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Furthermore, X10 defines only 16 different Command Codes, but not all devices can

How X10 Works

X10 transmits one bit of information at each powerline zero crossing. A one-

circuits, the technology of the 1970s put severe constraints on its design.

This section compares INSTEON to X10, UPB, and a number of Other Powerline

respond to all X10 commands. The six most common X10 commands are On, Off,

because each X10 device can only be assigned one of 16 possible House Codes (A

The following table shows the meaning of the 16 possible 8-complementary-bit fields

An X10 message consists of a 4-bit Start Code followed by an 8-bit House Code

Invented in Scotland by Pico Electronics in 1975, X10 was a pioneering breakthrough

signifies a zero bit.

for its time, but even though it employed one of the world's first custom integrated

when interpreted as a House Code, a Unit Code, or a Command Code.

X10

Code ends in 01, the first 8 bits are interpreted as a Unit Code. If the Key Code

followed by a 10-bit Key Code. Each message is sent twice, followed by 6 zero-

At the low end, X10 powerline signaling technology (www.x10.com) has been around

through P) and one of 16 possible Unit Codes (1 through 16).

ends in 10, the first 8 bits are interpreted as a Command Code.

Powerline Networks

C o m p a r e d

crossings of silence before starting another message. (The silence interval can be

millisecond burst of 120 KHz carrier signifies a one bit, and the absence of a carrier

inflexible to be useful today as an infrastructure home-control network.

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since the 1970s, but its early adoption is its limiting factor--it is too unreliable and

The Start Code is always 1110, but the rest of the message consists of

complementary pairs of bits (either 01 or 10, but never 00 or 11). If the 10-bit Key

January 2, 2006

Dim, Bright, All Units Off, and All Lights On.

omitted if certain X10 Commands, such as Bright or Dim, are being repeated.)

For example, there can only be 256 different X10 devices on a single powerline,