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[Mysticle31]

Hey Guys. 

I'm trying to set up my first home Automation System.  To run an X10 trial I installed a used Leviton HCM06 switch and a used CM11A controller.  The switch and the controller are on the same breaker and in the same room.  It doesn't work. 

I pluged the CM11A into the serial port (com1) and set
In reality I think I have three optons.
 
1)  Something is wrong with the COM port on the computer. 
I plugged the CM11A into the serial port, which I hope is COM1.  I then installed a trial of HomeSeer and set it to COM1.  I also tried ActiveHome.  Anything special I need to do on the PC side that I missed?
2)  The CM11A is bad
3)  The HCM06 is bad.
It does turn the light on and off as well as brighten and dim from the switch itself though.
4)  There is noise on the line. 
I do have a smartmeter.  How can  I fix that?  I also have my PC in this room.

Any ideas?  Tips? Comments?

[Mysticle31]

OK.  I figured it out.  I had a noisy transformer for a monitor.  All is well and working.


1) Say I'm at the device screen in HomeSeer:
If I click on. It will turn on, I even see a little popup that said a transmission occurred.
If I click off, it does nothing. I see no popup saying anything was transmitted. If I click on again, same thing. To get either of the buttons to work I have to go to another tab, like the log, then go back to status again.
If I adjust the brightness, that works. I can choose 0%, 100% or anywhere in between as many times as I like.

2) I cant poll it. I assume it's pollable because the profile I selected for the HCM06 allows polling and others don't. It says No Response. Interestingly, there is no entry in the log for any poll. Maybe the HCM06s dont do polling?  I want pollable switches. I hope the WS12As, WS13a, and FanLincs are pollable.

This actually could be a HomeSeer issue and not X10 itself, so I think I'm going to investigate there too.

[dave w]

  I want pollable switches. I hope the WS12As, WS13a, and FanLincs are pollable.

This actually could be a HomeSeer issue and not X10 itself, so I think I'm going to investigate there too.

X10 does not make 2-way anything anymore. So you need to look at Smarthome or what ever Levington are left on the market. FanLinc might be pollable but WS12 and WS13 are one way (receive) only.

[Brian H]

Insteon X10 support is based on an "old" x10 protocol similar to that used by the PCS Smartswitches. These devices used "preset Dim" and standard "Dim" commands.
X10 brand, Leviton, and other manufacturers conform to a "newer" X10 standard that uses "extended code Direct Dim" and standard "Dim" commands.
Most of these devices will not respond to the "preset Dim" commands.
You should be able to control Insteon Dimmer devices with the full On then Dim down procedure.
When you poll a dimmer. It will report On and a preset dim value.
 
Insteon 2476D SwitchLinc Dimmer.
Added X10 address A8.
Log from Smarthome 1133CU. Software Smarthome Manager Essentials.
Local Button On:
R: A8 - 9:31:17 AM 2/12/2013
R: AOn - 9:31:17 AM 2/12/2013
Local Button Off:
R: A8 - 9:31:19 AM 2/12/2013
R: AOff - 9:31:19 AM 2/12/2013
Local Button. Dim up from Off:
R: A8 - 9:31:41 AM 2/12/2013
R: 45% Preset Dim 9:31:41 AM 2/12/2013
Status request:
T: A8 - 9:31:59 AM 2/12/2013
T: AStatus Request - 9:32:02 AM 2/12/2013
R: A8 - 9:32:03 AM 2/12/2013
R: AStatus=On - 9:32:03 AM 2/12/2013
R: A8 - 9:32:04 AM 2/12/2013
R: 45% Preset Dim 9:32:04 AM 2/12/2013
It reports On and a %dim level that some X10 software will not understand.

[dave w]

OK.  I figured it out.  I had a noisy transformer for a monitor.  All is well and working.


1) Say I'm at the device screen in HomeSeer:
If I click on. It will turn on, I even see a little popup that said a transmission occurred.
If I click off, it does nothing. I see no popup saying anything was transmitted. If I click on again, same thing. To get either of the buttons to work I have to go to another tab, like the log, then go back to status again.
If I adjust the brightness, that works. I can choose 0%, 100% or anywhere in between as many times as I like.

2) I cant poll it. I assume it's pollable because the profile I selected for the HCM06 allows polling and others don't. It says No Response. Interestingly, there is no entry in the log for any poll. Maybe the HCM06s dont do polling?  I want pollable switches. I hope the WS12As, WS13a, and FanLincs are pollable.

This actually could be a HomeSeer issue and not X10 itself, so I think I'm going to investigate there too.

#2. The "Status" (device) screen in the browser, has to be refreshed. It is refreshed when you go to another tab and then return. Same is true of the browser log. What is happening in the Homeseer real time log?

[Mysticle31]

I'm not sure how to access the real time log.  I just know of the "regular" log.  The one that comes up when I open HomeSeer and is saved as a little txt file.  

OK.  So they are not pollable.  I'll live with that.

I've ordered and installed a fanlinc.  It's not very reliable.  

I have.  All on the same room.  All on the same breaker
CM11A controller
HCM06 Switch for the hall light  ---A1
FanLinc for the Ceiling Fan  ---B5 for light B6 for fan.

The fanlinc may respond to 1 of 4 or 5 on commands.  On a good day.  When I installed it this morning it was working better.

If I switched to Insteon controller and insteon switches would reliability be better or would I run into the same issues since it's over powerline?

  

[Brian H]

Power line issues.
Like a computer or UPS on the same circuit and not isolated by a X10 type filter. Is one of many possibilities.
Insteon is not immune to power line issues. Though it passes message between each other for more reliable communications.

http://jvde.us/x10_troubleshooting.htm
http://www.act-remote.com/PCC/uncle.htm

[Mysticle31]

Awesome.  Thanks for the advice/help.  I'm going to go play.

Wow. Whatever Leviton did to make the noise filtering ability of their switch, it's good. That thing is reliable. I think of it working like squelch on a radio.

I unplugged everything in this room and reliably improved, but not 100%. I'll play some more.

It also seems to help if I wait a 5 count before issuing another command, if I am issuing them back to back.
Sometimes even the lights come on if I hit the fan or vice versa.

[Mysticle31]

Huh.  It must have been the FanLincs.  I installed some WS12As today and their reliablity is dang near 100% so far.  

I've noticed if I set the brightness on them in HomeSeer to 50% then turn them off, when I turn them on via the switch they go back to 50%.  That would be OK if I could double tap or something to get them to 100%.  Is there a way around that?  Maybe I'll just have to write a script that will keep track of homeseer brightness commands and if I dimmed a light just have it turn it on too 100% then off in the middle of the night

Well, if such a thing is possible.

[dave w]

Is there a way around that?  Maybe I'll just have to write a script that will keep track of homeseer brightness commands and if I dimmed a light just have it turn it on too 100% then off in the middle of the night

Well, if such a thing is possible.

You have figured out the work-around. Have homeseer reset the SoftStart modules to what ever you want at night.

[Brian H]

In 2007 X10 updated their wall switches for soft start and preset dim.
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Newer_WS467s_and_Preset_Dim

Also the FanLinc like all Insteon dimmers with an added X10 address. Use the X10 Preset Dim command and not the Extended X10 Messaging they used for their soft start modules. So Homeseer is going to have to issue a On and then a series of Dim commands to set the the light and fan connected to it.

[dave w]

Question to Mysticle31:

Does your FanLincs make motor buzz or hum when you slow it down?

[Mysticle31]

Nope.  It never buzzed.  I was never able to slow the fan down.  I tried Standard Dim, Preset Dim, Levitation Extended Dim, all no repsonce.

In the manual it says X10 - On/Off only.  It's kind of funny to read the chart, so it's easy to miss. 

The Light dimmed just fine.

I'm going to try and find a solution to this using other means, I think.