X10 Community Forum
🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Troubleshooting Automation Problems => Topic started by: TakeTheActive on March 05, 2007, 04:29:21 PM
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I finally found the proper ROUND TUIT and installed one of the CM17As that I bought years and years ago ($6.00 Intro Kit, IIRC) on my Toshiba 550CDT P266 w/Win98SE "Home Automation" Laptop. I'm not pleased and (before I launch into a MASSIVE Troubleshooting effort, which obviously will require the locating of yet *ANOTHER* ROUND TUIT :o ), I want to present my 'findings' to the Group for their advice / experience / suggestions.
- Since the CM17A 'looks' like a pass-thru device, I started out by inserting it between my laptop and the existing CM11A. It didn't work.
- I disconnected the CM11A and attempted to use the CM17A by itself. It works 'sometimes'.
- The software I chose to install was the SMALLEST/OLDEST version I had available in my 'Archives' (P266, 96MB RAM, Win98SE) - XFIRE021.EXE
The Problems:
- 1.) I have "C:\Program Files\Home Control\FireCracker\firecracker.exe" /M in my StartMenu and although it always LOADS, it WORKS less than 10% of the time.
I can tell if it's working or not by the Sounds parameter:
- the Pushbuttons always go down and up
- the red LED always BLINKS
- the HouseCode dial always turns
- the Slide Switch always slides
But *ONLY* when I hear the Sounds does the RF actually transmit.
I've reseated the CM17A many times; shutdown / power off / power on / booted the PC many times. The Serial Port is fine with the CM11A, but the CM17A is another story. Bad CM17A?
- 2.) I've searched for, and experimented with, the Command Line Parameter to start the program MINIMIZED.
- I have the Shortcut Window set to MINIMIZED.
- The software installed with the /M; doesn't work. I tried /? for HELP, /X, and don't remember what else. But, nothing I tried works.
Is it possible?
- 3.) *IF* I ever get this darn device working 100%, I was thinking about putting it at the end of a 6' extension (to get it higher). Has anyone tried this?
Since HeYu supports the CM17A, I'm hoping to hear some good news from Charles...
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It may help to get ahold of an MR26A, the serial-based receiver. When you have the MR26A plugged into the CM17A you can get feedback (the MR26A will report what it receives from the CM17A) and get a little feedback loop going. If you're going to use X10 software, I can't see any advantage of using the CM17A over a CM19A. With the USB connection you know if it's working or not, and with a receiver built in you can do a lot more. If you're just trying to see what you can do with hardware you have, then I guess that's not really an issue.
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TTA,
If you have a CM19A, it is maybe a way to test. It works w/ the program as well and is also called a "firecracker" interface.
If you right click the palmpad, you get a setup menu that allows you to pic comports and test for signals - the USB CM19A appears to be automatically setup.
Of course, the CM17A isn't the strongest RF sender either, so you need a GOOD receiver like a RR501 close by.
As I recall, I also tried (years ago) to get it to start minimized with no success. So I just have mine pinned to the start menu, up there w/ internet explorer, almost as good.
Might as well download the "latest" version, don't think there is any real increase in the "footprint".
ftp://ftp.x10.com/pub/applications/firecracker/xfire.exe
GLT
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Depending On what you want to do with this device, I have some old freeware software for it ;) One is commandline based only 3.15 KB don't think you can get much smaller than that! ;)! Heck the discalmer is bigger in size! :o
If nothing else makes a good testing program for the CM17A! ;)
One thing I found with the Firecracker software if Active Home Pro was installed on the same PC system the CM17A wouldn't work unless I shut down the X10net.exe
that wasn't the case if I used one of the shareware or freeware programs.
If you already have HEYu have you tested with it?
Problem May be the software not the unit! ;)
As glt the newest version is very close in size try it as well ;)