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[Tashtari]

So I'm working on a project that involves X10 interfacing using the PSC05 and referencing technicalnote.pdf, which says that ordinary (non-dimming, non-extended) X10 commands should be sent twice with three cycles in between.  When I do this with the PSC05, though, my CM11A detects the commands as being sent twice instead of once like it does with an ordinary plug-in X10 controller.

Is technicalnote.pdf wrong?  I've tried this both with "cycle" being defined as a single zero crossing (i.e. three zero crossings in total) and with "cycle" being defined as a full period of the sine wave (i.e. six zero crossings in total) and both give the same result.

The PSC05's receiver detects the doubling and suppresses the first of the two copies of the command, so I can't use it to figure out what's going on, and I have no other means of looking at the raw power line.

Anyone have any idea what I should be doing?  Thanks in advance.

[Tashtari]

D'oh, I think I just answered my own question...

NOTE 1. X-10 Receiver Modules require a "silence" of at least 3 power line cycles between each pair of 11 bit code transmissions (no gaps between each pair).

Verbiage is confusing as it first says three cycles between each pair, then no gaps between each pair, but I think what it's saying is that there's no gap between the two messages in a pair, but there must be a three-cycle gap (six zero crossings) between one pair and the next.  Indeed, that seems to work between the PSC05 and the CM11A.  I'm learning...

[brobin]

I think you might find the following very interesting reading:
https://jvde.us/x10-troubleshooting/

[Brian H]

Welcome to the X10 Forums.
The PSC05 is discontinued.
On Jeff's site linked above.
The XTB523 seems to be still available.
Has a few extra features like a much stronger X10 power line signal.  https://jvde.us/xtb-523/
His tutorials are a great set of information on X10.

[Brian H]

Dave Houston had a great site on X10 related topics.
I tried looking at his site that was on Laser but some of the files came up with some not English cookie settings so I backed out. Page on  PLC protocol file showed an Italian web site not Laser.
I did find what seems to be a archive site and it didn't show the cookie thing. Did not flag any warnings for me so I think it is fine
The X10 signals are frequently sent at zero crossing, 60 degrees and 120 degrees from zero crossing so that a three phase system has an X10 signal staring on its own zero crossing.
http://web.archive.org/web/20150801070913/http://davehouston.org/

[bkenobi]

Archive.org is 100% safe.  It's by far the most complete archive of web sites I've come across and highly encourage it's use whenever you need to find an old version of a page.  The only downside is that it does not always save all of the files.  It generally has all of the web pages and most pictures.  At least it gives the text most of the time!

[Brian H]

Thank you for the information on the archive web site.
The "X10 PLC Protocol" information is the one I found lots of good information in and it was the one on Laser with the Italian web site web address.

[Tashtari]

Thanks for the link!  Lots of good information there.

I know a lot of cool X10 stuff has been discontinued, but I have been keeping my eyes on ebay and such and have put together a modest collection.  I'm working on a Raspberry Pi hat for my own system that works with the PSC05/TW523/XTB523/&c., don't know if it will be of interest to anyone else, but I'm having fun and that's the important thing...

[Brian H]

Glad it was a help to you.
Yes. Many of the X10 and X10 compatible modules. From Smarthome, ELK, ACT (A10 protocol with X10 as base), earlier Insteon modules with optional X10 support, JV Digital ,WGL . Are now gone or close to gone.

We have a Raspberry PI developed by users here. Called the PiX10Hub.

I still have many of the modules in storage now and use Insteon. With modules that accept a Primary X10 address and a Palm Pad remote. WGL all house code receiver through an XTB-IIR's TW523 emulation port and phase coupler. Few FilterLinc filters in the mix also. Using a UDI ISY994i controller.

[JeffVolp]

Yes. Many of the X10 and X10 compatible modules. From Smarthome, ELK, ACT (A10 protocol with X10 as base), earlier Insteon modules with optional X10 support, JV Digital ,WGL . Are now gone or close to gone.

I still have an inventory of hundreds of older X10 and Leviton X10 compatible devices.  Just ask if you are looking for something.  The XTBR, XTB-ANR, XTB-523, & XTB-F15+ are still available, along with a few XTB-232.  But the XTB-IIR and XTBM are gone.

If anyone is interested in picking up production, the schematics and parts lists are on-line.  I can provide PCBs, PICs, and even some of the components.

Jeff

[guyl]

Back in 1999 I made my own alarm system with a 8751 microcontroller, and used a PSC-05 to send and receive X10. It's still working and in use every day. Being well documented and open, the X10 protocol spurred a lot of homegrown projects.