"Here's What *I* Did With X10!".
In other words, IMHO, Folks should come here to SHARE IDEAS :) as well as ASK FOR TECHNICAL HELP and/or COMPLAIN. :(
Yes, I've used my CM11A for several years with few problems. Although recent electrical problems in my area seem to have shorted out my controller. But I plan to buy another one and avoid the Activehome Pro due to problems I have heard about (low range, etc).
I agree with TakeTheActive. I have a couple of X10 related write ups in the FAQ I've written for my wife and family about all the equipment I've installed in, and mods I've made to, our home.I'd be happy to post these but please tell me the best topic area to put them in.[/size]
Seriously though, you may have acaccidentally touched on the problem. What I am offering to post has nothing whatsoever to do with Trouble Shooting Automation Problems. What I've written up are articles about how I integrated X10 equipment into environmental control systems in our house that utilize waste heat and solar heat to reduce our oil bill. We need a topic area to post successful applications like these so others can learn how powerful a tool X10 can be. That's one way to counterbalance all the it doesn't work postings.
Yes, I've used my CM11A for several years with few problems. Although recent electrical problems in my area seem to have shorted out my controller. But I plan to buy another one and avoid the Activehome Pro due to problems I have heard about (low range, etc).
Just got things running under Vista. First install of Active Home 1.43 didn't work. It seems that my system (Gateway GM5407E) only has COM 1 and the best way to specify that is during installation. After the reboot everything worked perfectly. My simple requirements are met just fine with the CM11A and I'm thrilled not to shell out the $50 for the CM15.
I seem to be re-awakening this thread... I use my CM11A with the Heyu software.... on my Linux box.
Whew... I'm so glad to see that I'm not the only CM11A user left! I purchased the ActiveHome kit years ago when it first came out (and when talking about COM ports made me feel young, not old!). I had abandoned my X10 projects a few years later, and nearly forgot about them entirely... until my sister recently moved into a place with a light-switch arrangement that didn't fit her lamp-centric decorating style. I remembered the old shoebox full of parts, and dug a few out.
I'll be setting her up sometime next week with some new lamp modules (that soft-start is a nice improvement), wireless transciever, and slim switch (also a nice looking improvement over the old "lumpy" wireless wall switches).
I figured while I had the parts out, though, I'd install ActiveHome on my PC and see if the CM11A still worked. Sure enough, it did. I even installed a few lamp modules in my living room, complete with macros and timers.
I know that at some point, I had the universal remote with X10 RF transmitter and a collection of motion sensors, but those may have been tossed years ago. Still, it's nice to have the old system running again. Ah, the memories!
Now, I need to look into some of the open-source software alternatives since this ActiveHome interface really was a clunker, huh?
Anyway, it was nice to find this site, and to see that this old ActiveHome forum still has users.
Me too !!! Glad to see others still using the cm11a
You saw the AHP CM15A for $39.99 and it had all the plug ins? Last time I saw that price it was just the interface and AHP no plug ins.
I just checked and my controller box connects to the power line with a PSC05
The XTB-523 is still being shown as available as a replacement from JV Digital Engineering.
Is the PCB the same as the PSC05? Where can I buy a few?
Does the Homeseer Hometroller work with X10? Where can I find it?Homeseer.com
Thanks
Homeseer.com
Hi HA Dave!...…... I dropped out of the home automation scene for decades except for minor modifications. At the time, few knew more than me. I see now that my knowledge is decades old.....
I find WiFi unreliable in much of my home despite recently installing Google's wireless mesh system. I do have a wired Echo Dot with Alexa.
Please tell me more about AI.
True AI HA needs no human interaction to tell it if a door should be closed or if someone is home to turn on/off a light or appliance, arm/disarm a security system ….
We aren't there Yet but getting close. ;)
Sadly cloud integration is required which many don't have reliable enough internet for. :(
And i am still using my CM11A full time and have been for years (decades). I also have a spare. But starting about a year ago I've been converting to WiFi smart plugs and bulbs.
My house X10 thermostat is having issues and I haven't had my HVAC always-on fan setting all winter. The last two winters that feature would start working about half way into the winter. So I bought an Ecobee smart thermostat and will be converting to that once we get out of the single digit and lower temps.
My house is about 44 years old and the wiring will not support the replacement WiFi receptacles and switches. So I am going with the plug-in modules and smart bulbs.