I know we've talked about X10 and various smart devices here before, but I don't recall mention/use of the X10 WiFi hub.

I love the idea of smart gadgets, but I'm extremely hesitant to tie my house in with Google or Alexa. I don't need to connect to the system from outside the house; I'd simply like an easy-to-use automatable system.

If I'm reading things right, this X10 device doesn't require any internet connectivity. That's what I'm after.

Anybody here using this?

Not a lot of experience with X10 but with all the gadgets and control are largely cloud based.
The reason is they are easier to configure and control and with all of that of course less secure.
Controlling everything with Alexa Amazon in charge is very convenient but scares the shit out of me.
If you happen to stumble upon a premise controlled system then you would also have to be able to route any outside Internet traffic to the the control device.
That would require some router setup knowledge and at the minimum dynamic-DNS IP setup or static IP's.
If all you want to do is control from within your LAN with Wi-Fi or desktop then of course the Cloud or the IP forwarding is not necessary.

quote:

X10 WiFI hub

Says as long as you have internet access you can control with it, sounds like you would have the ability to use smart devices from anywhere.


https://www.x10.com/wm100.html

The X10 WiFi unit is here! Now, control all your same X10 units you have grown to love from your Apple or Android smart device anywhere you have internet access!

Well, fudge. I read that page twice, and I guess I overlooked that statement in my haste/excitement. Thank you, HRK.

[Feeling like a bonehead....]

Connecting from the outside has advantages, Daughter left her phone and garage door opener in her house, lucky I had installed a MyQ since she was locked out. Opened her door from my office, bingo she's back in.. Shidt happens.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Connecting from the outside has advantages

True. I keep considering the web-enabled thermostat, for times I'm on odd schedules and want to warm/cool the place a bit before I get home.

I live in the Appleverse, and am persuaded that they anonymize the shit out of data going back and forth to Apple.
I use Apple HomeKit switches from Leviton, Arlo cameras.
I will not, however, have a lock controlled through the internet. I'd rather keep a key under the front doormat as far as security is concerned.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
I live in the Appleverse, and am persuaded that they anonymize the shit out of data going back and forth to Apple.
I use Apple HomeKit switches from Leviton, Arlo cameras.

Thank you, Dr. T. I looked up HomeKit and find it works with Wemo, which led to this:
https://www.belkin.com/us/p/P-WSP080/

That page mentions. "Simply plug the Smart Plug into an electrical outlet, plug a device into the Smart Plug, and control your device using the free Wemo app or by using your voice with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant."

I see "or" in that statement, which leads me to believe the Smart Plug could work simply with the Wemo app, not necessarily requiring Alexa or Google intervention. Am I overthinking that?

I definitely don't want a web-enabled door lock. Good grief!

Security is a trade off.

You can avoid outside connections with an internal WiFi smart hub.

Look into Z-Wave smart hubs.

https://www.smarthomeperfected.com/z-wave-hub/

Internet connection is optional.

You can always plug in the hub for updates and disconnect it when you are done updating.

If you are worried about security with it and you have internet access at home.

Set up separate networks on separate routers with the smart home network not cross connected.

Use different numbering schema subnets for both routers.

It sounds more complicated that it is.

I have opted in to Amazon and Apple life.

I set reasonable passwords, if someone wants in bad enough I am not going able to stop them.

I make it complicated enough to have them go on to easier pickings.

It's like a wood house with windows and wood walls.

Break a window, smash out a door lock, cut a hole in the wall.

I have reasonable dead bolt locks and call it a day.

quote:

Originally posted by sig2392:
Look into Z-Wave smart hubs.

https://www.smarthomeperfected.com/z-wave-hub/

The Samsung Smart Things hub seems to get a good review. Samsung's own web site , however, doesn't seem to mention the hub. Lots of mention of the app; no mention of the hub. And Amazon (love 'em or hate 'em) doesn't appear to sell it.

Check out hubitat.
https://hubitat.com/

Almost everything runs local.

quote:

Originally posted by eyrich:
Almost everything runs local.

Thank you. I'll check that out.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:

quote:

Originally posted by sig2392:
Look into Z-Wave smart hubs.

https://www.smarthomeperfected.com/z-wave-hub/

The Samsung Smart Things hub seems to get a good review. Samsung's own web site , however, doesn't seem to mention the hub. Lots of mention of the app; no mention of the hub. And Amazon (love 'em or hate 'em) doesn't appear to sell it.

There's a lot of discussion online that Samsung is getting out of the Smart Things hardware market and may only offer software in the future. Personally, I won't use Alexa or Google Assistant, and just stick to WiFi hardware that doesn't require a hub of any kind. That still gives me access to my lights and other IOT stuff, but through the vendor's app on my phone.

Is anyone still using X10 Commander? I’ve been using it since 2010, everything has been great. I just got a new iphone and restored from a backup. X10 commander shows up on my new phone, but since it’s not in the app store anymore I can’t use it to control all my X10 stuff. Anyone have a way to fix? This is crazy that I can't use it (it still works on my old phone and I have a copy of the ipa still but not sure if that helps)

This is how the app worked with explanation http://www.usabilityinstitute....10commandersetup.gif

I used X10 for many years back when it was pretty much the only low-cost option available for home control. It was always too awkward to gain WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor). I suspect their WiFi hub allows control from any supported network-connected device (a platform for which they provide a controller app., per their website this looks like iOS and Android). Where on the network, as in all network-based technologies the controlled and controlling units are located is immaterial. That is, after all, the point of networking things together. You would control from where you would accept connections through standard firewall ACLs (Access Control Lists). Most premises routers support some ACL capability, most often, since most of them are Linux-based, the standard Linux firewalling stuff (I forget what it is called today, tomorrow it will be a different/"improved" name). You know iptables/ipchains/netfilter/etc.) There are, of course, other firewall implementations that could be called into service.

So the bottom line is that you don't have to use Alexa/Siri/whoever, or allow off-site access to your X10 or other home control infrastructure as long as you have a decent router/firewall in your network "between" the Internet proper, and your home LAN. AFAIK, X10 does not use, and cannot use your ethernet cables or WiFi to actually control their switches, etc. This goes over the power line. The WiFi hub acts as the gatekeeper between your control program and the X10 actuators. There is no "cloud" connection.

Frankly, I'm a little surprised one can still buy X10 stuff given that much better technologies have matured (Z-Wave, Zigbee, and RF433). It was never exactly graceful, and very limited in the control options provided, and how you hooked things together. It's not even the cheapest option anymore.

I used to use a lot of X10 modules. I know the Z-Wave, Zigbee, and RF433 stuff was "better," but it wasn't as simple. WAF, as you mentioned, could be enough of a challenge -- I didn't need to add the complexity of "learning the new stuff" to my burden.

I never tried the X10 Commander, Jackie, so I'm not really help to you on your question.

We used to have a bunch of X-10 stuff. (Actually, still have it, just no longer using it.) The problem with X-10 is it communicates with a rather primitive "aloha" protocol (an "aloha" protocol is one where data is sent with no return handshake to verify success/failure) over the house power wiring. As the house power wiring gets noisier from more and more electronics added to it, X-10 becomes increasingly unreliable.

I first solved the problem with a passive signal coupler installed between L1 and L2 in the distribution panel. When that stopped working I went with the first of two repeater/amplifiers. When that stopped working (noise from my new espresso machine, of all things) I finally gave up on X-10 and switched to Lutron Caséta.

Caséta has been in place for 2-3 years and has worked flawlessly.

Caséta does have the limitation that it has controllers only for resistive loads (dimmable incandescent/LED lighting), curtain/shade control, fan control, one non-resistive-load wall switch, and one (expensive, outdoor) non-resistive-load plug-in device. And their controllers are relatively expensive.

One advantage to Caséta is it has only one device, the automation controller, that need be on your network. All communications between Caséta devices are via their proprietary RF protocol. It needs Internet connectivity for setup/initialization, but thereafter will continue working without it. Obviously it needs Internet connectivity for off-premises control. I don't know if the app keeps working on your LAN without Internet. (Been meaning to try that.)

I've had no problem with WAF with Caséta.

I've had only one LED fixture, a cheap Lowe's product, not work correctly with Caséta.

quote:

Originally posted by eyrich:
Check out hubitat.
https://hubitat.com/

Almost everything runs local.

I went with Hubitat as well. I only connect it to the internet when I want to download a software update or if I am going to be out of town and want to be able to access it remotely. Everything is stored locally on the hub.

I looked at the X10 and decided to go with the Hubitat instead but I can’t remember the details of why.