Re:How about compared to UPB? (Score 1)

As the other poster mentioned, UPB is worlds better than X10 (and nearly everything is). I did have a moderately successful X10 installation for a few years, but some neighbor added something and it destabilized the entire network. The power company wouldn't help out and all the filters/blockers couldn't stop it.

Queue UPB. It's much more advanced (more powerful signals, error correction/detection, much, much faster , etc), 2-way, gets the signal through virtually anything and available from a number of vendors. The protocol is open and there are a number of open source and free interfaces to control it (for those liking the xPL automation protocol, there is a UPB to xPL gateway that makes control/tracking/using UPB rediculously simple).

UPB devices also are insanely configurable. From simple things like device names and such to how fast the device should turn on, how fast it should turn off, what the default on level is, multiple scenes support (most devices support being part of 16 of the 250 possible scenes), how device reporting should be done, even what color the LED pilot light on the switch should be in various states (and off is a valid color for those who do not like LED pilot lights). Each device can also be a controller. So you can set things up like "tap the top part of the rocker once to turn on the hall light, twice to turn on all the lights on the first floor" or similar things -- without any computer support. Configuration is done from a PC using free software -- no need to program the switch via obtuse button pressing sequences and such. The PC is used only for configuration -- once configured, the switch storesd all it's own settings.

UPB has switches, computer interfaces and even sharp/powerful control boxes that can be installed in a single gang box.

UPB, like nearly any modern powerline protocol (and most of the more advanced X10 switches) does require a neutral and hot line to work, so for old stuff where the switch just has two wires (hot in/out), UPB, Insteon, ZWave, etc will not work.

Finally, on pricing, UPB is a little more than Insteon, but not a hell of a lot. The difference is, in part, the quality of the devices -- they are solid and designed to be reliable. When buying them in quantity, the price is pretty darn reasonable.