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USEFUL INFORMATION
X10 to INSTEON Technology Comparison
Technology Background
The X10 standard for using existing power line wiring to transmit signals used to control lights and appliances was originally developed in the mid-1970s. Over the years it became the de facto standard for home automation and is still used today. A wide range of X10 products are currently available from multiple sources with prices starting around $10. The X10 standard, developed before the Personal Computer, has since become quite dated due to its slow speed, inherent limitations and often dubious reliability. While X10 technology has become long of tooth, X10 products are still highly popular in terms of overall sales.
X10 Limitations
X10 is a single band network operating over the inherently noisy power line. This noise or interference comes from a plethora of sources ranging from poor electrical connections to electronic devices which produce high frequency signals as a function of their operation. X10 signals can also be degraded or attenuated by many of the same sources. Due to design requirements, X10 transmitters themselves are a source of signal attenuation even when they are not transmitting. Therefore, the more X10 transmitters present in a network, the more degradation of all X10 signals. X10 noise interference can generally be reduced or eliminated through the use of power line filters at the source of the noise. X10 attenuation can also be reduced with filters, and signal strength restored with signal boosters.
What is INSTEON?
INSTEON is a revolutionary technology that gives you the power to control your home simply and inexpensively, while giving you more dependability and flexibility than any other smart house management system on the market.
INSTEON is affordable, reliable, and simple to use. It is the world's:
- Most affordable (products start at $19.99)
- Most reliable (near 100%)
- Simplest to use (starter kit installs in minutes)
- Best selling remote control & home automation networking technology
Additionally:
- Every INSTEON device has its own unique ID (similar to a serial address) so your neighbors can't control your home
- Every INSTEON device is a repeater -- so the signal gets through every time
- Every INSTEON message is confirmed, or the transmitter will automatically retry until a confirmation is received
- INSTEON messages take less than 5/100ths of a second to get through -- so things turn 'on' instantly (INSTEON = instant-on)
- No central controller or networking setup is required - a simple plug-n-tap™ is all that is required to link one INSTEON product to another
What Products are Available?
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