I started with X10 as a way to add some wow factor to my Home Theater setup. I originally wanted a motorized roll down screen, but those were pricey. I also hated the hassle of always running around dimming and turning off lights. So I reasoned that X10 could allow me to remote control the lighting, and provide the wow factor I also wanted. 

I soon realized that a macro of light dimming and/or offing would be even better and pursued that. I purchased the old original ActiveHome (serial PCL CM11A) device. I had a phase problem that effected two appliance modules, and one overhead light. I resolved that with an RR501 “polite” transceiver and a higher end remote control that accepted X10 IR codes in its program.  

  I liked automation and wanted to do more with X10. I decided that since I couldn’t see my driveway, a driveway cam that would allow me to keep and eye-out for the plumber or cable guy from my office, would be nice. Some weeks (or months) later, I had multiple recording security cameras and perimeter and interior alarms in place.  

I went to the X10 forums for ether help with my X10 addiction, or new ideas on how to use more automation. I posted a request for new ideas and almost immediately got a reply informing me I should search the forum and read about what others had done. I took the advice to heart.  

  When I first read about (what was then called BXVC) BVC I was more than a little skeptical. Voice control and complete home automation, the holly grail of home automation. All for a fifty dollar X10 PC interface (AHP) and a free (donations gladly excepted) download from a guy named Bill, a little much for a man in his fifties to believe.  

  But as I read more, I believed more. And soon came to believe that... what the heck it was only fifty bucks, and should be interesting to try anyway. I overcame my fear of disappointment and ordered my parts (upgrade to AHP with the CM15A) and downloaded (BXVC) Bill's Voice Commander.  

  Once installed I first told MS Mary to turn a light off…. and she did. Then I said “thank you”…. and MS Mary replied “no problem, just doing my job”. I laughed and giggled like I hadn’t done…. since I was a very young man. Home Automation still makes me giggle (or even laugh) from time to time.

  The real problem appeared almost as soon as I displayed my new found technical prowess to my spouse. She had to come downstairs to my office, and watch me speak into my computer microphone, to then watch a light go on and off. Controlling lights from my desktop merely looked nerdy... not cool.  

  BXVC would not only need to control more things then light switches, it had to control them from other areas in my home. I needed a distribution of microphones scattered through out the house, and I needed a macro(s) that would accomplish a series of events that would be triggered through one voice command. It was easier said (typed) than done.  

  I tried wiring two desktop PC type microphones to my microphone-in jack on my computer. That worked, but recognition deteriorated. My first step was to read and research, on the X10 forum, other forums, and the Web. In my daily life I tried to find audiophiles with useful information. And I ordered online, purchasing different devices to try to get my voice to BXVC.  I tried a wireless microphone and it worked, as did a Bluetooth earpiece. Actually every wired and over-the air unit I tried worked (except the CB radio), but with limited success. Any time I tried to connect more than one microphone or unit, recognition deteriorated or failed altogether. I wasn’t obsessed (no matter what my wife says) I was determined.  

  I read about the recommended gang-microphone units. They are devices that allow for up to five or eight microphones to be connected. The unit automatically detects the mic with the sound input, and switches to that mic. For me the cost of such units was prohibitive. And if I had kids in the house, odds are the mics would follow them and not me.  

  I read some posts at the BXVC thread from GLT (a HomeSeer user) he along with (BXVC user) Don N had good results and real useable information. Both were using a particular brand and model of intercoms.

 I tried a different model of intercom, with undesirable results. The model I tried used the homes power line to send the signals (sound familiar?). The intercom didn’t work and my X10 lights flickered when I pressed the “push to talk” button.  

  One other thing GLT and Don N made clear was that the intercom inputs (or is it outputs) must go in the “line in” in the sound card of the PC.  

  If the sound card doesn’t have a line in, a new card, or a line-in device must be installed. I also found out that; the regular desktop microphone must be removed. Only using the line in, and then setting it as MUTE in the computer sound setting will work. If MUTE isn’t checked, the sound (microphone input) will play back through the computers speakers, and you will get feedback.  

  What the input/output line information also means is; no matter what setup is used, it is very unlikely that an intercom (or similar device) will have a male mini stereo jack (that fits the computer input line in) as an output. It will most likely have an internal mono speaker. Some alterations or modifications will need to be made. That will mean opening up the case of any intercom device, and removing the wires that are soldered to the speakers, then soldering those wires to a computer type mini stereo jack.

My wife and I had a visit with a new a grandchild. And I heard a story from my wife’s son, about him hearing a weather warning over the “baby monitor”. The baby monitor was in the baby’s room, but the monitor had heard the weather warning that played in the apartment next-door. The monitor had “heard” through the apartment walls. I asked if they are really that sensitive, and my stepson said “Oh Yeah”. The next week I bought a set of Walmart’s cheapest baby monitors (Safety 1^st, Crystal Clear Monitor which uses 49Mhz technology and offers two channels for less interference) at $17 a set.  

 The sender and receiver had a choice between channel one or two, I selected channel one for both sender and receiver. I first set up a sending unit (microphone) near a TV in another room, upstairs. I placed the receiver in my basement office, and reception was excellent. I moved the receiver with its built-in speaker near my PC microphone. I then spent some time running up the stairs commanding the lights on or off, and then running back down stairs, checking that the light I was turning on and off as commanded. If you have never had a loving spouse look at you as if you had completely lost your mind, try that for yourself.  

  I next modified the receiver unit so I could plug it in to the line-in jack of my computer as described earlier. This worked and was awesome! I bought another set of the same baby monitors, set the sending unit to channel one (as before) and plugged it in. the reception at the receiving end, was reduced to a low hissy sound. I unplugged the original sender and sound returned. Once again… I was reduced to one microphone.

Unable to resolve my own problem I found comfort in reading about other peoples problems at the forums. Then in a PM exchange with TTA something he wrote, about another unrelated X10 problem solved my problem. I should let X10 do my switching (of the microphones) for me.  

  Sure enough, I put each sending unit on a simple appliance module, and could turn one on, and the other off. Now I could be upstairs or down and use BXVC. I had a two button remote control lying around and used it to switch between microphones. Bill (of BXVC) suggested I use Marcos with the switching, turning my two button remote, into a four button remote (maybe more with the dim function). I currently have three (baby monitor) microphones (I put one in the theater). I can switch them with my two (?) button remote control, or…. by voice command. Bill suggested the voice command part too, and I can now say “follow me …to the office”, or “follow me… upstairs”. We call these “follow me commands”. 

   I now needed to hear MS Mary as well as speak to her. I could have used the X10 sound power units to increase the computers voice range, but I have used a lot of the 2.4MHz band already, and had pretty much tied it up. 900MHz wireless speaker are another option. But decided just to pull some wire and place speakers in one or two more locations. The first set I placed, was just a couple computer speakers hidden behind the TV cabinet. And a single speaker is planned for the theater (one speaker works fine…. All voices are mono).   

  I am now truly enjoying the ultimate step-up in home automation. And I’ve done it on a budget, a $50 AHP, a modest donation to BXVC now called BVC for a great piece of software, with tons for support and encouragement. Plus I received lots of helpful advice and information from the X10 forum. The “microphone” setup is $17 for the baby monitor and $10 for the appliance module for each location.  

  Since I originally wrote this.. back in 2006.. my setup has grown in leaps and bounds. So has my participation at X10 forums. 

  I created a BVC Fan Site, and even posted some YouTube Videos. I created other (HA related) Web Pages and all was hosted by geocities. When geocities closed their virtual doors I started DavesDomainOnline. I have since posted several Pages (like this one) and I have a Page that links to many of them.

  My passion for Home Automation has never wavered. I still get a hoot out of my ever growing and developing setup. For sometime I read about Occupancy Sensing and played with the idea in my head. I decided to pursue the idea when Brian of thisautomatedhouse.com sent me a device that allowed me to monitor a car in my garage.

As normal... one project leads to another and currently I am intergrading my BVC setup with a project we are calling S.A.R.A..