Home automation can improve home living --

If your eyes glaze over at the words "home automation" -- you're not alone. It sounds so . . robotic . . . so complicated . . . and so expensive. But if you've ever experienced the safety and convenience of turning on your porch lights with your smartphone while driving home on a dark and stormy night, you'll appreciate what home automation can do to improve your life.

There are a variety of home automation systems being marketed today. Some send out command signals wirelessly via radio frequency alone. Others send out signals over the electric power lines already existing in your home. Both have their advantages; both have limitations as well.

Radio signals in the band width required for home automation are subject to interfence for a variety of reasons. Powerline signals are subject to electrical noise and "phase bridging" issues.

What makes Insteon home automation different?

If you live in the U.S., electricity is typically delivered to your house in 3-wires -- bringing split-phase 240 volts of alernating current. At the junction box to your house, it is split into two phases of 2-wires each with 120 volts. One phase powers half the circuits in your house; the other phase powers the remaining circuits. When a home automation powerline signal is sent over wires in one phase, it is typically picked up strong and clear by powerline automation receivers plugged into that phase. But an automation powerline receiver plugged into the other phase may receive a weak signal or none at all. That is what is known as the "phase bridging" issue.

You can generally tell which circuits in your house are served by each phase. Take a look at your circuit breaker box. Circuit breaker switches are arranged in two columns. Typically , in a U.S. split-phase service, every other row of two breakers are served by one phase; the altenate rows of two breakers are served by the other phase.

Here's how Insteon solves the "phase bridging" issue. Insteon home automation utilizes both radio and powerline. A dual-mesh Insteon device plugged into one phase sends out signals over both powerline and radio. Another dual mesh device plugged into the other phase receives the radio signal and immediately repeats it over both the powerline and radio. Now home automation commands are strong in both phases. This is what is meant by bridging phases. In fact, each additional device make your home automation network stronger and more reliable.

Start now to enjoy the convenience, safety and fun of home automation

A good way to start is by remote lighting control using your iPhone. If you have Internet service at home, a router and an iPhone -- you have part of the system. Purchase several plug-in, modular Insteon automation devices and download an app for your iPhone. Install following directions, and walla! Your simple system is in place. After synching and linking the devices together, your are ready for remote lighting control via iPhone.

I'm John Dove and I write about practical technology that can help improve home living. My articles offer useful information on such topics as home automation, HDTV, energy management and much more.

Start now to improve your home living with Remote Lighting Control via Internet or iPhone.