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[brucemc]

I have 5 dim-able light modules, all once worked fine, purchased about 5 to 7 years ago. Now not one of them work, not even to turn a light on and off much less dim. Other simple modules with an antenna respond correctly turning the attached device on or off. The faulty lamp modules are Model No. LM465. Is is at all possible that these things might have a battery inside much like that which keeps a computer BIOS alive, that have died? Makes no sense that every one of them would fail so I am looking for any other explanation. As some of them were not connected over the time period I do not believe any surges can be blamed for the mass death.

[Brian H]

No batteries in the LM465 modules.

Are there any NEW items in the home like a new computer or anything else that can be making powerline noise?

Try and test the LM465 by moving them next to the transceiver and see if it then responds. On the same house/unit code as the transceiver.

Try the modules on M13. It is the address where none of the wheel switches are on. If it works there the switches maybe corroded. Try gently rotating them a few times to see if they then work.

[HA Dave]

Other modules with an antenna respond correctly .........As some of them were not connected over the time period.

Gee... sounds to me like maybe you originally had EXTRA transceivers (TM751) [with an antenna] that maybe recently you brought into service as appliance modules.

Multiple transceivers can cause signal collisions and problems with modules working correctly.

[Brian H]

Good point Dave. TM751 units are not polite and will gladly step on each other.

[brucemc]

Thank-you, I will soon check out these possibilities. In the mean-time I am about to just give up, for though a TM751 I have runs just fine from the handheld HR12A buttons, it won't respond whatsoever to the ActiveHome Professional software commands. When I connect the USB cable the unit is recognized and installed fine, but clicking the on-screen switch from on to off and back on again does absolutely nothing. Even sending an "Everything On" or off does nothing.

Moved to a new home whose circuitry is way more simple than the house we used to live in (16 breakers as opposed to 45) and I would think it should work better, but that has not been the case... One BIG headache! Even uninstalled all the software, rebooted, reinstalled, connected the CM15A to a different USB port, was re-recognized, and..... nothing. At this time the CM15A and the TM751 are the ONLY modules connected whatsoever in the house, and they are connected all withing several feet of each other and the computer (as dictated by the USB cable). Any ideas? I have enjoyed X10 over many years, but my frustration level is getting to the point of just throwing it all away. Most of my modules were completely destroyed in a housefire a few years ago anyway, but I would really prefer finding a nice simple answer

[Dan Lawrence]

Since you are in a new house, the non-response of modules from AHP may be due to NOISE on the power line. PC power supplies are notorious as a noise producer. My suggestion would be to clear the interface and re-download to it, then shut the PC down complately and see if timers run as scheduled. For noise you will need a XPPF plug in filter on all offending appliances.

[brucemc]

Ewwwwwwwww boy, I also see by the pdf for the XPPF that surge strips/protectors are also a big problem, and I am in a corner with the computer and about three or four surge strips hooked into the one outlet...

I will look forward to getting the filter, but won't be too optimistic, as I hate it when I do that and the problem still evades me!

Hang on, though... why would this make any difference in this set up? I have the TM751 plugged into a strip, and plugged into the TM751 is the lamp.

I have the HR12A turning the TM751 on and off just fine, but the CM15A as controlled by the computer running AHP does absolutely nothing. I mean from this, perhaps there is valid interference messing the dimmer lamp modules, but line noise would not be a factor in this setup, for the receiver and switch are the same unit!

Since the PC "sees" the HR12A just fine, as indicated by the popup notification that a USB device has been installed, then I am wondering if there is a way to actually see if the HR12A is transmitting or not, other than buying another one... (money is kind of (read "REAL") tight these days).

I now am finding I can turn on the lights (the TM751) with AHP, but to turn it off I have to use the hand-held unit (HR12A). Once in a rare while the TM751 responds to an "off" command from the software, but generally not. It always responds to commands from the HR12A. Does this present any clues as to where I might of screwed up (technical term)?

[Dan Lawrence]

Try doing what I told you to do.  What can you loose?  My PC is on a circuit with nothing but the PC and two printers.  The CM15A is plugged into a special outlet that is on a circuit that has 7 modules on it, including a RR501 transciever.   Speaking of trancievers, are you aware that you cannot have 2 trancivers on the same housecode, otherwise they step on each other.

There is no reason the CM15A should not address any modules other than a noise problem.  I've never had that problem, either with the CP290, the CM11A or the CM15A.

[Brian H]

I maybe miss reading this; but.
The TM751 has NO powerline receiver in it. You could plug it and a CM15A in the same outlet and the CM15A will not turn a TM751 on or off. Unless you get the RF transmitter in the CM15A to send an On or Off to the TM751.

[brucemc]

@Dan: I agree; I am going to try all that you suggested, just trying to reason it out and find an interim fix as it will take a little time before I get the filter! I have cleared the interface (a number of times), run complete shut-downs of the program, the process that still lingers, and the entire computer including disconnecting the interface and reconnecting it, sometimes to the same USB port and other times to another. I suspect for now it might also be interesting to load the software into a laptop, hook the interface into it and see what happens at different outlets.

@Brian: I do concede that I might have mixed up the character designations, but those that are in my postings were taken directly from the units. The unit connected via a USB port to the computer and plugged into power (at one point I plugged it into an extension cord that was connected to the receiver - major brain damage over here...) is the CM15A, and has only a power connection for itself and the USB cable, besides it's antenna. The receiver module that I am using to switch the lamp on and off is a TM751, which has it's own plug, an outgoing switched outlet and it's transmission antenna.

And oh boy, big time brain flash, what might be going on is then the transmitter on the CM15A bumping heads with the transmitter on the TM751... Well, webe going to have to do some more 'sperimenting over here...

[Tuicemen]

So many long time users of X10 jump into using the CM15A and have nothing but problems!
The reason:
The CM15A needs to be configured properly!
Many long time users have multiple transceivers and in most cases they aren't needed and only cause problems if not configured in AHP or have AHP set not to tranceive!
brucemc:
 Just because your in a smaller home with less circits doesn't mean you'll have less troubles with Noise, signal suckers And phase issues in fact the opposite is most likely as in your case!
Spend some time and got through your AHP setup make sure modules are configured properly (appliance modules as that ,Lamp modules as lamp modules and transceivers (tm751s) as transceivers(rf) ) you may have missed something in your original setup.
Also check the hardware configuration if you have added a plug-in or updated some times these setting get set back to the defalts! When in the hardware configuration make sure the house code that the tm751 is on is not set to transceive!
If you have added a plug-in or a update, your AHX file may have become corrupt which will cause modules to stop responding!
Here are some threads you need to read:
Topic: TTA's X10 Troubleshooting Tips Thread [Updated: 2006/11/18]  (Read 3855 times)
Topic: Having X10 AHP Problems? Please Read This First!  (Read 12535 times)
Both are chocked full of tips and helpful info/links
Hopefully this doesn't sound like I'm jumping all over you! It's just that there is so much fine tuning that needs to be done "AHP isn't Plug and Play"

[Brian H]

My point was that the CM15A will not control a TM751s relay by powerline signals. It has no powerline receiver in it. That is also why it can step on another X10 powerline signal as it has no way of seeing it on the powerline.
The CM15A is supposed to be polite and if stepped on wait and resend.

[JimC]

brucemc,

You mentioned using outlet strips.  I have found them to be problamatic. When I have my CM15A plugged into an outlet strip I have trouble with it communicating with modules throughout my house. I have found that, at least in my case, the CM15A works best when plugged directly into a wall outlet.

[brucemc]

OK, one bug squashed. As referenced, I at one point finally plugged everything into one power strip (everything meaning transmitter and receiver) which was not a surge strip, and the sucker (CM15A) is controlling the TM751 correctly; however,back to the original problem, no help making the dimmer units work for even simple on and off. Will try working on some of the other suggestions and see what I can break!

[brucemc]

Brian -
Would like your thoughts/speculation on why the TM751 would not respond to signals from the CM15A when the two units were plugged into separate surge protector strips side-by-side in various configurations, but does work reliably when in the same power strip, and did respond to signals from the hand-held HR12A. I am not questioning what you state, just confused and hate loose ends, I go obsessive-compulsive over unsolved puzzles.

Tuicemen -
Hmmmm, off to do some reading... Also I need to consider what you mean by "When in the hardware configuration make sure the house code that the tm751 is on is not set to transceive!" and what the implications are.

Jim -
Going to try one simple strictly outlet (no surge) strip from the wall, but that might be compromised by the other socket having about 6 surge & outlet strips into it. No overload, other than cables, as the only heavy power users on it are the computer and monitor - all else is crippy-crap like electric stapler, weather radio scanner, a couple desk lamps, blah blah blah...

Dan -
Regarding 2 transceivers with same house code, I haven't done much of anything in this house yet, but the old one was so big that multiple transceivers was the only solution I could come up with for remote controls to work from one end of the house to the other. This might have been my ignorant assembly, for now I think I recall seeing something like "signal repeaters" being available, and if so, I suspect that  that would be the proper solution. I am looking forward to getting in the noise filters at some point, the sooner the better, but if I have a remote control on a key-chain and am roaming the house (this one is a 1,600 sq ft ranch with a lower walk-out I am about to embark on finishing, a bit smaller (...) than the 4,500 sq ft two story I was in), I think I still would need multiple reception points for the key-chain remote signal. What is the best way to achieve this? I have to believe that if I am to insure total coverage then there will be areas that the remote signal will be received by at least two receivers set to the same house-code. Will both of them firing off the same instructions over the house wires cause problems?

Geez; I really should concentrate on making money instead of spending it, or distractions. But after seven years of financial hell on earth, I need some distractions. Welcome to Michigan, where the voters re-elected the same governor that put us number one in the loss of jobs, the one state that never recovered at all from the 1999 - 2001 recession, where foreclosures have more than doubled in the last year (I am one of them), where politics means more than people...