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device polluting my power lines
mike:
I know I am beating a dead horse, but I am spinning my wheels and wasting many hours trying to get AHP to work on a different computer...
I used to be able to make lifejacket work but I cannot get it to talk to x10nets now.
I swear you guys came up with an all in one AHP_318 install program that is just preregisted, but I'll be darn if I can find it. Every install I try is non registered.
I need this to find an errant x10 device polluting my power lines or RF device doing it. Just started and all my x10 has stopped working (use HG & Pi). Thank goodness for my XTBR! It is showing the constant activity blinding my power line with its red LED.
JeffVolp:
--- Quote from: mike on September 12, 2021, 03:49:30 PM ---I need this to find an errant x10 device polluting my power lines or RF device doing it. Just started and all my x10 has stopped working (use HG & Pi). Thank goodness for my XTBR! It is showing the constant activity blinding my power line with its red LED.
--- End quote ---
If there is another repeater on the same utility transformer, you may be experiencing "command ping-pong", which is when two repeaters bounce a command back and forth between each other.
Another not so random occurrence is a wireless remote being accidentally triggered by either setting something heavy down on it or it being stuck in a location where one or more buttons are pressed. Years ago one person reported a Maxi Controller was transmitting continuously because a water leak had dripped onto it.
A third possibility is a TM751 or RR501 getting stuck in a loop after a bright or dim command. I had that happen myself.
And of course, it could be the controller program stuck in a transmit loop.
Jeff
mike:
Thanks for ideas Jeff.
I have experienced ping-pong many times in the past; this is different. It is like random noise blanketing the PLC signals.
- My Monteray signal analyzer shows a steady 90-100mv noise floor, which IIRC is perfectly fine for here. Nothing showing while the XTRB is flashing away.
- My Elk automation signal meter shows nothing.
- In trying to get access to cm15a with ahp, I saw F2 list had about 10 C3/C5/C7 RF rcvd signals, but I think they were accurate as I was walking thru the rooms they are associated with. Nothing else. In the past, ping-pong here shows up clearly in the history list.
A friend recently gave me a box of about 30 X10 modules and things, mostly new, that he has had for 20-30 years; I DID put batteries in the two HR12a remotes, and neither worked although they flashed the light - I think they are too far off frequency. I figured no led, no output so left batteries in them on the workbench. Just removed them to see next time I test. I need to get an ahp running I can plug into it at the offending location ; then I could easily see in history...
I do have some TM751's around; perhaps I should unplug them for test - thanks.
The cm15a has no program in it and XTRB continues same random flashing every 1 sec or so with USB cable unplugged.
I am getting by for now by unplugging the cm15a from the XTRB outlet and instead plugging it into an outlet 5 feet away. This should give me some clue but I do not see it yet other than guessing the noise/signal issue is on the other side of the 220...
I plan to try to get a working copy of AHP going to replug into the XTRB in the next couple days to continuue testing. Thanks again for your help!
brobin:
Another thing to look at are the multitude of wall warts throughout your home. I recently found that a Tivo Mini wall wart that's been fine for 6 years started pumping out X10 killing noise.
Brian H:
I picked up a few different brand. Deformable Overhead LED Lights. That install in a standard ceiling light socket.
One gives me a .99V noise reading on my XTBM but no valid X10 messages seen.
Another has a .2uF cap measured across the screw plug. It acts like a signal sucker.
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