X10 Community Forum
🖥️ActiveHome Pro => ActiveHome Pro General => Help & Troubleshooting => Topic started by: lightbulbjones on June 22, 2010, 11:33:02 PM
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Hello.
I just got the software downloads and have parts on the way for the air conditioner (I guess they don't send a CD so you have to do it this way?)
But my trouble is: the registration failed on everything but the marco.
Very unclear what code goes where because they are *in no way* labeled similarly from the email to the registration screen. Did they even send me the right stuff?
The software also steals focus and it is a battle to go back and forth with an email page to copy and paste.
Should I care if it registered or not or is the software just posturing?
I am inclined not to care at all, I am not a dog, and I don't play fetch on command because some software says so. Can I request a CD if this all turns out not to work?
Also tried the help and it said this:
Database error
From X10Wiki
For query "registration did not work"
A database query syntax error has occurred. This may indicate a bug in the software. The last attempted database query was:
(SQL query hidden)
from within function "". MySQL returned error "1064: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '(MATCH (si_title) AGAINST ('work')) ) AND page_is_redirect=0 AND page_namespace ' at line 1 (localhost)".
So, really I have no idea. The marketing all said I didn't have to be a programmer, but SQL is programming talk I think.
Does anybody have any answers? This is not looking good.
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There has never been a CD since AHP and the CM15A was started being sold.
Unless X10 has changed. It is still that way
I agree with the registration numbers. None of the numbers are tagged in the email with what goes with what.
I never got mine from my purchase and had to request a new set by email.
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Now it is even more unclear.
If you have no CD but the software don't work, how do you control the boxes?
Do you have to get a Wireless router and do programming?
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Now it is even more unclear.
If you have no CD but the software don't work, how do you control the boxes?
Do you have to get a Wireless router and do programming?
I believe you need an internet connection to register.
I actually emailed Tech Support -- and then replied back with my registration code.
I could NOT find the code in any other emails, before I mailed them.
Like Brian said - there's NO CD.
You can only DOWNLOAD the software.
Once ActiveHome is installed and registered, you should be able to try turning a module on and off.
That would be my very fist step!
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The message sounds like an X10 server error, but I am not a network grue.
Other here are and may have a better answer.
Are you using a wired or wireless network to try and download the software?
The file X10 send you is only a loader program.
It goes on the X10 servers and downloads the whole program.
So to install AHP you have to have an Internet Connection.
As pconroy pointed out.
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Well, no CD then. That is disappointing. Is the software even needed?
Sounds like too much trouble to me. I probably won't bother with it, but I think I might have figured out the problem.
I don't have a wireless router yet and I am thinking this is a missing piece of the puzzle.
It isn't very clear that I would need to purchase one, but I am guessing it is.
How else would you run the boxes?
I don't have anything wireless in my house yet, and I figured this might be a hidden cost.
The wireless router would handle running the boxes just fine though, once I got that - correct?
It would be nice if they mentioned you would need it. I'll have to look into that then I suppose.
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No a wireless or wired network will not run the CM15A or control any of your X10 modules. Though there maybe some third party software that maybe able to use a network connection.
After you get the software installed through an Internet download. No Internet access is needed.
The CM15A and AHP software are run from you computer through a USB connection. So yes the software is needed to do almost anything with the CM15A interface.
Modules are controlled by power line signals sent from the CM15A to the modules.
The CM15A can also receive X10 RF signals from things like remotes and motion sensors.
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I will hold off on anymore questions about hardware until the boxes show up; there has to be some big idea I am missing that will become apparent at that time.
Something tells me the software will be a problem (as it already is) , so I plan on not using it.
The registration was only good for 30 minuets - like it said.
I did not get an E-mail into them to ask for new codes in time. (It was after 10 at night anyway, so it probably wouldn't have mattered.)
What is the way to handle the boxes without the balky software?
It seems you can send commands with a cell phone. Not what I had in mind, but It might be acceptable.
Where can I find information on setting it up that way?
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I will hold off on anymore questions about hardware until the boxes show up; there has to be some big idea I am missing that will become apparent at that time.
Something tells me the software will be a problem (as it already is) , so I plan on not using it.
The registration was only good for 30 minuets - like it said.
I did not get an E-mail into them to ask for new codes in time. (It was after 10 at night anyway, so it probably wouldn't have mattered.)
What is the way to handle the boxes without the balky software?
It seems you can send commands with a cell phone. Not what I had in mind, but It might be acceptable.
Where can I find information on setting it up that way?
One step at a time Boomer, you are going to get really confused if you try and do everything at once. Unfortunately this isn't "Plug-N-Play". You have not even said what hardware you are getting, but if it is the CM15A or the CM19A you don't have a choice about using the software.
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dave w; Has a good point.
Do you have the CM15A AHP Interface or the CM19A some of the new sales kits seem to be pushing? Is all the hardware still in transit?
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The hardware I am getting is a 20A 240V plug. Just need to bring sense to the air conditioner.
The software is no longer an issue - I decided against the hassle and deleted it.
Now I intend to use my cell phone to control it.
I don't know what any of the "CM" stuff is.
I got a meeting shortly so I will look things over later on this afternoon once buisness is done.
Just need to be pointed off in the right direction for the cell phone controls - thanks for your time yall!
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The software is no longer an issue - I decided against the hassle and deleted it.
Now I intend to use my cell phone to control it.
Just need to be pointed off in the right direction for the cell phone controls - thanks for your time yall!
The saga begins. This is a relativly uncharted area.
Good Luck, we are standing by.
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The CM15A is the hardware interface that the software controls.
It is part of the AHP kit.
Maybe it is in you order and has not arrived yet.
That could also be why the software is so cranky.
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/ActiveHome_Pro
The CM15A is the white device with an antenna in the photo in the above link.
When you get all your items. Give us a list of what you got.
You are still going to have to find a way for your cell phone to sent X10 power line signals on the homes wiring.
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Well if the CM15A thing is a USB box, then I think that's in the mail with the 240V box.
(They said it was free Fed-ex, but it remains to be seen this late in the afternoon)
That's why I figured I would get the software going, but it turned out to be too cumbersome to mess with.
So therefore if I am reading this information correctly,
the USB box is worthless, because it doesn't have the software it would want?
Okay, well, one less thing to worry about.
How is using a cell phone any different?
My understanding was that was most of the point of this system in the first place.
I am most certainly not hooking my cell phone up to 240V, and that is not what I was putting forward.
In no way will I allow it to become a saga.
It will either work or I'll mail it back for a refund.
It isn't supposed to be a complicated project, and I won't have it that way.
So far what I have gotten- has not worked correctly so I am decidedly less optimistic about it.
All I want to do now is drive the 240V socket box with a cell phone.
In what way is this uncharted territory when it is supposed to work that way by design?
How is it that no one could possibly know what I am describing?
Is that not one of the intended uses of this equipment?
I still think part of the picture must be missing.
Perhaps I should look in another section of the forum.
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There is third party software that can use the CM15A as an interface. So it is not 100% needed.
I know there are some users controlling X10 with cell phone access and will give you the information.
You would need some way for the cell phone to access the system.
When you get your hardware tell us what you received.
If a TR16A Telephone Responder is one of the items. Then you would dial you phone number and it would answer and then you have X10 control.
Until we know exactly what you have. Suggestions maybe off base.
Maybe some programs in the Third Party Software Area:
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=107g4tagu670nd0ve1u0hl8lt2&board=36.0
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Marconi had this stuff figured out a long time ago and I don't see what should be so complicated about it.
I did not order a telephone responder. Not sure what dialing my own phone number would accomplish. Unclear on what the point would be of that. Would that not equate to talking to the reflection in the mirror?
I will take a look at some of the other software to drive the USB box after chow, (Thank you for the reference!) but messing with it would be a secondary concern when it seems simpler to do it with a cell phone and cut out the clunky stuff in the middle.
I have noticed in other topics that some mention has been made of trouble with windows 7 64 bit.
Does anyone know if this could be related?
I had asked the help chat specifically if it worked with windows 7 64 bit, but instead of giving me a yes or a no - they said it "works with windows 7"
In reality they did not answer my question at all.
So it looks to be that the software would still be trouble, regardless.
I am pretty sure my cell phone has less bits, so there's another vote for that.
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What exactly do you think can access X10 by cell phone?
As designed it is not made for cell phone access without some added third party software and maybe a hardware interface. There are probably are some cell phone Apps that do X10. Some could use the CM15A and one of the optional plug in software modules. I don't have enough AHP experiences to verify that.
Hoping others will have more data for you.
Did X10s sales page or salesperson say you where getting cell phone access?
They have so many different packages we have trouble keeping up with it and we are not X10 employees. We are volunteers that use X10 stuff and help others.
My TR16A reference may have been confusing. You could use the cell phone to call the home phone number and then access the X10 devices with touch tones.
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Alright Brian - I see.
I would use my cell phone to call my home phone somehow to control the 240V box.
I missed the point because I don't use a home telephone. That makes a heck of a lot more sense, but seems to over complicate it a bit.
My thoughts are to simplify it and just use one radio (a cell phone) to talk to another radio (the 240V box) cut out the software and USB box.
Elegant and easy. No need to make things needlessly complicated. It is after all automation, and the trouble with the software/USB box is seems to go against that grain. Naturally, this is why I have abandoned the software/USB box idea.
No salesperson told me about it, however the salespages I saw all pointed to externally controlling the hardware with a laptop or whatever and a cell phone would seem close enough.
I may have to read the cell phone manual, to see how it is accomplished- but maybe if I learn how to set up the internet on my cell phone; I can use something like morse code? A for on and Z for off, and that will be that. Easy, right? Is that not how it is done?
To be honest, I am surprised no one else would be doing this, and it seems to be such a foreign concept.
I have to ask - *why* is this? Or is this really not it's intended use as I may have misunderstood something along the line? Seems like things are not lining up the way I had planned.
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Did your software include the My House Plug In?
I believe it allows access to your system from the Internet.
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/MyHouse_Online
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Yes, that looks familiar - and I understood the software to be complete without any additional things needed for something that could do anything within the realm of the equipment and the uses it is marketed for.
The marko is the only one that I got to register, so I said forget it.
I am trying to read up on a few things that catch my interest. Looks very limited without the software, however. I can't see why this is the case. I am entirely disinterested in purchasing a boondoggle, and if it turns out I have, so help me!
I am glad I got moving on this even though it seems early now that I have looked at the tracking information.
Apparently, the "free FedEx" is less of a bargain than it appeared. In this case "FedEx" means the back of an 18 wheeler apparently- so I have additional time to sort this out. I was expecting a knock at the door real soon now.
Better to figure this out now rather than in an overheated house struggling with a cell phone manual. I would have found that much more irritating.
Since I have never been accused of being patient, I am going to see if I can try the install process all over again. I have free time tonight, but not later this week. Might as well. Will report back, but I have little faith.
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Whilst your waiting on the FedEx shipment, maybe you should do some research on how X10 works. The modules (power switches) get their information from a digital signal super imposed on the electrical wires. This is not a radio signal, but rather a pulse of voltages at specific times in the AC cycle.
From my understanding of this thread, you cannot do what you want without the USB controller (CM [computer module] 15 A [American]) connected to a computer.
The cell phone will send a command to the internet, then to the computer, through the usb to the CM15A which will convert the command to a PLC (power line command) which is received by the Appliance Module which switches on or off accordingly.
AFAIK, there is no unit that will receive a radio command directly from the cell phone to turn something off or on.
As Brian H mentioned, there is a unit that hooks to an analog phone line which works like answer phone to convert DTMF signals (touch tone) to the PLC mentioned above.
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Knightrider, my understanding is that this is wireless, not like the old garbage powerline systems of the past.
(Just an hour or two ago I read one of your articles and I was impressed, but confused at the complications.)
I have heard merciless criticism of that, and am fairly sure I bought it from a company called "X10 WIRELESS.com" or something to that effect. Pretty sure it is the parent website of these rooms. No way would I have bothered, everybody knew those systems were junk as far back as the 80's and as far as I know they aren't sold anymore.
At first I had feared that, but it wouldn't make sense. Looking at some of the reference pages they seem to be pointed at the existing hardware from the older style systems that ARE that way, so maybe it is recent? Seems those old systems would have enough problems to merit all that stuff.
I am unable to tell how these newer systems work, is it a bluetooth or maybe an 802.11? Or low power FM of some sort?
I used to have an interest in radio, so it would be neat to get my head around it. I feel I could grasp that with minimal study.
In better news: I have gotten 3 of the 5 softwares to register. This could be due to simple repetition, stubbornness, magic or outright alien influence.
In reality I have no idea what I did to make it work. Just tried the numbers in different slots over and over and over and changed little things here and there.
And knightrider, thanks for your clarity. I will have to look into the rest of what you said, but for now I am going to go bounce off the registration for a bit longer before I give up on it again.
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Well, time to declare victory.
I have to say it was a graceless, sloppy, inelegant and unintuitive process. That was ugly!
First of all, we have to run in compatibility mode for XP3/run as administrator.
Next we figure out how to let the software out of the firewall.
THEN as you copy the registration codes over, there is an INCLUDED BLANK SPACE after the code you must REMOVE that is NOT mentioned anywhere. (Can you think of anything more poorly designed?)
Only then will it not bounce back in your face.
Will it still set off the pop-up every time you run it? Yes
It appears in no way compatible with windows 7 64 unless you pull it backwards in time with the tickboxes in the special menus. Only once I did all the above would it even attempt the registration.
Jumping through hoops like that is just uncalled for. I do appreciate all who helped.
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I missed the point because I don't use a home telephone. That makes a heck of a lot more sense, but seems to over complicate it a bit.
My thoughts are to simplify it and just use one radio (a cell phone) to talk to another radio (the 240V box) cut out the software and USB box.
Elegant and easy. No need to make things needlessly complicated. It is after all automation, and the trouble with the software/USB box is seems to go against that grain. Naturally, this is why I have abandoned the software/USB box idea.
No salesperson told me about it, however the salespages I saw all pointed to externally controlling the hardware with a laptop or whatever and a cell phone would seem close enough.
I may have to read the cell phone manual, to see how it is accomplished- but maybe if I learn how to set up the internet on my cell phone; I can use something like morse code? A for on and Z for off, and that will be that. Easy, right? Is that not how it is done?
To be honest, I am surprised no one else would be doing this, and it seems to be such a foreign concept.
I have to ask - *why* is this? Or is this really not it's intended use as I may have misunderstood something along the line? Seems like things are not lining up the way I had planned.
Yes Lightbulbjones you have come to several wrong conclusions. A cell phone can not talk directly to an X10 Appliance Module controlling your air conditioner, no more than it can talk to your washing machine.. There has to be interfacing, and I can think of only two ways to do it.
The least complicated is: you call your home land line phone with your cell phone. This X10 device http://www.x10.com/products/x10_tr16a.htm (if still available) would answer your phone and when you keyed in the proper numbers through your cell phone, would send codes over your homes power line to control the X10 Appliance Module connected to your air conditioner. This is the simplest method.
The only other method would be over the internet which would require a cell phone with internet access, a CM15A with Active Home Pro software connected to a computer connected to the internet all the time. And extra interfacing software to interface internet communication to the the Active Home Pro software which then (again) send control codes over your homes powerlines to the Appliance Module controlling the air conditioner. And that is the relatively "uncharted" area. At least it sounds like you got the software started.
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Jones,
Happy to help, but hate to burst your bubble. The crappy stuff from the 80's is still around, and if you throw me a part number on the unit that you're planning to hook to the AC unit, I can verify.
Yeah, I know what the site says, but X10 may be pulling a hoodwink.
All is not lost!! The crappy stuff can be made to work with some tinkering. And we frequent the chat every night (we the users, not the company). www.bdshost.com/ac We're always happy to help in real time.
For the record, my X10 system is fairly large and very reliable. I run my heat and cool with it and have had very few glitches.
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I am most defiantly going for a walk around the block in very short order.
Having experience with plenty of electrical work and knowing what the old system is, I am simply tempted to curl up in a ball.
Not the news I was hoping for.
I may be able to learn a few things by simply going over more information you have already put together, knightrider thanks! - after the walk of course.
Is there a chance that I would be lucky enough they have made even incremental improvements to the hardware over time or has my luck well run dry for the evening?
So far I've purchased the CM15A, the software in complete (and by some miracle WORKING) form, the HD245-HA
..and a sinking feeling at no extra charge.
Edit: For clarity. And redundancy.
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Jones,
I doubt the HD245 has AGC (auto gain control) and is probably old new stock. The CM15A PLC transmitter is pretty weak as far as transmitters go.
A forum member by the name of Jeff Volp has created a repeater that almost makes x10 signal propagation foolproof, but comes at an additional expense.
To make matters worse, newer electronics have a tendency to interfere with the signals and may need filters plugged into them (or they into the filter). Plasma TV's, kelvinators, PC's, and Cell phone chargers are the most frequent offenders.
If you really want to make this work, we'll walk you through it.
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No salesperson told me about it, however the salespages I saw all pointed to externally controlling the hardware with a laptop or whatever and a cell phone would seem close enough.
I'm sorry to say that I found this most entertaining. If a cell phone seems close enough to a computer does that mean that I can wash my dishes in the laundry washer? They seem close enough in both appearance and operation so surely it should be possible.
Although the X10 'junk' has almost endless possibilities, it does need to be connected to the correct communications devices in order to operate. Although we are able to control water shut-off valve with X10, it simply will not work if we balance it atop the water supply and command it to do so - for this we need elves, pixies or genies, although a well trained gnome or leprechaun could probably be motivated to do just as good a job ;D
It sounds like you have just enough parts to accomplish your need to control an air conditioner by applying and removing power using timers and/or macros.
You will still have your 20-30 year old problems of phase coupling and line noise issues just as you remember them from your previous experiences.
I'm wondering if you're over-complicating things by using X10. Perhaps it might be a good idea if you could let us know what you're trying to accomplish so that we can try to assist. The first (and hardest) part of any engineering problem is to actually define the problem before attempting to come up with a solution. Right now it looks like most of the information you've been given has been to help you with the software problem and explaining how X10 works, but if you just want your air conditioner to turn on at 4pm and off at 10pm then there are probably much easier ways to achieve it.
One VERY important thing to point out that hasn't been addressed is that if your air conditioner needs a 'user intervention' after power has been applied via the 240v outlet then you're almost definitely going to get a book on leprechaun training before it will work.
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I'm sorry to say that I found this most entertaining. If a cell phone seems close enough to a computer does that mean that I can wash my dishes in the laundry washer? They seem close enough in both appearance and operation so surely it should be possible.
Next time the wife leaves me at home alone, I'm cooking fish in the dishwasher.
Beelocks is correct, you may not need x10. I have an X10 fetish and want to see what I can cook up next with it.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.........
If I plug an extension cord into an appliance module and cut off the female end, strip the wires and wrap them around two 16 penny nails and poke the nails into a hot dog, set it to a code controlled by tuicemen's bluewatch, I could have dinner as soon as I walked in the door (or a serious house fire).
I really need to quit thinking.
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I decided to start with the air conditioner in hopes the system might pay for itself.
Depending on my success I may do more and increase the complication. Otherwise, less.
Leave the temperature the same, but cut it back to a 50% duty cycle when I am not home.
Say half an hour on and then a half hour rest.
Perhaps even less would do, maybe down to 25% runtime but that remains to be seen as air conditioners generally don't like to bounce on and off in short periods. I don't think I would go below 15 or 20 minuets per cycle. Seems to start okay from No-power while calling for cooling.
The trouble is the "fan" is always blowing and this is inefficient (and likely costly) . The more programmable and co-operative recent plug-in air-conditioners just take a sip of the air in the room every few minuets to see if it is the right temperature (usually as an energy saver setting) and otherwise stay off, and I am aiming to do something similar.
Ceaseless fan operation is blowing for the sake of blowing without accomplishing much but noise and an energy bill. I have ceiling fans for this purpose anyway.
Obviously, this way I can leave the manual thermostat alone and still have it stay below 80 or so while I am on the job and otherwise cool normally while I am at home. (although I have the option to do a few tricks with it I probably won't, at least initially.)
With regard to cell phones and computers, they seem to have been merging into some sort of hybrid compromise for some time. I would have thought my ideas could be in that range, but I am not a cell phone guy. It's not beyond my imagination - anyhow.
And finally, washing dishes in a washing machine demands cleaning and rebuilding then constant repainting from chipped enamel to keep it from rusting. You can be sure I was purely undignified with the person who tried that one on me. The dishware was beyond repair, and so was the relationship.
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After you get the software installed through an Internet download. No Internet access is needed.
Thank you Brian - I stand corrected.
I thought a connection was required to register the software, but after that - I agree - no 'net required.
[ Am I imagining things, or do I recall some posts about the X10 software "phoning home" (ala spyware) from time to time? ]
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I believe it does go out and see if there is a newer version available.
Here in the US is seems it never finds any; unlike the International versions.
Many run off line or even stand alone. I don't believe a missing internet check causes any added problems.
I started AHP on my test computer and had the network cable disconnected.
AHP 3.228 didn't complain at all.