X10 Community Forum
🖥️ActiveHome Pro => ActiveHome Pro General => Topic started by: showson1 on December 31, 2005, 08:24:59 PM
-
Hi all!
I got a two prong appliance module (AM486).
I'm using house code C and for some reason I
can only get the module to respond to C1.
If I set it for any other number (4, 5,
etc...) it doesn't respond for AHP or the remote.
Anyone have any idea what would cause
something like this?
Thanks for any info.
-
This is the only module with this problem?
Can you try it on another house code and
different unit codes. That would test and
see if the Unit Code Wheel was the problem.
If units 2-16 on another house code didn't
work then the unit wheel has a problem.
Note M13 is the code where no wheels have to
make a connection. So a test on M13 may also
work.
-
Ok, I figured this out, but it's strange.
I have an RTM75 (same as TM751) receiver
set to house code C. Apparently these
things default to unit code 1 (and don't
see a way to change that).
I had that device and the appliance module
in the same room, different outlets, but
same room.
If I set the appliance module to C1 and
then turned it on.. I'd hear the RTM75 and
the appliance module both click on (RTM75
first every time).
If I set the appliance module to ANYTHING
else.. any house code, any unit code, it
wouldn't work.
I moved the RTM75 to a different room, now
I can set the appliance module to any
house/unit code.
I'm very new to X10 so not sure why this
would happen. If anyone has any ideas
PLEASE let me know.
Thanks!
-
Try this:
Unplug the CM15A from the wall socket and
remove the batteries (removing one will do -
they're in series) for a few seconds.
Replace the batteries and plug it in again.
Let us know if that makes any difference.
-
I tried this and it didn't have any effect.
It's something with the RTM75. Whatever
room I have that in, I lose remote control
over devices in that room.. I can still
control Via software through the CM15A.
I have the transceiver on the CM15A turned
off and am using only the RTM75 transceiver.
It's really odd.. as soon as I move the
RTM75 I get control over the devices that I
didn't have control over before.. but
whatever is in the same room with the
transceiver, I can't control via RF anymore.
Anyone have any ideas?
-
showson: That is a strange one. What
happens if the CM15A is unplugged? Will the
modules start working then? Also try
unplugging the RTM75 (and plugging in the
CM15A) to see if the problem is caused by
another transceiver.
-
With CM15A transceiving disabled, open the
AHP Activity Monitor window. What power line
signals do you see there when you send the RF
signals with a remote? Try with the RTM75 in
the same room and in a different room and
note any differences.
-
The Activity monitor shows the on and off
commands for the module, but it doesn't
turn on or off.. yet if I click on and of
from AHP it works fine..
-
Ok.. just tried a few more times and most
of the time it shows just C4 On and C4 off,
but sometimes it shows C4 PTZOn or C4 PTZOff
-
Well, did more testing and it looks like
the room has nothing to do with it.
There are three combinations:
1) Everything works but Xmas tree in living
room.
2) Everything works but bedside lamp
3) Everything works but bedside lamp and
office lamp
Not sure what the deal is, but I've tried
just about every outlet in the house and
those are the combinations with the RTM75.
The correct code gets sent, but nothing
happens.. but I can still control through
software.
Does it have something to do with noise
maybe? I thought maybe had to do with the
phase, but they all work from AHP through
the CM15A.. I just don't understand what's
going on.
If I have the CM15A and the RTM75 both set
to tranceive on C, will that cause problems?
I don't have it set that way now, but was
going to try it.
Thanks.
-
I looked at a picture of the RTM75 kit on the
Internet. The remote seems to be different
from the usual HR12A PalmPad and I don't
understand how it's different.
Just for the heck of it try this:
In AHP, File > New.
Drag in the VCR Commander module and set its
address to C4.
This is an RF receiver module and AHP will
send RF On and Off commands to it when you
click on the Record and Stop buttons. See
whether the results differ from using the
remote. (My recollection is that AHP does NOT
send a power line signal to the VCR
Commander, but I'm not booted up into Windows
now so can't double check.)
-
Ok.. it's noise.
I started unplugging things that I thought
would generate a lot of noise on the line
and it turns out it's a combination of my
computer setup and my printer.
I have a PowerMac G5, Windows PC and some
perifs on a surge protector and also have a
HP Laserjet 4050 printer.
Unplugged the surge protector, light still
wouldn't work. Unplugged the printer, light
works. Plugged the surge protector back in
(with printer unplugged) and light wouldn't
work.
Soo.. I'm going to order three of those
plug in noise filters.. one for the surge
protector, one for the printer and one for
another device I have that may be making
noise.
I'll post back if the filters work.
Thanks to Aaron at X10 support for the
excellent help!
-
Showson1; One thing on the tranceiiver. If
it is the retail version of the TM751. It
has no powerline receiver in it. So only RF
Remote commands will turn it on or off. An
an on or off from a powerline signal will
not make it change state. That is also why
it is not polite like the cm15a. If the
cm15a sees a line signal it should wait for
the powerline to clear. The TM751 will
gleefully step on any X10 signals on the
line.
-
Showson: "Ok.. it's noise. "
Actually, it's more likely the opposite- the
line filter in the printer suppresses the
high frequency X10 signal.
I have a similar problem in my living room
with the Sony TV. Plug it in and it kills
most signals from the TM751. I have built a
toroidal transformer "filter" for the TV
power. Instead of being a low-impedance
filter that kills high frequencies, it's a
high-impedance to high frequencies, which
isolates the TV with it's low-impedance
noise filter inside.
-
Mitch; Same goes for my APC BX1000 Ups.
Sucked up all my signal thill I added a
filter. Though I actually had a cheap power
supply in friends computer that made so much
noise it actually killed radio stations and
all X10 signals.
-
Hey Brian,
Actually the RTM75 does turn on and off via
the power line signal. I have it set for
housecode C and if I send on or off signal
(through RF or from the PC with CM15A
connected) it goes on and off.
Wonder if that's a difference between it and
the TM751?
-
showson1: The CM15A has an RF transmitter and
the AHP software is smart enough to know that
to control a TM751 (and presumably a RTM75)
that it must send a RF ON and OFF commands.
You would have to either configure the RTM75
as an appliance module in AHP or use a
plug-in controller to verify if it responds
to powerline commands.
-
Maybe different then as the TM751 only does
RF.