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Using a starter kit is often the best way to begin your home
automation configuration. A starter kit contains
a collection of modules that allows you to control some number of lights
or appliances. The total price for the starter kit is usually less
than the individual components would cost, and the components will
have been selected to give you what you need for a particular purpose
(e.g. kits are available to control a single light, or control all the
lights in a room, or control the lights in several rooms). The
starter kits will usually contain lamp and appliance modules, plus a
controller or remote control (sometimes both).
Starter kits are available form both SmartHome.Com and X10 . The kits from X10 contain their own modules.
SmartHome sells kits with components from X10, and they also sell kits
with their own modules, and some kits contain a combination of
modules.
SmartHome offers a second line of home automation
equipment that uses the more reliable Insteon protocol.
Starter kits are available that support both the Insteon and X10 protocols.
Read the description of what is included carefully to make
sure that the start kit meets your needs. View the other sections of
this site (automation.hmtech.info) to
decide on the modules that you need, and whether you prefer SmartHome
or X10 manufactured modules.
Sometimes there will be modules in the kit for which you do not have a
need, but the cost of the starter kit might still be less than the
cost of the modules you will use.
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