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           TALKING TO YOUR HOUSE: An Introduction to Home Automation
                                       by
                          Tom Robinson (TOM.ROBINSON)

           (Portions reprinted from various publications by the author on
     GEnie*)

          Lots of people, including myself, like to stay in their easy
     chair once they get there.  And when people go on vacation, they like
     their homes to look "lived in" to ward off burglars and keep things
     cozy and secure.  Many have turned to X-10 equipment for the solution.
     The GEnie X-10 RoundTable (or X-10 RT for short) is built around
     various pieces of equipment that send and receive signals over your
     existing house wiring to turn on & off electrical items and/or dim
     lights, either at various times (specific or randomly set) or
     immediately on command.  And best of all, your computer can optionally
     control the entire setup to give you infinite control over your home
     or office.

          One of the best ways of providing security is psychological --
     trick the scum that wants to run off with your stuff.  One of those X-
     10 units can turn lights, radios, etc.  on and off at random times to
     make a place look occupied.  The timer is as easy to set as an
     electronic alarm clock.  The controllers either use graphics to show
     you what's going on or have a control pad that's clearly identified as
     to what unit you're controlling and what action you're taking.  Remote
     and timed dimming operations are included for lights to set a mood or
     simulate activity in the home or office.

          For warning when somebody DOES break in, there's a Burglar Alarm
     Interface (BA284) that can be triggered by a dry contact closure or a
     low voltage input (6-18v AC, DC, or audio).  It can be set to turn on
     all the lights, flash all the lights, or just turn on selected lights
     and/or appliances.  So hooking it to the output of your burglar alarm
     system or alarm panel can let you flood the place with light and sound
     -- even trigger a device to drop a brick on the person's head!  (Just
     kidding -- heh, heh.  But applications for it would be limited only by
     your imagination.) It can be activated by a magnetic window switch,
     photocell, moisture sensor, motion detector, pressure switch --
     anything which gives a switch closure or low voltage trigger.

          Then there's the radio transmitter/transceiver combination.  It
     would allow you to never have to enter the place in the dark again.
     Or provide for a "panic switch" that you carry around with you.
     Matter of fact, to look at "convenience" features for a moment, you
     could dim the lights in the evening, turn on the stereo or TV, and
     make the heater or air conditioner come on.  Or have those things
     timed to happen when you usually get home.  Oh, did I mention doing
     all that by telephone, too?  The Telephone Responder lets anyone with
     *your password* control the system.

          There's a device called the GE HomeMinder that also lets you
     password protect all your settings -- although I must say, that
     particular part of the security isn't tough to beat if you know the
     functions of the device.  I won't give it away here, though.  The
     HomeMinder also has a telephone line interface built in, so you're as
     close to your system as a touch-tone phone.  The original list price
     of that unit was $500 (!) but nowadays if you can find one they
     generally sell for $70-90.  That, my friends, is a real bargain for
     all it does.  (I haven't even gone into things like its "memo pad",
     which flashes a red light and beeps when a reminder comes up for the
     day you scheduled it for.)

          The standard configuration includes a number of Lamp Modules and
     Appliance Modules.  The difference is that Appliance Modules are
     relay-operated, while Lamp Modules use a dimming circuit.  Electrical
     outlets are available that act like Appliance Modules (one outlet of
     the two is controlled), and wall switches are available that act like
     Lamp Modules (it's not advised to control an electrical outlet with
     one; you don't want to try to "dim" a TV set for example).  The wall
     switches provide a pushbutton for local control and a mechanical
     switch to disable it to allow for changing light bulbs, etc.

          Due out by the third quarter of this year is a setup by MAX
     Systems called MAX-10.  The basic concept behind this setup that sets
     it apart from the others is the high level of options available to
     you, depending on how much of the system you buy.  It'll do things
     like calibrate its clock using one of several computers hooked up to
     an atomic time standard around the country, or base its actions on
     external events with greater versatility than many other systems.  For
     example, say you usually want hot coffee waiting for you when you get
     home, and the TV set ready on your favorite channel.  But today you
     have to work late -- what to do?  Well, if MAX-10 isn't told that
     you're home, it'll either shut the coffee, etc.  back off again or
     never turn 'em on in the first place.  Quoting from the system's
     creator:

          ---------------

          "The MAX-10 system is designed to be left in communication with
     the X-10 Interface at all times, although it...  will work perfectly
     fine in a "program it and forget it" manner.  This constant connection
     and communication between the computer and the X-10 Interface will
     allow, perhaps for the first time, the full potential of the X-10
     Interface System to be realized.  MAX-10 will, in effect, increase the
     memory of the X-10 Interface to 64K or more and give it the ability to
     make "intelligent" decisions based on input."

          ---------------

          For those that already have the hardware, there will be a freely
     distributable version of the software to control it.  Those that like
     it and/orwant more features will be able to buy the commercial
     version.  The system is designed to be a fully windowed operating
     environment with support for keyboard, joystick, Atari ST mouse or
     Commodore 1351 mouse.  It'll have remote access via modem to change
     its settings.  Since the X-10 may be controlling security systems,
     there will be multiple passwords and other forms of security on this
     path.

          MAX-10 will have the ability to track the "local time of day" and
     to detect when the time makes the change between standard time and
     daylight saving time.  This will allow MAX-10 to "adjust" the timing
     of certain events based on the real time, not what the X-10 thinks the
     time is.  For example, in the Winter months, you may want the porch
     light on at 5 PM, but this would a waste in the Summer.  MAX-10 will
     adjust with NO user input needed.

          MAX-10 supports external program modules.  These are small
     programs that maybe loaded into the computer and run to do special
     tasks that are not built into MAX-10.  There will be provided to all
     MAX-10 registered owners a "MAX-10 Programmer's Guide" that will fully
     document how to program modules for MAX-10.

          An Automatic Alarm Mode is provided such that, if a security
     system is connected to the X-10 Interface, when an alarm is sounded,
     MAX-10 will automatically call the local emergency telephone number
     and play a pre-recorded message.  Various messages are possible
     depending on the nature of the alarm.  This was just a quick overview
     of some of the features MAX-10 will have.  Details are available in a
     press release from MAX Systems in the X-10 Library.

          The secret of all this electronic magic is how X-10 uses the
     wiring in your home.  Equipment that uses the X-10 protocol sends out
     digital pulses over the same wire it gets its power from.  While
     normal house current uses the 60 Hzfrequency, these coded pulses are
     sent at a much higher frequency.  That way, equipment that's
     "listening" for those pulses can't get confused by the regular
     powerline "hum".  It's just filtered out.  The only X-10 equipment
     that would actually be wired would be portions of the security system.
     Window contacts, the BA284, and other related items either use small
     wire or radio transmitters to send their signals (depending on the
     installation or unit).

          The protocol can control 16 different unit codes.  Well, really
     more like 256 codes, but they only mention 16 in case you have
     neighbors or other businesses on the same electrical transformer.  The
     X-10 powerline signals won't travel beyond the transformer.  But each
     code doesn't have to be unique to one light or appliance -- a truly
     unlimited number of items can be controlled simultaneously on ONE unit
     code -- for example, if you wanted half a dozen lights all over the
     building to come on if you push one button, but you don't want ALL of
     'em on (there's an "all on" button for that anyway).  There's also one
     button to turn off everything controlled by the system if need be.

          Some folks get intimidated by the fact that a system like that
     can be very technical-sounding.  Don't let it scare you!  In most
     cases all you do is just plug it in anywhere, and it works.  End of
     setup.  That's the kind of thing we provide online support for over at
     the X-10 RT (and by extension, the CP/M RT).  And I've really only
     scratched the surface!  There are so many possibilities that you'd be
     reading for DAYS if I tried to describe all of 'em.  But being able to
     control anything electrical from anywhere in the world is heady stuff!
     And the components are available just about everywhere.  For those
     with elaborate requirements, there's even a unit with a battery-backed
     memory that you can plug into your computer and program (from scratch
     or using existing software).

          You can find the components at any Radio Shack store, larger
     Sears stores, and I think even Heathkit stores & catalogs (they're
     handled by Heath/Zenith).  Others handle the units too, like Stanley
     and Leviton.  Mail order outlets handle various items as well -- DAK
     comes to mind as often having good prices on modules and controllers.
     A company called Dyer's Electric also provides discounts on X-10
     equipment if you mention the X-10 RoundTable.  When you call Dyer's,
     ask for Jim Wilson at [phone].  DAK can be reached by calling
     1-800-DAK-0800 for orders.  For info only, please call 1-800-888-7808.
     DAK, too,will be glad to know that you found out about 'em from folks
     with the X-10RoundTable.

          Unity Systems out of Redwood City, California manufactures a
     complete home automation setup that incorporates a touch screen
     controller.  This screen will display a floor plan of your home and
     indicates various activity.  Here's a capsule description in the words
     of a representative, Kevin Miller: "We make a product called the Home
     Manager.  The hardware consists of a central unit, called the MCPU,
     which has computer hardware and associated relays, analog inputs, and
     switch inputs.  A touch screen, about the size of a 19-inch TV screen,
     provides the main user interface.  Other interfaces are provided by
     either direct PC, telephone-modem, or telephone-DTMF.  LCD-display
     keypads, or simple, non-LCD keypads, provide a simple interface to the
     security subsystem.  "The software that runs on the MCPU provides
     three functions: HVAC control, a security system, and general-purpose
     device control.  The HVAC system provides room-by-room temperature
     control.  This is accomplished by dividing the structures into zones,
     and monitoring each zone with a temperature sensor.  The cooling and
     heating to each zone is controlled by a modulated damper, which we
     also manufacture; we also support some motorized dampers made by other
     firms.  Our security system uses standard switch inputs to monitor the
     structure, and uses the attached keypads for access control.  We
     provide a standard set of security functions.  Finally, we provide
     general-purpose device control.  We do this by using either the relays
     that haven't been used in controlling the HVAC system, or through our
     own X-10 compatible powerline interface.  Devices can beturned off and
     on by a variety of events, including sunrise/sunset, sensor input,
     switch input, keypad input, time interval.

          "We sell mainly through our dealer network, numbering around 150
     throughout the country.  We currently have about 1000 installations,
     and we believe that we have the largest installed base of any general
     purpose home automation system in the country, if not the world." To
     locate a dealer near you, call 1-800-55-UNITY.  If you're in
     California you have to call 1-800-85-UNITY.  If all of that fails, the
     regular number is 1-415-369-3233.

          A recent event is the addition of X-10 related information in the
     CP/M RT, thanks to the courtesy of Bill Juliani (GE Mail address C128-
     BILL).  We're located in Category 17 of the CP/M RT Bulletin Board.
     We also maintain several files with source code for CP/M machines in
     the X-10 RT -- while you can always search the RT Library, there's a
     list of 'em in that same Category in the CP/M RT.  They'll let you
     control the CP-290 Computer Interface.

          One way to get to the CP/M RT is by typing CPM (but you have to
     be at a main GEnie menu for this to work).  An easier way is to type
     M685;1 (and wait until the system takes you to the Bulletin Board).
     Then type SET 17 (you'll get a response that says "Category 17 Product
     Support: General Area").  Finally, type REA 6 NEW (you'll be reading
     Topic 6, titled "X-10 POWERHOUSE: For CP/MMachines").  Additionally,
     to get to the X-10 RT you can type M495 (the mnemonic for the
     RoundTable is X-10 or XTEN, so you can type those if they're easier to
     remember).  At this writing, we're also gratiously hosted by various
     other RoundTables, so if you own other types of computers as well
     there may be a Category in the RT that supports your other models.
     Wherever you end up, we'll be glad to see you -- and hopefully we'll
     be able to lend a hand with getting started if you need assistance.

          Does this article leave you wanting more information?  If so,
     there're a few things you can check.  First, there're several
     newsletters that've been placed in the X-10 Library over the years by
     X-10 themselves.  In addition there's a fascinating (and occasionally
     humorous) file called CONTESTS.TXT which can be read online, captured,
     or downloaded.  CONTESTS.ARC is also available for those of you with
     the ability to unARC files; this'll roughly cut your download time in
     half.  Although the X-10 RT Bulletin Board is about to undergo a
     "spring cleaning", it's always chock full of discussion by various X-
     10 system owners and enthusuasts.  Unity Systems is also online to
     support their products and discuss the emerging standards for CEbus
     and home automation internationally.  And last but certainly not
     least: Bill Juliani, Brad Harris (PIPMAG publisher and CP/M RT
     regular, email BHARRIS) and many others stand ready to help you with
     computing hardware/software issues.

          Bruce Robin (the X-10 Roundtable chief sysop) and I aren't
     employees of X-10 or anything -- we're just enthusiasts or hobbyists.
     Both of us have technical backgrounds to some extent, and have
     contacts all over the industry.  But with such versatile gadgets, you
     can see why we're so enthusiastic about 'em.  We invite you to find
     out how convenient doing things with X-10 equipment is.  Whether you
     use your computer setup or external hardware, you'll find you can get
     VERY used to having things run automatically and not having to fool
     with them!

              Tom Robinson, Sysop GEnie X-10 Powerhouse RoundTable

        GEnie is the General Electric Network for Information Exchange.

       %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

          The fine print department:

          "HomeMinder", "GEnie" and "RoundTable" are trademarks of General
     Electric, Inc.
          "X-10" and X-10 POWERHOUSE is a trademark of X-10 (USA), Inc.
          "Touch-tone" is a trademark of Bell Labs.