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[Fromjim]

Hi Everyone,

I have an EagleEye MS14A sensor in my driveway, my problem is the false signals I get make it useless.

The sensor is over a hundred feet from the road, the signals are not from anything I can see in the area, the sensor is positioned three feet above the ground on a 2"X2" stake, the signal is received by an RR501 transmitter, which seems to do a better job than the Mini Transceiver TM751. I have the transceiver set to Code A.

The MS14A is positioned facing North across my driveway , the nearest objects are some small spruce trees about 30 feet away which run parallel to the driveway on both sides, there is light snow on the ground and the temperature is -4C with a moderate wind from the NE.

I would like to monitor vehicles and people entering our property, I would appreciate any suggestions or alternative methods of achieving the desired results.

Jim

[mike]

hmmm.....

some questions:

- what is house code & number?  A1?
- do you have a motion sensor also maybe on same code?
- any other modules in your house?  what codes?
- what times are the fals alarms? same time each day? night?
- how often are the false alarms?
- sure sun is not doing this?
- sure no high weeds in range flapping in wind?
- sure it's not your neighbors cat(s)?

[Fromjim]

Thanks for the reply,

 what is house code & number?  A1?              Monitored house code "C"
Transceived house codes "A,B,C"

- do you have a motion sensor also maybe on same code?  No
- any other modules in your house?  what codes?    B & C
- what times are the fals alarms? same time each day? night?   all times it is on
- how often are the false alarms?    Every few minutes
- sure sun is not doing this?     sensor looking North
- sure no high weeds in range flapping in wind?    Sensor is facing north across driveway, there are small spruce trees about 30 feet from the sensor
- sure it's not your neighbors cat(s)?  Yes, I only have it on while I test it and watch for problems

Below is a short record of activity for the EagleEye sensor

Tomorrow I will move the sensor to different locations, if you have any suggestions let me know.

Thanks
Jim

859   11/21/2010 3:08:54 PM   Receive   A1 (Driveway East)
860   11/21/2010 3:08:54 PM   Receive   A On (Driveway East)
861   11/21/2010 3:08:56 PM   Receive   A1 (Driveway East)
862   11/21/2010 3:08:57 PM   Receive   A On (Driveway East)
863   11/21/2010 3:08:57 PM   Receive   A1 (Driveway East)
864   11/21/2010 3:08:58 PM   Receive   A On (Driveway East)
865   11/21/2010 3:09:43 PM   Receive   A1 (Driveway East)
866   11/21/2010 3:09:44 PM   Receive   A Off (Driveway East)
867   11/21/2010 3:12:55 PM   Receive   A1 (Driveway East)
868   11/21/2010 3:12:55 PM   Receive   A Off (Driveway East)
869   11/21/2010 3:19:46 PM   Receive   A1 (Driveway East)
870   11/21/2010 3:19:46 PM   Receive   A On (Driveway East)

[mike]

wow!  bet its not false triggering; false triggering would be like 1x every hour!  something is sure going on tho...

If it was me, I would get it off A1 code first!  A1 is worst to use since it is default of everything when new....

Do you have any repeaters?  devices that might be looping a command and retriggering itself? 

Do you have a V572 you use? (one firmware version of it sent A! commands like this by mistake)....

there is a A1 off about 45 sec after the first A1 on - that mean anything to you?
   

[Fromjim]

wow!  bet its not false triggering; false triggering would be like 1x every hour!  something is sure going on tho...

If it was me, I would get it off A1 code first!  A1 is worst to use since it is default of everything when new....I called X-10 support and suggested trying this, they said maybe???

Do you have any repeaters?  devices that might be looping a command and retriggering itself? 
I have an XPCR System Coupler Repeater, $222.95 plus tax and shipping. also I have filters at the PC location and AV center, all X-10 within the home and garage work fine
Do you have a V572 you use? (one firmware version of it sent A! commands like this by mistake)....What is a V572?

there is a A1 off about 45 sec after the first A1 on - that mean anything to you?
    No it dosen't, I have several motion sensors and transceivers not connected, I will do some testing tomorrow and post here

Thanks Jim

[mike]

Do you have any repeaters?  devices that might be looping a command and retriggering itself? 
I have an XPCR System Coupler Repeater, $222.95 plus tax and shipping. also I have filters at the PC location and AV center, all X-10 within the home and garage work fine

Hi Jim,

I would first and foremost change A1 to something unique.

I would definitely turn off the XPCR repeater and see if the repeats go away as an important test.

Let us know what you find!

[Brian H]

The log entries where from AHP?
I would also say try it without the XPCR, but I don't see any signal firestorms in your log.

The Eagle Eye has a timer in it so it should not send another signal for I believe 30 seconds and your log shows some less than 2 seconds apart.
This maybe from the XPCR if AHP is seeing the signal twice. Original and repeated.
The off signal around one minute later would be the no motion timer. Timing out and sending the off.

If you have not found the information in the wiki on motion sensors and how to best place them.
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Motion_Sensors

I believe your main problem is the random triggering of the motion sensor. Look at the suggestions in the wiki. For placement of sensors and best detection range and sensing field.

Double check your batteries. Almost exhausted batteries have been reported to start motion sensors sending random messages and having the address revert to A1 the factory default.

[dave w]

Does the Eagle Eye go nuts at night?

I have Eagle Eye in front yard that will trigger from changing patterns of sun light.

Also have old Active Eye one in bathroom that will send mutiple ON commands in less that 10 second interverals.  I agree with Brian that my understanding is there is a "settling time" where a specific period of time must pass before the xxxEye will retrigger. Perhaps my old Active Eye came before that was incorporated.

I think you are getting repeats from the XPCR.

Is this a new Eagle?

If it does not do it at night, you might try a "sun visor" on the Eagle. Or try a different Eagle.

[troll334]

...chiming in...
The fact the log indicates "Recieve" indicates it's a PLC from the RR501.
Perhaps the 501 is generating the junk. My advice: Unplug the 501,
get that MS14A inside a desk drawer near your CM15. Let's see if it falses.
If not, keep the MS14 in the drawer, plug the RR501 back in and watch
the log. If still nothing, open the drawer, trip the MS14 and close the drawer
back up. Maybe the 501 needs to hear just one signal before it starts
storming. Oh yeah, XPCR offline while testing. Try a different MS14 outside.
And yes, trees, bushes, and animals will cause it to trip. I had to move my
outside MS14s under the soffit; out of the view of neighboring trees. Now
nothing but humanoids and neighborhood cats trip 'em. Oh, sorry 'bout this,
but make sure you don't have any macros sending A1 RF out else the 501
will likely hear them and start all over again.

[mike]

EXCELLENT CATCH TROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Yes, we all missed it:  if it was coming from the REAL eye it would have said "received RF"  not "received!"

So that confirms it Jim, the A1's are NOT coming from the eye as you thought!!!!!!!!!

Now all u have to do is find what is sending them instead.  In the meantime, make your system work by SIMPLY CHANGING THE DANG CODE FROM A1 TO SOMETHING ELSE.

[dave w]

So that confirms it Jim, the A1's are NOT coming from the eye as you thought!!!!!!!!!

Now all u have to do is find what is sending them instead. 

I think you are jumping the gun. Couldn't it be coming from the Eagle Eye through the RR501??

[mike]

ya could be.  I got too excited!  sorry!

but there are still the 2 basic problem solving things to try:  change the A1 code & turn off repeater for test.

thanks for slowing me down!!

[Brian H]

Yes the RR501 could be putting the motion sensors RF commands on the power line and it shows up on the CM15A as a PLC signal and not an RF if it didn't receive it directly.
So YES it still can be coming from the motion sensor through the RR501.

Good thought on changing the address. If A1 still shows up it maybe from a different source. If it moves with the motion sensors address. Then more needed to be done with the motion sensor.

[dave w]

I would get the Eagle off A1 as suggested by mike, OR switch the RR501 to "Unit 9".

I think troll nailed it but the initial description did not indicate a firestorm between the XPCR and the RR501 because the storm stops in this instance. Usually a XPCR/RR501 firestorm will go on for minutes.

The RR501 will send a status when told to change the state of it's outlet which is addressed as Unit Code 1 or 9. If yours is set as A1, the Eagle sends an "A1 ON", the RR501 turns it's outlet on and puts "A1 ON" on the line. The XPCR amplifies the "A1 ON" signal and couples to the other phase. If the RR501 sees this as a command to turn on again it will send another status of "A1 ON" and the ping pong starts.
1. I thought X10 fixed this a long time ago.
2. Usually the ping pong does not stop with out intervention (or at least mine usually did not stop itself).

[dave w]

but there are still the 2 basic problem solving things to try:  change the A1 code & turn off repeater for test.

Yes I think either action may stop the repeating commands. But the problem may be a firestorm between the RR501 and the XPCR, so your thought that the command is not coming [directly] from the Eagle may be correct.