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[bte52]

My 5 year old Windows XP machine finally gave up the ghost and my X10 system was (and has been) working flawlessly for years. I just purchased a Windows 7 unit and downloaded the most recent version of AHP from the X10 website. The system that had been working great now has problems and I am wondering if anybody has any suggestions. I searched the forum for similar problems with no luck.
I have a 1400 sq ft home and operate a very small X10 system all on House Code A. I run the CM15A near my PC in the office and have a TM751 plugged into an outlet in the living room (does not operate any device). I have 6 LM465's running lamps and 2 WS467's running the front and back porch lights. I also have a Signal Repeater (Smarthome) that is plugged into the dryer outlet. All lights work perfectly (on and off) using palm remotes. The problem is with the scheduled timers in AHP.

I would like to reiterate that everything was working fine prior to the PC/AHP change. I have NO Macros (only off and on commands). I learned years ago not to use dimming of any kind with my system because of signal firestorm issues. Anyway, now, the moment an on command is sent to any device it causes a signal firestorm on my system. I can tell by checking the status lights on the signal repeater. They are all flashing and will not stop until I unplug the unit. Again, I can still use a Palm Controller with no issues.

I have ensured that no timer commands in AHP are being sent multiple times (box IS NOT checked). I am not requesting that any dimming take place. I read on the forum years ago to manually pick House Code A (rather than AUTO) in AHP preferences to avoid some problems.

I think it’s important to note that my system is comprised a mixture of older style and newer, soft start LM465’s and I am wondering if this can be part of the problem. When setting up room timers in AHP is it absolutely necessary to choose the correct version on the Lamp Module that a timer will be running? There a two types of LM465’s to choose from and a couple of Wall Switch options as well. I suppose that it’s possible that my signal repeater went south all of a sudden but I don’t know. I love X10 and need it but am stumped on this issue.

[hawk1]

That really could be your problem.  You need to make sure that the lamp modules are setup correctly. (soft start, non soft start).

[Brian H]

If your AHP on the XP machine was older than when X10 added a separate Lamps and Older Lamps (Before soft start) choices. You may have to redefine the older ones from the Old Lamp List.

Though the firestorms could be the Extended X10 Messages used for the soft start modules. Aren't being tolerated by your repeater.
What model repeater do you have?
HCA02 has been reported to be a problem sometimes. XPCR and the Smarthome Dryer ones maybe also touchy.
CR134, CR234 and XTB-IIR are known to work.

[bte52]

Thanks for the kind replies.

I have the SmartHome SignaLinc dryer plug repeater that was playing well with the system prior the the PC/AHP upgrade.

I started brand new with all timers in AHP and was careful to designate soft start vs non-softstart LM465's in the setup. I am not sure about the Wall Switch's though (WS467). If my memory serves me correctly there is an older and newer version of those. I don't know how to tell the difference between the two.

[Brian H]

Same as the Lamp Modules. If they ramp on and off. They have soft start.
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Newer_Wall_Switches_and_Preset_Dim

[bte52]

I just read the soft start/dimmer post by boiler. READ FIRST.....duh......sorry.

It sounds like the WS467's are my culprit. That being said I had two WS467's for years and one went bad so I ordered a replacement a year or two ago. I may have a newer and an older type on my system and since I have CRS I don't remember which one I changed out 

[Brian H]

Turn them on and off.
If it ramps On and Off. You have a soft start.
If it instantly goes On and Off. You have a before soft start.

[Noam]

If you aren't using dimming, and you find that the Extended codes are the culprit with your firestorm, then just define them ALL as "old" modules.
Alternatively, (if you don't need the "All Lights On" command, you COULD define them as appliance modules.

Let us know how it goes.

[bte52]

Well you guys, I did as Noam suggested and identified all LM465's and WS467's as old style, even if they weren't and all is now well in Ed's little X10 world. Zero signal firestorms effecting the SmartHome signal repeater since making the change in AHP and uploading timers.  I would like to thank each and every one of you that responded. I didn't want to mention it in my original post, sounding like I was desperate, but, I live in Maryland and leave at 5:30 am tomorrow morning for my Daughters wedding in Washington State. Although I have a monitored alarm system I appreciate the piece of mind my X10 system, small as it is, gives me. There's really nothing to replace it (not to mention that the cat's enjoy some light at night). Thanks again, you guys are the best.

Ed

[Noam]

... I live in Maryland...

Another Marylander! Yay!

[Knightrider]

Ed
Be sure to wish the happy couple many years and good luck, from the forum.

[Brian H]

By defining all the modules as Old Style. You eliminated the Extended X10 messages that the repeater was choking on.

[JeffVolp]

Extended messages are nasty to deal with from a repeater standpoint.  The protocol defines a simplex message.  If that is repeated, it can cause a collision with another message that closely follows the original.  The CM15A and HomeVision send a doublet, which is similar to a standard command except that is 62 bits long instead of 22.  That can be repeated the same way as a standard command.  It took me a couple of tries get it right myself.

Jeff

[Dan Lawrence]

... I live in Maryland...

Another Marylander! Yay!

Let's see.  I live in Parkville, a suburb of Baltimore.  Where does Noam hang his hat and where does bte32 hang his hat?

[dave w]

Let's see.  I live in Parkville, a suburb of Baltimore.  Where does Noam hang his hat and where does bte32 hang his hat?

Hat rack?   

Sorry Dan, sometimes I can't control myself. BTW my wife hails from Cambridge. Next visit I will wave from Bay Bridge.