X10 Community Forum
🖥️ActiveHome Pro => ActiveHome Pro General => Topic started by: Former AHP User on May 24, 2005, 07:41:21 AM
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Ahhh! This subject line has been missing
for way too long.
I admit, I am a former AHP user. I returned
mine for a refund and eventually plan to buy
another product. But, I do like reading
these forums and learning what I can.
I do appreciate that X-10 has these free
forums available and for the most part they
are very open and tollerant of most posts.
I know of no other manufacturer that would
allow this kind of bashing of their flagship
product in their own forum. That said,
there have been a couple of
convenient "server errors", but they are few
and far between.
Anybody thinking of buying this product,
please read these forums carefully so that
you have some idea of what you may be
getting yourself into.
People with systems giving them trouble, all
you need to do is ask, and they will give
you a refund, the only catch is you must
return everything you bought at the same
time as AHP.
People with working systems, don't keep
implying that you are smarter than all the
rest of us. You may be, but I think the
odds are better that you just got lucky and
received one of the good units, or your
computer is just a little more stable, or
your power line a little cleaner, whatever.
Regards, Tommy
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The thing about the supposed server errors
is that they deleted all of the posts - not
just the un-faverable ones. I would imagine
that if X10 wanted to censer the forums,
they would only delete the bad stuff and
keep the good stuff.
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Donald, I certainly agree with you !
I dont understand his problem with returning
all the products bought with the CM15A. It
was a package deal at $49.95. So it is
simple, return the package. What do they
want. Return the CM15A and keep the
modules.. and get back the $49.95 ... hehe
SteveRF
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SteveRF,
If you purchased the CM15A as a package,
you have to return the whole package. I
personally was not going to disconnect the
6 wall switches to get back $50. However,
shame on X10 for not being honorable and
accepting just the CM15A as a return. This
is sleezy marketing. Selling package deals
to cut down on returns. If they sold a
solid product they wouldn't have to maket
this way.
T
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In my opinion, if you buy a package at $49.95
and even if you add the smart macro deal at
$49.95 WITH all the modules in each
package...It is still a package and if you
are unhappy then it is a piece of cake to
remove the stuff, return it and get a refund.
The idea that one should be able to return
the CM15a for a full refund but keep all the
modules as a token gift makes me think the
buyer may be trying a fast one... If I
wanted a full refund then I'd just pull the
modules and be done with it.... that is my
humble opinion...
SteveRF
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Nobody ever said anything about getting to
keep modules and other freebees that came in
a package.
If I remember correctly, when I purchased
mine, I did not buy a package deal, I bought
the AHP, and some individual modules. Total
price was something like $103.50.
The modules were not part of the package
with AHP. I think I actually got screwed
here since everybody is always talking about
the great deal on packages they bought.
Anyway, I have never had a problem with
returning package deals, my beef is having
to return every item on that purchase order,
even though they were purchased
individually, and not part of a package.
And even after saying all this, I do still
give X-10 a complement in that they will
take back all of these items and refund your
money, no matter how long ago you purchased.
In the purchase agreement, I believe you
only have 30 days, but if AHP is part of the
deal, they appear to be honoring the
requests for refunds much longer, in my case
6 months.
My 2 cents worth!
Regards, Tommy
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SteveRF,
The package I purchased was a $149 package
which contained the CM15A and software.
Along with, in my opinion, $100 worth of
modules and switches. The CM15A and
software is advertised as selling for $49.
Never seen it for less. The modules are
always sold on sale but not the CM15A. All
I wanted was credit for the CM15A. This
would have been the honorable thing to do.
I also tried to get my money back for the
smartmacros, but when I purchased SM i also
included a couple of switches not purchased
as a package, and they said they would
refund money if I sent everything back.
What kind of crap is that.
Also, you keep touting X10 and your system
is running fine. Thats great. But I was
never given the opportunity to recieve
a "Diagnostic Unit" so I guess this makes
you one of the chosen few. There are real
problems with the hardware and software and
you and X10 doesn't want to acknowledge
this, because yours and X10's equipment
works.
T.
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Oh, and if X10 did refund the cost of the
CM15A and software, you wouldn't be seeing
posts like mine and others like Bob Taylor,
Arf, and former AHP user. So in my opinion
X10 is its own worst enemy, I guess they
don't care about the reputation of the
company, only in the bottom line. Its
companies like X10 is why the class action
lawsuit was invented. $50 is not going to
break my bank, but if everyone who is
having problems got there money back, would
certianly hurt X10. I guess thats why they
market there products the way they do.
T.
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IN all fairness Tcassio, after 7 months of
tinkering, and failure, X10 DID give me a
full refund, including return shipping.
Though I bought only the CM15A - nothing
else on the order.
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As I mentioned in the original post, I also
received a full refund after 6 months. I do
give credit to X-10 for standing behind the
product enough to do that. But I am also a
little p****d off! I had to pay the return
shipping!
I do not care for how X-10 does their
marketing, but at least I am out only the
cost of the return shippment after my whole
AHP ordeal.
Regards, Tommy
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Ya'll are saying you all have had problems
with X-10 modules AND AHP. I've used the
modules for years and have yet had 1 problem.
I would like to see posts or e-mails to me
about AHP tho'.
And, as a side note if there were/are
problems with AHP software, can you please
describe the problem you had. I.E. > Timer
control, macros, SDK, etc. Please be
specific, and NO I have NO ties what so ever
with the X-10 company nor anyone working for
them. I just want 'real' information.
Thanks,
Aqua
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Aqua
I to have had X10 products for over a
decade and have had little problems with
them. CM15A and AHP should have been the
next generation home automation since the
CM11A, it wasn't. It has many revision to
the software and seems to run well on those
computer that can get it installed (don't
know what is to blame for that, I have
installed every update with no problem but
I am sure someone will jump on this and let
you know what they think the problem is).
Opinion on Smart Macros is still up in the
air. If you don't rely on "time"
conditionals then it seems to be working
OK, but that is the main reason you would
want to use it if you ask me.
I Witness working with Smart Macros is
something that you will not get for the
price ANYWHERE. If you have X10 cameras
and want to do some interesting things then
you will be well armed.
There are still problems with the software
now and I have had it since last year! I
am patiently waiting for the updates to fix
the SM problems. I have no CM15A problems
with using timers and swithing lights on
and off on a regular routine. It performs
now disconnected or connected to the PC via
USB the same either way. So for a simple
application, it is a good bet. Tying all
the SM and iWitness into one package is
complicated and hopefully they can pull it
off SOON!
Could X10 have done better? Who
shouldn't! But I would not have released
the CM11A and AHP in the shape it was
released in originally. It is better and
is also improving in increments, I just
hope the increments keep coming SOON.
An honest opinion....
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David K.
Thanks for the candid and real input!
Aqua
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Even with a newer "diagnostic" unit, I could
not get a simple timer to work reliably for
more than a couple hours disconnected from PC
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Arf:
1st - thanks for replying.
2nd - my 'plan' is the PC will never be
disconnected from the X-10 'system modules'.
I know we all can come up with 1000's of
senero's here. Main objective is to
control, appliance, lighting, and camera's
thru X-10's system. ALL manufacturer's
have 'problems', I'm just asking for input
from what people with X-10's have done to
have a stable system.
Aqua
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Aqua
Your PLAN was my PLAN.
Since cameras don't take pictures in the
dark, it did little good to try at night
(even with floodlights). So, write a macro
that triggers autostills for 15 minutes IF
it is DAYTIME and FLAG 5 is OFF (macro not
running thing) and Motion Sensor ON (motion
detected). Easy macro, - does not work if
include Daytime conditional. Works like a
champ if Daytime conditional removed.
Tried many variations on dusk/dawn, before
HH:MM:SS PM and such - NOPE not working.
Tried simple DO THIS IF DAYTIME. Same
thing, doesn't work. Sent file to X10Pro,
twice. I think the first time he said it
works for him. At least a dozen others
have exactly the same problem, and nothing
has been stated by X10 that it will be
fixed.
So you have to decide - abort or have faith.
Hense my former comment - needs some work!
But I do believe it will eventually work
(fingers crossed).
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David K.
You are like me, I think a 'die hard' user,
we can make it work the way we want!!!
Thanks for any & all feedback.
Aqua
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ARF,
I wonder why your diapg unit won't run
disconnected for more that several hours. My
first unit was just like that but my diag
unit 04J44 4Mar runs for weeks and weeks
disconnected. Actually, I never intended to
have it connected except for upgrades. I use
macros, dims, flags and timers and they all
seem to work/fire right on time. What the
heck is going on here. There cannot be that
many variations out there and I do not think
I have the newest diag or a special unit. I
would appreciate your thoughts.
Regards,
SteveRF
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AH, SteveRF,
I think you are beginning to see the
light!!!
T.
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I 'think' TCassio's light burnt out long ago.
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Aqua, chuckle...maybe so...
If I had so many problems that the device
would not work disconnected as advertised,
I'd insist on a replacement (or 2) and if
that did not work then I'd wonder what teh
heck was going on in my house... then a
refund would be prudent.
Mine is still working pretty well however,
the rf response from 2 or more motion
detectors firing with a second or two apart
is rather slow... other than that, I am
fairly well satisfied. (for now)
SteveRF
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SteveRF -
My house was running fine for 3+ years with
my Cm11A, so the probelm is not signal
strength, noise, etc. I have absolutely NO
idea why the diag. unit did not work well,
so I sent it back for exchange. The
replacement unit was not recognized by
either of my 2 PCs, so at the point, I put
up the white flag and got a refund. I
really wish X10 would analyze some of the
returned units, like mine, to find out
what's wrong!
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arf, wow !...
I had no trouble with either the bad unit or
the diag unit being recognized by my PC under
XP/Pro. Sounds like your replacement was a
USB failure lemon. Too bad they did not ship
you another right away. I guess your out of
the CM15A arena now... I'd love to get a few
long time X10/Cm15a users to share
interesting and unique ways to use the CM15A.
regards,
SteveRF
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Steve, something interesting that I did was
to set timers and conditionals at bedtime
for my kid.
5 minutes before bedtime, his bedroom and
the den lights dim 20%, then at bedtime the
TV is turned off. Using conditionals I can
delay the TV from turning off when it is
appropriate for either 30 min or an hour
depending on what is going on by just
touching a button on my palmpad and only
during a limited time window around the
normal bedtime. (That keeps him from turning
it back on.) Since he now expects the TV to
die automatically at bedtime, we don't have
that battle to fight every night.
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DWD,
Thanks for sharing ideas !
That sparked some thoughts here. I like your
ideas. Although I have no kids at home now
(whew!), your ideas have me looking into even
more ways to utilize the options of
conditionals and flags !
THANKS !
SteveRF
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DWD -
I like the idea of turning the TV off
automatically. I assume you probably use an
appliance module for this, right? Anybody
know of a way to send specific IR commands
using X10? (I'm pretty sure this has been
asked before). I don't want to have to re-
program the TV's channel memory every day.
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Noam, I am actually using an in-line relay
module, but an appliance module would do the
same exact thing, ie, kill electricity to
the tv. I guess I am fortunate in that our
tv's don't need to be re-programed when they
loose power. I have remotes that work both
X10 and infared, but I do not know of any
that have internal timers. Even if they
did, you would still have to point the
remote at the tv free of obstructions for it
to turn it off the tv. It is not cheap, but
their are components sold by Smarthome that
could be put together along probes that
could build a system to send infared signals
when triggered by X10. That was just more
trouble than I wanted to worry with.