Title: x10_CM17A 
Subject: Automate your power outlets
                                                            ------- 
 ----------                                                |       |<---Wall Power Source
| Computer |--serial port----CM17A~~~~~~RadioFrequency~~~~~| TM751 |--->Appliance to be controled 
 ----------               FireCracker                       -------

                                                            -------
                                                           |       |<---Wall Power Source
                                                           | LM465 |--->Appliance to be controled
                                                            ------- 

 1. Computer Talks to a small DB9 serial port dongle (the CM17A)
 2. The CM17A sends raido frequency signal to the Trancever Module (TM751) which is plugged into the wall outlet and powers one device. 
 3. The TM751 sends a signal to the Lamp Module (LM465) via the power wires in the house.

Cost:  Fry's $30.00, or www.x10.com, 4 Piece R.F. FireCracker Kit Model CK18A

Linux:  To get this working with my laptop (which doesn't have a serial port), 
        I had to build the kernel with CONFIG_SERIAL_CORE=m, CONFIG_USB_SERIAL=m, CONFIG_USB_SERIAL_FTDI_SIO=m
        On Gentoo, added these to /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.6
            ftdi_sio
            usbserial
            usbcore
       Install a few things 
        emerge coldplug bottlerocket usbd usbview

Usage: Turn stuff off:  br --port=/dev/tts/USB0 --verbose --house=A --OFF
       Turn stuff on:   br --port=/dev/tts/USB0 --verbose --house=A --ON

I'm tired of having my DSL at home stop working while I'm miles away.
A computer pings the internet, if that fails 500 times, it reboots the DSL router while I am remote. 

REFERENCES:
  http://home-automation.org/Software/Linux_and_BSD/
  http://paul.graysonfamily.org/thoughts/usb-serial/