Harmony Remotes

[Driver8rws]

I have had the 880 remote for about 6 months now and I LOVE IT !!!

However I am very intrested in automating some of the rest of my house and using the 880 to control it...

I would like to be able to control my Ceiling Fan (mounted way to high to reach) On/Off as well as speed, my gas fireplace and fan control for it, and some lighting in my house.  I have done about an hour of research on the internet so far and have found the X-10 product line and the Z-Wave product line....

Something I never thought about is that my 880 is IR and most of these "home automation" controls would of course be RF... 

But it looks like X-10 product line makes a small IR reciver box that you can point your remote at, and it will turn the signal into the RF that its modules need all over your house...??

Does ANYONE have any experience with EITHER one of these home automation product lines (or any other) and could help guide me in the right way ??

Thanks SO MUCH !! 

[caddyroger]

I  use the x10 products with my 880 remote . You ill have to use the ir543 infrared controller. The 880 does  not use radio signals only ir signals and can not be used with z wave products

Sorry that i didn't back sooner  I was having password problems

Message Edited by caddyroger on 02-12-200711:59 AM

[Driver8rws]

So I put the "ir543 infrared controller" somewhere that I can physically "point" my Logitech remote at (to receive the infarred signal) and the "ir543 infrared controller" will then send out the RF signal to the X-10 units around my house ??

How did you then "program" the functions (turn on, turn off dim, etc.) on your Logitech remote ??

Where have you been buying your X-10 items at ?? (i.e. where have you found them for the cheapest...)

Thanks for all your help !!

[Driver8rws]

Z-Wave doesn't make something like the "ir543 infrared controller" for thier system ??

[Driver8rws]

Is THIS it ??....
http://cgi.ebay.com/X10-Infrared-Controller-IR543-Home-Automation

The guy has 25 of them !!!

What are the BUTTONS on it for ??
I just assumed it would be a very small box with only a IR receiver window and maybe an antenna to send out the RF signals...?

Do I have to have one of THESE also ??

http://cgi.ebay.com/X10-Wireless-RF-Transceiver-

Message Edited by Driver8rws on 02-12-200703:48 PM

Message Edited by Pegasus on 02-12-2007 09:16 PM

[WannabeActuary]

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Driver8rws wrote:

Is THIS it ??....

http://cgi.ebay.com/X10-Infrared-Controller-IR543-Home-Automation

The guy has 25 of them !!!

What are the BUTTONS on it for ??

I just assumed it would be a very small box with only a IR receiver window and maybe an antenna to send out the RF signals...?

Do I have to have one of THESE also ??

http://cgi.ebay.com/X10-Wireless-RF-Transceiver-TM751

Message Edited by Driver8rws on 02-12-200703:48 PM

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http://www.smarthome.com/4040.html

you'll notice the description says that it doubles as a mini remote, so I assume the buttons on it are for acting as a remote itself.

I suggest reading this link, as it has some good information

I don't think you'll need an RF signal sender or anything, as my understanding (now that I've read about it a bit) is that the x-10 signals are sent through the electrical wiring in your house. So the IR543 would plug into a wall outlet somewhere that's in sight of your remote, and then everything else would be connected to the home wiring, either by plugging something like this into an outlet, or installing something like this in place of an existing dimmer

Message Edited by WannabeActuary on 02-12-200704:32 PM

Message Edited by Pegasus on 02-12-2007 09:19 PM

[WannabeActuary]

btw, now I hate you guys...as you have me contemplating getting some x-10 dimmers ($40 each) and the ir543 controller ($27) from smarthome.com

I'll have to sit down tonight and think 1. do I have an outlet in a 'natural' IR sight from the couch, 2. if not, how can I make it so that there is one, 3. do I want to do some minor electrical work to install the dimmers, and 4. with a wedding this fall, do I even want to spend the money

[WannabeActuary]

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WannabeActuary wrote:

btw, now I hate you guys...as you have me contemplating getting some x-10 dimmers ($40 each) and the ir543 controller ($27) from smarthome.com

I'll have to sit down tonight and think 1. do I have an outlet in a 'natural' IR sight from the couch, 2. if not, how can I make it so that there is one, 3. do I want to do some minor electrical work to install the dimmers, and 4. with a wedding this fall, do I even want to spend the money

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http://www.smarthome.com/2001.html

two of these for the lamps next to my couch would be perfect too

man, I really hate you guys

Message Edited by WannabeActuary on 02-12-200704:17 PM

[WannabeActuary]

how long is the powercord for the IR543?

I could plug it in with an extension cord and put it in front of my entertainment center so that it would be in sight of the remote from the couch if the cord isn't long enough.  I figure I would need about 3-4 feet to plug it in, and run it to the front of the cabinet.

[WannabeActuary]

two last questions for me...

1. would a dimmer like this http://www.smarthome.com/2476d.html be able to be controlled from the wall itself, or would I HAVE to use a controller to dim it

2. would lamps plugged into units like this http://www.smarthome.com/2001.html need to be left on all the time and I would have to use the controller?

I'm not sure I want the lights to be only controlled via the remote...