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The midwit home

(dynomight.substack.com)
416 points stacktrust | 2 comments | 12 Oct 23 16:31 UTC | HN request time: 0.401s | source
1. dkbrk ◴[12 Oct 23 20:24 UTC] No.37862716[source]▶
I think it's worth taking a look back at X10 [0], the OG home automation.

Yes, it was primitive by today's standards with a very limited command set, but that command set was good enough for 90% of purposes and its simplicity meant that it was trivial to implement correctly and everything interoperated.

It didn't need an internet connection to function. It didn't even need a local server. Though you could have a programmable controller, the minimum viable setup consisted of having some X10-enabled device (such as a light socket), an X10 switch, and setting some DIP switches as configuration.

[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X10_(industry_standard)

replies(1): >>37865084 #
2. bellboy_tech ◴[13 Oct 23 00:45 UTC] No.37865084[source]▶
Amen to that. 70s tech that just worked. I've got boxes of X10 switches, motion sensors, and modules that I don't use anymore because Home Assistant doesn't support it well. I miss it.

It was simple, with some small issues.

If you wanted to kick it up a notch you could run a Mister House server connecting to the powerline through a $15 Radio Shack module.