IR to X10

Hi ALL,

I have an HTPC in my set up and I use an X10 appliance module to turn it on and off. I also have an IR 543 that can accept an IR command and translate it to an X10 command. This way I can have my Harmony One remote issue an IR command to turn on or off the HTPC. But my IR543 just crapped out and I now find that they are discontinued. Is there any other device out there that can accept an IR command and then send out an X10 command.

An alternative would be a wireless switch but the only ones I found use RF instead of IR.

Any suggestions would be welcomed!

Thanks,
Gerry

I saw that one and its available at Amazon slightly cheaper. The only problem with it is that while it can control X10 modules you have to put it into that mode and to do so you need an X10 controller to send a command with the correct codes that this device will intercept that code and then set itself into X10 mode. The IR543 in addition to accepting IR commands was an X10 controller and since its broken (even the buttons will not turn the module on or off) I would have to get another X10 controller. I found one for about $20 but still it adds to the cost. There's another IR controller I found that's about $60 but I think it also need an X10 controller.


I definitely looked at eBay but at the present none are listed and when I did find one they wanted over $100 for a USED one!


I agree that the IR543 was a very useful device and was very disappointed to find out that it had been discontinued!

Any other suggestions?

Gerry

Patience? What's that??!!

Frankly its not that big of a deal as I don't use the HTPC all that much. Lately there's been a lot of shows on Sun that I want and its too many for my Verizon FiOS DVR, so I fire up the HTPC that has a HD OTA tuner in it and I can record one show at a time. Without the IR543 what I do now is to just plug the PC's AC cord in when I need it and unplug it when I'm done. VERY low tech but of course works.

I still want to be able to do that under control of my Harmony One IR remote so I'm still looking for an alternate to the IR543. So I'm open to any other suggestions!

Gerry

Hi fitbrit,

Even though I created this thread I keep forgetting to check it! (I just subscribed to this thread so I should get an e-mail when someone posts.) I have to run right now so I don't have time to explain why I think the Insteon needs an separate X10 controller and that other thing I found for about $60. But later on today I should have time and I'll explain both.

Cheers,
Gerry

OK, here's what I have so far.

The Insteon IR converter is available from Amazon for about $88:

http://www.amazon.com/Smarthome-2411R-Receiver-INSTEON-Converter/dp/B003IHTZFI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351719156&sr=8-1&keywords=Insteon+ir

I downloaded its manual and when it talks about controling an X10 it says:

"1) Set IRLinc to Linking Mode by pressing & holding the Set button for 3 seconds.
The blue IRLinc Status LED will flash once

2)Using an X10 controller [my emphasis], send the X10 Primary Address you want to use three times
The blue IRLinc Status LED will begin blinking"


So it seems that you need a separate X10 comtroller to send a signal which the Insteon will see and then put itself into X10 mode with that Primary Address. I found a plain X10 controller for about $20 - not that expensive but of course adds to the cost.

The other device I found is called a Macro IR Module MM42IR and is availabe here:

http://www.smarthomeusa.com/ShopByManufacturer/Monterey-Instruments/Item/MMIR/

BUT . . . . . when I started to read its manual I was confuled about it saying that its supposed to plug into a "Two-Way Power Line Interface" and I was not sure if it came with it. Upon a little more reasearch for this post I found that the Two-Way Power Line Interface is a different item and ITS ALSO DISCONTINUED!!!!!

Boy the X10 people are really dumb to keep on discontinuing these items. I think there's an 800 number to call and I may do that.

In the mean time I'm still searching. If you do end up buying the Insteon please post your progress with it.

Gerry

Hi fitbrit,

Thanks for the info.

Where were you able to get the used X10 stuff? eBay? If some other source could you give me some info on that source?

Thanks,
Gerry

Hi fitbrit,

Thanks for the info! I saw your thread on the other forum and I also saw the UR543 on eBay. Its got 5 days to go so I just put it on my watch list for now. I guess I'll just have to look out for one of these either new or used and just get it. The other alternatives seem to be more complicated than its worth!

Gerry

Hi fitbrit,

Haven't been here for a while. I saw 3 543's on eBay and put some low bids on them and they were all auto-bidded higher instantly. Frankly I wasn't too keen on spending too much for them when they were used and the new one was already at about $100.

Now I'm leaning to the Insteon controller which is $100 but if I want to use it with my X10 appliance module I need a separate X10 controller to help the Insteon learn an X10 command. Other option is to get an Insteon appliance controller but they are about $30. So I'm looking at at least $130 to control a Dell HTPC which in total cost me about $500. So I'm also not too keen on this solution either.

So for now I'm just manually plugging the AC in or out as needed. I'll still be looking for a more reasonably costing solution but the above may end up being my long term solution!!

Gerry