X10 Community Forum
🖥️ActiveHome Pro => ActiveHome Pro General => Topic started by: arf1410 on April 07, 2005, 11:07:23 PM
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I am using a "regular" unit simply as an
activity monitor, and my diagnostic unit is
working aas a stand alone executing all the
commands. This morning, I think it was
executing commands about 10 minutes early.
This evening, a command that was supposed
to go at 8:03, was executed at 7:40. UGH!
X10 PRo, anyone Help me please. I kept the
diagnostic unit in its box for 2 months,
waiting for problems to get resolved. I
started using it a couple of days ago,
thinking it might work. I guess I was
wrong....
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Arf, I have a diag unit also. For the most
part it keeps time very well, however I did
notice one day that it was ahead by 15
minutes or so. I reset the CM15A and I
haven't had the problem since... I don't know
if it was some noise surge on the line or
what caused it to gain 15 minutes in only a
few hours, but it only happened once. Try
resetting yours and see if that helps.
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This is a well known hardware problem with
all CM15As. Powerline noise can cause the
clock to gain time.
I seem to remember reading that the CM11A
would suffer from a similar problem, though
I am not sure about that. When the
warrantee has expired on mine, I am going
to experiment fixing this problem.
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Well, I spoke too soon - just now the lights
went off 30 minutes earlier than scheduled!
Not only that, but Windows doesn't even
recognize the device when I try to reconnect
it to the PC!
X10 Pro - HELP!!!
I need a reliable unit
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Julian - I have had Windows not recognize
the device, though this has only happened
with teh diag unit. I unplug it, remove
batteries for a minute or 2, and try again,
and it worked. Regarding the clock, my
CM11A NEVER had a clock problem. Main
reason I changed was serial port problems.
In fact, I have a 2 week old PC, with
almost no software loaded, and the serial
port cannot find the CM11A! Ugh! only
thing I can GUESS at is windows XP Pro
these new high security service packs
causing me some greif, as that is about the
only common software on my PCs????
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Arf - I tried that. Took the batteries out,
put them back in, restarted AHP, restarted
Windows, hooked the interface up to my laptop
- same result. Nothing will see it. It
appears that I am stuck with an interface I
can't download to, it gains time like it's
running out of style, it will selectively
execute macros based on some internal logic
that makes no sense, and - to top it all off
- is unrecognizable by anything. Great timing
too, as I am planning on going on vacation
next week! X10 Pro - if anyone ever needed
help, it can't get any more urgent than
this!!! Please help!
Thanks.
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Arf - does your PC see ANY serial devices? [
I know it's hard to find any laying around,
but you might find something other than the
CM11A in your legacy box :> ]. At least that
way you could rule out an issue with the
serial port...
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/1/ try leaving the batteries out for an
hour...
I can talk to my CM11A with my new PC and a
USB to serial convertor.
My Old PC will not talk with either my
Cm11A or my Garmin GPS with teh built in
serial ports, but will talk to the GPS with
the USB to serial adapter...
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The clock on the CM11a is flaky , I only
used the CM11a with a dedicate computer and
3rd party software, X10 software stinks,
they spend more time and money on
advertising than developing a good product.
I got tired of all the aggravation for
intermittent performance, I have seen their
schematic for the CM15a, the clock section
is the same poor design as the CM11a,
except due to the more bells and whistle
they added now you have the worst of both
world: clock may run faster , and if you
use motions detectors + smart macros the
clock stops working at random( actually I
found a combination that will crash the
clock every time).
I got tired of constant upgrades ( each one
worst than the previous ) and purchased
PowerLinc 1132CUP, NO MORE PROBLEMS, macros
work as expected, I can create more complex
macros (impossible with AHP) clock is
accurate and NO BATTERY TO REPLACE.
Since I requested money back from X10 they
stopped replying to my email, If your time
has any value do not loose any more sleep
with X10 , unless they redesign the
hardware on the CM15 no amount of LEMON AID
will make reliable.
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X10 Pro
I can think of three possible reasons for my
timers running early (bad clock?)
/1/ I have a defective unit, in which case
can you provide me an RMA?
/2/ There are still problems with the
software, in which case, can you tell be if
this problem is being addressed at the next
software upgrade?
/3/ It is a firmware / hardware problem,
which will require a redesign and
replacement CM15A
X10 Pro - as this problem has been reported
before-
/a/ what do you think the cause is (above
1,2, 3, or other?), and subsequent solution
is?
/b/ What have you learned from analysing the
units that have been returned for this
problem?
/c/ As this is a Diag. unit, and you don't
know the specific cuase/ fix, how do I send
you the "diagnostics" to help you solve the
problem?
thanks for your assistance.
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X10 Pro -
Since you are on the forum today responding
to questions, could you please answer mine
(posted below)? Thanks
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OK, I set up some test "dummy" modules - L6
ON at 15 past the hour, and OFF at 45 past
the hour, and J6 ON on the hour, and OFF at
30 past the hour, to repeat this pattern
all day. It is downloaded into the CM15A
Diag. running offline. Using a different
unit as activity monitor, Only about 1/4 my
test timers execute, and sometimes at "2%"
bright, rather than full on...My
frustration level is increasing...
X10Pro - I am leaving on vacation for 1
week tomorrow, and if I don't have some
reasonable explanations / responses to my
questions in my earlier post below, I will
expect you to provide assitance for me to
get a full refund.
Thanks
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According to my acitivty monitor
J executed only at 8:30 and 11,
L executed at 9:15 (but only 2% brightness)
10:15
11:15 (3%)
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arf1410 (AHP)
I unplugged my CM15A last night from its PC
mom to see how the new software would
fair ....
It picked up 1.3 hours in a 12 hour
period. Lights came on 1.3 hours earlier
than they were supposed to do. This is the
same thing I've seen since day one of the
CM15A. It cannot keep time without the USB
plugged into a running PC. AHP does not
have to run, but the PC must be on.
Also, I plugged it in to its mommy PC this
morning and of course it was not
recognized. Went through unplug from wall,
remove batteries, plug into wall, replace
batteries scenario again.
WHEN IT THIS GOING TO BE FIXED!!!!!
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DavidK - it's a vicious circle. If you keep
the CM15A unplugged from the computer the
clock gets messed up (but you have very good
RF range). If you keep it connected to the
computer the RF range becomes pathetically
short, but you have a synchronized clock.
Hmmmm.... choices, choices, choices!
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Julian
I used to be in the same vicious circle,
now I switched to PowerLinc 1132CUP
controller + software, and no more
problems, timers are correct and macros
work as expected, now I monitor this form
just for amusement, considering that the
price of the 1132CUP is a just a little
more than CM15a + smart macros, I am amazed
on how many people are willing to suffer
and not change to a better product.
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My Diag unit keeps great time uplugged from
the PC... Wonder if it may be a combination
of poor design and poor 60cycle power ? I
bet X10 is workign feverishly to get a new
design out. The current one cannot keep
up... no way... adding my 5th motion sensor
proved that in my home...
SteveRF
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David K: As I have said before, the problem
with the clock gaining time is a hardware
design flaw where powerline noise can cause
the clock to run fast. A software update
will not fix that problem. There are only
four ways to fix the problem:
1. Fix the CM15a to filter out the noise.
2. Update the CM15a to use a different
clock source (quartz crystal).
3. Update the firmware (in a recall) to
debounce the noise out of the clock signal
4. Find the cause of the noise and filter
it at the source.
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Carmine,
What software comes with the powerlinc? Is
it any good? I like the look of AHP (nice
interface with clickable switches etc), but
I'm aware of many problems.
I believe also that it is line noise.
Dissconnect all TV's PC's etc on the same
circuit in your house or move the interface
to another location, then test it again.
You may be suprised to see a better clock
performance. Yes, X10 needs to fix this
however, there is no excuse.
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MP
If you purchase the 1132CUP you
get “Smarthome Manager Plus” equivalent to
AHP with smart macros; the interface is
different, no fancy graphic and no annoying
embedded advertising(and yes you get a CD +
you can download upgrades to you computer),
once you understand how it works, you can
make very complex macros( impossible with
AHP).
So far has worked flawless, I only connect
to the computer to change the program, the
clock is very accurate, and no battery to
replace ever, you can leave it unplugged
for months and the moment you plug back in
it will work, no need to connect to the
computer.
I have several complex macros, I was unable
to create equivalent functionality using
AHP, all triggered by motion detector (
using both motion and the dark command
combined).AHP has only 3 conditions,
Smarthome has no limit( you just use more
memory; another great feature ( hard to
understand for first time user)
is “Sequences”; if you have a series of
commands used in more than one macros
(conditions, delay,event step …) you can
create a sequence the just include the name
in the macro, it used as a subroutine.
The CM15a will eventually be redesigned,
even the Microcontroller used has serious
flaw, and the vendor(Cypress) will not fix
it, and there is no reliable work around.
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MP - You asked about the software appearance
for 1132CU. You can download Smarthome
Essential (fewer conditions) software for
free from Smarthome (of course, it won't run
anything since you don't have a 1132) but you
can see, look and feel. Is it as graphically
pretty?....no. Didn't take me long to warm
up to it though - and my favorite thing? - it
works.