X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Topic started by: newbeginning on April 07, 2013, 11:00:22 AM

Title: CM11A and FireCracker
Post by: newbeginning on April 07, 2013, 11:00:22 AM
I have been watching X10 stuff for years and just recently got a deal on some modules but realized I needed a computer interface to get them to work the way I needed them to. I ordered a CM11A and a FireCracker offline thinking I would need both to do the wireless control and computer control but wonder, Will they work together properly or will they fight each  other in the software. I have the active home SDK which works ok for the wired modules. Any help would be appreciated.
Title: Re: CM11A and FireCracker
Post by: Brian H on April 07, 2013, 11:33:37 AM
Do you have any interface like a CM15A now?

CM17A Serial Firecracker or the CM19A USB Firecracker RF Computer Interface.

Later versions of AHP can be used with a CM11A serial controller and the CM19A with a TM751 or RR501 to receive the RF commends from the CM19A. Along with the original AHP CM15A Controller.
I know when you choose the CM11A in AHP the USB CM15A or CM19A are not available.
Title: Re: CM11A and FireCracker
Post by: newbeginning on April 07, 2013, 01:58:07 PM
I am using active home version 1.4 which seems to work ok. I am working with an zero budget so if I have to pay for it right now it ain't going to happen. I just figured out that I have to burn macro's to the controller before they work. Just a newbie. I did get the firecracker device at the same time I got the cm11a thinking if I was lucky I could connect them in serial if I needed to but don't know how well if at all that would work.
Title: Re: CM11A and FireCracker
Post by: Brian H on April 07, 2013, 02:06:40 PM
Thanks for the updates.
I never knew there was a Active Home SDK. I have only seen the Active Home Pro SDK.
Title: Re: CM11A and FireCracker
Post by: dhouston on April 07, 2013, 03:48:19 PM
I'm not sure what you mean by connect them in serial. I don't recall anyone ever trying to control both from the same serial port but, in theory, it might work. The CM11A uses RXD & TXD while the CM17A uses RTS & DTR.

Also, I never used any of X10's software or SDKs, preferring to do my own coding. What language are you using with the SDK?

I think both the CM11A and Firecracker are sufficiently documented that you can write your own interface, doing away with any SDK.