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[JGM]

First of all this forum has been very helpful regarding the CM15A antenna modifications to go from a 1/4 wavelength antenna to (in my case) a half wavelength.  I made the mod with great success with a 20" telescoping antenna with the diameter which fit into the existing elbow fitting.  I soldered the existing antenna lead to the internal tube of the retrofit antenna.  Looks like it came out of the box this way.  Have provided recommendation to X10 for future production change.  Now to my problem.  I have recently installed an X10 security system based around the DS700 controller augmented with Active Home (most recent version) along with appropriate plugins.  I am running and old 2000 vintage PC with an AMD 950+ Mhz processor/512mb of RAM/two PCI to USB 2.0 cards.  You may laugh but the machine runs XP pro with SP3 well and serves as my telephone via a magic jack and home automation tasks.  All is OK except when I try to connect the VA12A video converter.  It takes the machine to an unstable state and attempted restarts lockup with the bootlog citing one of the VA12A driver files (BD something) unable to load.  I can disconnect the VA12A, reboot and all is well again.  I've tried the reinstall all software method multiple times following the procedure and both old and new driver sets from the download page.  The one thing I have not tried is clearing previous drivers from the X10 hardware folder then redownloading/installing.  This could be a contributor since the re-install looks like it skips any existing files therefore I may have not really replaced the drivers to retest.  Another idea is if I'm conflicting with the magic jack (which is a tigerjet internet phone driver) with the load of any audio subsets.  I am willing to modify the VA12A .inf file if needed to experiment.  I've read the postings and have not found the answer to my problem. Has someone disected the driver files in what they are/doing?  I also have emailed X10 tech support to try and gain help from a 'senior technician'.  Help and Thanks!

[JGM]

 B:(I didn't see any replies to my posting regarding driver issues with a VA12A and XP Pro.  Please I need some help with getting a VA12A to work without killing my computer.  If anyone can read the post and give me some advise I'd appreciate it.

[Tuicemen]

512 mem?
Your lucky AHP even starts!
Windows recommends min 1 gig for XP!
Go to a used PC shop and update the PC to the maximum memory it will hold, probably 1 gig.
 

[JGM]

Unfortunately the motherboard and bios max is 512Mb.  AHP runs great and so does everything else until I hook up the VA12A.  I'll check with Microsoft/elsewhere but I don't think XP minimum requirements is 1 Gig memory.  I have another computer of same vintage and it even runs XP and the office suite with no problems with 768Mb which is max for that machine.

What are the current AHP version minimum system requirements?

[Tuicemen]

I'm wrong  128 meg is the bare min requirement for XP Pro But I can imagine doing anything with that!
AHP was originaly designed to work with Win 98
I'm not sure what it requires now with all the plug-ins.
Have you played with the virtual memory settings?

[JGM]

I have the virtual memory set at 4 gig.

[Tuicemen]

Ok that may be set to high!
That is the maximum for XP but setting the virtual memory too high can degrade performance.
There is a formula on the net for figuring out what it should be set to ( I remember reading it some where)
Try setting your virtual to 2 gigs.
If I remember right your virtual shouldn't be more then double your physical But I've been wrong before!
If that is the case then even 2 gigs is too much!
 

[JGM]

I'll try a lower virtual memory setting and search the web for info regarding it.

Mr. Tuicemen, I apologize if I'm using the forum incorrectly...sort of new to this.  However, maybe we should discuss what I'm trying to do.  Basically a security system on the cheap in a second home located where I normally work during the week.  The x10 system with the Ds7000 gave me that OK and it was packaged in a deal with AHP.  While away from that location I thought I would add video monitoring capability triggered by the alarm system side and/or via remote connection in case a culprit broke in.  The package also came with assorted gizmos for home automation like lamp control, etc as nice to haves and I'm bound and determined to make it work.  Thanks much.

[Tuicemen]

Well you could always trigger a VCR commander and tape the action to a VCR or DVR.
I just got my VA12a working on Win 7 after 3 months of playing with it so I know it can be as much of a pain to set up as the old VA11A.
Something you may try to find on e-bay or else where, they were USB 1 so not as much of a demand on the OS.
 

[JGM]

Another avenue could be to use a PCI video surveillance card w/program w/remote connect.  I think I found some that were cheaper than the VA12A for around 50 bucks.  I'd trigger the x10 camera power supplies via AHP macro upon security sensor detect but monitor via the video application.  I'll try playing with the x10 drivers first, virtual memory, etc.  The download page indicates the older drivers are good for xp and 2000 whereas the new ones are xp and up.  Your mention of struggling with a newer machine and windows 7 has me even more curious.  I was just about to buy a new computer but it doesn't sound like the root cause/solution.  Of coarse as you probably know, one can keep upgrading old heaps past the financial reasoning point after the 'spare' parts bin expires.

 

[Tuicemen]

Most of the issue with the CM12A was my doing! I tried to get it to work with other programs which it doesn't!
There was another post on here today about CPU usage. Some posted once they ran video their machine  requirements spiked!
 

[JGM]

Do you recall where the CPU usage spike post was.  I don't see it in this section.

[Brian H]

http://forums.x10.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=ahbpnji5k14quj1l7ht0vgm6h7&topic=22214.0

[lodtrack]

A little off topic but I already had a USB video converter from Kworld. Rather than buy the Va12a , I gave it a try and much to my suprise it works sort of...I can record video but not take snapshots..oh well another trip to the X10 site...as for the original problem, I cannot see how a video application will ever work with so little memory even with virtual memory usage enabled. My experience with the video aspect is that even if you get it to work, you will probably not be satisfied with result. I am old enough to remember rendering video in hours vs. the minutes it takes with an up to date machine. A small consolation if you are trying to make it work with the older PC...good luck though.

[JGM]

Iodtrack, I hear you but I also have a really old notebook with a pentium processor before they put numbers to them, rigged a parallel interface webcam modified to work with a telescope and it worked great and still does today.  The only problem with that project is after many man-hours of custom writing code to project a target cursor on a celestial map, machining parts, and about 5K$ spent, I realized that since I'm still working I need to sleep at night.  Also beginning with my second century of life I'm less tolerant of the cold which is the best time to use such toys.  Oh well, it was a challenge and it appears that I may be undertaking another one!