X10 Community Forum
💬General Category => Mac/Linux & Open Source and the X10 Home => Raspberry Pi, Arduino & other SBC => Topic started by: Tuicemen on February 05, 2021, 06:22:26 PM
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I've been playing with a $2 ESP8266 ESP-01S board doing some simple tasks like controling LED lights, reading a DHT sensor and posting results on a a server running on it. I know simple stuff and I'm very late to this!
The ESP32 is the successor to the ESP8266 but both have several recent versions. I know several here have played with one version at least of these over the years, so I'm interested in your ideas and thoughts on these.
I'm looking at getting one of the newer versions but I'm not sure what more I'd like to do with it just yet.
Do I realy need 12-16 GPIO pins? I haven't been able to utilize the 4 easy to configure ones on the ESP-01, which I've read can be configured into 12 Pins
It would be cool to pull out my Pi Zero inside my CM15A and use one of these in its place however I think that is beond my abilities.
I've also thought about trying to send X10 RF with one but I don't realy need another X10 RF sender or receiver.
I've also been thinking about creating a HG mini, however what would I use it for?
There are several projects posted on the web for these but very few of those seem useful for me (at least not yet). Maybe some one will inspire me. ;)
I'm wondering: ???
Which boards did you use and what did you do with them?
Did you incorporate them into your X10 HA setup?
Are you still using the board?
Are you expanding on it?
Or did it fail to live up to your expectations?
>!
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Your best bet for feedback on this subject would be the Home Assistant forum. I doubt if many of the users here have deployed either with X10 so I imagine your feedback here would be limited. If you haven't already done so register on the Home Assistant forum where you could exchange ideas and touch base on the latest developments in all things ESP.
Personally I've been using ESP since its inception, mainly the ESP8285 in the early days and it works nicely with the TIP10RF which unfortunately wasn't available on your side of the pond. In fact programmed correctly they can completely replace X10 and ZWave (no harm on the ZWave front). You'll find an example of them in most of today's disposable electronics. I'd give the HG Mini a miss though. It looks flaky to say the least and when it comes to support you're on your own rofl
I hope you weren't asleep when this was all happening. Maybe you've been living off grid too long rofl
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One thing to note. Be damn careful with your voltage here. 3.3v and no tolerance. Not sure how you're programming it but I've always used the Arduino to do the heavy lifting. Again there's so many versions of these chips doing the rounds and not all perform the same. They support Micro Python but C is far superior when it comes to these boards. You'll find out as you experiment. Fried ESP is not very tasty rofl
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You can flash Tasmota on to your ESP and the sky’s the limit https://tasmota.github.io/docs/Getting-Started/ Again heed the warnings on voltages.
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I hope you weren't asleep when this was all happening. Maybe you've been living off grid too long rofl
I'm afraid I may have been doing both! rofl I had heard of these when they first came out but like the Raspi I just couldn't bring my self to playing with them. :-[
The Idea of soldering up pins and using a bread board probably was the thing that turned me off to me these were toys not the work horses they are.
I'm using Arduino to flash this but had used ESP Easy to flash some SONOFF low voltage modules several years back for my solar tracker and that was just to get local control. I know what a fried ESP chip smells like, but never tasted one! rofl
Thanks for the links but I'm more interested in what users Here are using them for.
>!
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I hope you weren't asleep when this was all happening. Maybe you've been living off grid too long rofl
I'm afraid I may have been doing both! rofl I had heard of these when they first came out but like the Raspi I just couldn't bring my self to playing with them. :-[
The Idea of soldering up pins and using a bread board probably was the thing that turned me off to me these were toys not the work horses they are.
I'm using Arduino to flash this but had used ESP Easy to flash some SONOFF low voltage modules several years back for my solar tracker and that was just to get local control. I know what a fried ESP chip smells like, but never tasted one! rofl
Thanks for the links but I'm more interested in what users Here are using them for.
>!
Should be interesting to see if anyone here is actually using them. Anyway good luck with that
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I've had a Sonoff TH16 for a few years but never did much with it. I recently found a use for a couple so ordered some Sonoff Basic units. They are pretty nice once flashed with Tasmota (I recommend a CH340 + Tasmotize). However, the version I was sent was the R2 v1.3 which doesnt have many GPIO broken out. If you are concerned about soldering a header in place, you wont like what it takes to access I2C on the new boards. The ESP chip is a square SMD ~0.25". To add GPIO one must solder to 2 pins on the chip. I can hardly see the pins without a magnifying glass so I'm not likely to go that route!
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I do have another Sonoff basic unit which still has the factory firmware some where at my off grid place.
I did consider digging it out and flashing it with a new custom firmware but the ESP-01S can basicaly do what it can with a relay, less the Alexa function of the eWeLink skill.
-:) I guess a good project may be to add a DS18B20 Temperature Sensor (what the Sonoff TH16 uses) to my ESP-01 to monitor my lake temperature at the off grid place.
I played with flashing a new firmware over WiFi today, very cool!
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I do have another Sonoff basic unit which still has the factory firmware some where at my off grid place.
I did consider digging it out and flashing it with a new custom firmware but the ESP-01S can basicaly do what it can with a relay, less the Alexa function of the eWeLink skill.
I was going through the Audiuno forums today and seen a post about an Ardiuno skill. Doing a bit of digging I seen several Skills which should work with the esp8266 or esp32 boards. Most looked like they use MQTTT.
There is even a separate MQTTT skill however it appears to only handle lights and switches currently.
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I read an article the other day that showed placing a ESP-01 into a old flashdrive or inside a old 3-5volt wallwart.
Wish I had book marked it B:( :-[ both required a voltage regulator and the old flashdrive mode stated not to plug into a PC but use a Phone charger. If I had a old dead flashdrive laying arround this would have been a cool project.
However after thinking about it I have several old phone charges and other 3-5 volt walwarts laying around in a junk box. B:(
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I just recieved a few Wemos D1 boards to play with. These have 4 times the memory of my ESP-01S and Sketches are incredibly fast loading to these with the Ardiuno sketch uploader. I had played successfuly with sending X10 commands to HomeGenie with my ESP-01S but doubt the Wemos D1 would much faster with that.
I've started to look at the Platform.io software for uploading sketches. Reports are this is easier to use then Ardiuno ide but so far I don't see it. I've yet to beable to upload a sketch. B:( :-[
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I just recieved a few Wemos D1 boards to play with. These have 4 times the memory of my ESP-01S and Sketches are incredibly fast loading to these with the Ardiuno sketch uploader. I had played successfuly with sending X10 commands to HomeGenie with my ESP-01S but doubt the Wemos D1 would much faster with that.
I've started to look at the Platform.io software for uploading sketches. Reports are this is easier to use then Ardiuno ide but so far I don't see it. I've yet to beable to upload a sketch. B:( :-[
If you don’t mind me asking, what are you trying to achieve here. The instructions for creating the HG mini controller have already been clearly outlined here. https://github.com/genielabs/homegenie-mini so I’m a little confused as to what your end game is.
I know you’ve stated on many occasions that you’ve no interest in “learning a new language” but maybe your time could be spent more productively taking one of the on line Python courses and you could come at a project like this from a more structured approach.
While your endeavours in all things ESP/Arduino are to be commended I’d say up to 95% of the X10 user base still use AHP. Maybe a course in C/C++ would be more keeping in line with the requirements of the user base, their desire for an updated version of AHP as per this post http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=29218.0
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The end game here is to expand my HA setup and to maybe eliminate a PI inside my CM15A, possibly replacing it with a ESP board inside it or a CM11. Maybe something like a WM100 Pro will result from it, however I doubt it ::) :'.
dhouston was very close to this at one point, I believe he dropped the idea when Gene released HomeGenie-mini.
The HomeGenie-mini build is a simple thing and I may attempt one just for fun! Platform.io is not as easy as Gene's write up makes it out to be (unless your already familiar with Platform.io)
However I believe I am making progress with Platform.io, and since it integrates nicely with Visual Studio, once I have the sketch upload figured out the sky is the limit. ;)
The last AHP version was written with Visual Studio so it is possible a AHP ESP version could be created. No one is interested in updating AHP or this would have been done by now. :(
I've gotten away from using a PC for my HA and have no intentions of returning to one for that.
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The end game here is to expand my HA setup and to maybe eliminate a PI inside my CM15A, possibly replacing it with a ESP board inside it or a CM11. Maybe something like a WM100 Pro will result from it, however I doubt it ::) :'.
dhouston was very close to this at one point, I believe he dropped the idea when Gene released HomeGenie-mini.
The HomeGenie-mini build is a simple thing and I may attempt one just for fun! Platform.io is not as easy as Gene's write up makes it out to be (unless your already familiar with Platform.io)
However I believe I am making progress with Platform.io, and since it integrates nicely with Visual Studio, once I have the sketch upload figured out the sky is the limit. ;)
The last AHP version was written with Visual Studio so it is possible a AHP ESP version could be created. No one is interested in updating AHP or this would have been done by now. :(
I've gotten away from using a PC for my HA and have no intentions of returning to one for that.
For someone who appears to have a passion for all things X10, has time on their hands and is constantly looking at ways of fitting boards into a CM15 I'm amazed you haven't taken up the very generous offer from Jeff Volp to continue producing his high quality X10 equipment.
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=31418.0
Surely time spent on a proven venture like this would be time well spent and at the same time providing customers like the user base here with high quality X10 hardware. Who knows, with a little more technical input from the right people you might even be able to produce commercially something along the lines you outline here. You might even make a few dollars from a venture like this into the bargain.
Maybe if you reached out to Jeff you might find some common ground in order to pursue a project like this. Sounds like a very rewarding project to me.
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Designing, tweaking and tinkering are very different from operating a manufacturing company, even as a small tabletop enterprise. The sourcing, kitting, production, marketing, sales and support functions are a completely different skill set. Sadly, the market for Jeff's products are mostly limited to serious X10 users who are in ever shorter supply and have probably already purchased what they need from Jeff. The bottom line is that there really isn't much of a bottom line in pursuing the business and, as Jeff found, no real financially rewarding exit strategy. Even X10, who stands the most to gain in producing at least some of Jeff's designs won't step up. Let's face it, there is very little, if any, new blood joining the X10 community. Someone just starting out in HA wouldn't even be exposed to X10 in the market anymore and going with a WiFi/Zwave/ZigBee based solution eliminates all the PLC issues which only get worse over time.
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Designing, tweaking and tinkering are very different from operating a manufacturing company, even as a small tabletop enterprise. The sourcing, kitting, production, marketing, sales and support functions are a completely different skill set. Sadly, the market for Jeff's products are mostly limited to serious X10 users who are in ever shorter supply and have probably already purchased what they need from Jeff. The bottom line is that there really isn't much of a bottom line in pursuing the business and, as Jeff found, no real financially rewarding exit strategy. Even X10, who stands the most to gain in producing at least some of Jeff's designs won't step up. Let's face it, there is very little, if any, new blood joining the X10 community. Someone just starting out in HA wouldn't even be exposed to X10 in the market anymore and going with a WiFi/Zwave/ZigBee based solution eliminates all the PLC issues which only get worse over time.
Indeed but while there's still life in the old dog that is X10, for someone with time on their hands, a passion for X10 and who has now exposed their talents beyond Windows, this would be an ideal fit. It is not a mass production full time operation, hence the quality and most sales would be assembled to order. These units are not cheap far eastern hubs or control units and prospective buyers understand what goes into the effort of assembling them and are willing to wait.
I'm sure Jeff would go through all the nuances with the right person. Remember he's retiring from this venture which in itself says a lot about the equipment he produces. Most ventures just fold these days without warning.
You can only judge a product on its longevity these days and X10 still turns on my lights and switches. Any of it's supposed shortcomings can be easily addressed (pardon the pun) with software solutions and in some cases additional hardware solutions. If I didn't think that was the case I wouldn't be on this forum commenting in the first place.
I cannot comment directly on the corporate workings of Authinx but they have in the early days been badly advised from some quarters if I am to believe what I read on this forum. Maybe if individuals with the requisite credentials once again made another approach to them, Authinx, armed with the experience now, might see their way to engaging in meaningful discussion on what the X10 user base need.
Possibly if they had their own user forum where users could exchange their ideas directly with the manufacturer this could go some way to halting the decline of X10
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Possibly if they had their own user forum where users could exchange their ideas directly with the manufacturer this could go some way to halting the decline of X10
Ironically, this IS their user forum. They just choose not to participate. :'
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Possibly if they had their own user forum where users could exchange their ideas directly with the manufacturer this could go some way to halting the decline of X10
Ironically, this IS their user forum. They just choose not to participate. :'
As far as I’m aware they handed the reigns to Mr T. Maybe they didn’t see the value in one when they embarked on their venture. Maybe they do now and could establish their own platform to discuss matters with their user base. From what I can gather now this forum has no affiliation with X10 whatsoever. Maybe some of the membership do not realize this.
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I among those who did not. I though they were still paying for it even if not participating. Mr. T will know.
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This was the old X10's forum which they seldom commented in. When they went under the forum stayed online because (as I understand) it was handed over to the users. I don't know who was paying the bills to keep it's hosting, but when Authentix bought the assets, they let Tuicemen run the show here. The new owner of X10 started investing in upgrades, but unfortunately passed away leaving the assets to his spouse and brother (I believe) which is around the time the WM100 fiasco got out of control. If you look back at the time just after Authentix bought X10, there was actually a number of improvements made.
As I recall from reading various threads, Jeff tried to get Authentix to take on his products but I don't know the timing, so not sure if that was during the initial surge in product development, or after the WM100. Either way, the ideal solution would be Authentix taking on Jeff's products and also talking to dhouston about his work. None of that is likely though.
As for the ESP projects, I'm a little confused. Tuicemen said months ago that he wanted to add some sensors to his RPi but wasn't interested in anything other than directly plugging into the GPIO (which had to be pre-installed). A breadboard was too much at that point. However, now the HG-mini is a serious consideration. I looked at that project when it was originally posted and again recently. The project requires building your own controller based on a board you have to have custom printed and find a source for all of the components all of which will need soldering together. IMO, a breadboard is a very simple way to prototype but it's considered complicated and yet these other steps are worth playing with? I guess I'm just looking at complexity a little different, but it seems like a simple breadboard circuit with provided code on the Arduino forum would be a better starting point than trying to duplicate Gene's custom board (at least as a first project).
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For someone who appears to have a passion for all things X10, has time on their hands and is constantly looking at ways of fitting boards into a CM15 I'm amazed you haven't taken up the very generous offer from Jeff Volp to continue producing his high quality X10 equipment.
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=31418.0
not interested in a new job
Maybe if you reached out to Jeff you might find some common ground in order to pursue a project like this. Sounds like a very rewarding project to me.
Actualy Jeff, Dave and I had all been communicating about something with a ESP board prior.
The Forum is still fully in the hands of Authinx (x10) and they do have staff that monitors it, however like X10WTI they don't participate in the forums discussions.
As for the ESP projects, I'm a little confused. Tuicemen said months ago that he wanted to add some sensors to his RPi but wasn't interested in anything other than directly plugging into the GPIO (which had to be pre-installed). A breadboard was too much at that point. However, now the HG-mini is a serious consideration. I looked at that project when it was originally posted and again recently. The project requires building your own controller based on a board you have to have custom printed and find a source for all of the components all of which will need soldering together.
I did add sensors to my Pi inside the CM15A without installing the GPIO header. this was something I had wished to do for some time but never got to. I didn't wish to play with a bread board and still don't Sure this is the easy way to do things but I'm a gluten for punishment I guess. ::) :'
Like you I also looked at the HG mini when Gene first released it as well as Platform.io. However Dave was working on his own ESP version to be added to one of Jeff's X10 controllers.
The HG-mini isn't a serious consideration for me thought I most likely will build one just to play around with. If you look at the HG-mini Gerber files you can see you don't need to have the board custom made, it just makes things easier. I have everything on hand except the temperature and light sensors. ;)
By the way today I did manage to figure out Platform.io sketch up loading, and even uploaded HG-mini to a Wemos D1. However since I don't have all the parts on hand for a complete HG-mini board I can't comment on it's operation. I'll try to get a similar board put together this week less the sensors (they can always be added later though I don't see a need for them right now).
>!
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Like you I also looked at the HG mini when Gene first released it as well as Platform.io. However Dave was working on his own ESP version to be added to one of Jeff's X10 controllers.
Since Jeff has discontinued the XTB-232 I've abandoned the XTB-ESP. As it used a custom PCB it wasn't very cost effective anyway.
I have since designed a D1 mini Shield which includes CM11/XTB-232 interface, battery backed RTC (ESP8266 RTC is not reliable.), X10RF TX/RX (TX requires ~$5 added hardware.) and 4KB EEPROM. However, even a 1.5x1 inch custom shield is relatively expensive so I'm not sure it's worthwhile to take it beyond the design stage.
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I have since designed a D1 mini Shield which includes CM11/XTB-232 interface, battery backed RTC (ESP8266 RTC is not reliable.), X10RF TX/RX (TX requires ~$5 added hardware.) and 4KB EEPROM. However, even a 1.5x1 inch custom shield is relatively expensive so I'm not sure it's worthwhile to take it beyond the design stage.
I'm glad to see you continued your work with a ESP X10 interface and never abandoned it :)%
I doubt anything I come up with will go beyond the design stage as well, but we can all dream. rofl
>!
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I have since designed a D1 mini Shield which includes CM11/XTB-232 interface, battery backed RTC (ESP8266 RTC is not reliable.), X10RF TX/RX (TX requires ~$5 added hardware.) and 4KB EEPROM.
What software did you finally use to flash your D1? I remember you looking at several options.
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I'm still awaiting the boards and still evaluating available software. The ESP8266 has built-in infrared including the NEC 32-bit protocol used by X10 for RF (https://www.laser.com/dhouston/rf.html). I am hoping to use the IR functions with an RF receiver by inverting the output (IR receivers are active low while RF receivers are active high.) and not all software supports the native IR. There's always the option of doing RF directly. I'd also prefer a compiled language as that's always faster than interpreted ones. Finally, given my age (I recently celebrated my 39th birthday for the 40th time.) and very tenuous health, I'm not eager to try learning a new language.
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I'm not eager to try learning a new language.
I never am eager to attempt learning a new language. rofl
Some of these flashing software tools are said to be easy to use and fast but it takes me forever to get anywhere with them. B:( I've yet to try the B4ESP, I actualy had forgoten about that one untill seeing your recent post. I never realized there were so many flashing tools ::) :'
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I never realized there were so many flashing tools ::) :'
Oh yeah, they're everywhere. One just got arrested in the supermarket parking lot the other day! rofl rofl
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I read an article the other day that showed placing a ESP-01 into a old flashdrive or inside a old 3-5volt wallwart.
Wish I had book marked it B:( :-[ both required a voltage regulator and the old flashdrive mode stated not to plug into a PC but use a Phone charger. If I had a old dead flashdrive laying arround this would have been a cool project.
However after thinking about it I have several old phone charges and other 3-5 volt walwarts laying around in a junk box. B:(
I never did find the article mentioned but did find a similar one I'll post here incase any one else wishes to read it and if I wish to find it again. ::) :' https://www.instructables.com/Free-Dynamic-DNS-Server-With-Esp8266-and-OSD-FOSCA/
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For someone who appears to have a passion for all things X10, has time on their hands and is constantly looking at ways of fitting boards into a CM15 I'm amazed you haven't taken up the very generous offer from Jeff Volp to continue producing his high quality X10 equipment.
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=31418.0
Surely time spent on a proven venture like this would be time well spent and at the same time providing customers like the user base here with high quality X10 hardware. Who knows, with a little more technical input from the right people you might even be able to produce commercially something along the lines you outline here. You might even make a few dollars from a venture like this into the bargain.
Maybe if you reached out to Jeff you might find some common ground in order to pursue a project like this. Sounds like a very rewarding project to me.
I just bit the bullet to assemble another batch of XTB-232's for those who had been asking for one. They will be available soon. But I believe a good match would be using the XTB-232 back end for a XTB-USB or XTB-WiFi interface. The XTB-232 uses the CM11A real-time protocol, and supports all standard and extended X10 commands. So replacing the serial port interface with a USB or WiFi interface seems like something to pursue.
Jeff
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For someone who appears to have a passion for all things X10, has time on their hands and is constantly looking at ways of fitting boards into a CM15 I'm amazed you haven't taken up the very generous offer from Jeff Volp to continue producing his high quality X10 equipment.
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=31418.0
Surely time spent on a proven venture like this would be time well spent and at the same time providing customers like the user base here with high quality X10 hardware. Who knows, with a little more technical input from the right people you might even be able to produce commercially something along the lines you outline here. You might even make a few dollars from a venture like this into the bargain.
Maybe if you reached out to Jeff you might find some common ground in order to pursue a project like this. Sounds like a very rewarding project to me.
I just bit the bullet to assemble another batch of XTB-232's for those who had been asking for one. They will be available soon. But I believe a good match would be using the XTB-232 back end for a XTB-USB or XTB-WiFi interface. The XTB-232 uses the CM11A real-time protocol, and supports all standard and extended X10 commands. So replacing the serial port interface with a USB or WiFi interface seems like something to pursue.
Jeff
There’s definitely no keeping a good man down :)% From all reports X10 is screwed as a technology without you.
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I just bit the bullet to assemble another batch of XTB-232's for those who had been asking for one. They will be available soon. But I believe a good match would be using the XTB-232 back end for a XTB-USB or XTB-WiFi interface. The XTB-232 uses the CM11A real-time protocol, and supports all standard and extended X10 commands. So replacing the serial port interface with a USB or WiFi interface seems like something to pursue.
Jeff
There’s definitely no keeping a good man down :)% From all reports X10 is screwed as a technology without you.
There is also another batch of the XTB-ANR in the works, but I have to first finish converting the firmware for a newer PIC. It runs at a faster clock, and will have a tighter window to recognize X10 transmissions. They should be available in about 2 weeks.
There are now fewer than 2 dozen XTB-IIR/+ left, and they will be discontinued unless someone else does the assembly.
Jeff
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I just bit the bullet to assemble another batch of XTB-232's for those who had been asking for one. They will be available soon. But I believe a good match would be using the XTB-232 back end for a XTB-USB or XTB-WiFi interface. The XTB-232 uses the CM11A real-time protocol, and supports all standard and extended X10 commands. So replacing the serial port interface with a USB or WiFi interface seems like something to pursue.
Jeff
There’s definitely no keeping a good man down :)% From all reports X10 is screwed as a technology without you.
There is also another batch of the XTB-ANR in the works, but I have to first finish converting the firmware for a newer PIC. It runs at a faster clock, and will have a tighter window to recognize X10 transmissions. They should be available in about 2 weeks.
There are now fewer than 2 dozen XTB-IIR/+ left, and they will be discontinued unless someone else does the assembly.
Jeff
Jeff I cannot believe nobody here has taken up your offer. I’d jump at the chance but unfortunately I’m in the 220v 433mhz world.
By any chance have you mentioned this over on the well established HomeSeer forum in the X10 section with Mark Fisher. You have many satisfied customers of many years standing over there, as no doubt you probably already know and maybe someone there might see the benefit of a very generous offer like yours.
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I just bit the bullet to assemble another batch of XTB-232's for those who had been asking for one. They will be available soon. But I believe a good match would be using the XTB-232 back end for a XTB-USB or XTB-WiFi interface. The XTB-232 uses the CM11A real-time protocol, and supports all standard and extended X10 commands. So replacing the serial port interface with a USB or WiFi interface seems like something to pursue.
The D1 mini shield I'm working on is designed to stack beneath a D1 mini. Together that provides both WiFi and USB interfaces plus battery backed RTC and X10RF options. The only issue I see at this time is that the D1 mini does not bring out RI on the CH340G USB/Serial chip.
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By any chance have you mentioned this over on the well established HomeSeer forum in the X10 section with Mark Fisher. You have many satisfied customers of many years standing over there, as no doubt you probably already know and maybe someone there might see the benefit of a very generous offer like yours.
No, I haven't posted on the HomeSeer forum. But it would be great if you would let people know there.
Jeff
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The D1 mini shield I'm working on is designed to stack beneath a D1 mini. Together that provides both WiFi and USB interfaces plus battery backed RTC and X10RF options. The only issue I see at this time is that the D1 mini does not bring out RI on the CH340G USB/Serial chip.
The RI is needed by the CM11A protocol as that initiates the handshaking process with the PC.
Jeff
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The D1 mini shield I'm working on is designed to stack beneath a D1 mini. Together that provides both WiFi and USB interfaces plus battery backed RTC and X10RF options. The only issue I see at this time is that the D1 mini does not bring out RI on the CH340G USB/Serial chip.
The RI is needed by the CM11A protocol as that initiates the handshaking process with the PC.
Jeff
Well then your reputation precedes you. I’ll certainly mention it to Mark Fisher, a very knowledgeable X10 individual who maintains the X10 plugins there. There’s been many a favourable comment on your products there along the lines.....Only for JVDE I’d have packed in X10 years ago. In fact here is one of many posts mentioning your product https://forums.homeseer.com/forum/lighting-primary-technology-plug-ins/lighting-primary-technology-discussion/x10-homeseer/1413811-rtb232-not-functioning-with-hs4 I believe all your products work very nicely with HomeSeer.
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There is also another batch of the XTB-ANR in the works, but I have to first finish converting the firmware for a newer PIC. It runs at a faster clock, and will have a tighter window to recognize X10 transmissions. They should be available in about 2 weeks.
Update: Both the XTB-232 and XTB-ANR with the new PIC are available again.
Jeff
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The RI is needed by the CM11A protocol as that initiates the handshaking process with the PC.
Actually, it operates at a much lower level. PCs that came with Serial Ports had a WAKE ON RING setting in the BIOS but how to set this varies with PC brands, firmware, etc. And, it gets even more complicated with USB.
There is also a WAKE ON LAN setting and it should be possible to use this with a WeMos/LoLin D1 mini by sending WiFi to the PC when the CM11A or XTB-232 sends RI to the D1 mini, eliminating the need to send RI to the PC.
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/bios-beginners,1126-8.html (https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/bios-beginners,1126-8.html)
Another solution might be to just use the ample Flash memory of the D1 mini to store macros/timers, eliminating any need to wake the PC.
I'm not going to pursue this further because my health severely limits what I can do these days. However, if someone younger and healthier were to pursue the WAKE ON LAN or Flash solutions it could be a way to convert a CM11A or XTB-232 from serial to USB & WiFi for less than $5.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32529101036.html?spm=a2g0o.store_home.productList_2559240.pic_2 (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32529101036.html?spm=a2g0o.store_home.productList_2559240.pic_2)