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[Vorth]

I've searched on here for the KR15A and read a lot of different things and I'm confused.  So here is my situation.  I recently got the DS7000 security package, had a little trouble with the Window/Door sensors in AHP, I got some great help on here for that Thanks everyone!  Everything is working great.  So I order a couple of the KR15A Big Red Panic Button.  My understanding from reading documentation on the web, and that came with it, is that you can program it to send an X10 RF Command.  Set to send A1 for example so that it can turn on lights.  Now mine works great to the DS7000 security console on triggering the panic.  However I never see the A1, A1 ON, or anything else when I just push it to send an X10 command.  Range shouldn't be problem as I'm tried as close at a few inches to my CM15A. 

So my questions:
Will the CM15A pickup the X10 RF signal from a KR15A?
Does the KR15A send an A1, or a A1 ON RF command?

I have 3 of these, I'd like to use 1 as a doorbell so it will ring the door chimes I have.  Then the other 2 to connect to the DS7000 console as true panic buttons. 

[BVD]

Vorth,
From what I see in the instructions you would probably not see it in active home pro unless you install it like you would a D/W module. When you installed it in your security system it assigned it a address. If you go to tools find other computers and put your mouse on the little squares you should be able to locate it. As for the other buttons I think I would change the house code and the unit codes to something like P9 and try them again.

Hope this helps
Bob

[Vorth]

The KR15A sends wireless Radio Frequency (RF) signals to an X10 Transceiver (RR501 or
TM751) or any X10 security system base console, which receives the RF signals from the
KR15A and passes them onto your house wiring. These signals are then received by X10 Remote
Sirens and Lamp, Appliance, or Wall Switch Modules to control lights (or appliances) around
your home.

Install two AAA alkaline batteries inside the battery compartment. The KR15A defaults to
Housecode A and Unit Code 1, so if that’s what code you want it to control, you are finished
setting up the KR15A.

Plug in an X10 security system base console (sold separately) or an X10 RF Transceiver (model
RR501 or TM751, sold separately) and set it to Housecode A.
Plug a lamp into an X10 Lamp Module (sold separately) and set it to Housecode A and Unit
Code 1. Plug the module into any AC outlet.

Optionally plug a Remote Siren, Model SH10A into any convenient AC outlet. Set it to A1 also.
Press the large red button on the KR15A. The lamp connected to any X10 Module set to A1 will
turn on. Hold the red button for a few seconds and the SH10A siren will start “dinging.” Hold the
button for still longer and the SH10A’s siren will sound a loud alarm. The siren will stop a few
seconds after you release the button.

If you own an X10 security system you can install the KR15A into the Console just like you
would any other remote control, door/window sensor, or motion sensor. Just place the Console in
the INSTALL mode and press the red button on the KR15A for several seconds (until the
Console chimes). Then place the Console in the RUN mode. Now when you press (and hold) the
red button, first the Lamp Module will turn on, then the SH10A will ding, then the SH10A will
alarm, then the security system’s console will trip. The Console will then call a friend/neighbor,
or call ORCA Monitoring Services, depending on which model of security system you own.

These are the instructions on the Big Red Button Remote.  My reading of this is that it will send out an X10 RF command, and that if you continue to press it, it will send out an X10 Security RF command. Now for the X10 Security RF command it would have to be installed to a Security Console.  I'm wondering if my CM15A just doesn't pick up this command for some reason and I have to have an RR501 or TM751 in order to pickup the signal and transmit it.  Has anyone had any luck doing this?

[Brian H]

When you first push the red button it sends an RF On to the address it is set to.
Then it sends a set of bight dim comands to the address. If a small small powerhorn siren is also on the address it will start to ding dong.
Hold it longer and the signals change to trigger the Powerhorn siren. Both the SH10A and the PH508.
I have no data on what it sends if linked to a security console, but most likely a security panic message.
The CM15A should see the standard signals sent when the button is first pushed, if it is set to tranceive that house code it would also pass the signals back to the power line.

[ChrisJ]

I am using a Big red button (B3) to to turn on lamp A9 but it does not transmit anything.  My monitored house code is "D", I tried setting it to Auto (A-E) and just to A but it still will not activate.

Chris

[Brian H]

Does it show up in the Activity Monitor?
Try it closer to the CM15A as the interface may not be receiving the KR15As transmission.

[Bilcor]

I have been trying to setup one of the KR15A units for a Door Bell and have had no luck.  The only time that I see the signal from it is when it sends the third sequence then the sequence that the led stays lit.  I really need to have the RF when the button is pressed the first time.  I have ordered some of the Window sensors and I plan to maybe use then with a push button on the door.  Has anyone tried this?

Billy

[Brian H]

The door and window sensors send a signal when the input is opened. Normally by moving the magnet away from the switch. Also it is a security code so it will have to be detected and decoded. Maybe On Alert plug in or WGL V572RF32. It can map Security codeds to standard X10 addressed on and off commands.

[Charles Sullivan]

The "Standard" X10 RF signals transmitted by a KR15A are _slightly different_ from Standard X10 RF signals transmitted by other devices, e,g,, by an HR12A PalmPad or an SS13A Stick-a-Switch.

These "Standard" KR15A signals are recognized and transceived by a TM751 or RR501 Transceiver despite the difference.  I haven't checked to see how (or if) they are received or transceived by a CM15A (either with or without the OnAlert AHP plug-in).

[Brian H]

Yes the KR15A can send standard X10 signals and is unique in its ability to also be registered with a Security Console.
Did a short test of commands from a KR15A.
Test of a KR15A. TR751 transceiver and a SH10A small siren module.
Data captured with a Smarthome 1132CU controller with software.
Big Red Button being held continuously.

Captured data:                                     Notes on data:

R: B1 - 6:16:40 PM 1/16/2010            Send an On to SH10A
R: BOn - 6:16:40 PM 1/16/2010
R: BBright - 6:16:41 PM 1/16/2010     Bright command causes SH10A to Ding
R: BBright - 6:16:42 PM 1/16/2010
R: BBright - 6:16:44 PM 1/16/2010
R: B1 - 6:16:46 PM 1/16/2010           Commands form here down put SH10A in panic mode
R: BOn - 6:16:46 PM 1/16/2010         It will screech for four minutes even if the commands stop.
R: B1 - 6:16:47 PM 1/16/2010
R: BOn - 6:16:47 PM 1/16/2010
R: B1 - 6:16:48 PM 1/16/2010
R: BOn - 6:16:48 PM 1/16/2010
R: B1 - 6:16:49 PM 1/16/2010
R: BOn - 6:16:49 PM 1/16/2010
R: B1 - 6:16:50 PM 1/16/2010
R: BOn - 6:16:50 PM 1/16/2010
R: B1 - 6:16:51 PM 1/16/2010
R: BOn - 6:16:52 PM 1/16/2010
R: B1 - 6:16:56 PM 1/16/2010
R: BOn - 6:16:56 PM 1/16/2010
R: BBright - 6:16:56 PM 1/16/2010

My reference to security codes was for the door and window sensor mention earlier in the thread.

[Charles Sullivan]

Brian,
This gets curiouser and curiouser!!!

Using a KR15A, RR501, and SH10A, I get the same results you've reported, i.e., "Dings" and siren "Screech".

I've previously mentioned that the Standard X10 signals from the KR15A, differ slightly from other X10 transmitters, having 33 bits versus 32 bits for the other transmitters.  Using an RFXCOM RF receiver (no RR501) and ignoring the extra bit, the signals resulting from pressing and holding the KR15A button are reported by Heyu (Linux software) as follows:

01/17 13:07:09   snda addr unit       4 : hu A4
01/17 13:07:09   snda func           On : hc A
01/17 13:07:10   snda func       Bright : hc A bright %06  -> Ding
01/17 13:07:10   snda func          Dim : hc A dim %06     -> Dong !!!
01/17 13:07:11   snda func       Bright : hc A bright %06  -> Ding
01/17 13:07:11   snda func          Dim : hc A dim %06     -> Dong !!!
01/17 13:07:12   snda func       Bright : hc A bright %06  -> Ding
01/17 13:07:13   rcva func        Panic : hu C1            -> Mapped to C1
01/17 13:07:14   snda addr unit       4 : hu A4
01/17 13:07:15   snda func           On : hc A
01/17 13:07:15   snda addr unit       4 : hu A4
01/17 13:07:16   snda func           On : hc A
01/17 13:07:17   snda addr unit       4 : hu A4
01/17 13:07:17   snda func           On : hc A             -> 4-minute SH10A Screech starts
01/17 13:07:18   snda addr unit       4 : hu A4
01/17 13:07:18   snda func           On : hc A
01/17 13:07:19   snda addr unit       4 : hu A4
01/17 13:07:19   snda func           On : hc A             -> Release button
01/17 13:07:30   rcva func        Panic : hu C1           -> Another Panic signal 10-14 seconds after releasing button

The RR501 and TM751 evidently ignore the (33 bit) Dim signal transmitted by a KR15A !!!

Looking closer at the SH10A by itself, I've found that I can start it screeching by _rapidly_ sending a sequence of three "A4 On" commands from either Heyu or from an SC503 "MaxiController".  The screeching will last for 4 minutes but can be terminated early with an Off signal or an AllUnitsOff signal.

[Brian H]

The SH10A Manual does give the Ding and Dong information.
No place have I seen documented the panic type screeching.

Are yours fairly new? I told a few users about the panic screeching and they could not get theirs to do it.

[Charles Sullivan]

The SH10A Manual does give the Ding and Dong information.
No place have I seen documented the panic type screeching.

Are yours fairly new? I told a few users about the panic screeching and they could not get theirs to do it.

The Panic signal (which is a Security X10 RF signal) has nothing to do with the SH10A screeching, at least as far as Heyu is concerned.  (Unless I tell Heyu to do something when it receives the Panic signal - which I haven't - it just reports receiving it.)   I don't know what an X10 Security Console might do when it receives the KR15A Panic signal.

What starts the SH10A screeching is the three (or more) "A4 On" signals.   I later found that I could also start the screeching using the RR501 and just holding down the "A4 On" button on a HR12A PalmPad.  The TM751 Transceiver uses a different counting algorithm from the RR501 and may or may not behave the same.   But if you get the screeching with your TM751, KR15A, and SH10A, you'll probably also get it by holding down a PalmPad On button.

I previously thought the only way to activate the SH10A screeching was by sending two or more repetitions of On + Off or AllLightsOn + AllUnitsOff.  And if you do that it stops screeching a few seconds after the last repetition.   The three On signals keep the screeching going for 4 minutes without clogging the powerline with PLC for that whole time.

The date code sticker on my SH10A is 00L52; on my RR501 it's 03I37.

[Brian H]

My description of panic screeching was a poor choice of words.
I had also seen the three On commands in a row trigger it.
Undocumented feature or a glitch in the firmware?

Do you remember seeing messages that some Chime Modules could also be made to screech? That one I was never able to duplicate.

[Charles Sullivan]

My description of panic screeching was a poor choice of words.
I had also seen the three On commands in a row trigger it.
Undocumented feature or a glitch in the firmware?

Do you remember seeing messages that some Chime Modules could also be made to screech? That one I was never able to duplicate.

I'm sure it's an undocumented feature of the SH10A, put in there so they could make it screech with the KR15A or possibly with a Security Console.   Otherwise a continuous stream of On+Off or LightsOn+UnitsOff required to keep the siren screeching would prevent any other X10 signals from getting through.

I discovered several years ago that if I sent any two extended code signals within a short time to a SC546A Chime (at least to the one I own) that it would screech like a siren, and the screech couldn't be stopped other than by unplugging the Chime (or as I recently discovered, by waiting 4 minutes).  The two signals need only be on the same housecode as the chime - the unit code doesn't matter.  I'm sure this is a firmware bug which may have been fixed with later firmwares.  (Just configuring an LM14A in AHP would start the screeching.)  The date code sticker on my SC546A is 04A02.

(I can't get a screech out of the Chime with just On signals.)