SC503 operation--not as expected

[DeltaNu1142]

I just received an SC503 in order to program some SwitchLincs I've installed.  I'm sitting here with the controller plugged in, pushing buttons & watching the AHP Activity Monitor.  However, the commands that appear on the monitor don't correspond to what I expect.  In addition to the weird behavior below, when I first plugged in the controller, it was repeatedly sending "P All Units Off" until I pushed a button.  Anyway, with the House Code dial set to "A", here's what I get (first column are my button presses, and the other columns are from Activity Monitor):

|I PUSH:	|EVENT	|DATE/TIME	|ACTION	|DATA
|On	|0	|   7/12/2008 8:29	|Receive	|A On
|Off	|1	|   7/12/2008 8:29	|Receive	|A Off
|Bright	|2	|   7/12/2008 8:29	|Receive	|A Bright 100
|Dim	|3	|   7/12/2008 8:29	|Receive	|A Bright 71
|All Lights On	|4	|   7/12/2008 8:29	|Receive	|A Bright 62
|All Units Off	|5	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 43
|1	|6	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 90
|2	|7	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 36
|3	|8	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 30
|4	|9	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 18
|5	|10	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 18
|6	|11	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 15
|7	|12	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 14
|8	|13	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 10
|9	|14	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 13
|10	|15	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 7
|11	|16	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 14
|12	|17	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 18
|13	|18	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 25
|14	|19	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 18
|15	|20	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 12
|16	|21	|   7/12/2008 8:30	|Receive	|A Bright 30

I actually spent more time formatting this table than I did troubleshooting my problem 

...so, the first four commands look reasonable, but after that, they seem to get screwy--is this normal?  This controller looks new, made by "Rollins Protective Services," model number SC503.  I'm looking for confirmation that this will work to program my SwitchLincs & KeypadLincs.

[Dan Lawrence]

Your SC503 must be very old, as I have one and on the bottom it says  "Made By x10 USA, Closter, NJ, USA"

[DeltaNu1142]

Your SC503 must be very old, as I have one and on the bottom it says  "Made By x10 USA, Closter, NJ, USA"

Looks old; faux-woodgrain on the sides.  Mine says "Made in U.S.A. and Hong Kong" among other things.

[Charles Sullivan]

Your SC503 is defective.

With that "Rollins Protective Services" label, I presume you got it from a "surplus" dealer on eBay.

[DeltaNu1142]

Your SC503 is defective.
With that "Rollins Protective Services" label, I presume you got it from a "surplus" dealer on eBay.

Crap!  Yes, it was an eBay buy...  along with most of the installed switches.  Any recommendations on where I SHOULD be buying?

Thanks...

[Brian H]

Are the SwitchLincs Scene Capable and do you want or need to send the special house code only programming codes for scenes?

[Charles Sullivan]

Your SC503 is defective.
With that "Rollins Protective Services" label, I presume you got it from a "surplus" dealer on eBay.

Crap!  Yes, it was an eBay buy...  along with most of the installed switches.  Any recommendations on where I SHOULD be buying?

Thanks...

The problem with the "surplus" dealers is that the goods are often customer returns with intermittent defects.

There are several authorized X10 resellers who sell new products on eBay.   I buy most of my X10 stuff nowadays from "The Home Automation Store" there.

Others have had good things to say about Automated Outlet (http://www.automatedoutlet.com)

If you're willing to wade through all the drivel on http://www.x10.com you can usually find "3 for 1", "4 for 1", etc. deals there.

[DeltaNu1142]

Are the SwitchLincs Scene Capable and do you want or need to send the special house code only programming codes for scenes?

No--not scene capable, unfortunately.  I found out too late that certain models of pre-Insteon switches were scene-capable, and I didn't get any of them.

The problem with the "surplus" dealers is that the goods are often customer returns with intermittent defects.
There are several authorized X10 resellers who sell new products on eBay.   I buy most of my X10 stuff nowadays from "The Home Automation Store" there.
Others have had good things to say about Automated Outlet (http://www.automatedoutlet.com)
If you're willing to wade through all the drivel on http://www.x10.com you can usually find "3 for 1", "4 for 1", etc. deals there.

I've purchased from Automated Outlet, I'll probably look there next...  thanks for the input.  I'm currently looking for info at "another" forum for the Smarthome stuff, but responses are hard to come by over there.

[steven r]

...I actually spent more time formatting this table than I did troubleshooting my problem...

Yes the table feature is by far one of the more challenging features to use on this forum. Based on some of the small tables I've made, I can feel your pain. 

[Brian H]

If all you need is to send X10 Addresses and On Off codes to program the switches. Then many of the controllers may do; though some of them only do Units 1-8.

I have done some with my RR501 and a HR12A palm pad remote.

My older 1132CU X10 compatible controller can also send the codes in Advanced Modes tab; with the included software.

I have also used a Smarthome 4071 ControLinc Maxi. Mostly since it has preset buttons for things like Unlock code sequence. That is not the cheapest route for sure.

Can't the CM15A be used to send X10 Codes manually?

[dave w]

I have also used a Smarthome 4071 ControLinc Maxi. Mostly since it has preset buttons for things like Unlock code sequence. That is not the cheapest route for sure.

I know this deviates from the point of this thread, but Smarthome frequently puts the 4071 ControlLinc Maxi on sale for $24.95....I'll go back to sleep now.  

[Charles Sullivan]

If all you need is to send X10 Addresses and On Off codes to program the switches. Then many of the controllers may do; though some of them only do Units 1-8.

I have done some with my RR501 and a HR12A palm pad remote.

My older 1132CU X10 compatible controller can also send the codes in Advanced Modes tab; with the included software.

I have also used a Smarthome 4071 ControLinc Maxi. Mostly since it has preset buttons for things like Unlock code sequence. That is not the cheapest route for sure.

Can't the CM15A be used to send X10 Codes manually?

Programming many 'Linc modules requires sending a sequence of X10 addresses with no intervening function codes.  The SC503 can do this but the RR501 or Mini-Controller can't.  Yes, the CM15A with AHP can do it in a macro - I don't think there's a direct command.

[Brian H]

I though the special codes where only needed for remote setting of scenes and ramp levels. I have used a HR12A and RR501 to do primary X10 addresses in Insteon modules all the time. Yes the house code only special commands can't be done by the unit mentioned by Charles.

I have not programmed the older X10 Linc type so I have no data on needing special codes for everything.

[DeltaNu1142]

Yes the table feature is by far one of the more challenging features to use on this forum. Based on some of the small tables I've made, I can feel your pain. 

I used Excel to generate the tr & td tags...  not "manual," but still not fast.

If all you need is to send X10 Addresses and On Off codes to program the switches. Then many of the controllers may do; though some of them only do Units 1-8.

I have done some with my RR501 and a HR12A palm pad remote.

This will probably be my next attempt.  I didn't think of the HR12A & was using an X10 universal remote for some reason.  It wasn't working very well, but I've never actually confirmed that it works at all.

Programming many 'Linc modules requires sending a sequence of X10 addresses with no intervening function codes.  The SC503 can do this but the RR501 or Mini-Controller can't.  Yes, the CM15A with AHP can do it in a macro - I don't think there's a direct command.

Can you provide an example of an AHP macro that would send, for example, an unlock code sequence?  It's not that I'm lazy--just out of town & don't have AHP to play with until the weekend...

I though the special codes where only needed for remote setting of scenes and ramp levels. I have used a HR12A and RR501 to do primary X10 addresses in Insteon modules all the time. Yes the house code only special commands can't be done by the unit mentioned by Charles.
I have not programmed the older X10 Linc type so I have no data on needing special codes for everything.

Just as a test, I set one of the "Icon" relay switches' primary addresses with a KR19A and an RR501.  I don't remember what the address of the KR19A was, but I wanted to see if the address would take, and it did.  The Icon is a nice switch, and programs easily (hold top of paddle for 5 seconds; send address--obviously address+command works; voila) but the Icon doesn't "look" like the rest of the switches I have and I'm going for consistency...  which is why after investing some $$ in the discontinued switches, I'm sticking to my guns & not going with Insteon.

[steven r]

Yes the table feature is by far one of the more challenging features to use on this forum. Based on some of the small tables I've made, I can feel your pain. 

I used Excel to generate the tr & td tags...  not "manual," but still not fast....

You can do that with Excel? i.e. Generate a table for this forum. Is it any faster? If so I'd like to know how you do it.