I have a box of it I'd be happy to ship to you for shipping costs. I now use the common smart home plugs made by Tuya and rebranded under 10000 different names. Better to get older ones and don't let them firmware update and you can use https://github.com/ct-Open-Source/tuya-convert To put your own firmware on it. I'm hoping the project finds another vulnerability as I have several that are too new to hack. Would love a better alternative as well. Isaac On 2022-01-16 12:50, Giles Orr via talk wrote:

X10 ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X10_(industry_standard) ) isn't directly related to Linux, but this seems like the right group to ask about it ... I've been happily using X10 transmitters and receivers to automate switching lights on and off around my place for about two decades. These days that requires a USB-to-serial converter cable, but otherwise works just fine. X10 has significant limitations (unencrypted, local interference, very slow, one-way) but works well for the simple things I want it for. Which leads me to my two related but rather different questions.

First Question: Does anyone have any X10 gear they'd like to get rid of? I'll happily take it off your hands. If you'd prefer to sell it rather than giving it away, we can talk. I'm particularly looking for a "Transceiver Module." I can still buy these from x10.com - but they're an American company without a Canadian customs broker. They'll happily ship me stuff ... but whether or not it arrives, how much I have to pay in duties, and whether or not I have to travel to Niagara Falls to pick it up ... all my problem.

Second Question: What's a more modern replacement for X10? Keeping in mind that I have several limiting caveats. The first of which is, no "calling home." All interactions should happen within the confines of my computers and my residence. I would also fairly strongly prefer not to rely on a local wireless network: I have wireless, but it's deliberately off most of the time and I prefer it that way (for misguided security reasons, not misguided health reasons ... I like wires). I also don't want to have to do my own soldering (I'm capable of it, barely, but would prefer plug-and-go).

Thanks.

On 2022-01-16 12:50, Giles Orr via talk wrote:

First Question: Does anyone have any X10 gear they'd like to get rid of?

Soo much ... please take it! I think I might have a couple of the working transceiver modules (RR501?) left. I bought a dozen from Active Surplus, but their power caps slowly died over the years.

Second Question: What's a more modern replacement for X10?

Ikea's Home Smart System, aka TRÅDFRI. Unlike most other systems, it doesn't phone home. It does, however, have the base station, update firmware on the devices, for which it has to phone home. But the system can't be accessed outside the home. It mostly uses ZigBee for control, but like every other system you'll need wifi to talk from a client. Ikea have tweaked their protocol slightly over the years. My house runs from a series of entirely terrible shell scripts written by me (if you want a laugh: scruss/ihsctrl: a package of bash scripts to control selected IKEA Home smart (aka “TRÅDFRI”) devices via their network gateway — https://github.com/scruss/ihsctrl) If you must go wired, https://www.digital-loggers.com make some nice network controlled outlets, but they're pricey. Also their stock has been badly affected by the chip shortage, so it may be a long wait for the kit. cheers, Stewart