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[Tuicemen]

Thanks. I don't want the distraction right now so have only looked at it briefly but the fact that it compiles to machine language across so many diverse platforms is truly impressive.

I figured you had only looked at it briefly that's why I downloaded it and looked at it.
The fact that it has some web samples does look promising.
However until you have a prototype ready its ability to work as you expect is just speculation.
Also just wanted to confirm I'm still interested in, and following, your progress!
 

[dhouston]

Initial PCBs are on order and should ship in a week or so. These will allow me to build a few prototypes for alpha testing and maybe even for beta testing by others, if all goes well.

[Tuicemen]

 
Count me in!
 

[dhouston]

Count me in!

If I can utilize the ESP8266 WiFi module, this should handle most of your off-grid needs. I expect it to use <2W with peaks of 4-5W when transmitting WiFi or sending PLC.

[Tuicemen]

Awesome!
That will be even better then running my android mini pc or my thin client.

[dhouston]

My initial batch of PCBs should arrived today - they're at my local FedEx facility. Some components coming from Mouser should arrive today/tomorrow. A Digi-Key order has already arrived.

If there are no major mistakes (I caught a couple of minor ones after sending the gerbers.) nor any health issues, I should be ready to test things later this week.

I haven't explored things in depth but, right now, it looks like Bluetooth will be a piece-of-cake while WiFi looks a bit more like fruitcake. There may be some ZBasic developments regarding support for the ESP8266 WiFi module which could help considerably. I have found a USB-Serial cable that I can terminate with an RJ-11 plug to match the controller's input jack.

[dhouston]

If there are no major mistakes...

So much for wishful thinking. Apparently, without realizing it, I used a datasheet bottom view of the pinout for the 6P6C modular jacks used for the links between controller and PLC Interfaces. As it's all isolated low voltage, I can work around it for my testing but it does blow a hole in my budget as I cannot use any of the PCBs beyond my own testing.

Oh well, if I make no more major mistakes...  

[dhouston]

Things are progressing, albeit slowly.

We've redesigned the controller as a shield that fits an Arduino Mega2560 R3 that we have lobotomized, replacing the Arduino bootloader with a ZBasic bootloader and installing our compiled ZBasic firmware. The cost for Arduino + PLC Shield will be about the same as we projected for a standalone controller but the new approach is an order of magnitude more powerful, allowing simultaneous highspeed USB, RS232, WiFi and Bluetooth links, nearly 10 times the firmware capacity and some 51 50 excess MCU pins (15 ADC, 36 35 DIO) that we have yet to find a use for as well as I2C and SPI. Our goal is to minimize cost while maximizing utility and versatility.

The webpage has been updated.
http://davehouston.org/ultimate-X10.htm

It will be another 6-8 weeks before beta units will be ready.

[dhouston]

While I have a ZBasic Generic License ($200) that allows me to compile ZBasic programs for any of the supported Atmel chips, I would like to use their free compiler for this application. So, Don Kinzer of ZBasic is exploring the possibility of morphing an Arduino Mega2560 R3 into a ZX device (i.e. supported by the free compiler). If he is successful, it will allow others to modify/maintain the firmware using the free compiler once I'm no longer able to do so.

And, as I noted in another thread, I expect to order prototype PCBs next week. So things progress, slowly.

The web page has been updated. http://davehouston.org/ultimate-X10.htm

[dhouston]

OK - both an Arduino UNO R3 and an Arduino mega2560 R3 have been persuaded to function as ZX devices - which can be programmed with the free version of ZBasic. I should have one of each in a week or so. I hope to have hardware to test by the end of the month and be ready for beta testing by June.

[Tuicemen]

  Put me on the top of the list when your ready for testing and or release builds!
 

[dhouston]

You are atop a very short list.

But, there may be a delay for the Arduino-ish versions. See...
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=28628.msg163492#new

Wanna be on the CM15A2Z beta list? It will use the Zbasic bootloader and will use pretty much the same ZBasic source code but will require the ZBasic Generic License for any firmware modifications.

[han]

Hi,
I'm wondering if someone was succesfull in building a module based on my X10 receiver (www.zigbeedomotica.nl/x10-receiver ) and/or transmitter (www.zigbeedomotica.nl/x10-transmitter ) design. Or maybee used part of the hardware design.
Hope to get some feedback ..
Regards,
Han