Motion Sensor + TM751 Units

[DScotland1]

Ok so I am looking for help, I have 4 MS14A sensors loctaed around my house, i am trying to get them to switch on individual cameras, I have set the codes on the senors to switch the same code on, on the camera alas to no avail, if I bring the sensors into the house right beside the AHP then I can make movement in front of each sensor and the cameras will switch accordingly, I am beginning to get dis-heartened by the X10 equipment, it does not seem to do what is advertised. The sensors are less than 50ft from the TM751 unit. I have even tried using TWO TM751 units to try to increase the signal. If I stand directly in front of each sensor then it |"eventually" switches to that camera......not much good for security unless I put up a sign for a would-be burglar to make his presence known before enetering my house. Does anybody have any suggestions, this is extremely frustrating !!!

[HA Dave]

......................... this is extremely frustrating !!!

I feel your pain. Wireless motion sensors, cameras, AHP...... that is all pretty high-tech stuff. Though X10 ad's implies everything sets-up in (with no tools) in five minutes (or less).... that is rarely the case.

However.... I can assure you the set-up will work.... just not as out-of-the-box as implied.

I don't know much about your set-up, so I can't give you specific advice. But you may want to search the forum about extending the range of both the motion sensor, and AHP. You might also want to read up on "phase" issues and maybe check out the X10 repeater (SR731-S Smart RF Repeater).

P.S. The motion sensors would much better at detecting motion from side-to-side, (as opposed to moving directly towards the sensor).

[Brian H]

Few things to remember. Cameras work in groups of 4. Same House Code and Units 1-4;5-8;9-12 and 13-16. An ON signal to any of the 4 in one group automatically turns off the other three.
Like B1 on will turn off B2 B3 and B4. Also two cameras on at the sametime is asking for interference and a scrambled picture. To add one more thing. Motion sensors also have a Dusk-Dawn feature. So if it is set to B1 for motion anything on B2 will go on at dusk and off at dawn.
TM751? Do you have added transceivers besides the CM15A AHP USB interface that you mentioned?

[DScotland1]

Brian,
       My current set-up for video recording is using the AHP Pro with the CM15A controller. I am using 4 XCam2's with MS14A motion sensors. The Motion sensors if I stand directly in front of them and move my arms wildly will switch the cameras. I have all the cameras set-up on A1-A4 and the MS14A's set-up on the same codes (A1-A4) to switch on the appropriate camera. If I bring the sensors into the house, beside the computer then it will, without any problems switch between each camera if I move each sensor individually. If I then place the sensors outside and move 15-20ft away from them, unless I make wild movements then the sensors will not switch ( not only do i look foolish, my wife is getting upset with the effort I am having to put into this "out-of-the-box equipment" ) I am also using the TM571 to boost the signals, again that does not seem to do much, i even tried using TWO TM571's again to no avail. The computer and the CM15A are centrally located in the house, they are not that far away from the sensors, 20-30 ft however they do not "sense" very well and they do not switch the signals. I am not very impressed with the equipment from X10. I am also trying to get the CM15A to recognise my window sensors and it does not. This is very strange indeed. Any help assistance etc. would be more than welcome.

[Brian H]

Do you have the Tranceived House Code A On or Off in the Hardware configuration? Also the TM751 is not polite and if both the CM15A and TM751 receive the RF signal from the MS14A. The TM751 can step on the CM15As powerline signal. The CM15A is polite and if the TM751 is first to send in theory the CM15A should wait.
Also you may have Dusk Dawn problems. The sensor on A1 will use A2 for dusk and dawn. A2 uses A3; A3 uses A4 and A4 uses A5.
Have you looked at the troubleshooting X10 problem tutorials for noise and absorption problems. Could also be the CM15A and TM751 are on one phase of the home and the camera suppies on the other. X10 signals frequently  have problems getting from phase to phase. Computer power supplies frequently need filters to stop X10 signal degradation.