The server and workstation are well ensconced in the thermal defenestrator, and running happily. The office is staying at a tolerable temperature. The Windows box isn't moved into its slot yet, but its power cord, Ethernet cable, and KVM bundle await it.
One thing, though, is disconnected for good. No more will a cron job turn the light over the bird cages on and off via X-10.
Once upon a time, I bought a bunch of X-10 goodies, intending to do the usual home-automation stuff. There were problems, though.
A lot of the stuff I wanted wasn't available, at least not at a sane price. Stuff like a sprinkler controller, or a wall switch (not a dimmer) that would work with compact fluorescents.
And there was the communication problem. Initially, the transmitter couldn't reach anything that was on the other leg of the split-phase wiring. Adding a capacitor across the hot legs of the dryer (OK, so milling machine) outlet helped, but communication was unreliable, especially if any CFLs were operating anywhere in the house... and I've switched most of my lighting to CFLs now.
Then there's the longevity issue. I've had several appliance modules die, for no apparent reason. I also had two of the "firecracker" transmitters die, before switching to a CM11A.
The last thing still on the X-10, after I gave up and got a basic digital lamp timer for the alarm light in the bedroom, was the bird light.
Today, I got another timer just like the one in the bedroom, and installed that on the bird light.
I'd still like to have a real home-automation setup, but X-10's unreliable gadgets and closed architecture didn't work for me even a few years ago when I was trying to set it up, and their power-line communication works even less in today's electrically-noisy CFL world.
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