Jun 25 Podcast #431: Quartics, Insteon, X10, ZigBee and Z-Wave
Podcast Tags: 3D, Automation, Lighting, Remote Control 
We've started to talk quite a bit lately about home automation. Granted it isn't exactly an HDTV or Home Theater topic, but we think it fits quite well. After all, most home theater installers also offer some form lighting control. If you can add your own lighting, window covering and screen control to your home theater, it makes perfect sense.
Listen to the show
Today's Show:
News:
- Sling Media Launches SlingPlayer Mobile for Android Smartphones
- Mitsubishi's LaserVue HDTV makes triumphant 75-inch return, becomes 3D-ready
- DirecTV adds new HD Channels
- DTV Transition One Year Later
Other:
Quartics
Quartics Inc. is a semiconductor company based in Irvine, CA, with offices in India, China and Taiwan. Quartics was formed in 2003 to focus on semiconductor architecture for video-based media, aiming to overcome a raft of modern digital challenges. To date, the company has been granted 10 patents, with 40 pending, in media processing architecture, video and graphics processing and QoS algorithms.
Insteon, X10, ZigBee and Z-Wave
We've started to talk quite a bit lately about home automation. Granted it isn't exactly an HDTV or Home Theater topic, but we think it fits quite well. After all, most home theater installers also offer some form lighting control. If you can add your own lighting, window covering and screen control to your home theater, it makes perfect sense.
Both of us are using devices based on Insteon technology in our homes. As much as we talk about Insteon, you may think it's the only choice out there. It turns out that there is actually a handful of options for those interested in do-it-yourself home automation. In addition to Insteon, there's X10, ZigBee and Z-Wave.
X10
The X10 protocol has been around for quite a while. It was developed in 1975 by Scottish firm Pico Electronics. It primarily uses powerline communication between devices to automate home control of lighting and other devices. Because it has been around for so long, it has a significant install base and a lot of devoted fans.
Unfortunately, reliability has always been an issue with X10, earning it the nickname X8 out of 10. Lights may randomly turn on or off, various wireless products can interfere with proper operation and control commands tend to be very slow. Despite its shortcomings, it remains very popular due to the availability of devices and their relatively low cost.
Insteon
Insteon seeks to solve the shortcomings of X10 by providing a more reliable experience while maintaining full backward compatibility with the X10 standard. Insteon employs a dual-mesh topology using powerline and RF communication for redundancy. All devices act as repeaters as well, to make sure control messages get to the correct destination. Owners of X10 devices have a very direct upgrade path to Insteon.
Insteon was created and is primarily supported by SmartHome. There are literally hundreds of device options available at SmartHome.com, from light switches to motion sensors, garage door openers to thermostats. Most devices are very reasonably priced, making it a natural fit for the do it yourselfer.
ZigBee
ZigBee is an open control protocol supported by hundreds of manufacturers. Unlike X10 and Insteon, it is a wireless (RF) only protocol. It was designed for low bandwidth, low power devices and is ideally suited for home automation applications. However, significant delays in ratifying a standard have hindered product availability.
Doing a Google search for ZigBee light switches will leave you scratching your head. Perhaps the biggest supporter of ZigBee actually producing usable hardware is Control4. They have limited options and, because they are from Control4, require an authorized dealer sell and typically install them. From what we can tell, ZigBee is not a good option for the do-it-yourself audience.
Z-Wave
Z-Wave is very similar in concept to ZigBee. It is a wireless (RF) mesh network designed for low bandwidth, low power communication between devices. The technology uses a low-power RF radio that can be built into any home electronics device, including lighting, home access control, entertainment systems and household appliances.
Perhaps the most notable Z-Wave supporters for the do-it-yourselfer are GE, Leviton and Monster. All three are big names in consumer devices and offer a wide variety of products for the do-it-yourself project. Much like Insteon, there are also software packages you can install on a computer to control all the Z-Wave devices in your home.
Conclusion
For those like us who want to automate their homes and their theaters, there are plenty of options, to be sure. We'd dismiss ZigBee right off the bat. Also, X10 has had it's time in the sun, but doesn't quite stack up to the other choices. That leaves it to personal preference between Insteon and Z-Wave. We're sure you'll be more than happy with either.
Reader Comments (9)
Hey guys, love the home automation stuff. Just wanted to let you know that I think it's a great addition to your show!
I have to agree with you guys on the Mitsubishi's LaserVue HDTV I saw one at a store and it did not look good at all. But I don't think it was the TV's fault. they ran coax to it and it was split between several TV's and also it was not on a power conditioner it was plugged straight into the wall so no filtering or power conditioning. I would love to see it hooked up to a good blu-ray player with a good HDMI 1.4 cable to see what it can produce. And I agree I don't think it was color calibrated either which I think would have helped it a lot. Anyways great show guys once again.
I have a good friend who is upgrading from insteon to control4, insteon is still very clow to turn on different devices and also sometimes the signal doesn't get there.
I see you guys love insteon but he had his house built with insteon but it doesn't work for him and he already has about 6 audio zones and a 100 light switches which is going to all go in the trash as he upgrades.
http://www.tysto.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/seating2.jpg
Hey guys! My dedicated home theater is a 15x19 basement space, with a riser for the seating in the back. I have a 119" screen with a Panasonic AE3000 projector fed HD content thru a Yamaha receiver. However... I also have a 32" Samsung 1080p TV (fed the same signal thru a powered HDMI splitter) that sits on a coffee table in front of the seating (you can't see it in that picture, tho). The reason I have that is because I find that I watch a lot content alone, and I often don't want to darken the room to use the projector, especially if I'm just watching TV or listening to a movie commentary track.
When I want to use the projector, I just put the TV on the floor behind the coffee table (it's almost exactly the same height). And when I host family and friends for football watching, I can move the coffee table and TV to the side to create a secondary monitor for a different channel.
Insteon products are 10% off this weekend at smarthome, just FYI. I know I've been wanting to give their stuff a shot.
@guy If your friend is interested in getting rid of any of that hardware have him shoot me an email. I'd love to pick some of it up.
After listening to your podcast I got excited about the X10 replacement technologies you were talking about. I'm a software engineer and a technology enthusiast. I love DIY projects and started to look into both Z-Wave & Insteon SDK's. The Z-Wave camp looks a lot better from a development stand point. The Z-Wave SDK that I found here:
http://www.controlthink.com/zwavesdk.htm
seems very good. They provide a modern API written in a standard language (C#/VB/.Net). The Insteon SDK on the other hand utilizes some scripting language and tools I've never heard of. I found Insteon's SDK here:
http://www.insteon.net/developers-kits.html
From what I've been able to research you use a PLM (serial) or PLC (usb) device to communicate via a PC. The way commands are sent seems a little rough and hacky to accomplish. The development & customization for Insteon doesn't seem as intuitive as Z-Wave. Another benefit about Z-Wave is the price of the SDK. It's at least $100 cheaper than Insteon's SDK. So for me, as a developer, there's only one choice and that's Z-Wave. If anyone can prove me wrong please do so because I'm still trying to fully understand both technologies and any links/references would be obliged.
re 3D
My vision, even as corrected, is not identical in both eyes. One eye sees a little brighter & yellower, the other dimmer & greener. I've seen well over a dozen 3D movies au cinema, but the only one where I appreciated the 3D effect was Avatar
re Price Premium for High Quality 2D TV:
CNet may praise the new Panasonic 65" plasma, but recently I saw a 60" Kuro on Ebay at US 10 kilobucks
My vision, even as corrected, is not identical in both eyes. One eye sees a little brighter & yellower, the other dimmer & greener. I've seen well over a dozen 3D movies au cinema, but the only one where I appreciated the 3D effect was Avatar
pizza,thanks ,pizza,Good job.What I most enjoy is mini cooper,thanks,My wedding
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