work!

Chris Couture
Visit X-1 das>

The question that seems to remain unanswered is whether or not X-10 = Plug N Power. I didn't see the letters X-10 mentioned on any of the documentation that came with my Plug N Power stuff. I also noticed that there seem to be seperate X-10 and Plug N Power modules, receivers, etc. on the radio shack site which confuses me more. Anyone know for certain? The price difference is small if anything, so I would be glad to return all of my Plug N Power stuff to get X10 equipment.

They are the same.

Just FYI. I am using a 4040 from SmartHome.com as my IR-X10 converter, my light switches are X10's from SmartHome, and my wall modules are Radio Shack models, and I control all of it with my Radio Shack 15-1994, so if that doesn't convince you that they are all the same, nothing will.

That being said, the R/S IR543 and the 4040 might use different IR signals. I'm using device code 0167 for my 4040, but the code listed for the R/S model is 0240.

Rob.
http://www.hifi-remote.com

Hmm, it's possible but I really doubt Radio Shack would bother to order a custom batch with nothing but different IR signals... could be there's two duplicate codes?

There is no difference. X-10 was invented in England, marketed and sold here in the US under the BSR (USA) name starting in 1978 and then offered to RadioShack first, and Sears, second, for distribution under their own brand names. BSR later became X-10 (USA), which is the original inventor of the technology, sells X-10 under the Powerhouse brand name, RadioShack used their own brand name "plug n'power".

x10 wikipedia / this explains the X10 protocol / pretty interesting