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[jamesjr]

Hello All,
    I'm a first time poster and fairly new to the world of X10. I have been tinkering for about 3 years and after i got my comms issues solved with the XTBII I have been having fun figuring out new ways to use the system...but i have got an issue with a new SmartHome 2486S switch i am trying to program. I need to be able to send only a house/unit code to set the "scenes", how do i do that? I cant figure it out in Active Home Pro and tonight i managed to get ahcmd program running but it too does not want to send just the house/unit code until i add the 'on' or 'off' to the line. Do i need to buy a button controller to do this? There must be a way to do it with software and the PC.

Any help would be greatly appreciated - is there some FAQ or wiki file i can read ? I tried the search but did not come up with anything

I am also having isses with the Primary Code, I can turn the lights off, but not on....

James

[jamesjr]

Seems my searching was not so good...i found a link to a 2009 topic that has some replies saying its best to get  maxi-controller because it can send only the hc/uc......

Does anyone know of some software that can do this now?


Thanks

james

[Brian H]

I have not seen any program that can only send the House Code Address without an On or Off. With a CM15A or any of the X10 interfaces.
I tried the temporary Chime Module trick but it also sent the On when activated.

If you had the Smarthome 1132CU interface with Smarthome Manager Essentials you could.
The Smarthome 4017 ControLinc Maxi could also and even had preset buttons to send the whole sequence with one action.

The SC506 Maxi Controller maybe your least costly option if no one can provide a software solution.

What type of lights are connected to the 2486S KeypadLinc Relay Switch that don't turn On?

[jamesjr]

Brian,
     Thanks for the quick reply!! I am turning on/off a receptacle that has 4 Diode lights from IKEA (Inreda - is the Ikea name) plugged into it. They are mounted under the cabinets in our kitchen. I went with the 2486S because it coudl directly switch the load and the extra four buttons that i have been lead to believe i can program to any other HC/UC so my wife can actuate other x10 items. The manual for the 2468 does not even mention how to program the scene buttons addresses, it only mentions how to set the ramp rate, on level and how to remove an address.....I am hoping if i set the on level it sets the HC/UC.


Here is the link to the manual - http://wiki.smarthome.com/index.php?title=2486S_Manual#Setting_the_X10_Primary_Address

Are you thinking the load is to low to switch on? It works fine pressing the switch, just not with a Macro/Flag set

Thanks

James

[Brian H]

First the relay versions don't have things like ramp rate and on levels. They are on or off.
I think you maybe confusing a Scene Address and a address added to the other smaller secondary buttons.
A scene address would be like you have six switches on different address and you want a scene address to control them all.
When the scene address is sent all of the switches would react.

If all you want to do is add an X10 address to one of the secondary buttons. Hold the button until it goes into the linking mode. Its LED is blinking. Then send the X10 address just like you did when you programed the main button set. If this doesn't work let us know as I don't have any of the newer v5.1 units and I know Smarthome has been tweeking things like adding beepers and dropping other things.

No the load should not effect it going on. You should be able to even turn it on with no load attached. Sometimes a noisy load would cause a unit to not go off.

[jamesjr]

Brian,
     Your exactly correct that is what i want to do with the smaller buttons....I will give that a whirl this evening and report back. Am i missreading the manual??? But i cant find anywhere that is says you can program the scene buttons the same way as the primary buttons...but want if i wanted to do what you said and have one small (scene) button control more than one X10 light...how do i program that?

     I also noticed my ActiveHome Pro does not open since I have downloaded the SDK??? DO i need to un-install the SDK to get AHP to work again or do i need to upgrade the AHP to a newer version?


 James

[Brian H]

They are not scene buttons. They are secondary buttons.
No the online instructions are not clear. Actually you are adding an X10 address to each button of your choice and they do not have to be even the same House Code. They can not send out a set of addresses to control more than one address.

If you added a scene. What you would do is have a second X10 address to turn on and off the load set of buttons.
Like you could have the switch on B1 and another on B2. You could add a scene in both of them lets say B3. Send a B1 or B2 on or off and the individual switches would respond. Send a B3 and both would respond. 

[jamesjr]

10-4 Brian, looks like I will be X10ing away on a full belly over the Christmas break!!!

I could set a flag too and a Macro that goes from there...

The button sends an "ON" and then an "OFF" on the second press correct?

Any idea why my AHP does not open after downloading the SDK?

 

[Brian H]

Correct. Sends an On then an Off with the second press.
I believe they can be set momentary. Where an On is sent when pressed and an Off when released.

Sorry I don't have any information to assist with the SDK files.

[jamesjr]

Thanks Brain,
    Where do i find out more about the momentary option? I really wish the instructions were better for the X10 side....

[Brian H]

http://wiki.smarthome.com/index.php?title=2486S_Manual#Changing_the_Button_Mode

[jamesjr]

Thanks Brian, Have a great Christmas and New Years!!!!

I will let you know this evening how my progress goes!!!!

[jamesjr]

I have the switch all programmed up, i have re-installed AHP and SmartMacros and all is running well again. The ON command is still hit and miss for the primary address....very disappointing because before the install of this SmartHome 2486s i had little if any problems getting signals through. Would anyone have any idea why the OFF works everytime but not the ON?

Thanks Brian for your guidance

SmartHome - fix your instructions....


Happy Holidays everyone!!!

James

[Brian H]

Glad the buttons got programmed to your needs.
The online and quick guides from Smarthome sometimes are vague.
They also sometimes are incorrect for the older versions and their instructions seem to have disappeared. Good thing the older ones where in pdf format and I saved them. 

Well you have an XTB-IIR so there is a good chance you have a strong signal at the switch.

Since the switch is two way. The transmitter circuit maybe absorbing some of the signals and could make a marginal signal not work and when On the load is lowering the noise.

They also have AGC so if noise is setting the switches gain to a place where the X10 signals are missed. The load again maybe lowering it enough for the Off to get through.

[jamesjr]

Thanks again Brian for your insight!!

My next challenge is installing x10 master and 3 companion switches for the exterior lights on my shop......if i have trouble i will start a new thread..