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[dhouston]

OK. I have a few enclosures (for both controllers and powerline interfaces) on order. I already have a Bluetooth2Serial module and should have the ESP8266 WiFi module in hand before the enclosures arrive. I also have an nRF24L01 on order. That will allow me to finalize board layouts and get some PCBs ordered. I'll add a socket for the nRF24L01.

My current plan is to allow the user to select PLC power levels from a European compliance level of 3.6Vpp to ~15Vpp. Any higher levels will need the PLC AMP (on the drawing board) which can do Katy bar the door levels.

 

[dhouston]

Things are progressing. I have the ESP8266 WiFi module, expect the & enclosures this afternoon and have an email from my friend in India with a drawing for an ESP8266 programming adapter as well as a list of web resources.

The nRF24L01 is popular with Arduino devotees and, since ZBasic can import Arduino code, that looks good, also.

I have a USB Bluetooth dongle. It adds a virtual COM port to my PC so I think I'm on the right path with the Bluetooth2Serial module, as well.

I suspect I'll need to provide separate ZBasic firmware for each of the wireless modules (MCU memory limits) but that's no biggie.

The web page at http://davehouston.org/ultimate-X10.htm has been updated.

I'll finalize the PCB layouts next week and send the Gerber files to my board maker in China, continuing research into the three wireless adapters while awaiting PCB delivery.

I also ordered 1 each ESP8266, Bluetooth2Serial and a couple nRF24L01 modules from DealExtreme (links on the The Ultimate X10 Controller web page) so I can be sure of details on the ones I recommend.

[dhouston]

  At $3 each in 1000 piece quantities for the ESP8266, WiFi-enabled lamp & appliance modules (or even inexpensive WiFi-enabled LED bulbs and appliances) are inevitable. If only I were younger, healthier and had funding for UL & FCC testing.  

[dhouston]

The Idea that you plan to open the source will make it more appealing then anything X10 comes out with as their manufacturing side refuses to open this up.

I'm going to shoot for even an more open approach.

ZBasic sells various Atmel MCUs with the Arduino bootloader preinstalled. They also make it possible to share code between the Arduino and ZBasic systems. I'll design the Ultimate X-10 Controller with a socketed crystal for the main MCU as well as with socketed MCUs. Then, developers more comfortable programming in the Arduino system can change the crystal and MCU and also make use of the hardware. I guess that makes for a Pseud(uin)o.

I'll also use a socket crystal for the TDA5051A Powerline Modem chip. That will allow for PLC at other frequencies and may be useful in energy monitoring, etc.

[dhouston]

At this point, I think I'm on track to have working prototypes in 2-3 weeks. I have designed PCBs for a 120V wall-plug powerline interface as well as a 230V universal IEC plug powerline interface. Both are 2 wire, non-polarized. I should complete the PCB design for the Controller by tomorrow and send all off to the fabricator before the end of the week.

[Tuicemen]

 
Can't wait!
 

[dhouston]

This is taking a bit longer than expected. Designing the controller PCB layout and routing all the PCB tracks is proving a bit more tedious than I remembered it being. I now expect to order PCBs for the controller, plug module powerline interface, IEC universal plug powerline interface and the (up to 3 phases) PLC amplifier early next week.

In the good news category, EBay has the WiFi module for as little as $3.10 and the nRF24L01 for $1.34 with free shipping.

[dhouston]

I think I have the final PCB layouts but want to take a couple of days to review them. (I went to the measure twice/cut once school.) That might also give me ideas for the two unused MCU pins.

Plus, I really overdid things physically yesterday, aggravating the spinal cord, which could use a couple of days to recover.

[dhouston]

Things are progressing.

Don Kinzer, proprietor of Elba Corp and creator of ZBasic, has published an example ZBasic program that communicates with the ESP8266 WiFi module so I'm confident I'll be able to support this module although there are still some questions about the ESP8266 configuration.

I've settled on a USB-Serial adapter. FTDI makes some cables with an integral USB-Serial chip. We can supply these terminated with a 6P4C modular plug to mate with the controller's Serial In port or users can save a few bucks by buying their own cable and adding the 6P6C modular plug.

[dhouston]

Things are on hold for a few days. My spinal cord is still unhappy with me plus I am trying to sort out IR in/out. Monoprice sells IR Receiver & IR Emitter cables for about $5 each. I'm hoping to use them but am having trouble getting specs from Monoprice.

I was able to trace the pinout for the receiver as it has the three connections labelled on the tiny PCB inside the housing but no such luck for the emitter and that PCB is too small to effectively trace the circuits. However, I found the webpage of the manufacturer, Hank-Tech, and have emailed them requesting the necessary details. http://hank-tech.com/en/Producttwo.aspx?kinds=227&cid=196&page=1

I was hoping to use the same 3.5mm connector for both but it's looking like I'll need to squeeze in another connector before ordering controller PCBs.

Just-in-case, I've ordered another IR Receiver as well as another IR Emitter to see whether they are a bit more obvious about how to connect them.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00S64PH6Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007T4J6UU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm trying to keep things as simple as possible by specifying off-the-shelf accessories that plug-in with no (or with minimal) modification.

[dave w]

Dave, don't push. This sounds great and we may be salivating, but your health comes first.

[dhouston]

...don't push.

I fear it's my nature to push.

I have added another 3.5mm socket and am now awaiting the IR Receiver & IR Emitter, referenced above, to finalize connections. Then I should be ready to send the files to the PCB fabricator.

FTDI makes several USB-Serial cables. They are a bit pricey but I plan to use a 5V TTL version to which we'll add a small PCB with an RJ11 jack. Users can then use a short (or long) cable with RJ11 plugs on both ends to connect to the controller. The output to the Powerline Interface(s) will use RJ12 sockets. Both should allow users to make needed connections with off-the-shelf cables. In cases where long cable runs are needed, I've read reports of +100' range @ 115200bps 5V TTL with CAT3 & CAT5 cables. I've ordered a 100' CAT5e cable with RJ12 terminations and will test both inputs and outputs.

FTDI USB-Serial TTL Cables:
http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Cables/USBTTLSerial.htm

[dhouston]

Ouch! Prices for bare PCBs from China have nearly tripled since I last ordered some. And, two of the sites from which I've ordered with good communication and results have since disappeared.

I think the designs are ready but want to review them a few more times before ordering the PCBs. And, I need to review my inventory of components so I can order those I don't have.

While awaiting boards and components, I'll investigate GLBasic which compiles for all the platforms of interest - Windows 7 thru 10, Linux, OSX, iOS, Android and ?? While it's pitched for creating video games, I think it will do what's needed here and it's free for non-commercial uses so, even if I need to buy a license, others can work with my source code to create their own bastardized  versions as long as they don't charge for them (and I don't have to support them). http://www.glbasic.com/

[Tuicemen]

I downloaded GLBasic and gave it a short test run.
I also believe it has the capability to do what your looking at.
There are samples for server/client programs for gaming interaction.
Games are where the money is so its not hard to see why it is pitched as a game creating developers tool.
 

[dhouston]

I downloaded GLBasic and gave it a short test run.
I also believe it has the capability to do what your looking at.

Thanks. I don't want the distraction right now so have only looked at it briefly but the fact that it compiles to machine language across so many diverse platforms is truly impressive.