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11
For quite some time people have been able to unlock their cars without the
use of a key. At first, it was a keypad embedded in the door that you would
use to enter a numeric secret code. Later on, cars began to come equipped
with an RF receiver that responded to a small keychain remote to unlock the
doors. That feature is nearly ubiquitous these days—just about every new
car comes with keyless remote entry as a standard feature.
And unlocking the door is usually only part of the story. Cars with these
systems also typically offer a host of other convenience features. Some cars
beep the horn to let you know that they’re locked; some flash the headlights
to help you find them in a parking lot; and most turn on the interior light so
you can easily find the ignition.
So why hasn’t this technology hit home—literally? Why do I still need to
use a key to get into my house? There are some keyless remote entry systems
available on the market, but getting any special features requires you to
purchase expensive proprietary systems. It would be nice if I could extend
an existing system to send X10 signals. Take a look at Figure 11-1 and you’ll
see that that’s just what I did.
Keyless Entry
Welcome Home
Cost
Time
Difficulty
$170 - $250
three hours
5 out of 5
What You Need
• Kwikset TitanOne keyless remote
deadbolt
• X10 SlimLine keychain remote
• X10 plug-in RF base
• X10 lamp modules ...