What's the "BEST" RF Transeiver?

Started by Walt2, March 23, 2010, 07:48:27 AM

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Walt2

I am helping a friend getting started with X10, and with that, starting him with one of the new RF ICON Remotes. 

Is there any transceiver, made by X10 or not, that is considered to be the best today?   High on the list would be support for all house codes, but that is not an absolute hard requirement.

I was thinking of steering him toward a CM15A, and initially just using it as a transceiver.  However, that would mean I would need to program it for him, and possibly be "on call"  for the rest of my life it if ever needs to be re-programmed again.  So, I am leaning against that choice right now.

Any suggestions or leads?
* Sears Home Control System, Radio Shack Plug 'n Power, NuTone, Stanley LightMaker, BSR, HomeLink.
* Tecmar Device Master, CP290 (LightHouse), CM11A (AH), CM14A (AH2), CM15A (AHPro).

Charles Sullivan

Quote from: Walt2 on March 23, 2010, 07:48:27 AM
I am helping a friend getting started with X10, and with that, starting him with one of the new RF ICON Remotes. 

Is there any transceiver, made by X10 or not, that is considered to be the best today?   High on the list would be support for all house codes, but that is not an absolute hard requirement.

I was thinking of steering him toward a CM15A, and initially just using it as a transceiver.  However, that would mean I would need to program it for him, and possibly be "on call"  for the rest of my life it if ever needs to be re-programmed again.  So, I am leaning against that choice right now.

Any suggestions or leads?

I give the WGL V572A (http://www.wgldesigns.com) very high marks.
Yesterday it worked.
Today it doesn't work.
X10 on Windows is like that.

HEYU - X10 Automation for Linux, Unix, and Mac OS X     http://www.heyu.org

Walt2

Quote from: Charles Sullivan on March 23, 2010, 09:12:22 AM

I give the WGL V572A (http://www.wgldesigns.com) very high marks.


Do you know if they have solved the occasional flooding of the powerline with A1 'on' commands?
* Sears Home Control System, Radio Shack Plug 'n Power, NuTone, Stanley LightMaker, BSR, HomeLink.
* Tecmar Device Master, CP290 (LightHouse), CM11A (AH), CM14A (AH2), CM15A (AHPro).

nybuck

Wow - I didn't know such high-end devices existed...

They are in San Antonio Texas...  If I had to guess, their devices are made in a capitalist country!   #:)
>!

Charles Sullivan

Quote from: Walt2 on March 23, 2010, 09:22:52 AM
Quote from: Charles Sullivan on March 23, 2010, 09:12:22 AM

I give the WGL V572A (http://www.wgldesigns.com) very high marks.


Do you know if they have solved the occasional flooding of the powerline with A1 'on' commands?

I never experienced that particular problem.  What I did experience (which may be related) was that the number of PLC Dims transmitted in response to an RF Dim signal varied all over the place, probably due to some sort of feedback as had been observed in the TM571.  I reported this to WGL.  A later revision of the V572A 3 or 4 years ago (to fix a different problem) did not exhibit this (assumed) feedback problem.
Yesterday it worked.
Today it doesn't work.
X10 on Windows is like that.

HEYU - X10 Automation for Linux, Unix, and Mac OS X     http://www.heyu.org

HA Dave

Quote from: Walt2 on March 23, 2010, 07:48:27 AM
....... I was thinking of steering him toward a CM15A, and initially just using it as a transceiver.  However, that would mean I would need to program it for him, and possibly be "on call"  for the rest of my life it if ever needs to be re-programmed again. 

Oh come on... I thought you've been around for a while anyways... how long can "the rest of" be? There are many advanages to a CM15A.
Home Automation is an always changing technology

Walt2

Quote from: Dave_x10_L on March 23, 2010, 11:04:48 AM
Oh come on... I thought you've been around for a while anyways... how long can "the rest of" be? There are many advanages to a CM15A.

So, its your recommendation that the CM15A contains the best transceiver ever made?   >*<
 

Personally, I disabled the transceiver in my CM15A, and still use the transceiver function, instead, that's in my old CM14A.   Unfortunately, using a CM14A isn't a option for new users.
* Sears Home Control System, Radio Shack Plug 'n Power, NuTone, Stanley LightMaker, BSR, HomeLink.
* Tecmar Device Master, CP290 (LightHouse), CM11A (AH), CM14A (AH2), CM15A (AHPro).

HA Dave

Quote from: Walt2 on March 23, 2010, 11:52:24 AM
So, its your recommendation that the CM15A contains the best transceiver ever made? 

Yes! And I know I might receive some major grief over that. I know the CM14A was better... but it also wasn't ever marketed ether... was it? So ever made... maybe not. The best RF Transceiver ever sold... yeah I think so.
Home Automation is an always changing technology

JeffVolp


I'd recommend the WGL V572A too.  It has excellent sensitivity, and handles all house codes.  I have also used the RR501.  It does just a single housecode, but has very good sensitivity, and could cover about a 50-60 ft radius that included the house and nearby grounds.  From what I have read, the CM15A won't do that without one of the antenna mods.

And yes, I also agree that the CM14A included a very good RF transceiver.

Jeff
X-10 automation since the BSR days

Brian H

Though it is the low end and impolite model. The my NEW version TM751 with the same CM15A receiver board in it. Beats an old TM751 and unmodified CM15A in reception range. Maybe close or slightly better then my RR501.

WGL V572A by far is the best of all of them.

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