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[marc]

I�ve been using VB 6 to control my CM15a
for about a year or so without too many
problems. In the last month or so, however,
the unit has been misbehaving badly. It
just stops working (wont transmit PLC), or
will just start sending the same message
every second till I unplug it from the wall
(as many on this forum have recommended). I
used to have to do this once a week, but
now it needs this �rebooting� daily.

Given all the issues around the CM15a I've
read on the x10 pages, I'm reluctant to
plunk down $50 for a new one. I'm thinking
of getting a CM19a (used ones available for
about $20) instead, and use that to send RF
to a TM751 transceiver. Not as elegant,
but...

So my question to this group is:
1) Will the SDK really work with the CM19a
(just use "sendrf" only, so I can use my
old code base)?
2) Is the CM19a more reliable than the
CM15a?
3) Is this just a bad idea?

I really love using the SDK to be able to
create a task-specific GUI. I just am
frustrated with the hardware (and the
limited API info on the SDK, but this has
been covered extensively by others.)

Thanks.

[dave]

I don't know about the CM19a, but I've
controlled my CM17a firecracker with VB for
years without problems. It's even cheaper
than the CM19a, provided you already have a
transceiver somewhere, like the TM751. This
sample code can get you started:
http://www.rentron.com/FireCracker.htm
Just tweak the functions a bit to make them
work with your original code.

[marc]

Dave,
Thanks for the suggestion!  I like the
simplicity and potential reliability of this
approach. It�s also very nice that Hoylman
has kindly provided a VB class, so it should
be a snap to set up. Since you�ve mentioned
this, I notice there are a few web site that
offer ActiveX or dll�s to control the CM17a.
Hmm, maybe I shouldn�t push my luck�

OK, now I gotta get me a Firecracker!
Thanks again

[dave]

One more thing. Below is something I
added/modified in Hoylman's SendCommand
function. I don't know if any other dll's
you found have this or not, but Hoylman's
was missing AllOn/AllOff. So I made a case
statement in place of the if for fcCOM and
added them. Those two codes are
undocumented, so it took some digging to
find them. Good luck with your project.

'  Lookup and calculate second byte of
instruction
Select Case fcCOM
Case 0 : iCOM2 = &H20 + m_UnitTable(fcUC
Mod ' Off
Case 1 : iCOM2 = m_UnitTable(fcUC Mod
' On
Case 2 : iCOM2 = &H88 '  Bright 14%
Case 3 : iCOM2 = &H98 '  Dim 14%
Case 4 : iCOM2 = &H80 '  All Units Off
Case 5 : iCOM2 = &H90 '  All Lights On
End Select

[marc]

Thanks again Dave! Much appreciated.  I just
ordered the Firecracker. I'll report back
after I've received it and had a chance to
try it out.

[marc]

Dave,
I finally received the CM17a firecracker and
set it up using Hoylman's VB class. Very
smooth, and works very nicely. I like it
because it is straightforward and it appears
pretty reliable (for the last week or so
anyway).

Thanks again for the great advice.

[donjuane]

Over 10 years ago and when only a handful of people were using that new thing they called "the Internet", I wrote an OS/2 application to control my Radio Shack TW523.  To feed my application I wrote a series of macros, sunup/sundown calculators and timed events that has seemed to work for me with little maintenance over the years, and the whole system has been running well ever since. 

My old PS2 OS/2 machine just crashed (it was in the attic) and I want to modernize, perhaps controlling my total X10 house with something that runs as a VB ap in the background of my main home computer, which is always on.  Since then I have become an intermediate level VB programmer and wanted to re-write my application in VB.  I know that with OS/2 a special port manager driver had to be employed to talk to the TW523.  I see today that a device 1132CU is available.  I also see that an example VB application is advertised as shipping with the 1132CU, but I am reluctant to purchase this device unless it gives me the command button level monitoring that my application needs (i.e. house code "A" pushed, "DIM" pushed from a control module is read by the application and appropriate macros are triggered).

I Googled Visual Basic X10 and 1132CU and didn't find anything.  I did end up here, so I think I am now getting "warm".  Can anyone tell me were I might find this example VB code online for the 1132 or give me some insight as what is available in the "modern world".  My application keyed off button pushes and not the normal sequence that someone thinks about in X10 protocol, so I need to get control at the button pushed level.  Is controlling the COM port that hosts the newer computer module devices still a problem?  Can someone offer me some insight or guide me on what has been happening in this area?  (I suffer from “too many hobbies”, thus why I have been away for a decade.)

Thanks!!!