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🖥️ActiveHome Pro => ActiveHome Pro General => Wish List => Topic started by: Dan Lawrence on December 05, 2006, 02:43:17 PM

Title: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Dan Lawrence on December 05, 2006, 02:43:17 PM
Since DST is changing in 2007, shouldn't X10 be addressiing this in early 2007 as DST will go into effect in early March?

2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March to 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November

For 2007, the DST period is from Sunday March 11 to Sunday November 4.
For 2008, the DST period is from Sunday March 9 to Sunday November 2.


Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Noam on December 05, 2006, 02:47:33 PM
I asked about this a while back.
I haven't seen "X10 Pro" respond to any posts in a while. I don't know if anyone took over after Mike left.
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: roger1818 on December 05, 2006, 03:55:24 PM
Quote from: Dan Lawrence on December 05, 2006, 02:43:17 PM
Since DST is changing in 2007, shouldn't X10 be addressiing this in early 2007 as DST will go into effect in early March?

2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March to 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November

For 2007, the DST period is from Sunday March 11 to Sunday November 4.
For 2008, the DST period is from Sunday March 9 to Sunday November 2.

This question is answered in the thread Daylight Savings Time (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=8299.0).
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Dan Lawrence on December 05, 2006, 07:02:56 PM
What I'm wondering is how AHP will deal with it. In the Hardware Configuration is the table of sunrise/sunset times for your time zone, based on what you set as your location.  The last period ends on 1/04. I'll look at the table on 1/05 and see if the DST changes there conform to the new dates. If it does, good. If it doesn't, an update will be needed.

I'm sure Microsoft will issue a Windows patch to deal with the dates, if they haven't yet.
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Dan Lawrence on January 07, 2007, 01:48:11 PM
I have the Microsoft DST Patch for Windows XP installed, we shall see if my AM timers turn on the lights at 6:30 AM weekdays or 5:30 AM on March 12.
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: KDR on January 07, 2007, 09:43:33 PM
At this time my best guess is that since AHP gets its time from your computer it will pick up on the change when it happens to your computer. If you run the CM15A disconnected from the computer you will need to hook it back up and download the updated info to it when the change is made. Also I would guess that once the time changes you will need to save AHP so that the settings are written to file.
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Dan Lawrence on January 07, 2007, 11:12:51 PM
My CM15a is connected to the computer 24/7. I never need to disconnect it.

We will see what happens on March 12 at 6:30 AM. I will be running my Master.ahx file at that time.
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: whsbuss on January 08, 2007, 08:30:22 AM
Quote from: Dan Lawrence on January 07, 2007, 01:48:11 PM
I have the Microsoft DST Patch for Windows XP installed, we shall see if my AM timers turn on the lights at 6:30 AM weekdays or 5:30 AM on March 12.

Where did you get the patch from? How can you tell its installed?
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Dan Lawrence on January 08, 2007, 09:29:54 AM
Use Windows Update and search for the DST 2007 patch.  If you have Automatic Updates enabled, you should have gotten it already. When I got the 2007 DST patch, it installed like I never had it, which seems to indicate I didn't have it. If I did, it would not have run the installer and given me a "you have this already message".

Microsoft has issued so many patches that it's hard to tell what you have and what you don't.  Life with Microsoft.  :(
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: whsbuss on January 08, 2007, 10:05:21 AM
Quote from: Dan Lawrence on January 08, 2007, 09:29:54 AM
Use Windows Update and search for the DST 2007 patch.  If you have Automatic Updates enabled, you should have gotten it already. When I got the 2007 DST patch, it installed like I never had it, which seems to indicate I didn't have it. If I did, it would not have run the installer and given me a "you have this already message".

Microsoft has issued so many patches that it's hard to tell what you have and what you don't.  Life with Microsoft.  :(

OK, I'll check but I don't remember seeing the new times updated when in the Config portion of AHP.
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Dan Lawrence on January 08, 2007, 10:57:28 AM
The Hardware Configuration seems not to reflect the change.  I'm in Baltimore in the Eastern Time Zone, and my Screen shows no March 11 change, but has sunrise times ranging from 6:29 on 3/06, 7:16 on 3/14 and 6:51 on 3/30. Dawn times are all over the place.

If my AM timers don't turn on the house lights on 3/12 at 6:30 AM, I'm going to be PM'ing everybody at X10 to fix it once and for all.

If Congress would stop screwing with DST ( the last time they did, Jimmy Carter is President) we wouldn't have to go through this. What ever happened to "leave well enough alone"?
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: whsbuss on January 08, 2007, 11:45:06 AM
Quote from: Dan Lawrence on January 08, 2007, 10:57:28 AM
The Hardware Configuration seems not to reflect the change.  I'm in Baltimore in the Eastern Time Zone, and my Screen shows no March 11 change, but has sunrise times ranging from 6:29 on 3/06, 7:16 on 3/14 and 6:51 on 3/30. Dawn times are all over the place.

If my AM timers don't turn on the house lights on 3/12 at 6:30 AM, I'm going to be PM'ing everybody at X10 to fix it once and for all.

If Congress would stop screwing with DST ( the last time they did, Jimmy Carter is President) we wouldn't have to go through this. What ever happened to "leave well enough alone"?

Thanks. I got the MS link for the DST update and will load it later when I get home. I'm not confident this will make AHP operate properly come 3/12/07. We'll see.
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Dan Lawrence on February 08, 2007, 03:16:31 PM
I just checked my Hardware Configuration  and 3/11 shows the 2007 Daylight Savings jump and the November 4 return to Standard Time.
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Walt2 on February 09, 2007, 07:40:55 AM
Quote from: Dan Lawrence on January 08, 2007, 09:29:54 AM
Use Windows Update and search for the DST 2007 patch. 

Just make sure you pick the one for the USA.  There is also one for Australia, and its listed first ("A" comes before "U", I guess).
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: whsbuss on February 12, 2007, 01:54:05 PM
Quote from: Dan Lawrence on February 08, 2007, 03:16:31 PM
I just checked my Hardware Configuration  and 3/11 shows the 2007 Daylight Savings jump and the November 4 return to Standard Time.

Yep, mine too.
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: roger1818 on February 13, 2007, 05:04:36 PM
I haven't confirmed this, but I have heard that Microsoft is not releasing a patch for Windows 2000 (and presumably 98 or ME) so if you are using one of these OSes it won't use the correct DST switchover dates.
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Puck on February 13, 2007, 05:40:42 PM
Roger: You are correct; Microsoft will not be providing an update patch for OS's prior to XP.

However, about 3/4 of the way down this microsoft page (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914387/), you can download a utility called Tzedit.exe. For Win2K you can run this utility and manually reset the DST dates.
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: TakeTheActive on February 13, 2007, 11:33:22 PM
Quote from: Puck on February 13, 2007, 05:40:42 PM

...However, about 3/4 of the way down MSKB Q914387: How to configure daylight saving time for the United States in 2007 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914387/), you can download a utility called Tzedit.exe.

For Win2K you can run this utility and manually reset the DST dates.

Informative *AND* very useful! ;)

Thanks Puck!  ;D
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Dan Lawrence on March 09, 2007, 06:49:24 PM
Just a reminder.

If you have the Microsoft DST patch applied, check your Hardware Configuration in AHP. It should show a sunrise/sunset time change for DST on the new (3/11) date and the Standard Time return on 11/03.
   
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Walt2 on March 12, 2007, 08:12:05 AM
If one needs a DST fix for Win 98 or Win ME, goto ...

http://www.intelliadmin.com/Downloads.htm

... and scroll down to "free downloads", and the second one in that section should be "Windows 98/ME Daylight Saving Time Fix".  I used this, myself, on my older PC's.

Or go directly to...

http://ftp.intelliadmin.com/DaylightSavingFix98.exe
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Puck on March 12, 2007, 10:48:28 AM
For Win2K users who updated DST with TZEDIT: What I observed was that my PC time did not change automatically as expected. I had to do the following and the time immediately corrected itself:


Hopefully now it has registered the correct DST dates. Guess I have to wait for November 4th to find out for sure.  :D
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: whsbuss on March 12, 2007, 07:14:42 PM
As I posted on the Bugs thread, my DST is not working correctly since the change on 3/12/07.

I run in stand alone mode and patched my XP Pro a few weeks ago with the DST patch. In AHP Pro the hardware config tables show the correct dusk/dawn times and I downloaded them to the interface last week (twice). Today (since I was not home yesterday) the dusk/dawn timers did not operate at the correct time I have set.

I sent a support ticket to X10.com to ask if they have a software update for 3.204 software. It seems to only affect the stand alone mode. I since downloaded my timers again and will have to wait till Wednesday to see if they work (not home tomorrow).

Anyone else see this problem?
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Dan Lawrence on March 12, 2007, 10:25:47 PM
If your CM15 is not connected 24/7, you will have to connect it to the PC, clear it and reload the timers to have them work properly with the DST times.
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: whsbuss on March 13, 2007, 07:18:15 AM
Quote from: Dan Lawrence on March 12, 2007, 10:25:47 PM
If your CM15 is not connected 24/7, you will have to connect it to the PC, clear it and reload the timers to have them work properly with the DST times.

Shouldn't be that way. X10 needs to address this in an update!
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: KDR on March 13, 2007, 12:56:08 PM
The problem here may be that X10 can't update the firmware in the CM15A. I don't know this for sure but it seems that I saw something on it awhile back. If thats the case all they could do is change it on new units built.

(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)---(http://www.bdshost.com/X10/lpup.gif)----KDR
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Dan Lawrence on March 13, 2007, 07:56:27 PM
It's not a a firmware problem, the CM15's firmware does not control DST.  The CM15 gets its time from the PC, which is why those who don't have the CM15 connected to the PC must connect it to the PC and clear it's memory and download the timers and macros to it before unhooking it to get the proper DST times.
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Noam on March 13, 2007, 10:02:51 PM
We have been told several times in the past that the firmware cannot be upgraded. X10 decided to save a few pennies on their build costs by eliminating that feature.
Perhaps Michael C. will chime in here with some authoritative answers. To the best of my knowledge, he is the only one on the forums who is/was part of the X10 organization, and the CM15A support team. Perhaps he can shed some light on how the CM15A "knows" when to change its internal clock for DST.
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: MichaelC on March 14, 2007, 06:07:17 PM
Along with all the timer, macro, and dusk/dawn information, the data downloaded to the CM15A includes a start date and stop date for daylight savings time. You can see this information in the ahpeeprom_w.txt file. As I've said before, this file tells you a lot about how the interface works, and should really be seen as a resource in absence of help from X10 directly. I'd be happy to help people interpret what they see there.

The change to the daylight savings time dates should not require a firmware change (which would require new interfaces for everyone, since the firmware isn't upgradeable) since it was designed to allow flexibility in the dates anyway. We weren't anticipating a change in daylight savings in the US when it was designed, but were making it possible to account for different dates in Europe.

If the daylight savings dates hadn't changed, no one would have had to re-download to the CM15A. But there's no way to for the CM15A to know about the date changes without re-connecting to the PC -- that's just unavoidable. However, once the XP patch was applied and you downloaded the change to the interface it should have adjusted correctly. Several people confirmed that the date changed for them in AHP -- did the time change work for you?
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: jajohnson on March 15, 2007, 10:38:24 AM
Where can I find the ahpeeprom file referenced in the previous comment?
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: whsbuss on March 15, 2007, 11:24:40 AM
Quote from: MichaelC on March 14, 2007, 06:07:17 PM
Along with all the timer, macro, and dusk/dawn information, the data downloaded to the CM15A includes a start date and stop date for daylight savings time. You can see this information in the ahpeeprom_w.txt file. As I've said before, this file tells you a lot about how the interface works, and should really be seen as a resource in absence of help from X10 directly. I'd be happy to help people interpret what they see there.

The change to the daylight savings time dates should not require a firmware change (which would require new interfaces for everyone, since the firmware isn't upgradeable) since it was designed to allow flexibility in the dates anyway. We weren't anticipating a change in daylight savings in the US when it was designed, but were making it possible to account for different dates in Europe.

If the daylight savings dates hadn't changed, no one would have had to re-download to the CM15A. But there's no way to for the CM15A to know about the date changes without re-connecting to the PC -- that's just unavoidable. However, once the XP patch was applied and you downloaded the change to the interface it should have adjusted correctly. Several people confirmed that the date changed for them in AHP -- did the time change work for you?

Well I did patch my XP Pro and downloaded all the timers before the DST change on 3/12/07. I run in stand alone mode and the timers did not adjust to the new DST. I had to re-connect my PC, d/l the timers again, and now they operate correctly. Question -> will I have to d/l again on the 1st Sunday in April (normal DST)???

I also could not find the ahpeeprom_w.txt file.
Title: Re: DST Changes in 2007
Post by: Walt2 on March 15, 2007, 02:30:04 PM
Quote from: jajohnson on March 15, 2007, 10:38:24 AM
Where can I find the ahpeeprom file referenced in the previous comment?

If you are using XP, its at c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Active Home Professional\ahpeeprom_w.txt