LGR Oddware - X10: MS-DOS Smart Home Automation!

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  • Опубліковано 26 жов 2017
  • Using an IBM PC AT to control the lights in your house? YEP. Enjoy this history, setup, and demonstration of one of the X-10 Powerhouse and the HAL 2000 voice-controlled assistant!
    ● Consider supporting LGR on Patreon:
    / lazygamereviews
    ● Social links:
    / lazygamereviews
    / lazygamereviews
    ● Music used in order of appearance:
    Whisky on the Rocks, Not That Serious, Streetlight Conundrum
    www.epidemicsound.com
  • Наука та технологія

КОМЕНТАРІ • 2,3 тис.

  • @BrokenSet
    @BrokenSet 6 років тому +1968

    Little did Clint know, in the house two blocks down, Mr. Cruthers's life support shut off seemingly without reason, killing him instantly.

    • @Renovatio2
      @Renovatio2 6 років тому +180

      LOL. I really want you to write children's stories.

    • @GeoStreber
      @GeoStreber 6 років тому +95

      ...and that's how Wesley ended up on the Enterprise.

    • @MrHack4never
      @MrHack4never 6 років тому +56

      Why would LIFE SUPPORT be on a switch?
      And doesn't life support equipment generally have independent backup power?

    • @BrokenSet
      @BrokenSet 6 років тому +266

      That's the question Mr. Cruthers's grieving widow asked herself at the funeral.

    • @MrHack4never
      @MrHack4never 6 років тому +80

      And then ms. Cruthers spent the rest of her life, thinking about how she could have saved her husband by not having him connected to a switched outlet, eventually dying by leaving her gas stove on, and lighting a cigarette
      THE END

  • @rushnerd
    @rushnerd 6 років тому +1624

    "Please say yes or no." Hal isn't amused.

  • @xamanto
    @xamanto 6 років тому +411

    >hook HAL up to the garage door
    >call the garage "pod bay"
    >stuck outside

    • @CardboardSliver
      @CardboardSliver 4 роки тому +12

      I would so do that.

    • @RUBBER_BULLET
      @RUBBER_BULLET 4 роки тому +16

      @Max William Lauf When you shut it down it should start singing 'Daisy, Daisy...'

    • @definitely_notme4112
      @definitely_notme4112 4 роки тому +1

      Kostantinos Kanelopoulos his name is clint

  • @BobofWOGGLE
    @BobofWOGGLE 6 років тому +148

    Love how confused HAL gets at the end there.
    "Please say yes or no."

  • @Squivels
    @Squivels 6 років тому +400

    Oh poor 90's voice recognition, it seems like he's really trying haha

    • @leisergeist
      @leisergeist 6 років тому +32

      He's doing his best!

    • @urdnal
      @urdnal 6 років тому +28

      mondayfridaywednesdayfriday at 12 PM turn. On desklamp?

    • @MackyClemen
      @MackyClemen 6 років тому +19

      urdnal _please say yes or no_

    • @silasmcgee3647
      @silasmcgee3647 6 років тому +3

      Macky Clemen im fucking dead!😂😂😂😅

    • @me67galaxylife
      @me67galaxylife 2 роки тому

      i mean it wasn't programmed to understand bullshit

  • @Grim2
    @Grim2 6 років тому +440

    Hal 2000: "Pirated software detected. Your house will now burn."

    • @rkan2
      @rkan2 6 років тому +8

      Suddenly your non-material violation of laws turns in to material!

    • @worldofretrogameplay6963
      @worldofretrogameplay6963 6 років тому +5

      LOL! Your comment made me laugh.

    • @Chosen1Creator
      @Chosen1Creator 6 років тому +15

      I have turned on top left stove burner.
      NO!
      I have turned on all stove burners.
      Oh good grief!

    • @30AndHatingIt
      @30AndHatingIt 4 роки тому +2

      Yeah Hal would burn my house down... but my buddy from the northtowns with his $15k+ in pirated software... he'd be fucked.

  • @TaylorBlack0
    @TaylorBlack0 4 роки тому +262

    "What is the meaning of life?"
    *beep*
    "Oh."

    • @x5nash870
      @x5nash870 3 роки тому +12

      that beep has encoded secret encrypted data from god

  • @tiaxanderson9725
    @tiaxanderson9725 6 років тому +1407

    LGR: "Well anyway, thanks for all the help HAL, it's been a blast."
    HAL: "Monday, Friday, Wednesday, Friday at 12 PM; turn on this lamp?"
    LRG *Khahahahahahaha-hah aahahaha*
    HAL: "Please say yes or no."
    LGR *EHAHAHAHAHA* "-no!"
    HAL: "Cancelled" :(

    • @OpenKeith
      @OpenKeith 5 років тому +163

      The TV Guide is open
      *oh good grief*

    • @SJLtalentpicks
      @SJLtalentpicks 5 років тому +16

      Maybe it even did that on purpose to this LGR guy because of smelling some software piracy there...? ;-)

    • @marlonguzman2713
      @marlonguzman2713 5 років тому +73

      It was trying to fulfill his role in life, hall realized that he was about to go back to the box and tried his best to be useful with what it knew but instead it received a laugh :(

    • @Qrama
      @Qrama 5 років тому +22

      Sad HAL :'(

    • @ThePhantomSafetyPin
      @ThePhantomSafetyPin 5 років тому +29

      I have never been so sad for a software program in my life.

  • @sylvoen
    @sylvoen 6 років тому +528

    "what is the meaning of life"
    *glitches*

  • @Chalky.
    @Chalky. 6 років тому +1675

    If he doesn't make another video we know he's pissed off HAL.

    • @hanro50
      @hanro50 6 років тому +62

      I'm sorry Marky, I can't let you do that
      Why do you want to divide by zero again anyway

    • @JesusisJesus
      @JesusisJesus 6 років тому +37

      HAL - Open the pod bay doors.

    • @tomcombe4813
      @tomcombe4813 6 років тому +39

      I am afraid that i can't let you do that Clint

    • @MrHack4never
      @MrHack4never 6 років тому +36

      @Marky
      Said the person with the HAL-eye as an profile image...

    • @BeatlesCuber
      @BeatlesCuber 6 років тому +3

      MrHack4never exactly my thoughts.

  • @TheMax0005
    @TheMax0005 4 роки тому +43

    "Install it, load it, test it, Run it. Hum, sounds like a Daft Punk song"
    I lost it, lol

  • @tahanneloc10
    @tahanneloc10 5 років тому +64

    18:01
    LGR: "What is the meaning of life?"
    HAL: "blick" (half beep, half click?)
    LGR: "ohhh :("
    LOL

    • @Fuzy2K
      @Fuzy2K 5 років тому +4

      I *know* I've heard that sound somewhere else... Maybe a game? An old PDA? I can't remember...

  • @Herobox-ju4zd
    @Herobox-ju4zd 6 років тому +274

    You should build a "house of the future" which is more modern than the average house today using only 80's technology.

  • @E3kHatena
    @E3kHatena 6 років тому +401

    2001: A Space Odyssey would be a lot different with this HAL.
    "Open the pod bay doors, HAL." "Monday Friday Wednesday Friday shut off this lamp?? Please say yes or no."

  • @LazerLord10
    @LazerLord10 4 роки тому +255

    Now I just want to automate my house with my spare C64.

    • @erc3338
      @erc3338 3 роки тому +5

      ...You have a spare?

    • @Ralph-yn3gr
      @Ralph-yn3gr 2 роки тому +2

      I've automated some of my Halloween decorations with my CoCo. It works pretty well, although you can't plug modules into power strips. The circuit breaker blocks the signal.

    • @yukikofujiwara2144
      @yukikofujiwara2144 Рік тому

      Everyone has a spare C64, right?
      _Right?_

  • @nicolasrobbe9303
    @nicolasrobbe9303 6 років тому +449

    Technically dimming the lamp to 50% works, it emits 50% of its normal light as it's at 100% power 50% of the time xD

    • @greggv8
      @greggv8 4 роки тому +7

      @@tripplefives1402 I bought some LED 'filament' bulbs for two 10 arm chandeliers. Got them for 25 cents each on clearance at WalMart. 10 of them 40W equivalent dimable, 10 of them 25W equivalent non-dimable. Wowza! BRIGHT. Normally they're supposed to use 10 15W bulbs. The kitchen dining area now has plenty of light while the dining table in the living room has adjustable light from mood lighting to OMG I almost need a welding helmet bright.

    • @xj-vn4eo
      @xj-vn4eo 4 роки тому +5

      theNWdigital Agreed. Pulse width modulation. I could not recall PWM term specifically, but I remember the concept when I watched the video.

    • @TheRealAlas
      @TheRealAlas 4 роки тому +5

      The thing works as expected it's just that LED lights weren't mainstream at the time. Put on an old school light bulb and with a few (very loud) keystrokes on your IBM you can impress your date by programming the mood to 'romantic'.

    • @jondonnelly4831
      @jondonnelly4831 4 роки тому

      I can see where 100% power 50% of the time could be abused, depending on the cycle rate.

    • @finonevado8891
      @finonevado8891 4 роки тому

      Ecks dee

  • @MerryBytes
    @MerryBytes 6 років тому +402

    Still more trustworthy than Alexa, I bet.
    It's surprising to see Oddware that actually does its advertised job so well.

    • @blshouse
      @blshouse 6 років тому +4

      Alexa has amazing easter eggs though. Ask her if the cake is a lie, instance.

    • @tomwes8390
      @tomwes8390 6 років тому +39

      MerryBytes Also ALOT more privacy than todays "install NSA microphones in your house for easier living"

    • @TheMohawkNinja
      @TheMohawkNinja 6 років тому +14

      +MerryBytes
      You should never trust any hardware, whether it's from the 60's or the future. They are all equally capable of doing things you don't want them to do. The only reason people perceive older hardware as more trustworthy is that we know that in the modern age the government has been known to do low-level data mining on personal information, but the fact of the matter is, is that with Communist paranoia during the Cold War, electronic bugs that ACTUALLY spy on you (the NSA doesn't do this if you actually do some research) were far more likely to happen.
      Plus, Alexa has nigh infinite more capability given she is connected to the Internet.

    • @critical2210
      @critical2210 6 років тому +1

      Bryan Shouse ask me if the cake is a lie son.

    • @kingjohn6519
      @kingjohn6519 6 років тому +1

      Think that one is called AI but could be mistaken lol

  • @ShadeyClaymore
    @ShadeyClaymore 6 років тому +138

    I think its time for a "Monday Friday Wednesday Friday 12 pm turn on desk lamp?"T Shirt.

    • @draketungsten74
      @draketungsten74 6 років тому +17

      Shadey Claymore with wood grain!

    • @effluviah7544
      @effluviah7544 6 років тому +10

      Honestly, I would buy this shirt if at all possible.

  • @mystica-subs
    @mystica-subs 6 років тому +224

    My grandfather gave me a whole set of Radio Shack Plug'n'Power modules and remote for Christmas in 1991. I loved it, and it got a good decade of use before we moved. Rest In Peace grandpa Ken, you were the reason I now am engrossed with electronics and computing.

  • @ScottDuensing
    @ScottDuensing 6 років тому +57

    I've got HAL2000 here somewhere with their hardware voice board and extra voices. It really was like Alexa for the 90s. Had the house wired so every phone went through HAL before it went to AT&T. You could grab any handset and say things like, "HAL, remind me to buy rum." When it was time to go to the store, you'd say "Print my shopping list". It announced callers, screened calls, played music, looked up weather, sports scores, local news, and a ton more. He was a bit expensive though. My "free gift" back in about '97 when I bought HAL was a freakin' satellite TV setup!

    • @em84c
      @em84c 4 роки тому +6

      I was thinking you must of been rich!

    • @mwb52888
      @mwb52888 Рік тому +1

      Nice story man...

    • @ScottDuensing
      @ScottDuensing Рік тому +5

      @@em84c just didn't have kids yet!

    • @RichBordoni
      @RichBordoni Рік тому +1

      That's awesome 🙂

  • @mooniejohnson
    @mooniejohnson 6 років тому +62

    “Ghetto Strobelight” would be a great name for a funk band.

  • @ziprock
    @ziprock 6 років тому +170

    Fun fact, I'm apprenticing as an electrician and the x10 is mentioned in one of my textbooks lol

    • @Yosef9438
      @Yosef9438 4 роки тому +6

      Textbooks are a little dated, eh?

    • @SlavTiger
      @SlavTiger 4 роки тому +1

      what book?

    • @TSimchak
      @TSimchak 4 роки тому +5

      It'll work with Alexa or Google Home. All still relevant.

    • @aguynamedbailey2102
      @aguynamedbailey2102 4 роки тому

      Same! Reverse double hert systems are so cool. Old school tech can be so interesting.

  • @CLK944
    @CLK944 6 років тому +319

    Remember when we used to find any product with "2000" in it so futuristic

    • @EivindFalken
      @EivindFalken 5 років тому +9

      ay ,remember Beyond 2000 on Discovery ?

    • @swanaldmcdnld
      @swanaldmcdnld 5 років тому +2

      No

    • @canesvenatici9588
      @canesvenatici9588 5 років тому +11

      Yeah, I read a few old magazine. The millenium thing was a huge thing back then in the late 90s. I was born around that time so I don't really experience it since I was still a baby back then.

    • @OpenKeith
      @OpenKeith 5 років тому +5

      I haven't stopped

    • @EmilyTestAccount
      @EmilyTestAccount 4 роки тому +8

      imagine how disappointed young me was to see an ad for something called "LASER 2000" and then it turns out it's just some late-night thing to stop smoking.

  • @malmstring
    @malmstring 4 роки тому +37

    I could hear the sadness in HALs voice when he said "cancelled..."

  • @vipershark
    @vipershark 6 років тому +38

    This is the kind of stuff I love to see on Oddware; early versions of things we take for granted now. Well to be honest I can't think of an oddware video I didn't enjoy, but still.

  • @ryconroleplays
    @ryconroleplays 6 років тому +585

    That ending was hilarious

    • @csgohag
      @csgohag 5 років тому +18

      Pretty sure you meant halarious...

    • @Nickelbender
      @Nickelbender 5 років тому

      yes it was

  • @JohnSmith-td7hd
    @JohnSmith-td7hd 6 років тому +148

    I love that HAL 2000 canceled every time that you said to. The worst possible scenario is it continuously hearing unissued commands and never understanding your "STOP NO" :D

    • @Hiznogood
      @Hiznogood 5 років тому +20

      “I’m sorry, but I can’t do that,Dave,”

    • @Wabeeninc
      @Wabeeninc 4 роки тому

      @@Hiznogood "I'm running c++ saying hello world I'll beat you till you're singing about a daisy girl"

    • @dangerszewski9816
      @dangerszewski9816 11 місяців тому

      @@Wabeeninc classic song!

  • @dangerszewski9816
    @dangerszewski9816 6 років тому +100

    When you said things that weren't relevant at all it got odd results but I am AMAZED given the status of voice-to-text even NOW how it would recognize legitimate commands seemingly 100% of the time! As anyone who's ever gotten so mad they start swearing at dragonsoft, then further lose their temper when it translates their tirade as "you God RAM plucking pizza ship" can attest.

  • @DT-dc4br
    @DT-dc4br 6 років тому +134

    HAL: What is my purpose?
    LGR: You turn on lights.
    HAL: OMG.

    • @Porygonal64
      @Porygonal64 6 років тому +6

      to be fair

    • @thundercat_pumyra
      @thundercat_pumyra 6 років тому +6

      I always found it funny at the beginning of Alien Covenant that Weyland makes David pour him a cup of tea that's sitting literally right next to the man.
      You spent billions developing a (near) perfect human AI just so he can pour you a cup of tea??? That's sitting right next to you??? And you wonder why he decided that humans needed killing?

  • @robintst
    @robintst 6 років тому +126

    User: "Alexa... say 'Hal, turn on the desk lamp.'"
    Alexa: **ding** "Hal, turn on the desk lamp."
    Hal: "Heeeyy, baby."

    • @CardboardSliver
      @CardboardSliver 4 роки тому +28

      Tell Siri to tell Cortana to tell Google to tell Alexa to tell Hal to turn on the desk lamp

    • @kris_0520
      @kris_0520 4 роки тому +9

      Cardboard Sliver home assisstanception

    • @CodecrafterArtemis
      @CodecrafterArtemis 3 роки тому +1

      @@CardboardSliver "I am not an owl!"

  • @wakaneut
    @wakaneut 6 років тому +485

    This is actually not bad at all. It works. In today's version, when you first install, it'll be like "Contacting server. Sending your private data to server. Downloading patch 10GB..... Do you want to save your data into the cloud? If yes, please create an account..."

    • @davemartin8577
      @davemartin8577 5 років тому +51

      Sounds like a home help designed by EA 😂

    • @siuoleht
      @siuoleht 4 роки тому +13

      It’d probably have you make an account anyway :(

    • @noxious_nights
      @noxious_nights 4 роки тому +4

      ok boomer

    • @30AndHatingIt
      @30AndHatingIt 4 роки тому +19

      @@noxious_nights The boomers, as bad as they were, are saints compared to our shitty generations (millenials and z's).

    • @diobrando2845
      @diobrando2845 4 роки тому +13

      30 And Hating It *Boomer detected*

  • @SDPhantomGamer
    @SDPhantomGamer 6 років тому +72

    90's voice recognition at its finest.

  • @Bucketus.Lord.of.Buckets
    @Bucketus.Lord.of.Buckets 6 років тому +157

    You should have called X10 tech support and recorded how they would react to your ancient home automation

  • @thundercat_pumyra
    @thundercat_pumyra 6 років тому +140

    "what is the meaning of life?"
    Beep
    Oh great. Thanks a lot. Now it's going to achieve sentience and kill us all. Way to bring about the apocalypse buddy

  • @whiteyexotics
    @whiteyexotics 6 років тому +25

    When Clint cracked up near the end, I laughed out loud lmao!

  • @Nitro2030ce
    @Nitro2030ce 6 років тому +13

    "It's like having software that runs in the 'background'!" I nearly lost it

  • @TheWolfkit
    @TheWolfkit 6 років тому +380

    IoT companies take note, home automation doesn't require the internet at all.

    • @fratercontenduntocculta8161
      @fratercontenduntocculta8161 5 років тому +107

      But then they wouldnt be able to harvest and sell all your personal data...

    • @guangyiguo8800
      @guangyiguo8800 5 років тому +15

      @@fratercontenduntocculta8161 You 're damn right.

    • @MrEdrftgyuji
      @MrEdrftgyuji 4 роки тому +24

      But these companies told me I need to sign up for an online account to turn on my lights

    • @nutritionalyeast7978
      @nutritionalyeast7978 4 роки тому +6

      totally unwarranted personal opinion time, but home automation is more bother than its worth, especially for lights. pressing a button is way easier than setting up and maintaining a LAN, and not prone to failure or accidental mistakes like 'oops i set the lights to turn on at 5am instead of 5pm in my calendar and i've thus been rudely awoken' its cool to be able to turn the lights off remotely, but really not worth the headaches it may induce IMO

    • @bmbpdk
      @bmbpdk 4 роки тому

      Or wifi

  • @obsoletebutneat
    @obsoletebutneat 6 років тому +15

    If you go back and find the old 1984 movie 'Electric Dreams' , the main character buys his computer and automates his apartment much like this....and then it of course starts to take over his life for him.

  • @Fix3rJ0e
    @Fix3rJ0e 6 років тому +16

    Hal: MONDAY FRIDAY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY AT 12PM TURN ON THIS LAMP
    PLEASE SAY YES OR NO
    I died laughing.

  • @CatFace8885
    @CatFace8885 6 років тому +23

    "Monday Friday Wednesday Friday at 12PM turn. On desk lamp?"
    -HAL 2017

  • @spyder000069
    @spyder000069 6 років тому +47

    17 years ago I used one of these and wrote a vb app that checked my internet connection. If the connection was unavailable it powered off the x10 which controlled my cable modem and powered back on. This was a common issue in those times and kept my connection live so I could get to my server remotely from work. x10 also had a wireless camera (xcam) that I hacked up and mounted on a radio controlled plane. Had some of my first video flights long before FPV flying became a thing.

    • @StephenMatrese
      @StephenMatrese 6 років тому

      spyder000069 I'm using an ESP8266 for the same thing on my NAS

    • @googaagoogaa12345678
      @googaagoogaa12345678 6 років тому +1

      wish i had that i lived in lacoste for a year and the poo verse internet signal went off literally every day so i had to go unplug for 10 sec plug back in every damn day for a year i would have literally killed for a deal like that

  • @ThisDoesNotCompute
    @ThisDoesNotCompute 6 років тому +196

    This one brings back memories. My grandparents had a pretty extensive X10 setup in their house for the lighting, probably a good 20 or 25 units. They didn't have the computer interface, but I remember the controller from 2:43 well.

    • @Atomhaz
      @Atomhaz 2 роки тому

      No way! A Collin spotted out in the wild! I love your channel my dude.

  • @LordProteus
    @LordProteus 6 років тому +24

    Set lights to 50%
    *mad flickering*
    Light: "YOU'VE MAIMED MY SOOUUL!!!"

  • @LorenHelgeson
    @LorenHelgeson Рік тому +2

    Seeing this, the way through, I can't get the idea of the movie "Electric Dreams" out of my head. HAL's little breakdown in understanding at the end was the cherry on top... "Please say yes or no."

  • @MartinKronstrom
    @MartinKronstrom 6 років тому +112

    Your lamp is talking to you in morse code.

  • @yvonnerogers6429
    @yvonnerogers6429 6 років тому +229

    "Unless registered this product will expire on 11/15/2017." November 15th? Aw, man, Clint! That's only nineteen days from now! You better call! LOL! Thanks again for another awesome video. I really liked this one.

    • @JORGETECHJorge
      @JORGETECHJorge 6 років тому +19

      Yvonne Rogers He should send the registration card.

    • @peterquint3816
      @peterquint3816 6 років тому +11

      You can't let HAL go out like that!

    • @CheapSushi
      @CheapSushi 6 років тому +9

      BAHAHA he totally should and send them a link to the video.

    • @Daniel15au
      @Daniel15au 6 років тому +14

      AutomatedLiving.com still exists, I wonder if they still take phone calls to activate the old apps :)

    • @EdgeRatedR007
      @EdgeRatedR007 6 років тому +6

      It’s probably automated to expire a month after it’s installed.

  • @Scerttle
    @Scerttle 6 років тому +26

    That cleaning montage was satisfying as heck.

  • @ThatElectronicsFool
    @ThatElectronicsFool 6 років тому +81

    We had gotten an IBM Aptiva (2159 I believe, which I still have!) back in '96. It came with an X10 system included. It was the serial model, was all IBM branded and included a lamp and an appliance module. The software it came with was called Home Director. We would use it when we left the house for an extended period of time to make it look like someone was home.
    Good video!

  • @dhoffnun
    @dhoffnun 6 років тому +55

    Ha that's awesome! My dad actually still uses his old X10 system to this day - complete with window, door, and motion sensors and timed lighting changes when he's away. *THE FUTURE IS NOW!*

    • @IsmailofeRegime
      @IsmailofeRegime 6 років тому

      Up until the last four years my dad was still using a Bell Atlantic DSL modem, which came out circa 1999. Not as cool as your example, but still an instance where old technology worked just fine for modern purposes.

    • @dominateeye
      @dominateeye 6 років тому +5

      See, I'd trust his system miles more than Alexa or Google Home, because I doubt the X10 system is able to secretly gather recordings of your conversations and the products you buy and other intimate life details and send them to the CIA, NSA, and Google and Amazon's ad teams, respectively.

  • @TeuCat
    @TeuCat 6 років тому +19

    "MondayFridayWedensdayFriday at 12 pm turn on lamp?"
    "Please say yes or no..."

  • @grandetaco4416
    @grandetaco4416 3 роки тому +5

    8:15 Led bulbs need to be dimmable to prevent flashing or to work with dimmable mode. The constant signal from the x10 to read the control signal causes this flashing. Dimmable LEDs are available. I avoid buying non-dimmable for this reason.

  • @NotSleepy
    @NotSleepy 6 років тому +83

    I am still using X10 modules around my house. They are still working after 25+ years. Over the years, I've had to replace a few controllers... But, these are still available on Ebay and Amazon.

    • @absalomdraconis
      @absalomdraconis 6 років тому +10

      NotSleepy : I recall seeing schematics online for how to do X10 with your own hardware. It's so simple, even if the modules aren't available anymore, they _still_ will be available.

    • @me67galaxylife
      @me67galaxylife 2 роки тому

      That’s cool, I wondered if some people did; what software are you using ?

  • @RaketenKuhGewehr
    @RaketenKuhGewehr 6 років тому +19

    11:00 roughly: Yes, LEDs don't like to be dimmed by default. There are some you can dim (which will usually say "dimmable" on the box) but most of them don't like it. Similarly the flashing will probably also be a problem with the LED. I had a similar problem with a motion detector outside my Gran's house a few weeks back.

  • @TheRCTAddict
    @TheRCTAddict Рік тому +6

    My dad is still using the hardware you showed off here to control the lights in our house, though with a Windows 95 GUI version and not a DOS version of the Lighthouse software. We have the CP290 controller, and a few The Timer clocks, as well as a handful of the appliance modules.
    9:00 We've run into this issue before. It's probably that that lamp has a modern bulb (LED, CFL, or something to that effect) screwed in. Those don't always play nicely with the X10 system.
    11:00 Dimmers *especially* don't play nicely, as you've discovered...but again, as you deduced, that's more of a functional issue with how that type of bulb works compared to an incandescent. LED dimmers are complex, run quite hot, and are also highly likely to increase the wear rate of the LED's transformer.

  • @flamshiz
    @flamshiz 2 роки тому +3

    my dad had a full x10 system in the early 2000s hooked into his home network. I thought it was pure magic that he could turn on his coffee maker from his office if he wanted

  • @Akselmoi
    @Akselmoi 6 років тому +118

    That was amazing!! :D Lost it at the "MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY TURN ON DESK LAMP??????"

    • @CrimsonSanX
      @CrimsonSanX 6 років тому

      Prime network television Snakes on a Plane from HAL 2000 there.

    • @XPLOSIVization
      @XPLOSIVization 6 років тому +5

      Oh man it broke me when it did that, still wiping the tears of laughter from my eyes

    • @CMDRSweeper
      @CMDRSweeper 6 років тому +4

      Frickin epic yes... It made me laugh a lot... Especially at the tone of voice that the text to speech chose for it.

    • @TheReprom
      @TheReprom 6 років тому +5

      Please say yes or no!

    • @draketungsten74
      @draketungsten74 6 років тому +1

      Reminds me of an Aqua Teen Hunger Force episode.

  • @Eucep
    @Eucep 6 років тому +26

    I really have tears in my eyes from laughing at the voice recognition. Yet.. I realize from what time it came and must say it's actually incredibly good. I've tried several voice recognition programs back then and none did as well as this one. But to be sure, did this one need to be 'trained' yes or no?

    • @LGR
      @LGR  6 років тому +11

      I didn't do any training beforehand!

    • @Eucep
      @Eucep 6 років тому +8

      Thank you. Then yes, this one ranks pretty high for older voice recognition.

  • @ProtoMario
    @ProtoMario 3 роки тому +115

    Technically, it did dim it at 50%...it was off and on...LMAO.

    • @zergmare7
      @zergmare7 3 роки тому +1

      PROTO!!!! Good to see you are still alive

    • @terraria9934
      @terraria9934 3 роки тому +7

      thats legit how dimming works with normal lights

  • @CardboardSliver
    @CardboardSliver 4 роки тому +4

    Clint's giggle over a lamp and old software is great. It makes my day so much better

    • @TheRogueMaverick
      @TheRogueMaverick Рік тому +2

      His laugh is indeed infectious, that's for sure!

  • @paulgascoigne5343
    @paulgascoigne5343 6 років тому +27

    Hmm.. Well the microwave didn't switch on to cook dinner whilst we were out.
    It's a shame about next-door burning down like that though.. I wonder what happened?

  • @Sampler19
    @Sampler19 6 років тому +25

    lol - best episode so far! xD
    Back in the nineties a guy from my hometown Stadthagen (Germany) used to do and control literally everything in his home with his Amiga 1200. Opening the front door, controlling the Phone, Microwave, Printer, Internet, burn CDs for other guys like me (when it was still a novelty), rendering and cutting movies, composing music, coding, managing his Comedy CD collection via database etc. I was pretty amazed by that. I didn't know these home control systems even existed that early, though.

    • @Rumpelstilzchen12
      @Rumpelstilzchen12 6 років тому +3

      Sampler19 Reading through the comments randomly finding a person that lives "next door". I am from Obernkirchen and born in Stadthagen :D Off-topic but just funny how small the world can be xD

    • @Sampler19
      @Sampler19 6 років тому +3

      Oh, nice! I transformed into a Hamburger twenty years ago, though.

    • @protozoid4571
      @protozoid4571 6 років тому +2

      yum!

  • @trevhoffmann
    @trevhoffmann 6 років тому +25

    HAL-What is my purpose?
    me- turn on desk lap
    HAL- oh kill me now

  • @artofnoise5013
    @artofnoise5013 7 місяців тому +2

    Still one of my favorite LGR videos. I laugh uncontrollably at the voice control at the end!

  • @TheJoebus666
    @TheJoebus666 6 років тому +107

    MONDAY FRIDAY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY AT 12PM TURN. ON DESK LAMP?

    • @RobRandomVids
      @RobRandomVids 6 років тому +2

      Well whad'ya know, haha, it's you again. Hi.

    • @kemi242
      @kemi242 6 років тому +22

      PLEASE SAY YES OR NO.

  • @Madness832
    @Madness832 6 років тому +9

    The PC module, shown @ 3:30, is called the CM-11. This will still work, even on a Windows 10 machine, if you find the software "Activehome Pro" and have a motherboard w/ a COM-header (I have this very setup). Only that my module is IBM-branded (HD-11) and came as part of their "Home Director" line of X10 hardware. I found a starter kit @ Goodwill around 20 years ago.
    Also, the lamp module can cause havoc w/ some energy-saver bulbs. Like the pulsing issue, being caused by the module repeatedly sending brief current pulses through the bulb when "off (not sure of the reason)." And yes, it can be a hit-or-miss on dimming. If you can do w/o the latter, use an appliance module.

  • @stevenvohl
    @stevenvohl 3 роки тому +3

    The major shortcoming was that it would only control devices on the same phase (side) of the circuit breaker panel, unless you installed a "circuit bridge" to relay the control signal to the other phase.
    While modules and controllers were commonly found in stores, the circuit bridge was a rare thing to find.

  • @m7hacke
    @m7hacke 4 роки тому +2

    We had the Radio Shack version growing up. We had our backyard lit up with flood lights like a baseball stadium by digging trenches all over for wiring and putting up light polls that were the remnants of our old swing set. Ah, the good ole days.

  • @MrNamegame
    @MrNamegame 6 років тому +35

    I always turn on my lamp on MONDAY FRIDAY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY at 12 PM.

    • @megamanfan3
      @megamanfan3 6 років тому +1

      prizedcoffeecup Ditto. 😆

  • @RamblesWorkshop
    @RamblesWorkshop 6 років тому +106

    I was writting a comment to say that i bet you had an LED bulb in there to explain the flashing and inability to dim when you outright did it xD
    Makes sense i suppose, considering LEDs require far less power as such any leaking through the module will build up in the capacitor and cause flashing like you saw, alternatively, because it was dimmed it had the same effect, it was just filling and discharging the capacitor instead. Halogen bulbs obviously dont use said capacitors.

    • @baseddoggie
      @baseddoggie 6 років тому +12

      I was about to say this. Obviously needs an incandescent bulb

    • @CantankerousDave
      @CantankerousDave 6 років тому

      Maybe this is how lightswitch raves got started.

    • @jonakers704
      @jonakers704 6 років тому +6

      The bleeding voltage from the unit is actually there on purpose. It is there for local control features to work, so you can turn on a lamp or whatever by turning it off and on again.

    • @Slash0mega
      @Slash0mega 6 років тому

      @jon ackers, control function, like if the says the lamp is off (cutting the current) and you are in the room and want it on, you can tell the system to reconnect the current by turning the lamp off then on without the computer? handy!

    • @Brian.S
      @Brian.S 6 років тому

      @Slash - Yes, exactly. It's trying to detect the light's own switch being used. There are mods documented on the web for certain X-10 modules to disable that when it's not needed, and it's only noticeable with modern efficient bulbs (LED and CFL).

  • @HalfLifeExpert1
    @HalfLifeExpert1 3 роки тому +2

    Had a brief terror moment at: 14:03 "Your HAL 2000 is a living product, which is growing and evolving daily". OH SH*T, It really IS HAL!!!!

  • @AluminumDragonRawr
    @AluminumDragonRawr 6 років тому +145

    This reminds me of the movies and episodes of shows where a smart house tried to take over :P

    • @kenziemac130
      @kenziemac130 6 років тому +7

      AluminumDragon I think this kind of thing was the inspiration for that.

    • @benr7272
      @benr7272 6 років тому +15

      That movie was Walt Disney Smart House

    • @brandonortiz6466
      @brandonortiz6466 6 років тому +7

      Electric Dreams?

    • @drowningin
      @drowningin 6 років тому +3

      Whose to say they didn't? Careful she's listening

    • @Toastmaster_5000
      @Toastmaster_5000 5 років тому +5

      well I mean, it is called HAL 2000. That's a pretty dead giveaway

  • @smartperson1
    @smartperson1 6 років тому +122

    We used X10 in college and after, back in 2004-2009. The control and appliance accessories were available really cheap from one retailer online, and it still worked perfectly. Great technology, and (strangely) probably more secure than all the IoT stuff today.

    • @ThePCKid11
      @ThePCKid11 6 років тому +21

      Actually, you're probably right. X10 never connects to the Web, so there's no chance of hacking :)

    • @romajimamulo
      @romajimamulo 6 років тому +20

      PCKid11 except for the part where if someone can access your outlet, they can mess with it

    • @smartperson1
      @smartperson1 6 років тому +14

      Securing a computer system when an attacker has physical access to the premises is extremely difficult. I think computers, smartphones and tablets with whole-disk encryption baked into the firmware are the only good consumer devices available with any protections against it. And that, too, only if users don't sync everything that have to the cloud. Also that only works when the device has been powered off.

    • @Sonickid1011
      @Sonickid1011 6 років тому +5

      except from your neighbors over the powerlines unencrypted

    • @HazeMotes
      @HazeMotes 6 років тому +46

      Imagine a criminal trying to burglarize your home by wheeling an IBM PC up to an outdoor outlet and plugging in their X-10.

  • @oktal3700
    @oktal3700 6 років тому +21

    "Monday Friday Wednesday Friday" hey it's Rabbot from Aqua Teen

    • @BorkBorkDoggo
      @BorkBorkDoggo 6 років тому +4

      Nice to see I'm not the only one who thought this.

  • @ianoliver12
    @ianoliver12 6 років тому +12

    "What is the meaning of life?"
    (BLOOP)
    "Oh..."

  • @TechBaffle
    @TechBaffle 4 роки тому +5

    6:14 'Old Cheese and Cigarettes' is a great name for an album

  • @machiner6
    @machiner6 6 років тому +31

    Damn, I would take the HAL 2000 over Google Home or Alexa, any day! I love the way it's set up compared to those.

  • @Moonfreeze
    @Moonfreeze 6 років тому +242

    I was hoping that you'd call the number to register :)

    • @leisergeist
      @leisergeist 6 років тому +14

      Well yeah, but it's fun to see what the number is now :D

    • @proximitea
      @proximitea 6 років тому +2

      The number is probably not even online anymore.

    • @Jellybeantiger
      @Jellybeantiger 6 років тому +2

      Erik Sundstrom and get a free pizza coupon

    • @floobertuber
      @floobertuber 6 років тому +4

      I'd say the chances of it still being a live number are somewhere between "zero" and "aw hell no."

    • @johnfrancisdoe1563
      @johnfrancisdoe1563 6 років тому

      floobertuber Depends if it's the same place still controlling the production. If they kept it going from 1979 to 1999, they might still be going in 2018.

  • @grayrabbit2211
    @grayrabbit2211 4 місяці тому +1

    I had this back in the day and it worked surprisingly well. Voice recognition wasn't the best, but I used it for the remote control stuff and it was great. I moved over to the Smarthome / Insteon stuff after that. I actually still have some of the X-10 modules and controllers in the closet...and I just tried them and they're still working.
    I used it for the whole house, but also used it for the Christmas lights. Back in the 1980s, to be able to change your house's light colors by remote was quite unheard of. I'd have to run each color string individually, then just layer multiple colors. It was really amazing back then.

  • @JoeStuffzAlt
    @JoeStuffzAlt 6 років тому +2

    I love the HAL 2000's voice better than most personal assistants. I like how awesome it sounds compared to the others that sound so... unnaturally happy

  • @TedSeeber
    @TedSeeber 6 років тому +34

    Final comment- You could download alternate personalities for HAL because it used the Microsoft Speech Engine. I used the Merlin Wizard for a couple of years in there.

  • @lavenderinthedark
    @lavenderinthedark 6 років тому +379

    18:00 - 18:34 That’s awesome XD

    • @SkoinksX
      @SkoinksX 6 років тому +29

      I think this is one of the best moments of LGR

    • @jboerman3
      @jboerman3 6 років тому +9

      Oh man, I laughed my pants off at this part! Great video

    • @silasmcgee3647
      @silasmcgee3647 6 років тому +4

      Jeffrey Boerman I thought it was going to lose my fucking dinner at that part😂😂

    • @That_Handle
      @That_Handle 6 років тому

      thepickle ,
      Are you sure ? 😮
      Please, say yes or no. 18:17
      😂

    • @guilhermevalentim95
      @guilhermevalentim95 6 років тому +1

      What he said? I didn't understand :(

  • @Razielchan666
    @Razielchan666 6 років тому +7

    This is seriously awesome, an Oddware that actually does its job and does it perfectly!
    Yeah, LED bulbs have to have special circuits to support old-style dimming.
    cya
    Raziel-chan

  • @Mekelaina
    @Mekelaina 4 роки тому +27

    my crush: thanks for your help!
    me: we go on date monday-friday at 5pm to desk lamp?
    crush: starts laughing at me
    me: please say yes or no

    • @me67galaxylife
      @me67galaxylife 2 роки тому

      Your pfp made me want to jump out of the window

    • @Mekelaina
      @Mekelaina 2 роки тому

      @@me67galaxylife then do so.

    • @me67galaxylife
      @me67galaxylife 2 роки тому

      @@Mekelaina No i still have my survival instinct, but i might lose it soon if such stupidity continues to plague the human race and embarass it as a whole

  • @RobotRevolution
    @RobotRevolution 6 років тому +4

    When the lamp started strobing I totally thought this was going to be a Halloween episode where the oddware takes over his house! XD

  • @KiraSlith
    @KiraSlith 6 років тому +8

    "Monday Friday Wednesday Friday at 12 PM turn off the desk lamp?" Oh boy, it is VERY confused. Clint, what'd you do?

  • @JonathanRockway
    @JonathanRockway 6 років тому +3

    I had some X10 stuff when I was a kid and thought it was the coolest thing in the world. I always longed for the computer control but it was always out of reach for an 11-year-old ;)
    BTW, I like how you blurred out everything except the credit card number at 4:53. Yeah, probably a long-dead account, but still amusing ;)

  • @VincentDeBellis224
    @VincentDeBellis224 6 років тому +2

    One of my all time favorite LGR episodes.

  • @nono-fg5iq
    @nono-fg5iq 6 років тому +9

    Woah! The X-10 looks so goddamn cool! If I could make my Apple II a "control center" for a smart home I think it will become an addiction for me pretty fast (Buying X-10 "smart outlets" daily like cigs...).
    Oh and btw - that setup with outlet modules and control via the grid seems much simpler and more stable than Google assistant and Alexa, also the fact that it doesn't connect to the Internet is super-cool even if it doesn't have any kind of encryption or authentication methods the fact it's not on the web is a pretty huge pro.
    And since I rarely boot my Apple II, mostly when friends wanna play games on it (Although the Powermac G4 and G3 get much more attention because Marathon LAN matches are hella fun) this would be an awesome excuse for me to place my Apple II as a "smart home command-center" in my study or living room...

  • @skuzzyj
    @skuzzyj 6 років тому +5

    There's actually a whole, weird little subculture around utilizing modern electronics like Arduino's and Raspberry Pis to control X10 hardware in order to integrate old home automation stuff with newer technologies... which can theoretically be used (through Alexa's IFTTT skill) to voice control everything, even down to something as boring as closing the garage door from anywhere in the house.
    A lot of setup, though.

  • @jstagzsr
    @jstagzsr 4 роки тому +29

    i wanna control my entire house on this system!!!! even now in 2019. this is dope. and now im off to find a way to do this on modern hardware,

    • @devonrosa4414
      @devonrosa4414 4 роки тому +2

      What'd you come up with?

    • @TJWhiteStar
      @TJWhiteStar 3 роки тому +4

      Modern X10 is pretty much the exact same as they've barely changed it over the years other than add in water sensors and make it better in terms of Interference etc.

    • @me67galaxylife
      @me67galaxylife 2 роки тому

      @@TJWhiteStar and add LED compatible module

  • @wedohedoshedooowee828
    @wedohedoshedooowee828 5 років тому +1

    I love this channel, I just started watching a few days ago and while I've never had a real interest in computers and tech you make it easy to start to find an interest in it! It's awesome that you get to make videos and show off your passion for what you love and find interesting, never let anyone tell you any different when I say that your passion on it's own could move mountains.

  • @k001daddy
    @k001daddy 6 років тому +3

    I always wanted an X10 for the Commodore, but it was too expensive. Now I want to hook up my entire home to a Commodore 64! Thanks for making this video.

  • @Oddlyoko2K
    @Oddlyoko2K 6 років тому +4

    Greetings and welcome to LGR Oddware where we're taking a look at hardware and software that is odd, forgotten and obsolete.

  • @random2307
    @random2307 5 років тому +2

    Your channel is hands down the best, a time machine. I'm 37, and right at home. Love it

  • @StevenIngram
    @StevenIngram 6 років тому +3

    You know, I miss old pre-graphical blue dos interfaces. They were always so clean and specific to purpose.

  • @pinokotsbeer6453
    @pinokotsbeer6453 6 років тому +7

    haha the HAL respones with your laugh are great!

  • @RudyMemes
    @RudyMemes 6 років тому +6

    Oh God your laugh is soothing on my ears, hahaha laughed so hard at poor HAL trying to turn on the desk lamp

  • @periodicblack5169
    @periodicblack5169 2 роки тому +2

    this is legit one of my favorite things to watch on youtube. . .
    Reminds me of my youthful joy seeing that sort of stuff in an uncles house

  • @ReplayRetro
    @ReplayRetro 3 роки тому

    What a fantastic piece of Oddware! Absolutely love it! The reason your LED bulb caused problems was because of leakage... basically because the adapter needs to be powered by your mains and lacks full isolation it never actually completely shuts off the power to the lamp, instead just reducing it to a very low level. With an incandescent bulb this isn't a problem, because the power getting through isn't enough to do anything, but because LED bulbs require so little power and have capacitors you'll basically get a brief flash from the bulb every time the capacitor gets fully charged, the same is true of the dimming effect except it flashes faster as you're charging it more quickly. If you were to use a dimmable LED bulb you'd probably eliminate this problem (though it depends on the amount of leakage)

  • @kevnar
    @kevnar 6 років тому +123

    I remember there was a movie in the 80s called "Electric Dreams". A guy bought a top-of-the-line computer and hooked it up to control his entire house. Plot Twist: he accidentally dumps a bottle of champagne over the whole thing, and instead of destroying it and electrocuting himself, it somehow caused the computer to come to life with its own super-advanced AI. It fell in love with his girlfriend and made him a prisoner in his own home. Clearly, it was written at a time where computers were this big mysterious and scary force. It's comical now, but at the time, audiences were in awe.
    Hey, look! It's on UA-cam. lol. Check out the retro hilarity!
    ua-cam.com/video/q5lwhhoIKok/v-deo.html

    • @xirabolt
      @xirabolt 6 років тому +20

      It was drunk with power

    • @ChristopherSobieniak
      @ChristopherSobieniak 6 років тому +4

      kevnar Controlling home security via computers was a thing in the 80's. I remember seeing a smiilar product being sold in Radio Shack catalogs.

    • @wpl955g9
      @wpl955g9 6 років тому +4

      Hello, Moles.

    • @Kee-Lo
      @Kee-Lo 6 років тому +5

      It's just been remastered for Blu Ray disk

    • @machiner6
      @machiner6 6 років тому +14

      There was also a Disney movie called "Smart House" that takes the automation bit up to eleven. Brutalmoose did a review: ua-cam.com/video/jkJXbwSbzYU/v-deo.html