Re: [mh] X10 vs. Insteon

[Seann <nom...@ts...>]

Eloy Paris wrote:
> Hi John,
>
> On 07/23/2010 11:04 AM, John Maag wrote:
>
>   
>> I am new to this.
>> One thing I would really like to see in that doc under the supported
>> devices is which PLMs are/are not supported. For instance it is totally
>> unclear to me if I should get USB or serial. Also, the modem mentioned
>> is a 2412 and now they are making 2413 series. I assume the 2413's will
>> work but it would be nice to know for sure.
>>     
>
> When I bought my first batch of INSTEON hardware during SmartHome's 4th 
> of July sale (so just a couple of weeks ago) I got a dual-band USB 
> powerline modem (2413U). I have not noticed any problems with it, and 
> Linux sees it as a USB serial converter ("USB FTDI Single Port Serial 
> Driver", to be precise). In other words, in Linux you access the PLM 
> using /dev/ttyUSBxx, similarly to how you'd access a standard serial 
> port using /dev/ttySxx.
>
> It is my understanding that in the past the USB-based PLMs had problems 
> and/or were not recommended/supported for use with MisterHouse. Here's 
> one reference:
>
> http://www.linuxha.com/athome/common/iplcd/
>
> I understand that the 2413U is just a 2413S (serial interface instead of 
> USB) with an embedded serial-to-USB converter, and as I said, it works 
> fine for me. Not sure why in the past the USB versions were giving 
> people grief. Perhaps the Linux FTDI serial driver was not mature or was 
> unavailable back then?
>
> The 2413 PLMs are dual-band devices and they come in serial and USB 
> versions ('S' or 'U' letters after "2413"). The 2412 PLMs are not 
> dual-band. But this should be the only difference between the 2412 and 
> the 2413 series. I chose the 2413 to avoid having to buy an extra access 
> point (I got one access point with one starter kid that I ordered but I 
> needed another dual-band device to be able to do phase coupling).
>
> So, to summarize, I *think* that all four PLM models that SmartHome is 
> selling today (2412S, 2412U, 2413S, 2413U) should be well supported in 
> Linux and MisterHouse. However, I only have experience (positive) with 
> the 2413U.
>
> Unless I hear that someone has had recent problems with the 2413U I can 
> add it to the wiki as a supported device. I would also include the 
> firmware revision number in case that helps. If others confirm their PLM 
> models and that they work fine with MH I can also add them to the wiki. 
> Marc, any concerns with listing the PLMs in the main Insteon page in the 
> wiki?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Eloy Paris.-
>
>   
 From what I know, certain USB PLM's didn't used an RS232 converter, and 
the Guru's like Neil Cherry can chime in on the details on that more. I 
know they required special drivers to work right, which is why the 2413S 
is usually recommended. They do say in that doc what PLM you should get, 
IE the one that is supported.

X10 from the Insteon PLM is pretty simple, instead of pointing to your 
X10 modem, just point the X10 items to the same device as your PLM. A 
good example of this is my fish tank lighting controls:

X10SL,              A5,                 
Fishtank_Day,                           Family_Room,            PLM
X10SL,              A6,                 
Fishtank_blue,                           Family_Room,            PLM
X10SL,              A7,                 
Fishtank_moonlight,                   Family_Room,            PLM

All X10 appliance modules, and they all work perfectly fine using my PLM.


Regards,
Seann