Macro doesn't work if wireless signal is received from specific transceiver/room

[sir_rob]

I have set up a macro to be triggered when I turn an appliance module on.  It turns that module off after 4 hours (battery charger for tools).  I changed it to no delay to test it out though.  What I found is that the "off" command never gets sent.  I changed the codes so that the signal would be received in a different room with a different transceiver.  This time it worked just fine, but the remote would not work from that distance.  I then tried the original codes and found that if I used the remote in the same room with my CM15A (computer USB interface) the macro fires just fine.  I do have a coupler on the dryer outlet, and I have a XPCR coupler/repeater/amplifier installed.  I have filters on equipment that I know causes problems.

Any ideas?

[Knightrider]

Is it that the "off" command doesn't get sent, or does it not get received? I'm almost betting that the chargers are a noise source in themselves and you might have to put a filter between the appliance module and the chargers.

[sir_rob]

I have just confirmed that it is not the transceiver.  I temporarily moved it to the garage, and everything worked perfectly with the original codes.  Then I changed the codes and put it in the family room that is next to the garage.  The module turns on, but the macro never turns it off.  That means that I know of two outlets (different rooms) that the transceiver will function in, but the macro does not respond if the transceiver is used in those outlets.  I know of some outlets where everything works perfectly, but I did not intend to buy another transceiver just for one appliance module.  I would prefer to fix the problem so that I can avoid future problems as well.

Admins, please move this thread if it is in the wrong category.

[Knightrider]

... I did not intend to buy another transceiver just for one appliance module.  I would prefer to fix the problem so that I can avoid future problems as well.

now, explain to me again why you'd buy another one?  TM 751's don't play nice with cm15's.

[sir_rob]

I just checked the activity monitor.  It does not have any entries for this behavior.  In other words, I do not think that Active Home ever registers these events, and hence does not respond.  When it does respond (when using a transceiver is a different outlet), the macro kicks in and the module turns off just fine.

The problem is that Active Home never "hears" the transceiver turning the module on from certain electrical outlets.  Any ideas?

[sir_rob]

So are you saying that the problem might be that my TM751 and CM15A are not playing well together from certain outlets and that may be the entire problem?  Should I replace it with a RR501 or just get a RR501?  Do RR501's have the same problem as the TM751's?

[Knightrider]

A TM 751 has no powerline receiver circuit in it, and cannot tell when the lines are clear to send through a signal, therefor it is known as "impolite".  This can cause 2 signals to crash into each other and render both a null and void.

The RR501 is a polite unit.

[sir_rob]

I agree, but that does not explain why AHP "hears" the TM751 very reliably when it is plugged into certain outlets and not at all when it is plugged into other outlets.  In fact, I just confirmed that AHP does not "hear" signals from my RR501 when it is plugged into those same outlets.  So the problem is not with the TM751 or RR501, but somewhere between the transceiver and the CM15A at my computer.

[Knightrider]

hmmmmmmmmm

maybe your phase coupler isn't enough.

[sir_rob]

That is possible.  I have two of them installed (XPCR and a plug-in dryer module), but that makes more sense to me than anything else that I can think of.

[dave w]

I agree, but that does not explain why AHP "hears" the TM751 very reliably when it is plugged into certain outlets and not at all when it is plugged into other outlets.  In fact, I just confirmed that AHP does not "hear" signals from my RR501 when it is plugged into those same outlets.  So the problem is not with the TM751 or RR501, but somewhere between the transceiver and the CM15A at my computer.

I just jumped into this thread and being a "old geezer" is too difficult to try and wade thru it.

However AHP will not necessarly know if /when either the TM751 or the RR501 "turned on". Neither transceivers transmits a status  when they change state (RR501 can be polled however). So if the TM751 or the RR501 is activated by an RF transmission from a RF remote which the CM15A does not receive, then AHP will not know of the status change. I'll go back to sleep now.

[Brian H]

You have two coupler repeaters or one passive coupler and a coupler repeater?
Is the dryer one also a coupler repeater?
We know the XPCR is a coupler repeater.

Two repeaters stepping on each other could be a problem.
So could a noise maker or signal sucker. That was not filtered yet.

[sir_rob]

The dryer coupler is passive.  I think it is this one: SignaLinc Plug-In Phase Coupler (For 3-Wire 220v Dryers).

[sir_rob]

However AHP will not necessarly know if /when either the TM751 or the RR501 "turned on". Neither transceivers transmits a status  when they change state (RR501 can be polled however). So if the TM751 or the RR501 is activated by an RF transmission from a RF remote which the CM15A does not receive, then AHP will not know of the status change. I'll go back to sleep now.

I am using a wireless remote that is received by a transceiver (TM751 or RR501).  The transceiver then sends the powerline x10 signal to the appliance module.  If the transceiver is connected to certain electrical outlets the CM15A catches the powerline x10 signal during this process.  When the transceiver is connected to other electrical outlets the CM15A does not catch the powerline X10 signals, and for this reason the macro is not triggered.  Dave, hopefully that made it a little easier to follow.  Thank you for the comments.

Removing the phase coupler on the dryer has no effect.  Once I installed some filters and the XPCR, all of my other communication problems went away.  This is the only lingering problem that I know of.  I can send signals across the two phases pretty reliably now.  So I am not sure if the signal is getting consumed by some electronics along the way, or if it really is a phase coupling problem.

[dave w]

OK I got it. Not quite understanding why you would use a repeater AND a passive coupler, unless you have second panel. Setting that aside, assuming the XPCR is still cranking, I would consider a noise problem.