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[lviper]

Man, I've had no shortage of problems recently. Had erratic behavior and figured out my XPCR was the problem. Solved that.

Now I have a SS13a that is having a problem turning on a light. I have 3 lights in my family room that are controlled by the SS13a. The past 2 mornings when I try to turn on F1 using the SS13a, nothing happens. Try again and nothing happens. Thinking it may be an RF problem I walk over to get my trusty palm pad. Before I can get the palm pad the light suddenly turns on. I go back to the SS13a and can now turn it on and off normally.

So I head to the log and I see a couple of Receive RF F1 ON for the light followed by several dozen (yes, several dozen) Receive F1 commands. Then a few Receive F ON just before the light actually turned on.
I assume Receive RF comes from the SS13a
Then Receive F1 comes from AHP
And Receive F ON is what finally turns on the light but it can't do it since the CM15a is being flooded by the Receive F1 command.

So I don't think the SS13a is the problem. Is the problem AHP and/or the CM15a?

This is a fresh clean install of both Windows 7 Pro and AHP. AHP is a cloned install using the registration from my old XP Pro computer.

[lviper]

Just in case, here is the setup and modules used.

SS13a set to F1-F3
F1 and F2 each use the XPDF inline dimmer.
F3 uses LM465
AHP with CM15a

[lviper]

I think I've found my problem. I have a XCPR and I think it is storming the codes. I just caught a command to turn on a light that wouldn't turn on and the log was repeating the extended code for 100% bright over and over till I shut the XCPR off. Guess it's time for a new one. Or better yet I may get a XTB-IIR.

[Brian H]

There is a wiki page on the XCPR causing power line flooding with Status requests. So it would be possible a new one would do the same thing. Unless yours deteriorated with age.
http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Known_Issues_with_ActiveHome_Pro

[lviper]

Thanks Brian.

So are the XCPR and XTB products the only choice for a amplified repeater/phase coupler?

My XCPR is about 4 years old and just recently started to give me trouble. I don't want to get a passive coupler and then find out I need a amplifier later. That's why I originally used the XCPR and now considering the XTB-IIR. But the price difference between the 2 is over $100. Small price to pay for the reliability, but it makes me question if I should start looking at newer technology. But that would be a big investment as well.

When I started getting in to this stuff about 5 years ago, it was affordable enough to play. Now that I have it, it would be missed if taken out. So I want to continue but debating with myself over X10 or something else. Problem with something else is having to completely replace what I have since there aren't many choices that still work with X10 to slowly phase it out.

I was looking at Insteon but it doesn't look like there stuff works with X10 any longer. I'm overwhelmed with choices.

[joe s.]

When I bought my XTB-IIR last year, I considered that the cost was pretty high...but compared to switching to newer technology it could be considered a bargain.  If it helps with your decision - installing my XTB-IIR made a HUGE difference in my home - and I now enjoy 100% reliability (which I never had...ever....despite considerable effort!).  It allowed me to take some of my old X10 stuff out of the junk box and start using it in areas of my home that had always been unpredictable and unreliable.  It is a very well engineered piece of equipment which restored my reliance on X10.

BTW - I had an original CM15A (ver 1.0 or equivalent)  which I retired because it was storming my system - it may not be your repeater - I could make the storm end by shutting down my repeater too.  I ended up substituting with an old 1132CU to finally figure it out.

[lviper]

BTW - I had an original CM15A (ver 1.0 or equivalent)  which I retired because it was storming my system - it may not be your repeater - I could make the storm end by shutting down my repeater too.  I ended up substituting with an old 1132CU to finally figure it out.

You know, I was wondering if my problem could be the CM15a. I don't know which version it is but I bought it right at 4 years ago (12/8/2010) from X10.

I went ahead and ordered the XTB-IIR a few minutes ago. Figured it was cheaper to move forward with X10 than to change over to a new system. Plus the learning curve. I also figure if my problem is indeed the CM15a, the XTB-IIR would still be a good addition to my X10 setup. If I do find my CM15a to be the problem I'll probably go with the WGL option and a different powerline module. I just don't know if I need the W800 and a powerline module or just use the W572A with the TW523 emulation of the XTB-IIR. I still want to use my AHP and can't figure out the better solution. Thinking the W800 and some powerline module may be best.

[joe s.]

Weird - your doing almost the indentical analysis I did a year ago - after deciding to keep X10.  Also, there's no way the XTB-IIR is a bad investment - just like you said.  Here's what I ended up with.

1) WGL V572A (which I already owned) plugged into the XTB-IIR to make bulletproof wireless.
2) HCA 12.0 Plus software controlling an old 1132B (dropped AHP)
3) Because everything worked so darn well, I eventually swapped the ancient 1132B for a XTB-232 - but that was only because I was so impressed with the quality of XTB hardware I figured it was best to have a dead-solid backbone.

It was worth it.  Now since everything works exactly as expected - I've spent my time playing with the HCA software to make "elegant" programs and add parameters like weather to increase the usefulness of everything (eg. in winter I turn on/off my wifes car's block heater depending on temp).  Plus - the HCA software lets me control lighting or monitor other functions & activity from my smart phone, or my wife's android tablet, and over the web.  Kinda everything I had imagined when I started this goofy obsession 10 years ago.

[lviper]

So, if my research is correct. If I want to stay with AHP and not use the CM15a, I would need a CM11a and the W572a. Is that correct?

[joe s.]

Its been a long time since I had AHP - and it was only ever connected to CM15A when I had it - but I "think" it controls a CM11A (or XTB-232 which emulates a CM11A) as long as its left running & connected to your computer.  Maybe check to see if that's an identified/controllable device in your AHP software.

re: V572A - yes if its plugged into your XTB repeater, it "stands alone" as a whole house RF tranceiver - completely independant of whatever AHP is doing (of course AHP can hear the codes it will generate on the powerline to run AHP macros etc).

[lviper]

Yeah, looks like AHP only works with either the CM15a or CM11a. Main difference between the 2 being the wireless.

So I'm figuring for a more rock solid wireless setup, use the W572a connected to the XTB-IIR and the CM11a (XTB-232) with AHP for the macros and ability to continue to use my DS7000 security sensors for macros.

[Tuicemen]

The Cm11 is PLC only.
With it connected to AHP it will not see security RF or any RF.
The Cm19 works with AHP  and will see the RF but not PLC
 

[joe s.]

Tuiceman is the AHP specialist - lucky he dropped in.  While your here Tuiceman does that mean V572A plugged into a TW532 equivalent X10 device won't hear or generate whats coming from security devices - or is the shortcoming CM11 hearing/reporting to AHP specifically?

[Tuicemen]

Since there is no PLC equivalent for the RF security these codes can't be placed on the Power line.
There are devices that will here security signals and map them to a standard X10 PLC signal but these aren't security signals and the OnAlert Plugin wouldn't act on them

[lviper]

The Cm11 is PLC only.
With it connected to AHP it will not see security RF or any RF.
The Cm19 works with AHP  and will see the RF but not PLC
 

So am I back to using the CM15a? I assume yes if I want to use the power of AHP and OnAlert.

Basically from what I've done so far, I want my DS10a to be a trigger. Right now I can only imagine using a DS10a as a trigger to either turn a light on/off or let me know when a door or window is opened/closed. Any other reasons?

If I use the w572RF32 I can map a DS10a or other security sensor to a house/unit code that can be transmitted over PLC. Then AHP using a CM11a can hear that and trigger a macro. Is that correct? Obviously I don't see a need for OnAlert doing it this way. But since I usually have to use a phantom module for the DS10a anyway, what's the difference?