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[Jsnlong]

My CM15A is no longer receiving the RF signal from any of my DS10A. I already checked the range issue I have even taken down the sensors and went into the same room as The CM15A.

I have already done the whole CM15 reset( unplug remove battery ete...). The signal no longer even shows up in the Activity Monitor.

I have also tried reinstalling the sensors and of course it wont see the signal to reinstall or add any new ones.

I have not added any new stuff in the house that would block the signal. And the Cm15 is seeing any regular RF signals OK.

Anyone have any Ideas or maybe has this happen to one of your CM15's? 

[Jsnlong]

Well the gang at the Home automation chat room helps again  http://www.bdshost.com/ac/


Just needed to reload OnAlert and all is well again..... Why didn't I think of that 

[HA Dave]

Well the gang at the Home automation chat room helps again.  http://www.bdshost.com/ac/

I take all my thoughts and questions about HA to the Home Automated Chat. The cheery and knowledgeable guys there (Jsnlong INCLUDED) alway have HELPFUL, and insightful information as well as creative new ideas. The guys there help me out all the time.

There is always plenty of room at KDR's Home Automated Chat and everyone is invited.

[Tuicemen]

Jsnlong
The fact that you took the time to post your issue but most importantly it's cure deserves a praise and a Helpful! 
The Gang at the  Home Automated Chat have often been referred to as the Cheers Gang and for good reason!
They are more then willing to stop the good humor chat and get serious with problem solving at the drop of a hat!
And they'll stick with you until you have the issue resolved! 
 

[Savage223]

I'm having other issues on re-installation that I'll put somewhere else on the board, but wanted to comment on what happened with my CM15.

For some time, I've watched as sensor after sensor appeared to have stopped reporting to the CM15.  Each window and motion sensor reported fine to the alarm console just fine.  Daily reviews of the activity log showed an obvious drop-off of sensors over time.  (As I'd enter the porch, two motion sensors (in and out) and two door sensors should activate.  Then the kitchen, dining room, and bedroom, where the computer is located.)  Eventually, I was left with a single door sensor and one or two reporting motion sensors.

I dropped a HDD and had to reinstall everything, operating system to ActiveHome.  When I did, I was still having "Unknown USB Device" errors upon connecting the CM15, and read here to remove the batteries to reset it.

When I did, all the other sensors that had stopped working suddenly appeared again- visible to the CM15 and, of course, the activity log.

I've had the system set up since December, with absolutely no power interruption to the CM15.  The computer, of course, has been cycled on and off.  Sometimes on for days, other times off every day.  From December to the beginning of February, I lost all comm. from the sensors to the CM15 except the few mentioned above.  I lost 7 motion sensors and five door-window sensors in that time.

I'm wondering what causes this, how to prevent it, or at least how to predict or know when it has happened.  There is obviously some flaw in the CM15, because ALL of the zones (all 14 or 15) are still visible and will activate the security console if triggered when armed. 

I mentioned all of this to suggest it is in some way related to the thread here, operationally speaking. 

OH, and the remotes stopped working until I re-set the CM15.  Almost as though once the CM15 no longer had daily contact with the PC, it affected the operation of the module control remotes (light on/off remotes.)  Right after the reset, these started working right as well.  Geeze that part was really confusing, and logically still is baffling me.

I do have some questions- they may have been answered elsewhere (send links if you know of them) but I haven't seen it addressed specifically.  Here they are:

1.  What causes this problem?  RF dropoff, perhaps?

2.  How do I identify that it has happened?  I do know that sensors report every 90 minutes to the system, does the CM15 use the same checksum as the security console to ensure all zones /sensors are still visible? 

3.  Wouldn't it be cool if the software would notify you when it no longer had communication from these devices?  After all, there is a built-in memory in the CM15 that is obviously accessed via the ActiveHome application!  (Even when the computer has been turned off, activity is still monitored and recorded internally in the CM15 that I see when I boot up and check out the log.)

4.  Any suggestions on this issue?

[Puck]

1.  What causes this problem?  RF dropoff, perhaps?

The method of signal detection of the receiver is one possible cause to RF Reception drop-offs. Without actual measurements from your CM15A, I cannot say if this is your problem for sure, but your described symptoms make it a possibility. Nonetheless, the following is good to know anyways.

The receiver is constantly measuring the incoming RF signals, and it does the following:

1) It averages the ambient signal noise over time and sets a threshold voltage

2) It looks for peak signals that exceed this threshold voltage

Received signals that exceed the threshold are then send on to be interpreted as a valid X10 signal.

A couple years ago when I was investigating jamming issues, I connected an external contact through a voltage follower so I could measure & monitor this threshold voltage. What I seen, using remotes, was that increases in ambient RF noise around the 310MHz caused the threshold voltage to rise.

As this threshold voltage rises, it makes it harder for some weaker valid signals to be detected and or interpreted correctly. If the ambient RF noise continues to cause the threshold to rise over time, then it can cause the receiver to basically be flooded to the point that most signals cannot be correctly detected & interpreted.

There are 2 suggestions I have to help prevent the ambient RF from causing problems:

1) Move the CM15A to a different location. Keep it as far away from strong sources of EMI as possible. PCs & TVs have a lot of different clocks in them that make them RF noise generators.

2) If you modify the antenna, do not make it extra long because it seems to work better that way. The front end of the CM15A RF Receiver does not have a narrow bandpass, so an incorrect antenna match can allow more ambient RF noise in and therefore increase the threshold voltage.

[Savage223]

The method of signal detection...

Puck.  I have to tell you: that was the biggest epiphany ever!  That HAS to be a factor in my case.  Thanks for that extremely well written explanation!!  I've seen replies before talking around the subject but never that specific.  Thanks!!!!!  (Kudos / Karma coming...)

Now, I'll have to do some things to be sure, but I'll definitely pick this route of attack first.

I live on a very busy city corner with constant truck traffic.  As you know, truckers have a propensity for "fire in the wire" comms- CB's that have 100w - 1kw RF output, echo boxes and effects, sideband, etc.  And, though they're in the 26mHz range, the spurious / harmonics at that proximity HAVE to be taken as a serious factor for my application, based on what you've said.  300mHz would be a leap, from the limited knowledge I have, but I'd bet at that output nearby anything could happen.

Another thing that I wonder about is the "traffic sensor" for the traffic light.  I've been looking for some time on information on what they run (frequency) and can't find it.  (Probably because there are now active system hackers out there making devices to shorten the light cycles.  Specifically for small vehicles like motorcycles...)

Logically, this all makes sense, because the first units to drop off my radar were the furthest away and/or those that would be subject to physical interference like brick walls, the refrigerator, etc.

It may be that I can borrow a signal strength meter and/or freq counter from here at work.  That would probably be the tell-all for me, but if you know what I'd need please advise so I don't tick off the technical guy at work being a noob...

Also- is there a comprehensive listing somewhere here on what frequencies these devices operate?  (Cameras and camera audio especially.)  I have some receivers (scanners) that can cover those ranges for audio; and I have applications that will interface easily with the soundcard to throw signals and start apps based on audio input level... if you see where I'm going .....

Thanks again!

[Puck]

It may be that I can borrow a signal strength meter and/or freq counter from here at work.  That would probably be the tell-all for me, but if you know what I'd need please advise so I don't tick off the technical guy at work being a noob...

I don't think a freq. counter will be able to tell you too much; ideally a spectrum analyzer would be the best piece of equipment to measure what is going on in the air around you.