X-10 System with BoosterLinc - Now All Wonky Fior No Apparent Reason!

[frankc23]

I have an X-10 system in my home with appliance modules controlling exterior landscape lighting. I have a BoosterLincâ,,¢ Plug-In X10 Signal Booster which I needed for the initial installation, as my home is rather sprawling. I control it with either my ActiveHome CM11A or manually with several X-10 plug-in controllers around the house. It has all been working fine for the past 3 years since installation.

A few weeks ago, for no apparent reason, the modules started turning themselves on or off at the wrong times and the controllers do not have any effect on the appliance modules 90% of the time. Intermittently, they will work, but I'm not sure why.

I can't think of anything that changed to have this happen.

I see a lot of troubleshooting resources here, but can't seem to locate specific help. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Frank

[dave w]

If me, I would trouble shoot for a noise problem first, and a bad CM11 second. Remember back when your modules started getting erratic. What did you get new that plugged in to outlet?

[frankc23]

Nothing new was added that I can remember. That's my problem!

[Charles Sullivan]

Do you see any activity on the LED of the BoosterLinc when the system is expected to be idle?

Does unplugging either the BoosterLinc or the CM11A  make any difference in the ability to control the appliance modules with the plug-in controllers?

Try unplugging each of the plug-in controllers in turn to see if the other controllers can control the appliance modules.

[frankc23]

Well, I unplugged the CM11a and left it unplugged for a few hours. All seemed to work fine at that point. Then I plugged it in again and all continues to work fine. I hope this sticks.
Thanks for your help!

[Dan Lawrence]

Just out of curiosity, what O/S is on the PC with the CM11A connected?  Have you considered Active Home Pro and the USB CM15A interface?

[Charles Sullivan]

Well, I unplugged the CM11a and left it unplugged for a few hours. All seemed to work fine at that point. Then I plugged it in again and all continues to work fine. I hope this sticks.
Thanks for your help!

BTW, one thing that can cause the CM11A to start acting screwy is disconnecting the serial cable at the PC end and leaving it connected at the CM11A end.

To cure the worst case requires unplugging the CM11A from the wall and removing the batteries for 45 minutes or so.

[frankc23]

I am using Mac OS 10.5.5 with Thinking home software...

[Dan Lawrence]

"Thinking Home v2.0 supports some of the most popular new hardware, including both PowerLinc V2 models, ActiveHome Pro (CM-15A) and more than 75 other models of gadgets and scores of USB serial adapters."

Sounds like you do need to get a CM15A (I don't know if X10 will sell just the CM15A without AHP, which is for Windows only, but you could call X10 and see) since you see Thinking Home v2 supports it.  Its USB and better than the CM11A, which is no longer in production.