WholeHome

Got something really cool working this weekend that I wanted to share: I can now use my BOCS remote (you know, the one that already controls all your home A/V stuff and works all over your home) to control my lights, drapes, and adjust the temperature in my home.

I’ve always had everything hooked up with X10 controllers (www.x10.com) and activehome running on my home server (so I can control my devices on a schedule, run macros that activate when I get home, and control everything from my phone), but over the weekend, I was able to tie it all into my BOCS remote.

Why? Now I have a SINGLE remote that does everything – all over my home – AND since the range on the BOCS remotes is so much better than what I get on the standard X10 remotes I am in control regardless of where I am at home.  The system is much more reliable since the BOCS remotes know if an RF signal got through and keep trying until it does – so a button press ALWAYS turns my light on – no more hit and miss!!

OK, so I’m a little excited, but this is so easy. Just contact amperordirect.com to get a BOCS-to-X10 interface – all the instructions on how to implement this can be found at www.bocsco.com/x10

And – combined with the new macros available on the remote, you can hit a single button on the remote to fire up the tv, turn down the lights, close the drapes, and start a movie – your significant other will be secretly impressed even while she is rolling her eyes at you – I promise.

D