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[TakeTheActive]

I finally found the proper ROUND TUIT and installed one of the CM17As that I bought years and years ago ($6.00 Intro Kit, IIRC) on my Toshiba 550CDT P266 w/Win98SE "Home Automation" Laptop. I'm not pleased and (before I launch into a MASSIVE Troubleshooting effort, which obviously will require the locating of yet *ANOTHER* ROUND TUIT ), I want to present my 'findings' to the Group for their advice / experience / suggestions.

• Since the CM17A 'looks' like a pass-thru device, I started out by inserting it between my laptop and the existing CM11A. It didn't work.
  
  
• I disconnected the CM11A and attempted to use the CM17A by itself. It works 'sometimes'.
  
  
• The software I chose to install was the SMALLEST/OLDEST version I had available in my 'Archives' (P266, 96MB RAM, Win98SE) - XFIRE021.EXE
  

The Problems:

• 1.) I have "C:\Program Files\Home Control\FireCracker\firecracker.exe" /M in my StartMenu and although it always LOADS, it WORKS less than 10% of the time.
  I can tell if it's working or not by the Sounds parameter:
   - the Pushbuttons always go down and up
   - the red LED always BLINKS
   - the HouseCode dial always turns
   - the Slide Switch always slides
  But *ONLY* when I hear the Sounds does the RF actually transmit.
  
  I've reseated the CM17A many times; shutdown / power off / power on / booted the PC many times. The Serial Port is fine with the CM11A, but the CM17A is another story. Bad CM17A?
  
  
• 2.) I've searched for, and experimented with, the Command Line Parameter to start the program MINIMIZED.
  
   - I have the Shortcut Window set to MINIMIZED.
   - The software installed with the /M; doesn't work. I tried /? for HELP, /X, and don't remember what else. But, nothing I tried works.
  
  Is it possible?
  
  
• 3.) *IF* I ever get this darn device working 100%, I was thinking about putting it at the end of a 6' extension (to get it higher). Has anyone tried this?
  

Since HeYu supports the CM17A, I'm hoping to hear some good news from Charles...

[MichaelC]

It may help to get ahold of an MR26A, the serial-based receiver. When you have the MR26A plugged into the CM17A you can get feedback (the MR26A will report what it receives from the CM17A) and get a little feedback loop going. If you're going to use X10 software, I can't see any advantage of using the CM17A over a CM19A. With the USB connection you know if it's working or not, and with a receiver built in you can do a lot more. If you're just trying to see what you can do with hardware you have, then I guess that's not really an issue.

[glt]

TTA,

If you have a CM19A, it is maybe a way to test. It works w/ the program as well and is also called a "firecracker" interface.

If you right click the palmpad, you get a setup menu that allows you to pic comports and test for signals - the USB CM19A appears to be automatically setup.

Of course, the CM17A isn't the strongest RF sender either, so you need a GOOD receiver like a RR501 close by.

As I recall, I also tried (years ago) to get it to start minimized with no success. So I just have mine pinned to the start menu, up there w/ internet explorer, almost as good.

Might as well download the "latest" version, don't think there is any real increase in the "footprint".

ftp://ftp.x10.com/pub/applications/firecracker/xfire.exe


GLT

[Tuicemen]

Depending On what you want to do with this device,  I have some old freeware software for it One is commandline based only 3.15 KB don't think you can get much smaller than that! ! Heck the discalmer is bigger in size!
 If nothing else makes a good testing program for the CM17A!
One thing I found with the Firecracker software if Active Home Pro was installed on the same PC system the CM17A wouldn't work unless I shut down the X10net.exe
that wasn't the case if I used one of the shareware or freeware programs.
If you already have HEYu have you tested with it?
Problem May be the software not the unit!
As glt  the newest version is very close in size try it as well