USB Signal conflicts & losses.

[PajamaGuy]

Bottom Line:  Do NOT run the CM15A on the same USB port (via a hub) as the VA11A.

I bought a Dell Latitude laptop to run AHP because my Vista desktop and AHP aren't the best of friends, yet.  So I initialized the laptop with XP Pro, SP#2, and all other associated patches & updates.  I loaded AHP and all 4 modules, and the x10 drivers.  I set it up so that upon boot, LogMeIn and AHP fire.  Hardwired to my LinkSys & DSL and I was off and running! Life is good!  I can access it like I'm sitting in front of it from anywhere in the world!  Yippee!!

Time to add the video!

One USB port.  Ka-ching - for only $40, I bought a highly rated Targus 4-in-1 powered USB port and plugged the CM15A and the VA11A into it.  Success!!!   I can check on my Yorkies by video while I'm at work, the back door snaps & emails me a picture whenever any warm-blooded entity passes within range -

Then...  little quirks... like why didn't AHP register that the system is ARMED?  A flag & phantom indicate armed???... or why didn't AHP send me an email when my wife tripped the alarm by opening a door without disarming?  It usually does!  Lots of other little hiccups...but then...

I disconnected the USB hub and ran the CM15A straight into the laptop.  No more quirks (but now, no video) - so I dumped the memory, pulled the batteries, re-positioned the SR731, hooked everything back up and all seemed o.k.  Then I noticed (with a forehead slap) that most of the quirks happened when there was activity around my back door - where the FloodCam is. 

I came up with a theory and ran it by our CTO -
1. The USB hub dumbs-down to 1.0 when connected to the laptop and XP.
2. All problems happened when the FloodCam was active.
3. Stuffing all those signals through a single USB probably exceeded the bandwidth capability and since the video was streaming before and during the CM15A's attempt to talk to the PC, the CM15A lost the fight and the signals didn't make it to AHP.

I confirmed that by leaving it all hooked, but unplugged the FloodCam and ran some use-cases.  All was o.k.  Plugged-in the FloodCam and triggered it, AHP started "missing" CM15A transmissions.  Damn. 

So - I guess this weekend will be spent trying to see if I can get the video into the laptop without using the USB port.  Any ideas?

Thanks!

PJ

[Brian H]

Thank you for the information. It maybe a help to others.
I hope you find a solution that may assist others.

[Tuicemen]

I wonder 
They make USB adaptors  like those for USB mice, key boards etc...!
You might try one of them!
In any case as Brian H stated:

I hope you find a solution that may assist others.

And do let us know how you make out!

[PajamaGuy]

I have a USB-to- 9-Pin serial somewhere.  I spent most of the weekend cleaning/rearranging/throwing-out/boxing/etc. my "office" at home.  Do I really need 13 standard PC power cords?  Or a 300 baud modem?  How about a few ( hard drives that when added together are less than 25 MB?

I have a suspicion that my lovely wife "put away" my adapter 'cause I didn't find it.  So I'll stop at Fry's on the way home...  And I'll try to run one of the components via USB-Serial.  Since the USB is 1.1, does anyone have an opinion as to which will be the faster?  I think I'd want the VA11A on the fastest(?)

Thanks!

[dave w]

  So I'll stop at Fry's on the way home... 
Thanks!

You can stop at Fry's on your way home? <whimper> I am soo jealous.

[steven r]

So I'll stop at Fry's on the way home... 

You can stop at Fry's on your way home? <whimper> I am soo jealous.

Me too. My Fry's is about 10 miles away. If it was between me and work, I might not get home from work before 10 every night. 

[Noam]

I don't know about a Serial-to-USB adapter, I have a feeling that won't work unless the device (usually a mouse) is wired to work that way.
I'd instead put my money on a PC-Card (PCMCIA) USB card, one which will give you a few additional ports on a separate controller.

[Tuicemen]

I don't know about a Serial-to-USB adapter, I have a feeling that won't work unless the device (usually a mouse) is wired to work that way.
I'd instead put my money on a PC-Card (PCMCIA) USB card, one which will give you a few additional ports on a separate controller.

Have to admit this is the best option if you have an expansion port in your laptop (many don't)
Since PajamaGuy  bought the laptop just for AHP maybe the CD\DVD can be pulled and a USB expansion module added in it's place!

[PajamaGuy]

NOAM hit the nail.  No go on the USB-to-Serial (2 trips and $30 @ Fry's).  I'll try USB via PCMCIA next (another $30) - but hey - if you're into X-10, you like spending money!

(just for grins, I set up the USB hub again and things started screwing up, took it off and they settled down)

[MichaelC]

I ran my VA11A and CM15A on the same USB hub all the time when I was at X10. A real USB2.0 port should have more than enough bandwidth for a couple VA11As, let alone the miniscule bandwidth needs of the CM15A. I'd look to power as possibly the problem, even on a powered hub. Another thing I learned working on the device testing at X10 is how bad -- unreliable, poorly engineered, not up to standard -- USB hubs are almost universally. In order to pass the USB spec tests, we had to run tests with the X10 USB devices connected to hubs, and the hubs were almost always the sources of problems. The ones we had success with were Belkin hubs that had gotten Windows Logo approval. Sounds strange, but it made a huge difference. Make note that note all of the Belkin hubs are logoed, it might be worth reviewing the Windows catalog online before purchasing.

[PajamaGuy]

2.0 would be fine, but as my earlier post indicated, I can only get 1.1 with the HUB + XP.

My PCMCIA card arrived last night - we'll see.  And as you well know, just because it "should" work, with X10 logic rarely applies.

(This 2-port card is logoed)