CM15a RF problem

[wazkaren]

I recently setup a CM15A with several lamp and switch modules and everything is working fine.  Today I received the "stick-a-switch" (SS13A) and an Active Eye motion sensor (MS16A).  I can't get either of these RF modules to work with the CM15A.  I turned on the transcieved house codes in ActiveHome Pro for these modules but nothing seems to work.  I've tried holding the SS13A and MS16A anywhere from 1 inch away from the CM15A to many feet.  Anyone have any ideas?  Do you think I have a bad CM15A?

Thanks,
Greg

[Brian H]

Do you have any other remotes that work correctly? Some early cm15as didn't have good RF Range but with them not even doing 1". You may have a bad unit. You did say the tranceived house codes where enabled.

[wazkaren]

No, no other remotes.  Just the motion sensor and stick-a-switch that I got today.  I triple checked that the tranceive codes are selected in AHP.  I guess I'll send an e-mail to service and see what they say.

[wazkaren]

And just to be sure I understand...  If I press a button the switch or the test button on the motion sensor I should see it show up in the AHP activity log right?  (and I checked that the log is set to view RF signals).

Thanks,
Greg

[steven r]

Some "stick-a-switch" units aren't famous for their range either but anything should work near the unit. Did an extra battery come with your "stick-a-switch". The original batteries for mine were nearly dead. Also it seems almost too obvious to mention but double check to make sure that you have set the CM15A to transceive the HC that you're using.

[wazkaren]

No extra battery with the stick-a-switch, but the LED does glow when I press a button.  And the motion sensor has brand new AAA batteries in it (and I can see that LED glow also).

Thanks,
Greg

[billy]

After you set the Transceived House Code(s) did you Download Timers and Macros to the CM15A interface?

[wazkaren]

Yup, downloaded to the CM15A after setting the transceived codes.

I contacted technical support and they are going to replace the CM15A.  Looks like I just got a bad unit.

But thanks for all the help everybody.  You all helped me to verify I wasn't missing anything obvious (which I tend to do a lot!).

Thanks,
Greg

[steven r]

...I contacted technical support and they are going to replace the CM15A.  Looks like I just got a bad unit....

Let us know when you get the new CM15A. In the meantime you can get everything programed in preparation.

[wazkaren]

I borrowed a friends X10 RF receiver and it works fine with both the motion sensor and the stick-a-switch, so I guess that confirms a problem with the CM15A.

Tech support responded to my e-mail in less than an hour with an RMA to replace the unit.  It's unfortunate that I have to eat the cost of shipping but tech support was quite good.

Greg 

[roger1818]

It's unfortunate that I have to eat the cost of shipping but tech support was quite good.

If you complain, you should be able to get them to pay for shipping, especially since it was DOA.

[Duke]

Some times you can unplug and remove the batteries and let the cma15a set for 30 min and it will start working again. I had the same problem and also got a RMA# but tried the unit again and it works still. That was about a month ago, so some times it just needs a rest to get it back to working.

[nklght]

Some times you can unplug and remove the batteries and let the cma15a set for 30 min and it will start working again. I had the same problem and also got a RMA# but tried the unit again and it works still. That was about a month ago, so some times it just needs a rest to get it back to working.

Did you return the unit?  The cm15a is supposed to work 24/7/365, if it stops working then their is a problem with the unit.  By giving it a rest, you just prolonged the point of final failure.  The cm15a is an electronic device and the usuall cause for an electronic device to quit working and then start working after a period of rest is that it has overheated.  Even if you got it to start working again, the units life span has been shortened, and the next time it goes out the warranty might expire.  Smell the unit, if it is an overheating issue, then their will be a pungent odor coming from the unit.  Also if you bought a car and it stopped working and the dealer agreed to take it back and give you a new one since it was under warranty, the next morning the car starts working like it should, what would you do?  Do you return the car since it is not functioning like it should all the time and is unreliable, or do you keep it since it started working the next day     

[wazkaren]

Did you return the unit? 

Yup, returned it and got a replacement.  The new one works fine so it was a faulty unit. 

Thanks,
Greg