In the old days I would use X10 devices. I would control lights and the occasional appliance. I mean old old days.

Supposedly X10 is going away and zigbee and others have replaced it. Or at least will. I didn't know about that before the current purchase.

I needed to be able to remotely reboot my internet router and home network equipment. That's located downstairs in my Airbnb. I needed to do that without bothering the guest at 2:00 a.m.

None of the wireless remote controls that actually use radio waves can go through to that area. But the electrical wires do and work fine so X10 does the trick.

Okay, now I have working initial environment of one little control pad and one two-prong adapter. And I'd like to have more. I'd like to have more control of lights and devices. So I look into expanding it and then I see maybe I should use zigbee or something else. I want it to be controlled by my Ubuntu Linux computer that I am now running.

Does anyone have any suggestions before I start buying stuff? The interface to the actual computer via USB is 90 bucks. And then we add from there for each remote device.

But it doesn't answer the question. Which hardware platform should I be buying now?

Should I buy more X10 modules which includes requiring their $90 USB adapter for the computer or should I go with what is considered more modern and flexible and useful, but is far more complex And is new to me.

X10 modules are about two to three times as much as a light module being $10 for a zigbee, which could be 25 bucks for X10. But the zigbee uses radio waves which may or may not work through my current wall situation. Plus the zigbee is manufacturer specific. Each manufacturer says they work with their hub only or they work with other people's hubs. But you better test it to make sure. And there are a lot of different zigbee manufacturers. X10 only got one.

So it's a massive confusion. I think I've answered my own question. Do I want to spend my time tech trouleshooting the fancy new stuff that has capabilities that I don't care about or do I just want to turn some damn switches on and off.

X10 it is.

Thank you.