X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Troubleshooting Automation Problems => Topic started by: Brandt on May 25, 2010, 07:19:12 PM

Title: DS10a and MS10a heartbeat
Post by: Brandt on May 25, 2010, 07:19:12 PM: Do the security sensors transmit a heartbeat at a weaker strength that the alert and clear signal?

The reason I ask is that the heartbeat, depending on how and where the antenna is mounted, on one or more of my security sensors always fails especially at night. But the Alert and Clear signals are always seen.
Title: Re: DS10a and MS10a heartbeat
Post by: dave w on May 26, 2010, 12:39:04 PM: $0.02
This is interesting. I think the only difference is the length of the signal. But that is only a guess. It would take some very expensive RF test equipment to detect if X10 actually reduces the strength of the heartbeat. (I am guessing an old field strength meter is too slow to give a reliable heartbeat reading.

You and all the "old guys" on this forum will probably agree that the X10 design philosophy is "Keep it simple and keep it cheap". So adding circuity to purposefully lower the transmitter signal strength for the heartbeat does not fit well with their (presumed) general design philosophy. I suppose it would extend battery life, but I just don't see that as being a concern for X10.

Hey Brian H, you don't happen to have a R2600 at home do you?? rofl
Title: Re: DS10a and MS10a heartbeat
Post by: Brian H on May 26, 2010, 01:59:22 PM: Sorry no R2600 here. ;D
Title: Re: DS10a and MS10a heartbeat
Post by: Dan Lawrence on May 26, 2010, 06:31:34 PM: Since a Google search for R2600 resulted in 102 aircraft hits and ZERO X10 hits, what are you talking about?
Title: Re: DS10a and MS10a heartbeat
Post by: Brian H on May 26, 2010, 07:31:19 PM: Inside thing.
I use to be a Two Way Radio repair technician. R2600 ][feeble memory here] was a Motorola tester.
Spectrum Analyzer, deviation display and dial in frequency counter signal generator. Among other things.
Could have been used to observe the DS10As signals. Both triggered and check in heartbeat.
Title: Re: DS10a and MS10a heartbeat
Post by: dave w on May 26, 2010, 08:43:40 PM: Yes it is a $20K "do everything" piece of radio test equipment. Sorry Dan, did not mean to lock you out. If you google "R2600 Motorola" or "R2600 General Dynamics" you will probably get hits. Brian H and and I have used them so it was an inside funny to him.
Title: Re: DS10a and MS10a heartbeat
Post by: Dan Lawrence on May 27, 2010, 07:28:18 PM: No problem. I did Google "R2600 Motorola" and got a very detailed .pdf file. Interesting, but not something I'd ever use.