Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length

Author Topic: X10 signal meter (e.g. ELK ESM1).  (Read 11161 times)

neo11

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 1
  • Posts: 31
  • Bitbucket sinkhole
X10 signal meter (e.g. ELK ESM1).
« on: July 01, 2010, 03:37:12 PM »

Anyone know of a replacement for the ELK ESM1 signal monitoring device ?
Trying to troubleshoot some maddening inermittent X10 signal problems.
 This thing appears to be discontinued ( As is everything I really want lately). :'(
 Trying to avoid monkeying around with a Scope and the 120vac power line .
Logged
Working  -:)

HA Dave

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Helpful Post Rating: 175
  • Posts: 7127
Re: X10 signal meter (e.g. ELK ESM1).
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2010, 03:46:28 PM »

Anyone know of a replacement for the ELK ESM1 signal monitoring device ?
Trying to troubleshoot some maddening inermittent X10 signal problems.

Jeff Volp (from here at the forum) makes one! Knightrider (also from here at the forum) purchased [and assemabled] one. He asked me to review it for thisautomatedhouse.com which I was happy to do. I was impressed with the unit.
« Last Edit: July 02, 2010, 05:59:02 PM by Dave_x10_L »
Logged
Home Automation is an always changing technology

systemdm

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Helpful Post Rating: 17
  • Posts: 76
Re: X10 signal meter (e.g. ELK ESM1).
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2010, 04:06:44 PM »

Check this thread for links.  They still sell it or rent it......


http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=18494.0
Logged

neo11

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 1
  • Posts: 31
  • Bitbucket sinkhole
Re: X10 signal meter (e.g. ELK ESM1).
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2010, 04:18:29 PM »

Anyone know of a replacement for the ELK ESM1 signal monitoring device ?
Trying to troubleshoot some maddening inermittent X10 signal problems.

Jeff Volp (from here at the forum) makes one! Knightrider (also from here at the forum) purchased [and assemabled] one. He asked me to review it for thisautomatedhouse.com which I was happy to to. I was impressed with the unit.

Great. going to the site to check it out  :)% Looks like this is the only affordable option. Thanks!  >!
Logged
Working  -:)

Brian H

  • Community Organizer
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 305
  • Posts: 13295
Re: X10 signal meter (e.g. ELK ESM1).
« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2010, 06:29:46 PM »

I also have an XTBM and I am very happy with it.
The only other X10 meter that maybe in production is much more costly. Monterrey was the name.

I also have an ELM ESM1 and though OK. The XTBM is much more versatile.

I believe Automated Outlet may still have the ESM1.
Logged

neo11

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 1
  • Posts: 31
  • Bitbucket sinkhole
Re: X10 signal meter (e.g. ELK ESM1).
« Reply #5 on: July 01, 2010, 06:42:06 PM »

I also have an XTBM and I am very happy with it.
The only other X10 meter that maybe in production is much more costly. Monterrey was the name.

I also have an ELM ESM1 and though OK. The XTBM is much more versatile.

I believe Automated Outlet may still have the ESM1.


Thanks you are right the automated outlet still lists a ESM1 but if I go for a sig
meter , I think it'd be better to go with the XTBM kit. I aint afraid of a solder
pencil. Been fixing laptops for a long while. Can't be harder then that  ;D. Plus
the ESM1 price is in the same range as the XTBM. Hope XTB  has the kit parts still.
Logged
Working  -:)

Brian H

  • Community Organizer
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 305
  • Posts: 13295
Re: X10 signal meter (e.g. ELK ESM1).
« Reply #6 on: July 01, 2010, 06:59:38 PM »

The XTBM s much easier to work on than a Laptop or Two Way Radio Portable.
I use to fix Two Way Radios of the mobile style. The portables where too small for me.  ;D
I went the XTBM Kit route and it was not difficult at all to assemble.
I did an XTB-IIR Kit also.

I do like all the XTBM features and the ability to send a signal at power up to trigger a repeater really helps. You can plug it in and read a signal back all at the sametime. I have also found a EarthLed EvoLux S LED bulb so noisy it reads the full scale of .99 volts noise. I am sure it is even higher than that, as it causes a .3 volt noise reading in just about the whole house. The .99 volt noise being in the same outlet as the bulb is connected to.
« Last Edit: July 01, 2010, 07:09:21 PM by Brian H »
Logged

Charles Sullivan

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Helpful Post Rating: 94
  • Posts: 1565
    • HEYU - X10 Automation for Linux, Unix, and Mac OSX
Re: X10 signal meter (e.g. ELK ESM1).
« Reply #7 on: July 01, 2010, 09:08:33 PM »


I have an Elk ESM1 and I'm not very impressed by it.  I'd definitely go with the XTBM if I needed to buy another X10 signal meter.
Logged
Yesterday it worked.
Today it doesn't work.
X10 on Windows is like that.

HEYU - X10 Automation for Linux, Unix, and Mac OS X     http://www.heyu.org

dbemowsk

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Helpful Post Rating: 21
  • Posts: 428
    • PHP Web Scripting
Re: X10 signal meter (e.g. ELK ESM1).
« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2010, 10:20:29 AM »

I too went the route of purchasing and assembling the XTBM.  I agree that it is very easy to assemble.  The information that it presents is extremely helpful and has helped me trace down several issues. 

I do not have any of the other X10 metering equipment to make comparisons, but I can say that the XTBM was well worth the $$$.
Logged
Dan Bemowski
Owner of PHP Web Scripting LLC
Programmer of RemoteWatch X10
User of any X10 products I can get my hands on.

neo11

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 1
  • Posts: 31
  • Bitbucket sinkhole
Re: X10 signal meter (e.g. ELK ESM1).
« Reply #9 on: July 02, 2010, 04:07:16 PM »

As always in my experience, people on these forums have a wealth of information and
experience that they freely share with newbies. I find that this makes working with
X10 technology and equipment most enjoyable and gives great answers to questions.
:)% You guys are the best  #:) . Had to give thanks and acknowledge all who have
commented about your experiences. Bottom line . I would be an idiot not to go with
the XTBM device judging from the responses I have read so far.  I don't think I am
an idiot so.. I am going with what the group says is the best device XTBM.
Thanks U all  8)
Logged
Working  -:)

dave w

  • Community Organizer
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 139
  • Posts: 6116
Re: X10 signal meter (e.g. ELK ESM1).
« Reply #10 on: July 05, 2010, 09:28:30 PM »

I am going with what the group says is the best device XTBM.
Thanks U all  8)

Add my vote for the XTBM. It is a great unit.

I know it is disrespectful to bad mouth the dead, but compared to the XTBM, the old Elk meter is poo-poo. However when they first came out, back in the 90's, they were the greatest invention since the Dust Buster and the Coors "Cold Activated Can".  rofl
Logged
"This aftershave makes me look fat"

JeffVolp

  • Community Organizer
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Helpful Post Rating: 122
  • Posts: 2299
    • XTB Home Page
Re: X10 signal meter (e.g. ELK ESM1).
« Reply #11 on: July 05, 2010, 10:48:46 PM »

I bought an ESM1 back before it became an Elk product.  It was indeed a handy tool for those of us who were fighting X10 problems.  I just wish I had it when I started to expand my X10 system 20 years ago.

When the ESM1 and TesterLinc were discontinued, I originally set out to pretty much duplicate the ESM1 functionality.  However, like the way the XTB gradually evolved into the XTB-IIR, the simple LED bargraph tester evolved into the XTBM.  Since noise is such a serious problem today, much of the XTBM development went into identifying potential noise problems.

Jeff
Logged
X-10 automation since the BSR days
 

X10.com | About X10 | X10 Security Systems | Cameras| Package Deals
© Copyright 2014-2016 X10.com All rights reserved.