XPFM, VR19A, CM15A Mystery

[amx]

I have had X10 control in my home for over 20 years.  Now I have a problem that makes no sense but still exists.

For years I have controlled a Jacuzzi pump with a VR19A remote control and an XPFM switch.  I am currently using Active Home software and a CM15A interface.

Recently the VR19A will not turn the pump on or off.

If I boot up the Active Home software, I can see the switch icon turning on and off when I use the remote control but the pump does not start.

If I click on the switch icon with the mouse cursor it also turns on and off but in this case the pump motor does start and stop.

I have changed the batteries in the remote control and the CM15A interface but the condition still persists.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[steven r]

Most of the time these kind of problems are due to these problems.

Top 3 Problems
[li]Phase issues[/li]
[li]Signal sucker[/li]
[li]Interfering noise on the line[/li]
[/list]

Searching the forum will give you many of the approaches that others have used to solve problems but the 1st thing is write down anything you may of changed. A new surge protector or UPS? Are you using a laptop or phone charger in a new place? (signal suckers) New TV? Entertainment equipment? Try unplugging them. Try unplugging just about everything else. Something, not necessarily new, is interfering with your signal. Read some of Jeff's posts and his web site. He has a lot of experience with these kind of things.

I have used X10 products going back to the days of BSR controller. A few years ago most things stopped working for me. I now am a liberal user of filters. All my UPSs (6+) are plugged into filters. My laptop is plugged into a filter. I've set up a charging station for my batteries and phone that has the surge strip plugged into a filter. My fish tank has a UPS plugged into a filter. I even have a filter for guests and family if they need to plug in possible interfering equipment like laptops. Ok maybe you don't need to go to that extreme but having a few filters around for testing is a good investment. Another trouble shooting tool that is good to have is an ELK EMS1 signal meter. There's even one place that will lend you one for free. You just pay postage. Once you use it you'll want to keep it, however. 

Good luck finding your your problem!

[Brian H]

In the Tools; Hardware Configuration; Tranceived House Code. Make sure the House Code being used by the remote is being tranceived. If no the Remotes signal will show on the screen an on off but no signal is sent over the power line to the XPFM.

[amx]

Thanks for the suggestions stevenr and Brian H.  I think I will try to find a reasonably priced XPTT & XPTR and do some serious checking of my setup. Over the years I have plugged in all sorts of devices so I guess my problem sneaked up on me a little at a time.  I don't know what I'll do with test equipment after I sort out my problem.  I'm long past working for a living so I won't be starting an x10 trouble shooting business.   I will probably be investing in some filters as well.  Thanks again.

[steven r]

...I don't know what I'll do with test equipment after I sort out my problem....

I'm willing to bet that you'll find a place for at least one filter almost immediately. Unless you take the saturation approach to filter everything, having a filter around for the big offenders is almost an inevitable need in homes these days. X10 might of "Plug & Play" in the early days but with all the electronics that's around these days it's not unusual for a setup to become a "Plug & play & play  & play  & play" As you've discovered, an unnoticed change can screw things up particularly if you have a borderline signal. This is where an EMS1 tester can come in handy. It's simple readout can easily tell you where a signal is weak and what items are affecting the signal.
I'd say start by unplugging everything and see if it makes a difference. If you plug something in and the signal drops then that's a place for a filter. You might also benefit from Jeff's XTB signal booster.

[amx]

Well folks, my mystery still persists.  I spent the money and bought an XPTT & XPTR to test my signal strength and for noise.  I also bought an XPCR to replace the .1 mfd 500 volt non-polarized capacitor that I have used successfully for over twenty years as a phase coupler.  Wanted to cover all my bases.  I plugged in the XPTT next to my CM15A interface unit and the the XPTR into a pigtail at my XPFM module.  I am getting a full 2V signal at the module with no activity on the yellow error light which should indicate little or no noise.  I can cycle the XPFM icon on and off with the UR19A remote but the motor will not start.  I can cycle the XPFM icon on/off with the computer mouse and the motor does start/stop.
I set up a remote test arrangement using an appliance module icon with a P1 address in the active home software.  When I cycle this module on/off using either the UR19A remote or the computer mouse I get a 2V signal strength on the XPTR plugged in at my XPFM location.
Why won't my UR19A remote operate my XPFM module anymore??

[Boiler]

amx,

Your XPTT and XPTR have told you that you are successfully sending a signal to the appliance module with adequate level and no errors.  Unfortunately they can't tell you if it was the correct command.

Please have a look at your activity monitor when you are activating the unit via AHP and your remote.  It's possible that you have a macro that has crept in at the same address as your Appliance module.  When this happens, will intercept the RF command as shown below.

I set the following test file up for a lamp module.  The lamp works fine when I activate through AHP.  When I use a RF transmitter to turn "L1 ON", the macro intercepts and turns on L2.  Note that since I don't have a "L1 Off" macro, the RF command for L1 Off works fine.



This is a very easy mistake to make.  If you accidentally create a macro (at the same address as a module) in any "room" within AHP, it will intercept RF commands (yes, I've done this myself).  There have also been claims that deleted macros in the deleted modules "basket" can still activate (I haven't seen this).

Boiler

[amx]

Thanks for the suggestion, boiler.  I checked my activity log and see the following results.  When I use the UR19A to turn the icon on/off I log the message 'Received RF H16 On, Received RF H16 Off, etc".  Pump motor does not run.   When I use the computer mouse to activate the icon I log the message "Transmit H16 (Jacuzzi) followed by a second message Transmit H On (Jacuzzi) then Transmit H16 (Jacuzzi) followed by Transmit H Off"  The motor does start/stop in this case.  Activity log is set to view everything

[Dan Lawrence]

Looks to me the VR19 is the problem.   If AHP can control the XPFM, then there's no transmit problem.

[Boiler]

When I use the UR19A to turn the icon on/off I log the message 'Received RF H16 On, Received RF H16 Off, etc".  Pump motor does not run.   When I use the computer mouse to activate the icon I log the message "Transmit H16 (Jacuzzi) followed by a second message Transmit H On (Jacuzzi) then Transmit H16 (Jacuzzi) followed by Transmit H Off"  The motor does start/stop in this case.  Activity log is set to view everything

amx,

When you receive RF your activity log should show:

Received RF  H16 On (Rf receipt)
Receive        H16 On (X10 transmit)

From what you posted above, you are receiving the RF command but X10 is not sending out anything on the powerline.

Please double-check your transceive settings under "Tools/Hardware configuration".  Make sure that housecode "H" is checked, click "Update Interface" and click "download to the interface".

[amx]

BINGO!!! boiler.  That did the trick.  I have never played with the settings.  The Transceived House Code(s) was set on Auto (the default I assume).  When I set it to Specific and 'H' my problem disappeared.  What would cause the system to work for years on the default settings then suddenly get bitchy?

[steven r]

...What would cause the system to work for years on the default settings then suddenly get bitchy?

The easy answer is "because it's X10" and Murphy loves X10.
Unfortunately you may never have a specific reason.

[Boiler]

...What would cause the system to work for years on the default settings then suddenly get bitchy?

The easy answer is "because it's X10" and Murphy loves X10.
Unfortunately you may never have a specific reason.

amx,

Steven's answer is as good as any I could provide.  I don't typically use the automatic setting, so I'm not a very good point of reference.

For the benefit of other forum members (who may be bitten in the future):

Have you upgraded AHP recently? What version are you currently running?

Boiler

[amx]

Many thanks to everyone for their contribution to solving my mystery.  I want to keep loving this stuff but it was driving me up the wall.  Thanks agin

amx

[svcguy]

FWIW, I had a similar situation happen to me.  Most notably where the CM15A won't transceive house/unit codes.  In my case, I was adjusting my antenna connected to the CM15A via coax, and knocked the thing out of its receptacle.  I plugged it back in right away and it no longer transceived house codes as it did before.  Maybe a power surge freaked out the CM15A for amx??

Just my .02

Andy