Print

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

[AccessX10]

I recently downloaded the free 30-day trial
of Embedded Automation’s mControl software.
This software is compatible with Windows XP
or Windows XP Media Center. Reading through
the installation manual I was surprised to
see support for the CM15A.

You can read more and download the 30-day
trial at the following location:

http://www.embeddedautomation.com


http://www.AccessX10.com
Come join the fastest growing X10 technical
community!!

[arf1410]

OK - so does it work well with the CM15a?
Does it do timers, macros , conditionals,
etc?

[Classified]

So long as new software just uses the CM15a
as a USB powerline interface, it ought to
work okay.  Software that attempts to store
macros and timers would likely run into the
same lockup and reliability problems that
plague Activehome Pro.

[arf1410]

classified - that is exactly the question I
would like an answer to - does this new
software have the same lock up and failure
to execute type issues...

[carmine pacifico]

Arf1410

Many of the lock-up and loss of clock are
hardware related, software can not fix it.
X10 has not released details of macro
language for the cm15a, so any software I
have seen so far they reversed engineered
few direct commands and are using it as a
PC interface.
If you do not mind leaving the computer on
24/7, the lowest cost and probably the most
reliable way is to use the following:
1)   PC interface : cm11a, or 1132 ( no
smart macros) , or any similar dumb PC
interface
2)   X10 RF receiver to rs232 adapter (
WGL)
3)   RF transmitter ( PC based), many
choices, including fire-cracker
4)   PC software: many to choose from,:
from free to very expensive

With this set up the PC does all the
processing, the response will be much
faster, of course  you need to disable
power down on all port used by the system
and make sure the PC does not enter sleep
mode. Many people do not realize that low
power feature are not just used on
notebook, new desk-top computers have
similar feature.

[arf1410]

Hi Carmine,

Good to see you back on the forum, which has
been quiet lately...

I agree, and think many of the CM15A
problems probably are hardware related.
Never-the-less, I think another data point
to support (or refute) that position would
be interesting.  I will probably try out
that new software myself in the fall, but
during the short summers here in the pacific
northwest, I generally turn my tinkering to
outdoor projects, otherwise I would test it
myself...

The house we bought in 2002 had about $2500
worth of smarthome switches installed, which
was my intro to X10; prior to that I had
never heard of it.  However, the more I
learn, I am starting to think it is a dieing
protocol.  There jsut seems to be an endless
stream of new consumer electronics which
interfere / absorb the X10 signals, and as
someone stated in this forum recently, it's
just not practical to put a $15 filter on
every $2 LED nightlight.

[carmine pacifico]

arf1410

I would not complain about a short summer,
I am further north, our last frost was at
the end of may; June rained most of the
month (very unusual) finally my garden is
starting to grow, but the first week of
September we usually get our first frost
(goodbye tomatoes).
Regarding the LED night light that was me,
each light attenuate the signal about 30%.

[Brian H]

Needed OS may restrict many from using it
and yes it looks like it has to be on 24/7.
Needs XP Media Center 2005 or XP Pro with
netframe 1.1. It has no mention of XP Home
Edition that many have. Also it looks to me
like it has an extremely harsh copy
protection built in. I have no problem with
a vendor protecting their wares, but this
thing looks like a disaster waiting to
happen.