X10 Community Forum
💬General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: conobrien on January 21, 2008, 09:10:42 PM
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I have a system so old it is only called Active Home (no Pro on the end). It has worked flawlessly for years. I have always been VERY apprehensive about having to use the software and plugging it in to a com port because that rarely works. Well after about 10 years of perfect use, last week I had a power failure and ever since the lights don't come on or they come on sporadically.
I have no idea where to get software. The disk in my most recent delivery dated April 1999 says it is for Windows95. I have Windows XP. Also, I don't think I even have a com port anymore. (I am not too computer literate when it comes to hardware.)
My specific questions:
1. Is there new software that will work with Windows XP professional? If yes, can I download it and how much is it?
2. Is there a better cord that will plug into a USB port instead of a com port?
My com port is located behind the computer and I can't access it. I have a USB port on my monitor.
Thank you for any help you can provide for me.
Connie
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Active Home has been replaced by Active Home Pro. It is available from X10USA at the following link: http://www.x10.com/activehomepro/activehome-pro.html The price is $49.99.
If you still have your .x10 files from Active Home, save them!! Active Home Pro will convert them to the .axh files AHP uses, so everything you have now will be there.
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I have a system so old it is only called Active Home (no Pro on the end). It has worked flawlessly for years. I have always been VERY apprehensive about having to use the software and plugging it in to a com port because that rarely works. Well after about 10 years of perfect use, last week I had a power failure and ever since the lights don't come on or they come on sporadically.
I have no idea where to get software. The disk in my most recent delivery dated April 1999 says it is for Windows95. I have Windows XP. Also, I don't think I even have a com port anymore. (I am not too computer literate when it comes to hardware.)
My specific questions:
1. Is there new software that will work with Windows XP professional? If yes, can I download it and how much is it?
http://software.x10.com/pub/applications/activehome/ahsetup.exe (free)
2. Is there a better cord that will plug into a USB port instead of a com port?
My com port is located behind the computer and I can't access it. I have a USB port on my monitor.
You can buy a USB-Serial adapter ($10-$20). Plug it into your USB port, then plug the CM11A cable into the adapter. Running ActiveHome under Windows XP with it will be less trouble prone than connecting your CM11A to an existing serial port.
If you go this route, after installing the driver for the USB-Serial adapter, go into the Windows Device Manager and see what COM port Windows has assigned to the adapter and use this in the ActiveHome software.
But given the age of your system, getting ActiveHome Pro as Dan suggested might be the better alternative.
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Thank you both VERY much. At least I know I'm not dead in the water and you have pointed me in the right direction. Thanks.
Connie
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There's one thing I failed to mention. Some PC motherboards will not support the CM11A as they give the Com ports fits. It vanishes and reappears with no warning. Since you have upgraded to a WinXP Professional machine, AHP is the best for the money.
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Hello Again:
Today I received my kit. I just installed and registered the software while the unit was plugged into the USB port. It automatically installed to:
C:\Program Files\Active Home Pro
No problem so far. One of you said that it would convert my old data that is stored in the following place:
C:\X10\Active Home
How do I convert? Is there a way to do this from inside the new software. I hesitate to just copy everything from the old X10 folder to the new one in case it will "screw things up". Any ideas?
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Simply create a new folder and copy all .x10 files to it, then have Active Home Pro import them. DO NOT copy them to the C:/Program Files/Active Home Pro folder.
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In Active Home Pro, under Help, there is info on importing data from prior versions.
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conobrien
A word of warning!
If your old setup is very complicated you may have problems with the conversion! AHP handles some macros differently then AH!
If you find you experiance strange things with your converted setup you will have to build a new AHX file from scratch refereing to the rebuilt one only for module addresses! ;)
I hope your conversion is a smooth one! ;)
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Well, it doesn't work. I had all the old data on the screen. Very simple. Two rooms and no macros. I changed a couple of times, but not all of them. Did SAVE AS into the new Active Home Pro. Put in the correct extensions (.ahx). I put in the correct time zone. Put in the correct house code letter. Plugged it in....chose the download feature............AND IT CRASHED!!!!!!!!!
Internet Explorer has encountered an error and needs to close. Please send the error message to Microsoft. I did.
NOW I CAN'T OPEN IT AT ALL WITHOUT GETTING THE ABOVE MESSAGE!!!
Can someone explain to me exactly what I don't understand about this?
Also I just discovered there is no phone number to call to talk to a person, only a gigantic frequently asked questions database. I don't have time for this.
Now I understand some of the posts about X10.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Any ideas?
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AHP does not use or connect with IE. If you only have two rooms (how many modules and what types) and did AHP correctly install and convert your .x10 file correctly?
BTW, ignore any messages you ever get about sending reports to Microsoft. Just say NO when ever you get them. Microsoft NEVER replys to any of them.
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Try deleting the .ahx file you saved. If you didn't change the folder where you saved it, you can probably do:
My Computer > Program Files > Activehome Pro
then right-click on your .ahx file and click "delete".
Hopefully this will let you start up AHP again, click File > New, and recreate your file from scratch.
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OK...thank you to both of you.
I believe I am all set now. Everything seems to be okay and the download to the unit worked. I will know in twenty minutes (dusk at my address) if everything works.
I will keep you posted. Hopefully I didn't waste a day for nothing. :)
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Good.
Drop me a e-mail if everything is good to go.
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It didn't work. I know that the system works because I can turn the lights on and off from the computer. I am at a complete loss as to why they won't go on as scheduled.
Everything worked fine until we had a power failure last week. We have had power failures before and it didn't stop the system from working.
We have new batteries in the module as well.
I am stumped.
Connie
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Guess What? Four of the lights just came on at about 3 minutes apart. This is a full 2 hours after they were set to come on. Four other lights did not come on at all.
I again checked that I was in the correct time zone. I also checked the clock in my computer. I am baffled, but pleased to know that they work.
I am going to try setting them 2 hours earlier tomorrow and see if they come on at the correct time.
I'll keep the forum posted!
:)
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It didn't work. I know that the system works because I can turn the lights on and off from the computer. I am at a complete loss as to why they won't go on as scheduled.
Everything worked fine until we had a power failure last week. We have had power failures before and it didn't stop the system from working.
We have new batteries in the module as well.
I am stumped.
Connie
Did you re-create your schedule from scratch or get the imported one working? If the imported one, dump it and start from scratch.
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I used the old files that I converted.
My husband had an interesting thought. He used to be the one that did all this, but in the past several years I have taken over the computer things.
He told me that he remembers the old system having an option called "security". He says if you checked that box, it means no matter what you put in for times, that the system randomly chooses different times every day (in somewhat close proximity to your times) so that if someone is watching your house, they will be thrown off.
Do you have any knowledge of the old parameters?
I am thinking I should wait until tomorrow and see what happens before I change anything today.
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I used the old files that I converted.
My husband had an interesting thought. He used to be the one that did all this, but in the past several years I have taken over the computer things.
He told me that he remembers the old system having an option called "security". He says if you checked that box, it means no matter what you put in for times, that the system randomly chooses different times every day (in somewhat close proximity to your times) so that if someone is watching your house, they will be thrown off.
Do you have any knowledge of the old parameters?
I am thinking I should wait until tomorrow and see what happens before I change anything today.
The old ActiveHome "security" feature varies the execution time by some "random" amount within +/- 30 minutes of the programmed time. ActiveHome Pro has a similar feature but I don't know how well it works. I seem to recall seeing a post on this forum which claimed it didn't work with Dawn or Dusk timers.
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Security in AHP works the same way it did in AH. You set the module's timers in the regular way, before you do make sure the security checkbox is checked, then set the timers (use dusk/dawn delay/advance if necessary). Say you want the timer to turn on at 20 minutes before dusk with Security on. The timer will run +/- 30 minutes every time it runs. I have a lamp in my Living Room that has the Security option and the timer is set to turn the lamp on 25 minutes before dusk and off at 1:45AM every day. Security runs +/- 30 minutes and gives the lamp that "lived in" appearance.
Security is an interesting option and not always useful for every use.
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Security in AHP works the same way it did in AH. You set the module's timers in the regular way, before you do make sure the security checkbox is checked, then set the timers (use dusk/dawn delay/advance if necessary). Say you want the timer to turn on at 20 minutes before dusk with Security on. The timer will run +/- 30 minutes every time it runs. I have a lamp in my Living Room that has the Security option and the timer is set to turn the lamp on 25 minutes before dusk and off at 1:45AM every day. Security runs +/- 30 minutes and gives the lamp that "lived in" appearance.
Security is an interesting option and not always useful for every use.
Is it necessary to check the security box before setting the times? Or is that just the way you've been doing it?
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Security in AHP works the same way it did in AH. You set the module's timers in the regular way, before you do make sure the security checkbox is checked, then set the timers (use dusk/dawn delay/advance if necessary). Say you want the timer to turn on at 20 minutes before dusk with Security on. The timer will run +/- 30 minutes every time it runs. I have a lamp in my Living Room that has the Security option and the timer is set to turn the lamp on 25 minutes before dusk and off at 1:45AM every day. Security runs +/- 30 minutes and gives the lamp that "lived in" appearance.
Security is an interesting option and not always useful for every use.
Is it necessary to check the security box before setting the times? Or is that just the way you've been doing it?
Yes. Once the timers are established, the Security box is grayed out and unavailable.
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Thanks for everyone's interest. It remains the same. Four of the 8 lights come on everyday 2 hours later than scheduled and on the "security" schedule. The other 4 don't come on at all. I never went back in and subtracted 2 hours from the times. I added a ninth light when I got the new software. Nothing fancy. Turn on at 5pm and off at 11pm.....it just never goes on.
My husband is convinced that I have it completely screwed up and will "fix" it on the weekend. Grin.
I'll post again after he "fixes" them.
Thanks.
Connie
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Thanks for everyone's interest. It remains the same. Four of the 8 lights come on everyday 2 hours later than scheduled and on the "security" schedule. The other 4 don't come on at all. I never went back in and subtracted 2 hours from the times. I added a ninth light when I got the new software. Nothing fancy. Turn on at 5pm and off at 11pm.....it just never goes on.
My husband is convinced that I have it completely screwed up and will "fix" it on the weekend. Grin.
I'll post again after he "fixes" them.
Thanks.
Connie
My advice: If you want to preserve your sanity (and maybe your marriage), don't try "fixing" your existing AHP setup. Start from scratch and create a totally new one.
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When I got AHP/CM15 in 2004 (when I updated my system from Win98 to XP Home) I did convert my old .x10 files to AHP's .ahx files, I had ZERO problems with timers coming on at different times than scheduled.
I wonder if Connie's old .x10 files got corrupted before she imported them into AHP?
I would print the report in AHP (it opens in your browser) and use the module types and addresses as the basis of the new one, before the old one is deleted.
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Connie last replied on January 30.
Did she ever get her AHP set up properly and all timers worked when scheduled?
We traded e-mails, but no news here or via e-mail. Hope she didn't just give up.
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...The timer will run +/- 30 minutes every time it runs....
If I remember correctly, with the old software "randomized" the time by adding 37 min to the previous time but always staying the same hour. The formula for the min time was to use the remainder of the (number of the day since the last download X 37 + the starting minute) divided by 60. This meant if you had light A start at 1:00 and light B start at 1:05 the "random" time for B was always 5 min after the "random" time for A. I use to have a chart of the times that my "random" lights would come on. It worked like this. Assuming you started on the first day with a security time of 1:00 for A and 1:05 for B, this is how the times would go.
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | ...and so on. |
| Light A | 1:00 | 1:37 | 1:14 | 1:51 | 1:28 | 1:05 |
| Light B | 1:05 | 1:42 | 1:19 | 1:56 | 1:33 | 1:10 |
I haven't tested the CM15A to see if it's random times are predictable.
[Note: I may have this confused this with the system that preceded the CM11A as I seem to remember having a DOS system back then. How old is the CM11A and what preceded it?]
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...The timer will run +/- 30 minutes every time it runs....
If I remember correctly, with the old software "randomized" the time by adding 37 min to the previous time but always staying the same hour. The formula for the min time was to use the remainder of the (number of the day since the last download X 37 + the starting minute) divided by 60. This meant if you had light A start at 1:00 and light B start at 1:05 the "random" time for B was always 5 min after the "random" time for A. I use to have a chart of the times that my "random" lights would come on. It worked like this. Assuming you started on the first day with a security time of 1:00 for A and 1:05 for B, this is how the times would go.
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | ...and so on. |
| Light A | 1:00 | 1:37 | 1:14 | 1:51 | 1:28 | 1:05 |
| Light B | 1:05 | 1:42 | 1:19 | 1:56 | 1:33 | 1:10 |
I haven't tested the CM15A to see if it's random times are predictable.
[Note: I may have this confused this with the system that preceded the CM11A as I seem to remember having a DOS system back then. How old is the CM11A and what preceded it?]
steven_r:
I think you must be referring to the old X10 CP290 interface.
The CM11A came out around 1997 and a few of the things you describe don't apply to the CM11A:
1. There's no built-in Odd/Even day feature in the CM11A. The software could specifically program odd and even days but this will chew up a huge amount of EEPROM memory. (It does have built-in support for specific days of the week.)
2. Although one can write data into the CM11A's unused EEPROM memory space, there's no way to read it back out.
3. The ActiveHome software creates a stair-step approximation to the daily Sunrise/Sunset times over the year and uses this for timers downloaded to the CM11A EEPROM. So the downloaded schedule can nominally run for a whole year before it needs to be redone. The CP290 used a constant value so the schedule needed to be re-downloaded frequently, especially in the Spring and Fall when Sunset and Sunset changed more rapidly.
What I'm seeing with the security feature in the CM11A is that the "random" time just increments by 10 minutes every day after a starting increment the first day. When the total of the increments exceeds one hour, it wraps around. (The ActiveHome software subtracts 30 minutes from the programmed time so the variation is +/- 30 minutes.)
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...I think you must be referring to the old X10 CP290 interface....
Yeah that's the one i was thinking about. Thanks for jogging my memory.
...What I'm seeing with the security feature in the CM11A is that the "random" time just increments by 10 minutes every day after a starting increment the first day. When the total of the increments exceeds one hour, it wraps around. (The ActiveHome software subtracts 30 minutes from the programmed time so the variation is +/- 30 minutes.)
Any idea how AHP handles its "random" time or did you mean to say AHP is +/- 30 min?
If AHP is +/- 30 min then that's the poorest random yet.
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From what I've seen, the Security offset is +/- 30 minutes in varying times over or under the 30 minutes. The idea is to vary the offset to make it appear that a machine is not turning the lamp on or off, but a person.
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BTW, can we have any post not related to the OP's problem moved to the proper forum?
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...I think you must be referring to the old X10 CP290 interface....
Yeah that's the one i was thinking about. Thanks for jogging my memory.
...What I'm seeing with the security feature in the CM11A is that the "random" time just increments by 10 minutes every day after a starting increment the first day. When the total of the increments exceeds one hour, it wraps around. (The ActiveHome software subtracts 30 minutes from the programmed time so the variation is +/- 30 minutes.)
Any idea how AHP handles its "random" time or did you mean to say AHP is +/- 30 min?
If AHP is +/- 30 min then that's the poorest random yet.
What I meant was that the "random" time is some value within +/- 30 minutes of the programmed time, not that the random variation is only either +30 minutes or -30 minutes. This is true of both the old ActiveHome 1.42 and ActiveHome Pro.
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I got an e-mail from Connie, she's still not able to control the lights when she wants them to. She's an accountant, and this is tax season. She will post again after April 15.
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I refuse to give up on the CP290! It work for a decade for me and I love it. Besides, there is no reason why it shouldn't be able to communicate with a serial port. I mean, who would think that between changes in Windows operating systems, the RS232 port somehow got redesigned?
Anyway, the CP290 running on that funky DOS software program worked fine all the way up to Windows 98; now the way XP handles com ports evidently is not the same way as DOS did (why, I don't know other than Microsoft sucks), but I am hoping that, as Charles S. suggest, getting a serial-to-USB adaptor will solve this stupid problem. I know XP can do some funky things with the com ports. I have a printer that worked perfectly with my old computer via the parallel connection, but when it was installed on the new computer running XP Pro, you would think there was not connection at all between the printer and LPT1. But hook it up via a USB port and bingo -- working now like a charm.
We have a CP 290 unit at the theatre where I work and it is still running via the serial port on a Windows ME OS and even on that it is a little funky -- when you first run the software, it will say it is not connected, try again -- you need to say yes and it will usually connect to the port. Occasionally you need to say yes more than once....has something to do with the faster timeouts. I will let you know if the serial port to USB adaptor magically does the trick. Computers = voodoo.
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CinemaDude; Vista is even worse.
Don't count on serial ports and parallel ports on newer computers they also are going away. Same for the new sized hard drives; no more IDE ones just SATA ans ESATA ones.