Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[x10wizard]

Does anyone have experience using the JVDE XTB-IIR Booster/Repeater along with a Powerlinc 1132CU X10 Controller?

I use a Powerlinc 1132CU as the X10 controller in my home that has about 50 X10 devices.  With a Signalinc 2406H Phase Coupler, two Smarthome 4827 Boosterlincs, and about a dozen X10 filters, I get mostly adequate X10 signal levels throughout the house.  However, there are a couple circuits where in spots the signal level measures only about 40mv.  I have already optimized the placement of the controller and the boosterlincs.

It is my understanding that a XTB-IIR (in place of the phase coupler and boosterlincs) would boost signal levels substantially throughout the house.  Except that Jeff Volp's writeup on the XTB-IIR specifically recommends against using a 1132:
"The bandpass filter will attenuate out-of-band noise, but line transients can still make it through, and are amplified. Devices sensitive to noise, such as the PowerLinc 1132, may not work well with any of the XTB units."

Is my understanding of this correct, that the XTB-IIR will increase signal levels, but also noise levels, and so the 1132CU, which is a "polite" device, will actually miss some signals because it thinks the noise is a signal and it must wait for the line to clear?   

The XTB-IIR is rather expensive, too expensive to just buy one and try it out without knowing if the 1132CU would still function properly.  Many people in this and other forums have stated that the XTB-IIR solved all their X10 problems, but which X10 controller are they using?  The 1132CU?  The ISY994i?  Something else?

[Brian H]

I have an XTB-IIR and a 1132CU with Smarthome Manager Essentials. For X10 testing. So I can't give you a thorough evaluation. It does work fine anytime I use it to test things.

The XTB-IIR respects Insteon commands and does not falsely send what it through was an X10 command it received.

My main controller now is an ISY-994i and I still use a few X10 commands for things like chime modules. My Insteon devices are old enough to still allow an X10 address to be added. Latest ones are eliminating x10 support. So I also control them with a HR12A Palm Pad through an RR501.

My XTBM X10 meter shows a high X10 signal voltage almost everywhere in my home. Some over 9.99 volts the maximum voltage it can display. Even about a .5 volt one on an outlet with an LCD TV is connected and it signal sucks. About 2.5 volts X10 with it unplugged.
Jeff is a regular here and may give you more data.
You can also ask in his forums if you care to. http://jvde.us/forum/

[JeffVolp]

"The bandpass filter will attenuate out-of-band noise, but line transients can still make it through, and are amplified. Devices sensitive to noise, such as the PowerLinc 1132, may not work well with any of the XTB units."

Is my understanding of this correct, that the XTB-IIR will increase signal levels, but also noise levels, and so the 1132CU, which is a "polite" device, will actually miss some signals because it thinks the noise is a signal and it must wait for the line to clear?

That quote refers to the X10 Boost input.  That is isolated from the powerline by a low-pass filter so the XTB-IIR can distinguish X10 commands coming into the X10 Boost input from those received over the powerline.  A return signal bandpass amplifier passes powerline signals to the X10 Boost input so a 2-way controller can receive incoming commands.  That bandpass amplifier increases the signal level of incoming X10 commands, but it will also amplify line transients and powerline noise with content near the X10 transmission frequency of 120KHz.

Just don't plug the 1132CU directly into the XTB-IIR X10 Boost input and it should work fine.

Jeff

[x10wizard]

Thank you Jeff!   Now I can order the XTB-IIR and finally put an end to my weak signal problems.