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Author Topic: AHP acting mighty squirrelly  (Read 5215 times)

Peragro

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AHP acting mighty squirrelly
« on: June 28, 2006, 12:58:42 AM »

Hi,  This is my first post here, just bought AHP about two days ago; replacing the old activehome hardware. 

I want to use this mainly to control the sprinklers in the front yard and thereabouts (rain8 x-10 driven RS-232 unit with an x-10 pro 2 way interface PS C05 and finally an x-10 RR501 Transciever).  I used the Rain8 all of last year with living grass as a result.  The irrigation circuits are on house code I.

I'd also like to automate several house lights (4 at this point) and hopefully a few fish tank lights in the future.  All of my lighting right now, which is 4 lights; 3 on the push button wall switch modules (not 3 way) and one on the TM751 transciever is on house code M.

My problem is that yesterday I could only control the TM751 and one of the pushbutton lights.  Today I experimented with re-installing the program and turning off everything in the house that I thought might interfere with the signal.  When I did this nothing worked except the TM751.  After turning everything on (tv, stereo, some flourescents, etc...) that I thought might interfere I now have control of the TM751 and the other 2 lights that didn't work last night, but not the light that did work last night.  I don't hold out hope that anything will work with any dependibility at this point.

I reasoned that the CM15A is pumping out the RF signal but not the powerline signal.  I can work around on the sprinklers by calling each one a VCR commander and sending the signal RF - this is not ideal and not what I'd expect from the latest and greatest x-10 gizmo.  So, my powerline signal is sporatic at best.  RF seems to be working as does the communication between the computer and the CM15A.

I should mention that I also have a passive phase coupler hooked directly into the circuit box thorugh a breaker (I bought this one from Smarthome). 

So what is going on? 

I would use a filter if I could isolate the culprit that causes noise.  But I turned everything off and still had weird issues.

Would an active phase coupler increase the signal?

What about a house filter?

Must you actually unplug a device or unscrew a flourescent bulb rather than turn them off to test for noise?

Any and all help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  I'd hate to buy the active coupler or the house filter or in-line filter only to still have the problem.  At this point that would be throwing good money after bad.
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Tuicemen

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Re: AHP acting mighty squirrelly
« Reply #1 on: June 28, 2006, 03:13:44 PM »

First off make sure all units are configure properly in AHP applance module as an appliance, lamp as a lamp module and most important tm751 as a transciever.
next make sure in your AHP "hardware configuration" that the transcieved housecode for the tm751 is disabled.
power must be removed from suspicious devices you think are causing problems simply turning OFF in most cases won't help. Try your setup with out the tm751 as the CM15A is a transciver as well( the house code for the tm751 must be enabled if you try this). ;)
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Mystyx

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Re: AHP acting mighty squirrelly
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2006, 01:41:40 AM »

Why a TM751 :(

use it as you like...   not a favorite to play with for me, but is workable with settings right.
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Mystyx

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Re: AHP acting mighty squirrelly
« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2006, 01:49:18 AM »

Quote
My problem is that yesterday I could only control the TM751 and one of the pushbutton lights.  Today I experimented with re-installing the program and turning off everything in the house that I thought might interfere with the signal.  When I did this nothing worked except the TM751.  After turning everything on (tv, stereo, some flourescents, etc...) that I thought might interfere I now have control of the TM751 and the other 2 lights that didn't work last night, but not the light that did work last night.  I don't hold out hope that anything will work with any dependibility at this point.

if the settings as Tuiceman states are not set right....

I had a simillar problem because my software wasnt set right for the TM751, since one worked and now it reversed when turning off noisy appliances this could mean you have noise in your power lines...  the TM751 will work for the one light with noise as you set it, then when you turn the noise off the TM751 will repeat and the light will not operate or double command (on then off instant) as with the other 2 lights having noise on the circuit prevents the signal, turning off the noise fixes it...   need filters.

I simply found 2 noises and filtered them fixing my erratic signals. heh, I found my PC wasnt grounded (filters dont work without grounds, bah :( )
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