Home Automation Domotica Forum Europe, Bwired Forum

Hello,

I'm completely new to domotica and have been busy with gathering information the past few days. I also found this forum, and I recognized that there are a lot of people here with experience with domotica systems. I hope someone here can help me a little bit.

First of all: my goal. My primary goal is not to fully automate my whole house. I'd just like to experience a bit with domotica, just because it's cool. I'm a programmer and have knowledge about a lot of programming languages. I'd like to write my own application which is going to run on my homeserver and communicate the appliances. Because my primary goal is only to get in touch with domotica, I'd like to control the light of my bedroom. In the future I'd might expend this with more appliances.

Secondly: my quenstion. I've been doing a lot of research lately. I found RFXCom, a company which probably delivers all the components I need to reach my goal. To contorl my bedroom light I'd probably need a transmitter on 433 Mhz (Order code: 80005). This module is compatible with the 'Stekkerdoos schakelaar' module by KlikAanKlikUit. Since I don't use any sensors I don't think I also need a receiver. But, on the website of Domoticaworld a saw they used a RFXCOM receiver and a Xanura CTX-35 PC-interface. Are these two components both required? And RFXCOM delivers both USB/LAN, LAN and WLAN transmitters. What are the pros and cons of these three kinds?

Thanks in adavance!

The RFXCOM transmitter is a good choice to start with but you will find that you would need the receiver soon after.
Normally you like to control KAKU and others like Harrison curtains using conditions or user input, for example a wireless KAKU switch or close the curtain on a dark condition.

The USB and LAN are functionally identical and if you have the home automation system at the best location for receiving and transmit the signals you can select the USB (cheaper) If you need to place the RFXCOM at another location as the computer (other room or at the other side of the world) select the LAN.

LAN is also perfect to install in your holiday home or at home of an older family persons to watch them remotely. (needs an Internet connection)

Thanks for your reply! Regarding your opinion on a receiver: I plan to use my iPad as remote. My iPad will communicate with my homeserver via WiFi and the server needs to communicate with the transmitter (that happens via USB as I understand). With this setup, I'd still be able to take control via a web interface if I ever lose my iPad.

My final question: do I also need a Xanura CTX-35 PC-interface with my RFXCom transmitter? What is the difference between these two components? As far as I know, you can both connect them to your PC and they both transmit X-10 signals on the powerline?

You can connect both, the CTX35 and the RFXCOM transmitter.
The CT35 transmits signals on the power line and the RFXCOM transmitter transmits RF signals. The RF can be X10 RF but X10 lighting is a power line protocol and you would need for example a TM13 to receive the RF signal and convert it this way to the power line protocol. There is no profit to use X10 lighting RF instead of using the CTX35, it is even better to use the CTX35 because using RF and conversion to the power line protocol delays only.
The RFXCOM transmitter can be used to transmit X10 security signals to synchronize a X10 security panel with the Homeseer software security panel. The RFXCOM transmitters are primarily used to control KAKU, HomeEasy, NEXA, Chacon and Harrison curtains.