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[BackAgain]

Ps. Why do you feel it necessary to bold type in black and red enlarged text when making your points. It doesn't really make them any more valid.

It's his AI going all kerflooey.




Personally, the original AHP and CM11 did everything I needed ..... when it worked.  When it didn't, I tried the CM15a on recommendations of those here.  It didn't work all the well either.  I probably have electrical noise that is complicating things, but I don't have the time, money or patience to pursue that.  So I let the CM15a run and turn whatever lights on and off when it feels like working.  But It doesn't take over and use exaggerated fonts.

[BackAgain]

Emails to Amazon/Alexa tech support has confirmed (to me) that HA is not their strong point. My responses from tech support were very generalized, boiler plate script, not addressing my specifics.  However, I think if you were to ask how to get Alexa to give you a traffic report for your neighborhood, I think the answers are more to the point. 

Their goal is to sell stuff and encourage people to do so by claiming how easy it is to just say something and have ti appear at your door.

[dave w]

I'd say it's time for X10 to cut all ties with the manufacturer. I hope they own the designs.

Good point. But I don't see Authinx firing the manufacturer.
I will say this much. Authinx should have hired Dave Rye when they had the chance. He probably had every schematic in his head, and I think he spent as much time in Shenzhen as he did in Seattle.

[HA Dave]

Ideally... X10 should offer a HUB. One that would function exactly like the other hubs in the market now... and operate similar to the old AHP... only without the need for a connected PC. And... like the SAMSUNG hub.... incorporate the use of other protocols... and wifi device's. Run a professional (grown-up) server that allows for email and text notices, Amazon and google connectivity.... the whole 27 feet (aka 9 yards).

Then they can "brand" any of the now ubiquitous wifi bulbs , plug-in's, and switches.

But X10 could/would retain the still needed simple Off-line ability of PLC and old fashion RF.

[HA Dave]

... don't get offended just because I don't think AI and HA are as closely connected as I thought they would be.

I rarely get offended. And it doesn't bother me in the lest that not many other of the regulars have embraced AI as I have.

In '07 when I made my HA setup voice controllable using BVC (and MS SAPI5)…. most people I showed it to... thought it was a trick or were totally amazed. Now... a few years later..... Voice Recognition is common place. So much so... most people don't really see what all this stuff can do. Admittedly... I had to reevaluate my own habits and attitudes in order to adapt to the new concepts. I spoke with some younger people... even some KIDS (you know... people under 40).

I started mid-winter... disassembling and re-imagining my entire setup. I made a list and started practicing new habits. Simple little things.... like asking Alexa to play a certain song that I recently heard somewhere else. And being sure to ask for a news brief. I am an old man... and I know full well my paradigms are just as rock-solid as other old mens. But I have been at least semi-successful at chipping away at the old way of doing things. And I've formed new habits that I've also seen others around me pick up as well.

This is absolutely THE Home Automation Golden age! There has never been a better time to venture into HA as a hobby... or as a lifestyle.

When I made my first X10 order... I didn't know there was other HA brands and protocols. And like most people on the forums I been through a LOT with X10 (including what became an awful and embarrassing soft-porn Web Site). It was heart-breaking and depressing when their servers and Web Site went down. I just hope the new X10 doesn't fail at keeping this technology viable.     

[JBPatt]

Going back to Tuicemen's question, I nominate myself as an Average X-10 user.  I use X-10 primarily for holiday lights, which we leave on all year plus a few others, like outside floodlights, etc.  I run AHP on a Win10 desktop through the CM15A.  I recently added a WM100, which has proved handy.  I had a PR511 floodlight sensor go bad a couple of years ago, sending extraneous codes and messing up my lights.  Finally got fed up with that.  Can't find a replacement.  Installed a VT38A sensor/camera that I bought years ago and didn't use.  That seems to be working for the sensor function, but no camera output.  I came to the forum today, after being away many years, because I finally got around to troubleshooting a nonfunctioning macro.  I was hoping to find some help with setting and reading flags, but no luck.  I did see something about the current software (3.318) not including the "advanced" features that I probably had and used to build the macro.  I'm guessing the flag functions were part of that load, and I'm not going to be able to fix this macro with the current software.  Confirmation?  Ideas?  Raspberry PI??

[HA Dave]

……... after being away many years, because I finally got around to troubleshooting a nonfunctioning macro.  I was hoping to find some help with setting and reading flags, but no luck.  I did see something about the current software (3.318) not including the "advanced" features that I probably had and used to build the macro.  I'm guessing the flag functions were part of that load, and I'm not going to be able to fix this macro with the current software.  Confirmation?  Ideas?  Raspberry PI??

I miss the old CM15A..... and I own 3. I guess I could set one up on a running PC. Maybe even use a low-electric-consuming PC fan-less stick... or win10 tablet. But for now.... one CM15A runs it's own limited macros (loaded from... but NOT attached to... a laptop). Another CM15A serves merely as an interface for a Homeseer S2 Hometroller. The third one is a back-up. I like spares and back-ups.

The CM15A was an awesome piece of technology in its day. And the old time forum members learned how to make it do more than, IMHO, it's designers ever thought it could do. The CM15A was way ahead of it's time. But realistically.... that time was over a decade ago and it has since came and went. 

I had a PR511 floodlight sensor go bad a couple of years ago, sending extraneous codes and messing up my lights.  Finally got fed up with that.  Can't find a replacement.  Installed a VT38A sensor/camera that I bought years ago and didn't use.  That seems to be working for the sensor function, but no camera output.

Years ago.... a PR511 was at the heart of my outside security and X10 camera setup. It was notorious for false alarms... but it was pretty nice it it's time.

I still use X10 to control my outside AND indoor Christmas lights too. I use Amazons Echo's to tell my Homeseer device to turn the lights on.... and I use a time based thing to turn the lights off (because I forget). Cameras can now function as motion sensors and alert your phone (and/or even send you a pic or video). The new stuff works better.... and integrates well with other new stuff. I would definitely keep using the X10 stuff.... and the X10-HomeGenie-Hub (an X10 user created device) might be a the least expensive way to do that. But I really like having the abilities and ease of use of the Amazon-Alexa stuff myself.

It's not easy to RE-plan a Home Automation setup with all the bells and whistles available today.

[Brian H]

If you didn't have a registered AHP 3.318.
After X10WTI went bankrupt the registration servers are out of service.
The presently available 3.318 version for download. Can have some of the optional plug ins registered through Tuicemen's Life Jacket program.

Some plug ins that went through the old X10 servers no longer work.

[HA Dave]

If you didn't have a registered AHP 3.318.
After X10WTI went bankrupt the registration servers are out of service.
The presently available 3.318 version for download. Can have some of the optional plug ins registered through Tuicemen's Life Jacket program.

Some plug ins that went through the old X10 servers no longer work.

The new download (and Tuicemen's Life Jacket) are awesome. I've copied what I can on several old Windows XP PC's and laptops. But like the windows XP OS.... the CM15A software is itself now pretty dated. And without a 24/7 running PC along with a server connection.... as great as the old CM15A was..... it's use is very limited in what it can do today.

Everything more advanced than light timers, water sprinkler timers, and PalmPad remote control..... is better (and easier) to do with WiFi (and AI). The problem is... X10 has done far too little to get it's millions of modules and devices back online. The servers died or were lost (or whatever)… at the worse time in automation history.... ever. Meanwhile.... all the nifty, cool, stuff that can be done with home automation.... can't be done without going online And X10ers that used online X10 servers for years. And posted on this online forum hundreds or thousands of times.... now claim that servers are satanic or some such nonsense.

Rarely.... is there even a post on these forums anymore about "automating" anything. And when somebody does.... the actual best solution seems to most likely be.... and different brand, online product.