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[kevinvinv]

After two years of messing with X10-  I got it reliable.

here are my suggestoins for what it is worth

If you want motion sensing room lights...  buy them from HomeDepot  (Heath, Leviton, whatever)

If you want porch lights on at dusk and off at dawn-  buy a timer from Lowes that auto adjusts for sun times... mounts in the wall in place of normal light switch.

For actuall X10 reliabiliy--  Get the XTB II R   for phase coupling
http://jvde.us/xtb/xtb_reports.htm
Don't even mess with anything else  (I did).

For RF reliablility get this:
http://www.wgldesigns.com/v572.html
and plug it into the XTBR  --   you can get the V572A  (the one without the power line interface) if you have the XTBIIR and will blug the transciever into it directly through the little cable.

Dont mess around with trying to mod the range of the X10 transcievers or add multiple transcievers or other phase couplers etc.

If I would have done the above....   earlier...  life would have been better.

These are just my thoughts...  that is all-  your mileage may vary.

Enjoy!! 

[JeffVolp]

For actual X10 reliability-- Get the XTB II R for phase coupling
http://jvde.us/xtb/xtb_reports.htm
Don't even mess with anything else (I did).

For RF reliability get this:
http://www.wgldesigns.com/v572.html
and plug it into the XTBR -- you can get the V572A (the one without the power line interface) if you have the XTBIIR and will plug the transceiver into it directly through the little cable.

Thank you for the recommendation!  I seldom hear anything back, and can only assume no news is good news.  I agree that the V572 and XTB-IIR is a great combination.

Jeff

[kevinvinv]

Yeah Jeff,   The XTB IIR truly is a fantastic device.   I am frustrated that I didn't know about it before I messed with so many other "solutions".

Your support and willingness to address my flickering issue was fantastic and I basically cannot say enough about the whole thing.

As I said earlier,  couple it with the WGL for robust RF performance and we finally have something that is workable. 

[JeffVolp]

Your support and willingness to address my flickering issue was fantastic and I basically cannot say enough about the whole thing.

Ah, that was you.  It is interesting that the flickering can be eliminated by delaying the X10 signal burst slightly so the dimmer triac has some significant bias across it before the burst begins.

Another issue I am working on addresses the noise produced by CFL bulbs.  I'm currently working on enhancing the noise rejection even more so the XTB-IIR can deal with CFL noise like this:

http://jvde.us/x10/CFL_noise_0314.jpg

Note that those maximum peaks are squarely inside the X10 reception window.

For those bothered with CFL noise, this firmware update will be available in early summer for a nominal charge.

Jeff

[PAULF]

Do you use AHP with the devices described above?

[JeffVolp]

Do you use AHP with the devices described above?

The CM15A can plug directly into the XTB-IIR to boost its output, or the XTB-IIR can work as a repeater located remotely from the CM15A.

More info and X10 troubleshooting tutorials are avaliable here:  http://jvde.us

Jeff

[PajamaGuy]

Got my XTB-IIR today!  (Damn, that was fast!) - Already have it and my V572 mounted - just waiting for my electrician to install a 240v circuit - probably won't happen until Ed passes (dang it!)

Will sure let you know how it works out.