Tarrant Cares, Texas

do-it-yourself

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Garage Door Opener is designed for use by individuals with cognitive disabilities. It can also be used by individuals with back pain, limited upper extremity strength and endurance associated with nerve injuries, arthritis, or stroke.

Materials: iPhone, Windows personal computer, X10 Commander “Server” software, garage door.

Technical Specifications:

Step 1 Install the X10 Commander iPhone App installed on iPhone.

Step 2 It talks over the home wi-fi network (a pair of D-Link DIR-655s setup as access points), to the X10 Commander “Server” software that is running on an always-on Windows XP PC.

Step 3 The X10 Commander Server software talks to an USB to RF X10 interface (the X10 CM19A) dongle on the same Windows XP PC.

Step 4 That dongle on my computer talks to an RF to X10 interface device (the X10 TM751) plugged into a nearby power outlet.

Step 5 At the garage, there is an X10 controller for low-voltage devices (an X10 PUM01) plugged into another home power outlet:

Step 6 The terminals on the X10 low-voltage control device are spliced into the control wires for the garage door opener.

Step 7 The control wires are connected to the garage door opener which opens the garage.

Step 8 Use the phone to open the garage. Author’s Note: Surprisingly the most fragile component has NOT been the Windows XP PC, but the TM751 because it’s connected to a childproofed power outlet. If it’s ever brushed by a passing child or a projectile toy, it easily loses contact. However, this has not greatly impacted its operation.