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[DeltaNu1142]

Today I received my long-awaited X10 gear, including a handful of outdoor "ActiveEye" motion sensors, AHP USB interface, some appliance & lamp modules, and a few remotes.  I was immediately able to hook up the coffee pot on A1, no problem.  I then started experimenting with my motion sensors.  I tested one using the default code to flip my coffee pot on & off, & it seemed to be working well.  I then changed the unit code to A4 & tested it--AHP showing the signal in "Activity."  So I mounted it on an exterior concrete wall above the garage door.

From the location mounted on the wall, I can NOT receive the signal.  I've tried the following:
-changing batteries
-changing to a different sensor
-trying a different unit code
-unplugging my PC from the CM15A
-moving the CM15A upstairs
-moving the CM15A into the garage (around 20' from the motion sensor)

None of these allows my CM15A to receive the signal from the motion sensor.  I'm lead to believe it's interference, I guess, because the sensors work just fine inside the house.  Because I tried the CM15A so CLOSE to the sensor, I'm also starting to believe that no number of additional RF transceivers is going to help this problem.  I'm in an area with lots of other houses nearby, so I suppose if it's interference it could be coming from anywhere.

I'd rather not just box it up & send it back--any ideas?

Thanks & regards,
-Josh

[DeltaNu1142]

I should also note that I regularly use a remote/HomeLink from the car to open the garage door, & don't experience any problems with that.

[Tuicemen]

Rf transmitions can be blocked or interfered with by a lot of things!
Do an Advaced Search for "RF reception".
You'll find lots of things that may help.
The main one that may be the cause is a large metal object between the sensor and the CM15A. Aluminum siding , building wrap or garrage door may be the problem.
If you can mount a tranciever out side(protected from the elements) this may solve the problem!

[Puck]

DeltaNu1142,

Since you stated that it worked inside and now it doesn't when mounted outside, I would first suspect the concrete wall is part of the problem. The transmitters in the motion detectors are not very strong (from my experience anyways), and travelling through concrete will definitely weaken it's range. Down to 20'? I guess that would depend on all obstacles the signal has to pass through in a straight line from the sensor to the receiver. (E.G. if the signal has to travel diagonally through the concrete to reach the receiver, the weaker it will become.)

Another possibility is you have the detector set to only sense motion at night. I suggest opening the battery cover and just pressing the on & off buttons to see it the signal is being received.

[JimC]

In addition to the things Tuicemen suggested you also may have problems with line noise and/or phase coupling problems. In your post you state that you moved your Cm15A to several locations and were still not able to receive the signal from the motion sensor. At some of these locations you may have been receiving the signal but it simply may not have been getting from the CM15A to the device you were trying to controll. You may want to search these forums for phase coupling and electrical interference.

You stated that you put your coffee pot on A1.  May I suggest that you change this. A1 is used by most X10 RF devicesas the default code. Unless you want the coffee pot turning on and off each time you take a new motion sensor out of the box avoid A1.

[TakeTheActive]

Today I received my long-awaited X10 gear, including a handful of outdoor "ActiveEye" motion sensors, AHP USB interface, some appliance & lamp modules, and a few remotes.  I was immediately able to hook up the coffee pot on A1...

Welcome to the Club!

• Do you currently have a full head of hair? 
  
• Is any of it gray? 
  

From the location mounted on the wall, I can NOT receive the signal.  I've tried the following:
-changing batteries
-changing to a different sensor
-trying a different unit code
-unplugging my PC from the CM15A
-moving the CM15A upstairs
-moving the CM15A into the garage (around 20' from the motion sensor)

None of these allows my CM15A to receive the signal from the motion sensor.  I'm lead to believe it's interference...

...I'd rather not just box it up & send it back--any ideas?

Although all of the previous suggestions of help are valid, I'm of a "different religion " when it comes to X10 NEWBIEs [evident by my  ever-increasing "Unhelpful" count (How can one person, here only since June 2006, have *BOTH* the most "Helpfuls" *AND* the most "UnHelpfuls"?    I blame politics! ) - well, as long as the folks that benefit from my advice keep my "Helpful" count higher...  ] - more along the lines of:

• Give a man a fish - feed him for a day
  .
• Teach a man how to fish - feed him for life
  

Thus, my first suggestion: LEAVE EVERYTHING IN THE BOX AND START READING 

Yeah, I know it's hard, but X10 isn't (and never will be) "Plug-N-Go". 

• CLICK on the LINK in my Sig Line, read it and all of the LINKs contained there.
  .
• Go to my Troubleshooting Thread, read it and all of the LINKs contained there.
  .
• Personally, I used my color inkjet and PRINTED OUT *ALL* of "Uncle Phil's" articles - GREAT STUFF! 
  .
• BUY some "Troubleshooting Tools ": Besides the ELK Signal Strength Meter, get a wired controller, a RR501, a PalmPad, a Universal Module (or Chime, but the UM has more functionality).
  

You won't enjoy X10 until you understand it. And you won't understand it until you either waste hour after hour going through what we "Oldtimers " went through *OR* reading our NOTEs. 

On top of that, unless you personally can *SEE* electrons moving, you need the "Troubleshooting Tools ".

So, order the extra "stuff" and while you're waiting for it to arrive, READ, READ, READ.  After a few days, PRESTO!!!

[DeltaNu1142]

Ha ha ha ha...  all valid points, some, ahem, more colorful than others.  I'm doing my very best not to charge ahead; I think I performed the requisite amount of troubleshooting before dashing off to the forum for help.  The best suggestion I heard was to mount the transceiver outside (Tuicemen).  Answers to your queries...

1) no problem with phase coupling, as I'm going direct from my motion sensor to the CM15A & reading signals on the activity monitor
2) sensor set to detect motion only at night--no, that'll be my setting after I get it working, but at the moment it's default (both night & day detection)

I did a bit of forum reading before posting, and did see a bit about RF interference--I guess I just expected more performance out of this sensor!!  Since posting, I've installed 3 dimmer switches & they're running flawlessly, so I suppose that electrical engineering degree didn't go completely to waste...

I'll tell you what--I'll put the CM15A in a location outside where I'd be able to mount another transceiver, & give it another try.  Results will be posted in 10 minutes.

Thanks all,
-Josh

[DeltaNu1142]

If you can mount a tranciever out side(protected from the elements) this may solve the problem!

WELL...  you're half right!  I tried outside, near my front door, which isn't more than 25' away from the sensor, and NIENTE.  So, I then pulled the CM15A RIGHT under the sensor, and to the left, inside the garage door--literally 8' from the sensor--and it works, with garage door closed or open.  So I'll need to add a TM751 to the list of things to buy.  I can tell this isn't going to be an inexpensive hobby! 

[Tuicemen]

You should be getting more than 25 ' line of sight distance with your CM15A! Many have experianced short distance reception which turned out to be defective CM15As!
others have simply done mods posted on here as well as other forums explaining how.
If you decide to go with another tranciever there are better ones other than the tm751!

[DeltaNu1142]

You should be getting more than 25 ' line of sight distance with your CM15A! Many have experianced short distance reception which turned out to be defective CM15As!
others have simply done mods posted on here as well as other forums explaining how.
If you decide to go with another tranciever there are better ones other than the tm751!

I got the same distance out of 2 different sensors.  I'll try some other modules INSIDE the house to see if I have the same troubles.

As far as other transcievers--I'm LISTENING!!!

 

[TakeTheActive]

As far as other transcievers--I'm LISTENING!!!

 

Not that well it seems... 

 

[Anybody got any fish?  ]

[DeltaNu1142]

If you decide to go with another tranciever there are better ones other than the tm751!

RR501?  SR731?

[Tuicemen]

 DeltaNu1142 : RR501
TakeTheActive:  some people just don't like fishin!

[Charles Sullivan]

Cut a length of coat hanger wire about 18 inches long and tape it to the wall horizontally about 1 inch above the motion sensor.  See if that improves your range.  (If this sounds bizarre, think "Yagi").

[TakeTheActive]

Ha ha ha ha...  all valid points, some, ahem, more colorful than others.

Therapy.   

...I'm doing my very best not to charge ahead; I think I performed the requisite amount of troubleshooting before dashing off to the forum for help...

1) no problem with phase coupling, as I'm going direct from my motion sensor to the CM15A & reading signals on the activity monitor

MAP / MEASURE / CORRECT

ACT X-10 Troubleshooting Flowchart (courtesy of 'Uncle' Phil Kingery) - (Read 956 times)

I understand that most users don't want to hear this but [/size]to have a reliable X10 System requires a substantial upfront investment in time and effort.

Follow the recommendations in my FAQs / Sig Link and you should be able to reach a solution...[/size]