NOTE: also check out this post: “how to start as cheap as possible“.

How much does it cost? What do I need? Here’s some pointers. A basic setup that allows you to control lights (X10) and receive X10 & Temperature/Humidity (Oregon) you need:

• PC with Windows € 250 (Asus EEE PC?)
• RFXCOM LAN 2-port with transmitter € 210
• RFXCOM HomeSeer plugin € 30 (donated to charity!)
• HomeSeer $ 199

Adding receiver:

• RFXCOM Receiver module € 58

Adding Visonic security sensor receiver:

• RFXCOM Visonic Receiver module € 59

HomeSeer

This is the application that links the different technologies and provides an interface to show, control and monitor everything.

PRICE: $199 – more info
(update 2023: never buy Homeseer but get an Athom Homey or install Home Assistant)
(don’t buy HS2 in Europe because it costs €199 instead of $199)

RFXCOM

This device links all wireless devices to your home control application (like HomeSeer). There are many configurations so I will list only a couple. There’s a few choices you have to make:

• Connectivity
  • USB, LAN, WLAN or LAN&WLAN
• Extensions
  • USB = 1-port: 2 receivers OR 1 transmitter
  • LAN/WLAN = 2-port: 2 receivers AND 1 transmitter
• Transmitter Protocols (list)
• Receiver Protocols (list)
  • 433Mhz Europe: X10/KlikAanKlikUit/Oregon
  • 310Mhz US: X10
  • 868Mhz Visonic Europe
  • 433Mhz Visonic US

• PRICE RFXCOM LAN with 433Mhz X10 transmitter: € 210
  • add Visonic receiver: € 58
  • add X10/KlikAanKlikUit/etc receiver: € 58

Go to RFXCOM website for more details.

You have the core components, next:

Now you have a (low-power) PC with Homeseer and an RFXCOM device you can start thinking about the next steps.

• Adding Temperature & Weather sensors from Oregon Scientific
• Adding lamp & device switches (like Click-on-Click-off, X10, or any of these protocols)
• Adding Touch screen support (Homeseer Touch) (approx. $ 200 without touchscreen)
• Adding Infrared support (approx. € 200)
• Adding power, gas, water monitoring (using RFXMeter)
• Adding Z-Wave technology

….. under construction …..

Sensors

For monitoring & control you can buy sensors. Check out the Components link to see some of the sensors and switches. Approx. prices:

• Oregon THN122 (temp,no-display): € 14
• Oregon THGR122 (temp,hum,no-display): € 22
• Oregon THGR228 (temp,hum,display): € 30
• Visonic MCT-302 (doorsensor, 2nd port): € 39
• Visonic MCT-425 (smokesensor): € 65
• Visonic MCT-100 (general sensor, 2nd port): € 50
• Visonic MCT-550 (watersensor): € 55

Where to order?

Some places I have ordered before, and would do so again:

• RFXCOM (Worldwide)
• I removed other shops because they did not exist. Search the internet to find shops near you

X10 connectivity

However, if for some reason you have to use X10, try to work with the Xanura modules. In 2009 the Xanura product line was bought by Marmitek. Xanura continues to focus on wireless technologies (like Z-Wave) www.draadloosschakelen.nl Xanura provided the only reliable connection between HomeSeer and the 220v/110v network for X10 devices. Here’s some of the options:

• Xanura CTX-35: € 160
  • It’s more than double the price of a Marmitek CM11a, but that box will break at least twice. So if you’re serious about home automation, don’t mess around with the CM11a. I don’t know about the new CM15.
• Marmitek CM11a: €70 or the CM15 €75