Q: I’ve just started using X10 but am experiencing some reliability issues. Can you help?

A: As we said last week, X10 does work. However there are sometimes road blocks on the path to getting it to work reliabily. There are three main problems that can occur: noise, lack of phase coupling, or defective/improperly installed hardware.

The first step to troubleshooting X10 is making sure your switch works fine manually/locally by using the rocker on the face of the switch. If it doesn’t, you have a defective or improperly installed switch.

Second, do you have an appropriate phase coupler installed in the home? If not, you will have problems getting X10 signals from one phase to the other. You should not troubleshoot noise until you have a phase coupler installed.

Now you can address noise. Electrical noise or pollution is most likely to cause intermittent problems rather than consistent. Intermittent problems are the most frustrating to solve for obvious reasons. If you have a consistent problem, consider yourself lucky - it will be much easier to experiment and discover the problem.

The most common fault we see is a switch only able to turn ON via X10 commands, not OFF. If this problem is consistent, it almost always means the load you are powering on is the one generating the noise. A filter between that load and the X10 switch will solve the problem. A common question is, “Can I put a filter on that entire circuit?” You can physically wire one in that configuration, but you will be stopping the X10 signals from getting to any X10 devices on that circuit. That will make the problem worse, especially for an end-user who does not know the filter is there (”Why isn’t my X10 working on this one circuit?”), so it is not recommended.

Noise can also fool a switch into thinking it received an X10 ON command. The noise could just fool load-sensing switches into thinking you wanted the LOAD on, so it turns it on for you. Either way, noise is usually still the issue.

A quick and dirty way to troubleshoot for noise is to shut off every circuit in the home except for the one or two that have the sending and receiving X10 devices you are having trouble with. If the X10 works fine like this, you know one of the powered-off circuits has noise, and you can use the process of elimination to find out which. If it still doesn’t work, you have narrowed down the problem to either noise coming from an outside source (into the home through the panel) or a device still on one of those circuits still creating noise.

Another quick (but expensive) way to solve X10 noise problems is with an X10 signal meter. It will help you discover if there is noise without having to run around and press switches. It will also show you the amount of noise on the line and the signal strength of X10 commands at any given location. This makes solving X10 problems much faster. Because of the cost, it really only makes sense to purchase one if you can make money back on the investment.

Another option is to use an oscilloscope to visually see the noise and X10 signals in the AC wave form. (Google search keywords: oscillioscope X10) If you already have an oscilloscope, this route is much less expensive than having to purchase a dedicated meter.

One final bit of info on knowledge resources: “Uncle” Phil Kingery is “the man” when it comes to everything X10. He works tech support for Advanced Control Technologies, a manufacturer for some of the products we offer. He has written a very helpful group of articles which are a great technical resource if you are interested in making X10 work for you. Here is where he starts talking about noise.

Again, X10 DOES work. It can just be time consuming discovering the noise makers. Once they are found, solutions are easy and we can help!

Q: Could you provide me with some background information on your security camera systems? I am also interested in DVRs. This will be a residential application - I don’t mind wiring for reliability!

A: Sure, we can certainly provide you with some insight. You are right, wired cameras are always “better” than the wireless versions. Maybe not in installation convenience, but definitely in reliability and video quality! Nothing beats a hard-wired connection in those regards. With that said, there are a few keywords you may come across when looking for and considering different cameras. Here are some quick definitions:

• Wired: Installs with wires
• Wireless: Sends signals through the air; no wiring needed for installation (except power supply)
• IP (internet protocol): Can connect to the internet directly, no other system required!
• Outdoor/indoor: Outdoor cameras are weatherproof; indoor cameras can only be used indoors.
• DVR: Digital Video Recorder, a high-tech way of storing and viewing constant video feeds in a digital, easy to access format.
• PTZ: Pan/tilt/zoom, or PT for pan/tilt only.
• Modulated: The camera’s signals can be seen by tuning to a specific TV channel.

Let’s start with the basics: wired cameras. Most wired cameras are very simple. They need only power and a place to send their video, which travels via a cable with a BNC or RCA (more common) connection. Note: BNC can be converted to RCA or vice versa with adapters. We carry indoor, outdoor, color, B&W, dome, and PTZ wired cameras.

The next type of camera we have are the wireless variants, which are better if you do not want to or cannot run wires. However, they have limitations in the quality of the camera’s signal and the range in which you can transmit and receive the signal. But, they are by far the most convenient when it comes to installation.

Next, we have IP cameras. These are great if you don’t have or want a VCR to record, a television to view, or a DVR to record. IP cameras plug into your existing network (with the same Ethernet wire your computer uses), or can use WiFi to wirelessly connect to your network. The Astak IP cameras, our most popular, come with world-wide internet access service FREE of charge for life! Just visit the website, type your username and password, and there is your camera! You can also program alerts to your email address whenever motion is detected, or you can set up the camera to snap a photo at a certain time. The camera can be panned and tilted from anywhere in the world just as easily as it can be from your home computer.

Now to DVRs. With a DVR, all video is recorded digitally. This is great for quick and easy access, transferring, accessing over the internet, and especially for overwriting the oldest video. With DVRs, you can have a constant amount of history always available, with no manual deleting required. Stand-alone DVR systems afford you the flexibility of having a reliable system always running, with massive storage space, ability to record to CD, and more advanced security features. We have three brand new DVR kits which include wired cameras at an extra savings. These DVRs are also specially designed to work with the Apple iPhone!

Finally we have a few specialty cameras. The Secureview camera is neither wired nor wireless. How so? It uses the existing electrical wiring already in your home to send its video signals to the termination point, where you will use an RCA cable to connect to a VCR, TV, or even a DVR. Pre-Modulated cameras, another type of specialty camera, are great because you need only a SINGLE coaxial wire run to each camera. On that wire, power is injected into the camera, and the video signal is already “modulated”. That means you can plug the camera wire into your cable TV system using a splitter/combiner, then tune any television to the specified channel to view the camera! This greatly cuts down on wiring times. We also sell modulators so you can modulate ANY video signal, whether security cameras or even a satellite box.

We have mentioned a lot here, so if you have any questions about these products, others you find in our newsletter or website, or the application/use of ANY product we sell, feel free to email technical support. We are happy to help!

Ryan Skelly, our technical support manager, is interviewed by the Washington Times for an article on Home Automation. Check It Out!  http:/ /www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/09/cover-story-smart-ways-to-live-in-high-tech-house/

Somerset NJ - FREEVOLVE LLC., the designer and manufacturer of housEvolve, the first remote home access system, is pleased to announce they have expanded their retail network by partnering with SmartHomeUSA.com for distribution of their housEvolve product line. Smart Home Systems, Inc., dba SmartHomeUSA.com, headquartered in Smithtown, NY, was founded in 1995 and specializes in smart home technology. They distribute thousands of smart home automation products world-wide through their online stores to both do-it-yourselfers and professional installers, and are recognized for the free, in-depth personalized phone & e-mail technical support offered to their customers as well as excellent customer service. Allan Diamanti, Smart Home Systems, Inc. president, says, “We are excited to be partnering with FREEVOLVE to offer the housEvolve line to our customers. housEvolve offers a much needed solution to homeowners who are looking for a reliable, well-made remote home access, alert and management system.”

housEvolve gives owners the ability to monitor, control and become aware of problems related to their home’s environment from anywhere in the world. A revolutionary interface makes housEvolve as easy to use as checking voicemail, so that its benefits are available to everyone, regardless of technical skill. housEvolve brings the remote environment to you, anywhere: remain informed of current conditions and stay in complete control of your Heating and Air Conditioning System, Water Shut-Off Valves and even your Garage Door.  Anderson Micu -¬— Founder & CEO of FREEVOLVE notes, “Establishing housEvolve as a comprehensive yet easily approachable homeowner solution begins with a strong professional support infrastructure. To that end, we welcome FREEVOLVE’s newest partner, SmartHomeUSA.com, to our growing retail network. Pairing products like housEvolve with experts in the do-it-yourself arena creates the ideal environment for the introduction of next-generation, user-dedicated high technology solutions to the consumer market. We look forward to a successful partnership for the long-term benefit of our customers.”

Q: I want to control my home with my computer and possibly remotely, too. What are my options?

A: We have many options for you to choose from. Leveraging the computing power of the most intelligent device already in your home is a great way to simplify and obtain inexpensive home control, and you’re likely to save energy and money in the process, too!

First we’ll cover a very popular hardware-based computing device, which works in tandem with your computer and the internet: the VERA home control and energy saving system. Vera is one of the easiest-to-use devices we carry and features built-in video help on EVERY page of its user interface. “She” actually speaks to you and tells you how to get it working or how to make your desired customizations. Plus, the manufacturer, Mi Case Verde, maintains an extremely helpful, information-rich website to answer any additional questions you may have.

Vera works with Z-Wave devices. Any Z-Wave switches, plug-in modules, motion sensors, even door locks can be controlled by Vera. You can program timers, macros, notifications, and much more. All this is available from any browser in the home or over the internet, including mobile devices! To help you save money, Vera also tracks which Z-Wave-enabled lights and appliances are left on and for how long. You tell Vera what light or appliance is controlled by what Z-Wave device, and Vera will tell you how much energy you are using and wasting at any time.

Moving on to software… We have a new product called mControl which runs on your PC and lets you monitor and control MANY different systems throughout your home using interfaces attached to your computer. Some of these systems include: cameras, HVAC systems, security systems, irrigation, IR, Z-Wave, X10 and Insteon devices, and it even works hand-in-hand with the voice control and speaking software already built into most computers.

Homeseer is another popular software option we offer. It is very similar to mControl, allowing you to control a variety of different systems in your home. It adds some features of HAL (which I will speak about later) like voice control and response, and telephone integration. Similar also is ThinkEssentials software made by Leviton. It is an easy to use program for creating, editing, troubleshooting, and controlling any Z-wave network(s) in your home.

HAL (on sale now!) is a software program unlike any other, tapping the power of your existing PC or Home Server to control almost anything in your home. It can send commands all over your house using the existing highway of electrical wires inside your home’s walls. No new wires means HAL is easy and inexpensive to install. HAL’s voice interface makes HAL easy to use. The user may pick up any phone in the home, press the # key, and then tell HAL to dim the dining room lights or close the garage door. It’s a two-way conversation, with HAL confirming that it has, indeed, performed the requested action.

HAL’s HomeNet web interface offers control from from every pc in the world with an internet connection. There’s even and Instant Message interface so you can control your home using popular Instant Messaging capabilities and even receive notifications of various events. HAL is our most advanced and popular home control software, followed closely by HomeSeer and mControl.

We would be happy to further address any specific questions you may have regarding the software and solutions we mentioned above. Feel free to email us at tech@smarthomeusa.com.

Q: How can I view my front door from my laptop without an expensive gateway nor complicated video surveillance system?

A: An IP Camera is the perfect solution.

If you don’t want to run any new wires, see the CM-IP700 camera. This camera is the most affordable fully-featured camera we offer. It can be wired with an ethernet cable or just operate wirelessly over your existing WiFi network. The online service is completely free (unlike other cameras that require a monthly service fee).

This camera could NOT be easier to setup and use. Although some people might be skeptical about this claim, I promise you I’m serious. If you have a little curiosity and about seven minutes to spare, check out the video demo of the setup and use of this camera by one of our customers.

This is a full pan/tilt camera, so it can be moved into almost any position, enabling you to see anything in the room on demand. It can be used with an SD card for local storage, or just upload images via FTP or email. You can set motion alarms/alerts for variable areas of the camera’s view, and it comes complete with IR illuminator LEDs so you can still see images in complete darkness.

Another camera option (that costs less!) would be the wireless 6520 made by Channel Vision. This one comes with 16 channel DVR software bundled in for free! The camera is not a pan/tilt version like the other one, but does support digital zoom through the use of a computer’s mouse. And no hard wiring is required either. This camera fully supports mobile phone viewing.

The third and most affordable option we have for you would allow your camera to be mounted outside in the rain or elements, yet still have a wireless connection back into your house. The ClearCam II system is designed to connect directly to a TV or VCR - not exactly a computer (unless you already have a video capture card). This system will allow you to switch to your TV’s input and instantly see your front door. Perfect when you are sitting on the couch with a movie… There’s no need to interrupt your movie for door-to-door solicitors anymore!

A: We certainly do! The Schlage Z-Wave Wireless Lock system meets every bit of your criteria.

We have both deadbolt and lever style lock kits to suit any door in your home. The included LiNK bridge is required to communicate with and monitor the locks. The service for the LiNK bridge is less than $.50 per day, and there are no contracts you have to sign. The bridge is the “smart” part of the lock system. It allows you to log in from any computer and check/set user codes and even set up alerts! For example, when your plumber’s code is entered, you can have an email or text message sent to yourself. No more wondering who is in your house! And when the plumber’s job is done, you can remove his code so it no longer lets him in. You can also remotely lock and unlock the door to let someone in without a code at all. The LiNK bridge also affords you some control of Z-Wave lighting in your home as an added benefit.

In very related news, we have a pretty nice promotion running for the remainder of June - one that will certainly save you money if you are looking to have this type of lock control of your doors. Purchase any Schlage Z-Wave Lock without the LiNK Bridge, (either the deadbolt or lever lock), and a Vera home monitoring/energy saving control system at the same time, and you will receive the monthly service for Vera FREE FOR LIFE! Therefore you are not locked into Schlage’s monthly service fees, saving you thousands of dollars over the long term! The best part is, Vera can do everything the LiNK bridge can do, and much, much more! We recommend you take advantage of this amazing offer before it is too late.

Here is a comparison between features of the Vera and the Schlage LiNK Bridge with regards to the Schlage Z-Wave Lock. As you can see, every feature and MORE are available in Vera over the LiNK Bridge.

For more on Vera’s energy saving and home automation features (in addition to it’s ability to monitor and control the Schlage Z-Wave Lock) see the product page here.

A: Absolutely. This is one of our most frequently asked questions. In fact, a comprehensive 5 year study by Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice found that burglar alarm systems simply decrease crime - not only for the home the system is installed in - but for the entire neighborhood, as well! (Source)

The best solution to this question comes from one of the most popular manufacturers out of all the products we sell. That manufacturer is Skylink, and they have spent years refining do-it-yourself wireless security systems. The result is an affordable, easy to install system that can be taken with you if you move, and costs you zero dollars per month in service fees!

There are four main Skylink system kits which make a great foundation upon which you can build your whole-home secrity system.

The Basic Kit includes a siren, two keychain remote controls, and two door/window sensors. There is no keypad with this kit, so it is important to carry the keychain with you wherever you go.

The Deluxe Kit adds a keypad control panel (with many more features), and a motion sensor. This system includes just one keychain remote, but like all Skylink systems, accessories and additional sensors can always (and easily) be added on.

The Deluxe Winter kit includes everything in the Deluxe kit, but also a flood sensor and a high/low temperature sensor. These two additional sensors are great protection for when you are on vacation or away from your home for extended periods of time.

The final kit, the Skylink Complete Kit, includes an emergency telephone dialer (which can be added to ANY kit) that will actually dial up to nine phone numbers whenever there is an alarm condition in your house. No more arriving home from vacation to discover a failed HVAC system or devastating accidental floods! To top it off, the Complete Kit includes a highly visible security sticker to attach to your window - telling burglars YOUR house is the not one to mess with!

There are a multitude of additional sensors available that are compatible with all of the above kits. Vibration sensors, keychain or wristband panic transmitters and carbon monoxide/fire alarm audio sensors are just a few examples. You can add additional motion sensors, door/window sensors and waterproof sirens to cover your entire home, especially and ground floor. Remember, there is no wiring required! All these devices work wirelessly with each other and the control panel. They will even alert you if the battery is dying so there are no weak points in the system.

Skylink Total Protection is by far the easiest and most affordable do-it-yourself security system with ZERO monthly fees. Check it out and reduce the chance of crime in your home and neighborhood today!

A: Yes, we have two universal garage door opener replacement buttons that will work with almost any garage door opener. They are made by a company called Skylink.

The best option from Skylink comes with a very welcomed feature. It is the Skylink Garage Door Automatic Opener/Closer Kit. This kit comes with a smart push button that can sense when you’ve left your garage door open, and after a time period you dictate, will automatically close the garage door. No more wasted heat or air conditioning, and no more burglary risk!

Outside, simply mount a wireless KP-434 keypad for code access to the garage.

Add an audio alarm sensor and a traditional CO audio alarm, and your garage door will automatically open itself if there are elevated levels of CO sensed (a car has been started and was left running), or add a traditional smoke alarm to automatically open the garage door if there is a fire, aiding the exit of your family and the entry of firefighters - even if you’re not home!

Finally, add a keychain remote control to allow you to open your garage door from outside your home.

Your second option has a smaller wall-mounted replacement button, offers extensive compatibility installs easily. It is the Smart Button line. We have kits for code access, visor button access, or portable remote control access.

Either the Smart Button or the GT-100 Automatic Opener/Closer Kit will make a great replacement for your old push button. With Skylink’s reliability and ease of installation, you’ll be satisfied.