To start, I've been using X10 MS16A sensors in 3 locations outside my house for a few years. They work ok in the summer when I don't need them all that much, but work terrible in the winter. It seems that any time it rains, the sensors don't have the needed range. When it gets cold, they also seem to struggle.
I want to install something better now that my outdoor sensors have needed silicon repair several times and one seems mortally wounded. I originally thought about looking into antenna upgrades, but that's likely not practical. I have already installed passive antennas with little improvement, so I'm thinking of going another way.
My HA setup consists of a Raspberry Pi running HomeGenie software with an antenna modified CM15A X10 controller. The antenna is a large Radio Shack antenna installed in the attic and allows me to use remotes from long distances reliably (e.g., palmpad from over 100' outside).
The options I see are:
Option 2 wouldn't work well with a wired module since I don't have non-switched power in all locations (1 of 3). Wireless would work since it would run off battery, but then I may not have easy access to any kind of switching signal to attach the hacked remote to. Also, using a wireless detector would most likely require 2 batteries unless the transmitter board used the same DC voltage.
Option 3 is my ideal solution. I'd love to find a wireless reciever that is Arduino/Raspi compatible that could read the Heath Zenith signal for instance. Again, I don't know about range since the module I tried didn't work out.
Option 4 is probably the best option for reliability but is most likely far more expensive. Unless I went with Insteon, I'd have to replace everything or have multiple systems. I can have multiple systems with HomeGenie, so replacing everything isn't manditory but I wouldn't get the full benefit of a mesh network.
Option 5 should work, but I dislike it. I am currently only using 2 motion sensors to turn on/off a pair of lights that are wired together. If I replaced the switch with a Heath Zenith SL-6051 for instance, I could control the light locally and by motion. But, I would not be able to monitor motion with the HA setup. This may not be required currently, but I do use a different motion sensor to trigger a chime. I could see doing the same with other motion sensors at some point so the capability would be nice.
I've been researching off and on and hacking around with the X10 components for a couple years and am nearly at the point of giving up on my current setup (the 3 outdoor wireless motion sensors, not the HA setup). Any suggestions would be great.
I want to install something better now that my outdoor sensors have needed silicon repair several times and one seems mortally wounded. I originally thought about looking into antenna upgrades, but that's likely not practical. I have already installed passive antennas with little improvement, so I'm thinking of going another way.
My HA setup consists of a Raspberry Pi running HomeGenie software with an antenna modified CM15A X10 controller. The antenna is a large Radio Shack antenna installed in the attic and allows me to use remotes from long distances reliably (e.g., palmpad from over 100' outside).
The options I see are:
- Wireless motion detectors that have a reciever module with a relay that can be hacked to connect to GPIO
- Wired/wireless module that I modify to trigger a wireless relay attached to GPIO
- Wireless module that sends a signal I can get a small radio reciever that works with Arduino/Raspi
- Different automation system and their wireless motion sensors
- Wireless motion detectors that control the light/light switch directly
Option 2 wouldn't work well with a wired module since I don't have non-switched power in all locations (1 of 3). Wireless would work since it would run off battery, but then I may not have easy access to any kind of switching signal to attach the hacked remote to. Also, using a wireless detector would most likely require 2 batteries unless the transmitter board used the same DC voltage.
Option 3 is my ideal solution. I'd love to find a wireless reciever that is Arduino/Raspi compatible that could read the Heath Zenith signal for instance. Again, I don't know about range since the module I tried didn't work out.
Option 4 is probably the best option for reliability but is most likely far more expensive. Unless I went with Insteon, I'd have to replace everything or have multiple systems. I can have multiple systems with HomeGenie, so replacing everything isn't manditory but I wouldn't get the full benefit of a mesh network.
Option 5 should work, but I dislike it. I am currently only using 2 motion sensors to turn on/off a pair of lights that are wired together. If I replaced the switch with a Heath Zenith SL-6051 for instance, I could control the light locally and by motion. But, I would not be able to monitor motion with the HA setup. This may not be required currently, but I do use a different motion sensor to trigger a chime. I could see doing the same with other motion sensors at some point so the capability would be nice.
I've been researching off and on and hacking around with the X10 components for a couple years and am nearly at the point of giving up on my current setup (the 3 outdoor wireless motion sensors, not the HA setup). Any suggestions would be great.
