X10 Community Forum
💬General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: lhntx on June 07, 2010, 11:01:58 AM
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I got the basic 4 wireless cams with motion sensors, USB video convert, remote control pad (don't need or use), video signal receiver, and the signal sender (USB unit with thin flexible antennea on the top), transceiver, and the vanguard software. I live in a small 1500 sq ft stucco home(stucco has been suggested as the problem since it has metal mesh in it) and wanted cams at basically each corner. I can NEVER get all 4 cams to be received at the same time. I't nearly impossible to bounce signals from four different corners at a single flat one sided object and there is no way to avoid appliances and mirrors and tiled walls (metal mesh supports) and a/c ducts (metal) and the like as has been suggested. I've moved my dedicated laptop do different places and plugs in the home to try and fix. I've tried switching from A to B circuit. I bought another transceiver as suggest by tech support. I tried 2 cams on A and 2 on B. Nothing changed. I now have an issue where one camera wants to overide all 3 others on the vanguard display. If I unplug it 2 of the others display correctly. The third is only static. If I plug the overiding cam back in it overrides all 4 windows again. In all of the different configurations that I've tried I've NEVER been able to get a motion detector to switch the camera on. I bought the system to automatically notify my of potential burglars - but I've also NEVER been able to get the system to email except one time when I got an email that there was a camera problem of some sort (the email made no sense at all). Each time I call tech support I get someone different and sometimes they are great and knowledeable and sometimes useless. I'm about ready to throw in the bag and ask for my money back. It's now been 3 months of trying to get this system to work as advertised
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You need to either have an antenna in the attic, as there is no stucco on your roof (is there?) or you need to run it to an outdoor antenna.
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Since the turning on and off of the cameras is a power line function. You may have a power line signal problem to the one camera.
All of the camera power supplies are on the same house code ans in one group of four unit codes? 1-4;5-8;9-12 or 13-16.
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I can NEVER get all 4 cams to be received at the same time.
Are you wanting to display all 4 camera views simultaneously? If so, that is not doable with the configuration you have, and I'm not sure that you can do it without significant additional expense. There are plenty of additional threads on this forum to give more detail, but here are some basics:
The Receiver can only be set to one channel, A, B, C, or D.
The cameras must be set to the same channel as the Receiver.
The receiver is not smart, meaning it doesn't discriminate between the different cameras. It will display anything it receives on the Channel it is set to. Multiple devices (cameras) transmitting on that channel will create a scrambled picture. Only one camera can be turned on at a time.
If setting the cameras to the same House Code (A-P), and one of the 4 Unit codes in the same group (1-4, 5-8, 9-12, 13-16), turning one of the cameras on in that group will turn the other 3 off. This is a special design of the camera power supplies. (Any other interference on your house wiring may not let the On signal propogate to all the camera power supplies. You can learn more by searching the forums.)
I have 10 cameras total in my setup, but can only see one at a time. I have macros that make sure all the others are turned off when I turn one on.
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I understand that only one cam is viewd at a time. My wording was not clear. Sorry. I can never get all 4 of the cameras to be the active camera when each is separately instructed to activate. I have Vanguard setup to display 4 panels and cycle through the 4. Actually, I should not say never, I have been able to get all 4 to display during their "turn", but if it rains or is cloudy or a bird flys by at least one will not display during their turn, or the same camera will display on more than one panel. I have them set a1,a2,a3,a4. I tried b1,b2,b3,b4. I bought another transceiver and tried have half as A's and half as B's or both transceivers as A or both as B. Yes, I switched the code on the power supply to the camera to match. Sometimes I will actually get the 4 different camera displays (maybe 5% of the time), but mostly I get static or the same display in more than one panel even if I manually click to turn on a1, a2, a3, a4 in Vanguard. Right now I get the same camera in all 4 panels. If I uplug the camerra that is displaying on all 4 panels then I get 2 of the other 3 and one static screen..
I have tried my laptop in the different places in my home and have had the same results in each. Since the off/on is supposedly sent through the house wiring and the video is sent over the air, then technically that should mean that the power of the video signal should not matter since only one camera is turned on at a time, but... the one camera that is overriding all 4 panels right now is inside my home. The other 3 are outside. That makes me think that the distance from the transceiver also has some effect??
I was reading the replys (thanks! I appreciate any help or hints), but I don't understand about putting an antennae in the attic. What type of antennae??? The one plugged into my laptop now that receives the signal? That would mean a very long usb extension and usb power booster.
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Sometimes I will actually get the 4 different camera displays (maybe 5% of the time), but mostly I get static or the same display in more than one panel even if I manually click to turn on a1, a2, a3, a4 in Vanguard. Right now I get the same camera in all 4 panels. If I uplug the camerra that is displaying on all 4 panels then I get 2 of the other 3 and one static screen..
That makes me think that the distance from the transceiver also has some effect??
I was reading the replys (thanks! I appreciate any help or hints), but I don't understand about putting an antennae in the attic. What type of antennae??? The one plugged into my laptop now that receives the signal? That would mean a very long usb extension and usb power booster.
I think Brian H is correct. You have powerline noise problems. Your camera power supplies are not getting the ON-OFF signals. Try the tranceiver in other outlets. How far is the tranceiver from the CM19A?
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I have the transceiver and the video receiver and a dedicated laptop on my kitchen counter and TWO signal senders (I forget the numbers) in the next room, one on each side of the room in separate plugs. I have also tried have them on the same plug and another plug in the same room, but saw no difference, but I would guess that they are less than 10-15 feet away with a wall between them as I have them now in my dining room. Camera one is outside about 15 feet away. Camera two is in a bedroom on the others side of a wall from the kitchen, so maybe 12 feet? Camera three is at the back of my home outside on a screen porch with a fridge, bathroom with a mirror covering half a wall, and then another room (approx 20x20) between them. Camera 4 is outside on my garage at approx the same distance as camera 3 and it is under an an aluminum carport that covers the area between the garage and the house. Many of the interior walls in my house have shiplap (wood) behind the sheetrock since I have a 1930s bungalow.
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I have the transceiver and the video receiver and a dedicated laptop on my kitchen counter and TWO signal senders (I forget the numbers) in the next room, one on each side of the room in separate plugs.
Gee whiz, in your original post you call what I believe to be a CM19A a "signal sender" and now you say you have two "signal senders" in another room, so I don't have any idea of what you refer to. X10 does not have a "signal sender" defined on their web site.
If you have a PLC problem you can probably identify it as such by using a TM751A TRANCEIVER and your "remote control pad" which I assume is a "Scan Cam" remote, to manually cycle through the four cameras. When you find a camera not turning OFF, move the TM751 to a different outlet in the home and try the Scan Cam again (stay near the TM751). If the stuck camera does now turn OFF then you probably have a power line signal problem (noise) and not an RF problem.
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I have no idea what the hardwire number names are. I bought a second white units that plug into the wall, has an antennae that can be move in/out/up/down and is what I believe sends the on/off signal through the wiring. I can do software all day long, but remembering hardware names is my downfall. ;)
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what does one do to remedy a power line signal problem??
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http://jvde.us/x10_troubleshooting.htm
http://www.act-solutions.com/PCC/uncle.htm
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=l2v2t8pnj3cr5fgm3ej6i3igm3&topic=19252.msg107493#new
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=fia4somvt646m1f9ar60hogk94&topic=7951.0
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I have no idea what the hardwire number names are. I bought a second white units that plug into the wall, has an antennae that can be move in/out/up/down and is what I believe sends the on/off signal through the wiring. I can do software all day long, but remembering hardware names is my downfall. ;)
Understand. But you aren't going to get much help if we don't have a clue what you are talking about. The two white units that have antennas and plug into the wall are Transceivers, and you called them transceivers in your earlier post. If they are TM751s, you can not use them on the same house code. The 751 will blindly transceive the RF signal to the powerline with out checking to see if any other X10 powerline signals are already on the line. With two TM751s on the same house code, they will just fight each outher You probably also have noise and/or phase copling problems. If during your setup you saw a picture from each camera, you don't have a "stucco" problem. Brian's links will help.
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thanks for the help. The x10 tech support suggest getting a second transceiver, so that's why I did.
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thanks for the help. The x10 tech support suggest getting a second transceiver, so that's why I did.
Interesting. Did they mention anything cautions about using them on same house codes?
Anywho, try moving the TM751 around to try to get all your cameras to resond to ON-OFF signals (unlikely they will repsond all form the same outlet). If you can get them to all respaond by using different outlets then it means your problem is likely to be noise, or phase coupling, and the links Brian H sent, cover these problems.
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Thanks for the links. Some of them are extremely technical (electrical engineering?) and I don't know what half of the stuff is.
I've had my laptop in three different places in my home. I decided to move the system back to the original location in the middle of my home because that was the only place that I was ever able to get signals from all 4 cameras. I moved it from that location because I could not get the motion detectors signals (I assumed that distance or stucco walls was the problem since they are powered by batteries of all things!), but none of the other locations worked as good as the original as far as receiving the video. I have a 1930's homes, so the number of outlets are limited even though the wiring has been replaced. I now can get no signals at all - just rolling lines on the display. I have now tried 4 different outlets for the transceiver(s), all of the transceivers are plugged in directly and not on power strips, and tried all A, or AB mix and all B, and C settings on the 4 cameras and transceivers, tried reinstalling software, drivers, removing all but one camera, readding cameras, moving the video receiver and paddle to as many locations and directions that I could to see within the limitations of the wires to see if I could get ANY signal at all, but no video from any of the cameras. I was getting the same camera on all 4 windows when I first moved the laptop back to it's original location, then I started getting the rolling lines about 3 days ago, then except for a fleeting moment a few days ago when I got 2 of the outside cameras, I've gotten nothing but rolling static since. The locations available to sit the laptop and hardware is limited so I am out of optional places to move it. So, I've now gone from partial working to completely nonworking. Is it possible that one of pieces of hardware is no longer working, specifically the video receiver? All of the settings on the receiver, transceiver and cameras have been double checked and all are correct and I've tried using different configurations of the USB slots available.
One other thing that I thought about is that I have the internet in my home being sent through the house wiring to a remote wireless sender to get around the bathroom and fridge that was causing wireless signal problems. I have had this setup for a few years and this setup was being used since day one of trying to setup the x10 system. B:(
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Save yourself the trouble of all the other stuff and get a blowtorch repeater. This whole mess wreaks or low PLC to switch the cams. 2 tm751s could be stepping on each other and corrupting the signals.
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One other thing that I thought about is that I have the internet in my home being sent through the house wiring to a remote wireless sender to get around the bathroom and fridge that was causing wireless signal problems.
Now you tell us...
Unplug all the "network over powerline" stuff and try the cameras again.
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If the wireless network sender is using the 2.4GHz band. Depending on the exact frequency in use. It could be stepping on the camera signals.
Since cameras when power up are on. Maybe try one at a time and see if the picture is clearer. Then with one on try to turn it on and off to test the power line signal to it. Test all four individually and this may help determining some of the issues.
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I have now figured out that part of the problem was that the Video receiver power was plugged into a power strip. When I plugged it directly into the wall socket I started receiving video! So, not only are the transceivers picky, the video power is also picky. Now I have a separate problem... I have one camera that is overwhelming the others. If I unplug the offending camera, two of the others start displaying correctly as I scan through the cameras one at a time. If I plug that one camera back in, it will be the only one with a signal coming through. I can move the video receiver pad around and one of the others trys to come in, but is very faint.
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Did you test them individually? Like unplug the other three camarea as a test. See if you can turn off the over powering one. If you can't control it. It is not getting a power line signal to turn it on and off or its power supply is defective and not going off.
Since the receivers power supply does not use any X10 signals over the power line. It should not matter if it was in a surge strip, but it is very possible one of the other devices in the same strip was causing problems.
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I have now figured out that part of the problem was that the Video receiver power was plugged into a power strip. When I plugged it directly into the wall socket I started receiving video! So, not only are the transceivers picky, the video power is also picky. Now I have a separate problem... I have one camera that is overwhelming the others. If I unplug the offending camera, two of the others start displaying correctly as I scan through the cameras one at a time. If I plug that one camera back in, it will be the only one with a signal coming through. I can move the video receiver pad around and one of the others trys to come in, but is very faint.
Odd, the power strip should not effect the video receiver since it does not send signals over the powerline. So did you move-reposition the Video receiver when you plugged it directly in to the outlet? If you did, you found the "sweet spot" for the receiver position.
One camera "overwhelming the others"? ? ? You said in an earlier post you understood ONLY ONE CAMERA CAN BE ON AT A TIME...so how can one camera be overwhelming the others if only one camera can be ON at a time? Come on, think about this...THAT camera is still not being turned OFF. >*<
You only have one receiver so only one camera can be powered at a time. You still have a problem getting the powerline ON and OFF signals to the cameras.
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I prefer the Vanguard 4 camera display and switch from camera to camera. The active camera is displayed on one of each of 4 screens. If I hold the video receiver in my hand or hold the antennae paddle, the active camera that is supposed to be displayed will display in the correct screen but very ghosty and will flick in and out. I think that what this is telling me is that BOTH cameras are active at the same time. If I unplug this one camera that is overpowering the others, then the 4 video display will display each camera correctly (except the unplugged one of course) as the software switches from panel 1 (cam 1), to 2 (cam 2) , to 3 (Cam 3) , to 4 (cam 4), then back again. One VERY interesting thing that is now happening also is that the video display from the one camera that is overpowering the others will sometimes display on the entire laptop screen EVEN WHEN THE VANGUARD SOFTWARE IS NOT RUNNING!!!!
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If I unplug this one camera that is overpowering the others, then the 4 video display will display each camera correctly (except the unplugged one of course) as the software switches from panel 1 (cam 1), to 2 (cam 2) , to 3 (Cam 3) , to 4 (cam 4), then back again.
That camera is the one that is not being turned OFF properly. The horse is now rotting.
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I haven't had time to work on this problem for a while....
I switched the power supply for the camera that doesn't turn off to different cameras and got the same results. That power supply never clicks off and that cameras video overwhelms any other camera that is turned on. So I guess that I need have this power supply replaced? I've been trying to get all of this working for so long that I had completely forgotten that when I first installed the system, all of the cameras switched on/off as they should and the four panel vanguard display was correct, but I started moving the laptop/video receiver/transceiver around because the motion detectors never seemed to work no matter where the receiver was and the email notifications has only worked once - and that was to tell me that there was a server issue. So every attempt to fix one thing causes other issues. It's very frustrating.
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I switched the power supply for the camera that doesn't turn off to different cameras and got the same results. That power supply never clicks off and that cameras video overwhelms any other camera that is turned on. So I guess that I need have this power supply replaced?
It could be defective. So when you put the questionable power supply on a different camera, that new camera now failed to turn off? If so, yes it sound like that power supply is bad.
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I've been busy, so sorry for the delay.
I removed the offending camera, so the other three seem to turn on/off fairly well. They don't always turn off and on as they are supposed, but overall it is OK. Now the issue is with the motion detectors and the emailing. I THINK that the motion detection is working - but it is difficult to tell sometimes. The other issue is that if they are working, then I cannot get the email feature to work at all. I've tried different send emails and receive emails, but nothing seems to work. Any suggestions?? I've received exactly one email in the months that I've been working on this and it was an error notification email.
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I read all the threads and found them interesting. Here is what my experience is:
First of all I too live in a stucco house and I too have cameras in all around the house both inside looking out and outside looking in. I use AHP with a CM15A and no other transreceivers for automation or cameras. I can control all modules from inside and from outside the house with remotes and BVC. So here is what I did:
Installed ACT234 phase coupler repeater.
Modified antenna of CM15A. Replaced the original with one from TM751.
Installed CM15A on a independent circuit near the main panel.
To get rid of static on display, I have to unplug internet router. I have tried changing channels but to no effect. This router happens to be in family room and video display on TV gets the static when router is on. However, I do get clear recordins on PC which is not near.
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???
thanks for the suggestions. Now I just have to try and figure out what all of these things are. ;)
I hate the x10 website. It's one huge mess to try and figure anything out and finding a particular item by NUMBER is almost impossible. Whoever designed should be ashamed of themselves. It has a snake oil/carnival barker feel to it! Searching the x10 site for these terms is an exercise in futility. I'm typing this at my office so I don't currently have access to the physical units which are at my home so I can't look at the part numbers, so be patient with me while I show my ignorance.
AHP is???
BVC is???
TM751 is??? (I think that this is the transceiver that sends the signal through the wiring to turn on/off the cameras??) and has a metal expanding anntenae.
CM15A is?? (I think that this is the signal receiver that has a thin black vinyl covered wire antennae that sends a signal to the TM751 and receives the motion detector signals and plugs into my PC by USB.) How in the heck did you replace the thin wire anntenae with the expanding one?? (this assumes that I have the units numbers and function defined correctly)
BVC is???
ACT234 phase coupler repeater is ?? I'm assuming that this is some sort of signal booster, but I'm not sure. Since searching on the x10 site by part number is almost useless I have no idea where to look or what it looks like or even if it is available via x10.
I'm computer tech savy, but I have no electrical engineering background at all so a lot of the helps that I been getting are greek to me.
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AHP Active Home Pro Software. Supplied with either the CM15A Interface or the CM19A Interface.
Many of the package deals include plug ins like the Smart Macros On Alert Etc.
The module with the black vinyl antenna is not a CM15A but sounds like the CM19A USB interface being offered in the Cheaper AHP packages. It can not use downloaded timers and macros. The CM19A has to be on a computer running 24/7 to work.
The CM15A can stand alone with the computer off.
The CM15A is a white cased module with a USB connection on the bottom and a hard white plastic antenna on the left side. It is the one many of us have changed the antenna on.
This is one of the kits thet has the CM15A in it. There are others.
http://www.x10.com/promotions/cm15a_ed_faf_special.html
The TM751 is a transceiver as you said and is required if the CM19A is in the kit as it is RF only.
The kits with the CM15A do not require a TM751 as it has both a power line and RF transmitter and receiver in it.
ACT234 is a coupler repeater but not a model from X10. It is made by ACT Incorporated and is available from many automation vendors. I replaced my ACT234 with the JV Engineering XTB-IIR.
BVC Bills Voice Commander. Third party AHP add on and you will find data on it in the Third Party Software Area.
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=ooqb95ir1qsgt7ng1gecqa87m5&board=36.0
http://wgjohns.com/forums/index.php?PHPSESSID=5841bea7d7b6937443b56d7c23dfe193&
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AHP is???
AHP is Active Home Pro. The control software that is needed to use the CM15A.
BVC is???
BVC is Bills Voice Commander. This is a piece of software written by Bill Johns, one of the community members of this forum. It is for giving your X10 hardware voice control capability. If you want to know anything about this software, ask bill himself or Dave_X10_L, the biggest fan of BVC.
TM751 is??? (I think that this is the transceiver that sends the signal through the wiring to turn on/off the cameras??) and has a metal expanding anntenae.
You are correct to a point. The TM751 will take X10 RF signals and re-transmit them onto the power lines. It will not however take power line signals and convert them to X10 RF signals.
CM15A is?? (I think that this is the signal receiver that has a thin black vinyl covered wire antennae that sends a signal to the TM751 and receives the motion detector signals and plugs into my PC by USB.) How in the heck did you replace the thin wire anntenae with the expanding one?? (this assumes that I have the units numbers and function defined correctly)
The CM15A does not necessarily send signals to the TM751, although it can, but there can be issues with that. The CM15A is a programmable X10 controller that can do what the TM751 can and MUCH more. This is mainly used with the Active Home Pro software to use timers and macros to control your modules. The software can store the timers and macros directly in the CM15A and they can be run from the CM15A without the need for the computer to be on.
ACT234 phase coupler repeater is ?? I'm assuming that this is some sort of signal booster, but I'm not sure. Since searching on the x10 site by part number is almost useless I have no idea where to look or what it looks like or even if it is available via x10.
You are correct, the ACT234 is a phase coupler repeater. It is connected in your breaker panel to couple the X10 power line signals from one phase to the other. If a device like this is not used and you plug a device into an outlet on one phase and you have your CM15A or TM751 in an outlet on the other phase, your device will typically not function. The ACT234 on top of coupling the signal to the other phase, will repeat that signal in order to boost it.
IF you have questions on any of the X10 equipment and how it works, come to the forum and ask. DON'T rely on the X10 website. But I'm sure by now you already know that. >!
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thanks so much for all of your help. I'm going to get this thing working come hell or high water.
So... I purchased a CM15A yesterday and it comes with the AHP software, so I want to make sure that I do this right.
My understanding is that I will..
1. remove the CM19A and TM751 and replace them with the CM15A
2. replace the Vanguare software with the new software that comes with the CM15A.
3. replace the CM15A antennae with one from the TM751.
Is this correct?
THANKS !!! :)%
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thanks so much for all of your help. I'm going to get this thing working come hell or high water.
So... I purchased a CM15A yesterday and it comes with the AHP software, so I want to make sure that I do this right.
My understanding is that I will..
1. remove the CM19A and TM751 and replace them with the CM15A
2. replace the Vanguare software with the new software that comes with the CM15A.
3. replace the CM15A antennae with one from the TM751.
Is this correct?
THANKS !!! :)%
Since the CM15A is new and under warranty, you might want to do one of the "non invasive " antenna mods rather than the TM751 antenna mod which calls for opening the case, soldering, and case modification for the new antenna.
The "non invasive" mod is described many places in this forum, so I won't regurgitate, but essentially consists of simply winding a few turns of light wire around the existing CM15A antenna and allowing the remaining wire to dangle.
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I'm not having much luck with the antennae search. I searched the ENTIRE forum and found one mention of taping a piece of coathanger to the antennae and one mention of the remove/replace/void the warrenty method. :-\
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I'm not having much luck with the antennae search. I searched the ENTIRE forum and found one mention of taping a piece of coathanger to the antennae and one mention of the remove/replace/void the warrenty method. :-\
I searched for "CM15A Antenna mod" and got 16 pages of hits. Regardless try the second page of this thread:
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=4746.0
I would try the CM15A with no mod first. It may work fine since your house is small. If it does not receive the RF signals from all your motion sensors then try wrapping the antenna with a longer wire. Use a small gage (24-28) wire Even un-insulated wire for tying up plants will work fine.
Did you get all your cameras switching ON and OFF properly. Your thread started with a PLC problem, not a RF range problem?
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Thanks!
I actually still have multiple issues:
1. getting cameras to turn on/off is very erratic
2. one camera seemed to never turn off so I removed it from the system
3. I've never gotten the motion detectors to work
4. I've never gotten the email notification to work (maybe related to 3)
I'm hoping that this new transceiver and software might fix many of these issue.
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE FOR ALL OF THE HELP. This can all be very overwhelming because there are so many different parts and issues. #:)
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I'm still waiting for the CM15a to arrive, but now I seem to have run across something new that I wasn't expecting until I was able to read the manual.
How do I monitor the security cameras with the CM15A? It looks like I now have to fork out $70 MORE dollars for iWatch softare to replace the Vanguard or can Vanguard run along with the HomePro? Crap. When will this ever end? I just want a simple camera to send me an email photo if something moves in the monitored area, which is what my original purchase promised but has not yet (after 4 MONTHS of tweeking!) been yet able to deliver.
This seems to be getting more and more complicated and expensive with each passing day.
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Did you order an AHP package deal or the CM15A with AHP alone?
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I'm not quite sure. The x10 is so darned difficult to find anything that I felt lucky that I even found what I did. The cost was only about $35, so I assume that it was not a package deal, but then again I didn't even know that there was such a thing and nothing on the site mentioned a package deal or need for any other software. I was sent an email confirmation that had 4 links for software to download, but my I get so much x10 SPAM every single day that I accidentally deleted it. I called them today and was resent links today, but they are AHP, Smarmacro, and myhouseonline. I realize that is only three, so I don't know what the 4th was.
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Sounds like you're missing the IWatchout, which is the camera plugin. They generally sell the CM-15A with all 4 plugins (the other one is OnAlert, which lets you monitor windows, doors and security motion sensors) for $49.99... Yes, the $29.99 deal is rather confusing, and if you buy the plugins separately, you could easily pay $200!
The package deals on X10 are the only way to go!
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Can even get more confusing.
They have a $9.99 AHP package where it has a TM751 Tranceiver and a CM19A USB dongle that is RF only. The latest AHP 3.271 has support added for the CM19A. I have one on order as I want to see how it works and we are now seeing more with this package here.
Depends on when you look and where you look. The original or improved site. ::)
Original site. Appliance module thrown in and all the common plug ins.
http://www.x10.com/promotions/cm15a_am466_large_home.html
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Well, I received the CM15A and all of the required AHP software including iWatch (I had to call tech support to get that thrown in for free since there isn't anything in any of the 2 packages that even mentions that this is needed). The website is big on HYPE and poor on details. So far - no improvement at all. I added extra wire to the antennae. No noticable effect. I still can't get any better video reception (not that I really expected too because it still depends on the VR36A which is a JOKE). I've tried creating macros that start when the motion detectors detect motion. There is no simple COPY command of course, so you have to create each one from scratch. I tried copying the actual code itself, but that didn't work correctly. The software is POORLY designed. I still can't figure out when changes are saved. Sometimes it seems to be automatic, and other times I have to manualy save after every single tweak, but that doesn' matter in the long run because they continously all want to run at the same time even without triggers, but the BIG issue is that AHP crashes, crashes, crashes, crashes, ad nauseum. I evern tried deleting all of my macros and just try and see if I can get just ONE to work, but of course crash, crash, crash, crash. B:(