Article View: net.micro.pc
Article #8014BSR X10 Powerhouse: it's time to buy
From: Steve Vance
Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1986 03:47
Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1986 03:47
60 lines
3486 bytes
3486 bytes
After reading the recommendations and reviews in this newsgroup on the
subject, I recently sent off for the X10 Powerhouse unit from DAK
Industries, to control all of my BSR modules, which my house was already
full of.
When it arrived, I was delighted beyond my expectations. I could now
control all the devices in my home, to turn on and off multiple times
per day, not just the 8 devices/2 times-per-day I was limited to by my
BSR Timer unit. It will address up to 256 devices, although I still
have less than 16 (having doubled up on some numbers) so that I can use
the same house code on all three of my manual control units.
But wait, there's more! They only billed me for $19.90 + $4 postage and
handling, instead of the $49.90 I was expecting to pay. I called their
Customer Service 800 number and complained: "Hey, what's going on, this
is only 40% of what I expected to pay?", and was told that this was the
new price, they were closing them out. Sure enough, a week later
(namely Sep 10), I got a special catalog, that had the unit listed for
$19.90. It is a final close-out.
I'll tell you, I almost paid $125 for the Heathkit equivalent of this
device a year ago. And, as the previous article said, this unit is
better than that one in several ways. It originally listed for $129.
It was a BARGAIN at $49.90. At $19.90, I'm going to buy a few more,
just for posterity. If you have an extra serial port on your computer,
as someone pointed out, you can use one of these for a battery-backed-up
clock! Someone posted a program to net.sources last week so that you
could control the device with any computer, not just the ones that DAK
has special software for. I mean, you should really want one of these
things! Even if you just want a couple of lamps to turn on and off at
random times in your house, or turn something on or off at an exact
minute, like a tape recorder to tape something.
DAK is closing out all their BSR stuff. The lamp and appliance modules
are $11.90. Meanwhile, Radio Shack just started selling some
lower-priced lamp and appliance modules, for $13.95 instead of $18.95.
They are beige instead of brown.
To order, call 800-325-0800, anytime. Use Visa or Mastercard. There is
a 30-day, no-questions-asked money back guarantee on all DAK stuff.
---type of computer-- --order #--
Commodore 64/128 4378
Apple IIE/IIC 4379
IBM PC or clone 4410
Macintosh 4411
Lamp module 9779 ($11.90+$1 p&h)
Appliance Module 9781 ($11.90+$1)
Wall Switch Module 9780 ($12.90+$1)
If you have technical questions about this unit, you can call their
Technical Support Dept: 800-272-3200, or you can message me or one of
the other guys that posted information on this device.
--
Steve Vance
Qantel Corporation, Hayward, CA
UUCP: {dual,hplabs,ihnp4,lll-crg}!qantel!stv ATTMAIL: !stv
ARPA: dual!qantel!stv@ucbvax.berkeley.edu COMPUSERVE: 72226,1603
Technical Details
Message-ID:
<703@qantel.UUCP>Path:
arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!mnetor!seismo!lll-crg!lll-lcc!unisoft!dual!ptsfa!qantel!stvShow Full Headers
Complete Article Headers
Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!mnetor!seismo!lll-crg!lll-lcc!unisoft!dual!ptsfa!qantel!stv From: stv@qantel.UUCP (Steve Vance@ex2499) Newsgroups: net.micro.pc Subject: BSR X10 Powerhouse: it's time to buy Message-ID: <703@qantel.UUCP> Date: Wed, 24-Sep-86 23:47:00 EDT Article-I.D.: qantel.703 Posted: Wed Sep 24 23:47:00 1986 Date-Received: Thu, 25-Sep-86 08:01:23 EDT Reply-To: stv@qantel.UUCP (Steve Vance@ex2499) Organization: MDS Qantel, Hayward, CA Lines: 60