X-10 ActiveHome Remote Control
- Type: Universal Multibrand
- Universal Remote Control Type: Multibrand
- Broadcasting Type: IR, RF
- Applicable Devices: TV, VCR, DVD Player, Cable\Satellite Receiver
- Devices Controlled: 6
Available From
Why are these offers here?
Smart Buy!
Lowest price from a Trusted Store
Second Lowest Price
- Overview
-
Reviews
- Compare Prices
User ReviewRead All Reviews »
Pretty Cool Device
Pros
Control your x10 devices from your computer
Cons
Software is a little old and remote controlling is not instant
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
I really like having this device around. I think anybody with a few x10 devices would be well served to have this in their home.
I'm quite a techno junky so I was very excited when the ActiveHome kit showed up. My main reason for getting this was to be able to turn on my Christmas lights at dusk and off again at midnight.
Installing the device and software was a piece of cake but I really hate hooking anything up that uses a serial connection (which is what this uses). The software did what it was supposed to but it is a little antiquated. It looks like the software was meant for the first generations of windows( ie. 95, 98).
What I liked: I liked being able to setup timers so that I could turn on or off my devices at a specific time. I really liked being able to have the software figure when dawn or dusk is. The most powerful function about the ActiveHome kit is the macro functionality. I can setup a module in the software that responds to unit code A3. Whenever the ActiveHome kit senses that the A3 code was activated, it performs the functions that you setup. I currently have A3 set to be the romantic lighting in the master bedroom. It first turns on the lamp and dims it to 50%, and then it turns off the main light. There is no limit to what you can do with the macros. It's also very nice being able to download your timers and macros to the ActiveHome device and then you can turn off your computer.
What I didn't like I didn't like how old the software felt and behaved. My biggest complaint is that the ActiveHome device takes from 3 to 7 seconds for it to respond to macro functions. I spent forever trying to figure out why it wasn't working before I realized that it was, just slower than I expected
Installing the device and software was a piece of cake but I really hate hooking anything up that uses a serial connection (which is what this uses). The software did what it was supposed to but it is a little antiquated. It looks like the software was meant for the first generations of windows( ie. 95, 98).
What I liked: I liked being able to setup timers so that I could turn on or off my devices at a specific time. I really liked being able to have the software figure when dawn or dusk is. The most powerful function about the ActiveHome kit is the macro functionality. I can setup a module in the software that responds to unit code A3. Whenever the ActiveHome kit senses that the A3 code was activated, it performs the functions that you setup. I currently have A3 set to be the romantic lighting in the master bedroom. It first turns on the lamp and dims it to 50%, and then it turns off the main light. There is no limit to what you can do with the macros. It's also very nice being able to download your timers and macros to the ActiveHome device and then you can turn off your computer.
What I didn't like I didn't like how old the software felt and behaved. My biggest complaint is that the ActiveHome device takes from 3 to 7 seconds for it to respond to macro functions. I spent forever trying to figure out why it wasn't working before I realized that it was, just slower than I expected
