[HATS] Re: X10 video...

[Steve Bunch]

Ron,

I bought one of the X10 camera/tx + rx kits, and also one of the tx + rx kits
(used with a separate video source).  Some comments follow.

I used a frequency counter on the tx, and did the same with a Wavecom. Results:
    X10    Wavecom
2409.63    2410.77
2433.78    2433.76
2453.54    2452.76
2472.55    2472.76
I don't completely trust the X10 numbers, as the transmitter power was low
enough that the counter reading was sensitive to where its antenna was held near
the tx antenna.  If I get a tx modified to either bring power out to a
connector, or raise the power out, I will verify these.

A second WaveCom unit measured about .1 MHz lower, so all these frequencies are
going to be plus-or-minus a bit in practice.  In very light testing, my Wavecom
and X10 units do interoperate fine on a couple of channels, and so-so on the
other two.  I haven't figured out if it's frequency mismatch or adjacent-channel
interference, since I've got a Wavecom transmitter going all the time and didn't
turn it off.  If I figure it out, I'll mail out an update.

The combined camera/tx unit is cheap, compact, and easy to mount anywhere you
want.  I am guessing that the camera is a CMOS unit, rather than a CCD.
Resolution is visibly lower than even inexpensive CCD cameras, color saturation
and accuracy is lower, and dynamic range is lower (obvious in both high and low
light situations).  In medium light, it produces a fair image, but you won't
mistake it for a good CCD.  Using their tx and a CCD camera (cheap Sony),
switching from channel to channel is a very obvious difference.  The camera also
transmits mono sound, so if you have other transmitters connected to stereo
sources and change channels at the rx to change sources, you'll have one audio
channel of sound and one of static when you tune to it.  You'll have to mute one
channel on your display device, or go to mono-only in your system to eliminate
this annoyance.  For a simple surveilance application, the size and convenience
might offset the video quality and low dynamic range, but in my opinion, it's
marginal for ATV.

I haven't yet taken one of the X10 transmitters apart yet.  I did remove the
attenuator on a Wavecom, and that was pretty painless, so I was hoping for a
similar experience when I open the X10.  (They're cheaper, so the risk is also
smaller.)  If someone has had one apart already, I'd appreciate hearing about
it.

73,
Steve, K9SRB

R & R Johnson wrote:

> Some one sent me this web site the other day.  Has anyone heard of it before
> and
> is it usable for ATV.  www.x10.com
>
> Ron
> KG4DRE
>
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