X10 Community Forum
🖥️ActiveHome Pro => ActiveHome Pro General => Help & Troubleshooting => Topic started by: houstonaquarious on September 10, 2006, 07:30:09 PM
-
I installed a new MS14A 10 feet from the CM15A and the receiver would not pick up the RF from the motion sensor. When I took the MS14A down from over the front door and brought it into the room with the CM15A, it worked fine. I have had better results with the DM10A motion sensors. Could be that they have more XMIT power. They use 4 AA batteries as opposed to the MS14A's two AAAs. I've found the MS14As to be virtually useless.
-
Could be more power on the DM10A. Some CM15A units are not known for good RF recpetion. Have you tried the antenna pointed horizontal? That sometimes makes things better. Also if the motion sensor was mounted on a surface close to metal or there was metal in a wall between the CM15A and the MA14A that could also effect the range.
-
I agree with Brian. Since the DM10A uses 4 AAAs it makes sense that it has better range. As I have said before, there are 3 classes of X10 wireless transmitters. The 6V (4xAAA) transmitters have the best range, the 3V thick (2xAAA) transmitters have average range and the 3V thin (button cell) have poor (almost unusable) range. Things get much better if you use a really good transceiver (such as the V572AB (http://www.automatedoutlet.com/product.php?productid=114&cat=10&page=1) by WGL & Associates (http://www.wgldesigns.com/)).
-
Things get much better if you use a really good transceiver (such as the V572AB by WGL & Associates).
Roger are you using the V572AB and are you happy with its performance. Do you have any examples of range improvements? I use several keychain remotes and numerous motion sensors and am looking for a way to improve their performance. ???
Thanks in advance for any information.
-
JimC
I installed the V572AB about 3 months ago. I am very happy with it. I have a 2 story house, basement and attic. The CM15A is in the basement and the V572AB is in a hall on the first floor. (About the middle of the house.) Before installing none of the remotes worked unless I was in the basement or top of the stairs going down to the basement. Now all my remotes and motion sensors work no matter where I am in my yard. Lot is about 60' x 125'. I did however ended up mounting the antenna horizontally for best signal. Even my stick'em switches work upstairs. Its easy to setup and comes with all house codes enabled.
Overall I would say the range on my keychain remotes are between 75 to 100 feet. Never realy tried any further then that. The V572AB gets my vote for best addon, well worth the investment.
-
KDR,
Thanks for the response. If I can get 75 feet of range on my motion sensors I will be happy ;D.
I currently have transceiver modules strategically located throughout the house and would like to eliminate them.
Jim
-
A V572AB in my attic gave me keychain remotes about 150' from the house in a test. It was a test and I aimed the remote directly at the area where the antenna was.
-
Brian said
A V572AB in my attic gave me keychain remotes about 150' from the house in a test
Well that is certainly better than the 20 feet I get from my keychain remotes.
Sounds like it is worth the $80. :-X
-
Roger are you using the V572AB and are you happy with its performance. Do you have any examples of range improvements?
I don't have the V572AB (the CM15A is meeting my needs for now) so I can't give you any first hand examples, but others have done so both in this thread and elsewhere in this forum. My one concern about using V572AB in a residential neighbourhood is that the range is so good that if any of your neighbours are using X10, there is no way of preventing it from transceiving their commands (other than by using different house codes).
-
Sounds like it is worth the $80. :-X
What about: Dave Houston's Eggbeater Antenna (http://jvde.us/x10/eggbeater.pdf) ? [s/b < $80! ;) ]
-
TakeTheActive said
What about: Dave Houston's Eggbeater Antenna ? [s/b < $80! ]
Nice link, I'll add it to my collection of usefull links supplied by you... Unfortunately I don't have the time right now tobuild anything. >:(
-
Well, I got my V572AB today. I went around and unplugged all of the transceiver modules I was using including the CM15A so that I could do a test of the range of the new unit. To my surprise I could get nothing to turn on using a Palm pad remote. :- The LED on the V572AB was indicating that it was seeing the signal and acting on it but nothing would work. The V572AB came with the X10 power line interface (PSC05 ) for getting the signal into the house wiring and I think that is where the problem is.
I put everything back to the way it was before I got the V572AB and with the PSC05 plugged in I could still not controll anything. As soon as I unplugged the PSC05 all worked fine. I sent an email to Automated outlet late last night and am waiting for a response.
The V572AB appears to be a really nice little unit and very sensitive to incoming RF signals. I was seeing the LED indicating that it was receiving an RF input, with the antenna disconnected,while I was using a Palm Pad on the other side of the room.
I will post my results after I hear from the supplier.
-
Well, I got my V572AB today. I went around and unplugged all of the transceiver modules I was using including the CM15A so that I could do a test of the range of the new unit. To my surprise I could get nothing to turn on using a Palm pad remote. :-\ The LED on the V572AB was indicating that it was seeing the signal and acting on it but nothing would work. The V572AB came with the X10 power line interface (PSC05 ) for getting the signal into the house wiring and I think that is where the problem is.
I put everything back to the way it was before I got the V572AB and with the PSC05 plugged in I could still not controll anything. As soon as I unplugged the PSC05 all worked fine. I sent an email to Automated outlet late last night and am waiting for a response.
The V572AB appears to be a really nice little unit and very sensitive to incoming RF signals. I was seeing the LED indicating that it was receiving an RF input, with the antenna disconnected,while I was using a Palm Pad on the other side of the room.
I will post my results after I hear from the supplier.
I am sorry to hear you are having problems with your V572AB. I hope you get it resolved soon. From what I have heard AO provides good support for products they sell, but I am interested to hear your experiences.
-
...The V572AB came with the X10 power line interface (PSC05 ) for getting the signal into the house wiring and I think that is where the problem is.
...From what I have heard AO provides good support for products they sell, but I am interested to hear your experiences.[/size]
From what I've READ (various forums and newsgroups), Martin (Automated Outlet) is an *EXCELLENT* person to do business with. Just head over to the forums on CocoonTech and talk to him - AFAICT, he's logged on all day long... ;)
-
By chance did you check to see if all house codes are enabled? As I recall they should be shipped this way. There is a program to download that allows you to set which house codes you can send on.
-
By chance did you check to see if all house codes are enabled? As I recall they should be shipped this way. There is a program to download that allows you to set which house codes you can send on.
Yes I downloaded the software and checked and they were all enabled. I download them again to the module just to make sure but that did not help. >:(
-
UPDATE:
AO is sending a replacement PSC05. :D Hope this takes care of the problem. I will keep you all posted. As long as they don't stick me with a second shipping charge I will be a happy camper.
-
I have seen two different model V572A models. One was with a Smarthome 1132B controller that also does X10 line signals like the PSC05 and used the interface for power. Another version with the PSC05 and an external wall supply. At the time I tested both versions and needed a different RJ14 cable between the interface and the receiver. One was a cross type and the other was a straight type.
Use the incorrect one and nothing would work.
-
I put everything back to the way it was before I got the V572AB and with the PSC05 plugged in I could still not controll anything. As soon as I unplugged the PSC05 all worked fine. I sent an email to Automated outlet late last night and am waiting for a response.
Just out of curiosity, was the V572A plugged into the PSC05 when this happened? If so, what happens if the PSC05 is disconnected from the V572A but the PSC05 is still plugged in?
-
Brian,
You, as allways, are correct. the V572A that I have requires a separate power supply and the supplied cable was a cross over type. I tried a straight cable just in case they supplied the wrong one and the indicator led on the V572A keeps flashing and according to their instruction indicates a cable problem. With the correct cable the led stays on except when receiving RF and then it goes out for about a second and turns back. This part is working correctly. It appears that the problem is with the PSC05 and I confirmed this with WGL DESIGNS, the manufacturer of the unit.
-
Roger 1818 said
Just out of curiosity, was the V572A plugged into the PSC05 when this happened? If so, what happens if the PSC05 is disconnected from the V572A but the PSC05 is still plugged in?
Roger the V572A was unplugged from the wall as well as from the PSC05 when this happened.
When everything was connected as per the supplied instructions the led on the V572A would go out and then back on with each reception of RF and this is what it should do. The problem is that the led on the PSC05 was not blinking with each received signal neither form the power lines nor from the PSC05. This appears to be where the problem is. I'll know in a few days when the replacement unit arrives.
-
...It appears that the problem is with the PSC05...
Don't you have a spare TW523 in your JunkBox? ;)
-
Don't you have a spare TW523 in your JunkBox?
I never was much into writing my own software so never saw the need for one. :)
-
Don't you have a spare TW523 in your JunkBox?
I never was much into writing my own software so never saw the need for one. :)
What did you use before the CM11A - CP290?
[Ah yes... The days of the IBM PC XT (in the basement) running GWBasic in DOS 3.3, a TW523 interface and a Votrax SC-01 Speech Synthesizer (sounds like Stephen Hawking) announcing events through a speaker in the hall - RELIABLE Home Automation at it's finest!]
-
What did you use before the CM11A - CP290?
All hard wired controllers. The CM11A was my first adventure into computerized home automation.
My first computer was a Commodore 64 which was the last thing I wrote a basic program for. next computer was a supper fast IBM XT. I still have one of the older computers that I use for some DOS programs. :)
My work horse computer has 6 serial ports (all in use) and 8 USB ports ( most in use). It also has 2 video cards, two monitors and two sound cards. It is only an 880 machine but it work fine for what I need.
-
Roger the V572A was unplugged from the wall as well as from the PSC05 when this happened.
Definitely sounds like a faulty PSC05. My guess is that it is transmitting garbage on the powerline and preventing other transmitters from working.
-
I received the replacement PSC05 and sure enough now everything is working fine. AO shipped the replacement the same day we agreed as to what the problem was. I will return the defective unit tho them tomorrow via UPS.
As far as the performance of the V572A...It definitely has increased the range of the RF devices. I have removed all of my transceiver modules that I had scattered throughout the house. I have yet to find an area within the house that is not covered by the V572A. This is impressive considering the unit is in my basement, in my computer/radio room which is under the garage. The room has a cement slab ceiling ( the floor of the garage) and cement block walls on all four sides. ;D
This weekend I will do some tests to determine exactly how far the unit will receive using the palm pads, keychain remotes and motion sensors.
-
Glad to here its working good. Looking forward to your range assessment.
-
If anyone is interested here are the results of my testing the range of the V572A.
For testing purposes I mounted the antenna on my rear deck so these results reflect unobstructed line of sight. Unfortunately I only have 125 feet to work with until I run out of property in my rear yard. I tested the MS14A motion sensor, the HR12A palm pad and the KR19A slim fire keychain remote. To my surprise all of these units worked flawlessly at the 125 foot mark.
After testing I mounted the antenna in my basement. With the antenna in the basement I have yet to find a place within the house where either the motion sensors or the palm pad don't work
Conclusion .....I am a very happy camper. ;D ;D ;D This unit has enabled me to eliminate 5 transceiver modules. :) :)
-
Great News! Glad you are happy.
Roger
-
I just received an email from Automated Outlet today informing me that they were issuing me a full credit for the defective device (PSC05) including shipping charges. I am satisfied with their response to my problem and with the speed with which they responded. They shipped my original order the same day I placed the order and they also sent the replacement the same day we agreed as to what the problem was. I would certainly concider ordering from them again.
-
I am glad to hear that AO treated you well! I had heard through the grape vine that they do, but I have never had a problem with one of my orders with which to put them to the test. I now feel even more confindent reccomending AO to other people! Thanks for keeping us posted.
-
I bought a new RR501 from AO, since neither my local X10 dealer or X10USA will do by itself. It's bundled with a HR12A Palm Pad Controller, which I don't want or need. AO will sell you a RR501 by itelf. My old RR501 managed to get the antenna broken, so I wanted a new one, since the old one had trouble getting the signals from the Stick-a-Switch in my Breakfast Room.