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[jeff w]

Early in the thread for the 3.187 release,
X10 suggested a new release was coming to fix
the shortcoming in 3.187 - that was a number
of weeks ago - is there a plan for 3.188?

[Noam]

It seems that X10 has become very
unresponsive. I have been e-mailing for the
past month, with no responses from X10 at
all. I've posted on the forums, and also
gotten no responses. I am having trouble
with my Activity Monitor, and was in the
middle of troubleshooting it with [X10
Technician], when all of a sudden, I stopped
hearing back from them. Either I stumped him
(he could ahve at least TOLD me that), or he
decided he didn't want to help his cutomer
anymore, I don't know. I just want to see
the problem fixed.

[jeff w]

so why don't you call support?

[carmine pacifico]

If anybody bothers to read older post, this
product has been nothing but problems. Many
peoples have returned it and jumped ship,
the CM15a + AHP is very unreliable product.
In just over a year they have been more
than 88 upgrades that is not a good sign,
not even virus data files are updated that
often.

[marty]

Carmine,

I'm a bit puzzled.  In reading various
threads in this forum, I've come across
some very intelligent posts from you.  No
doubt about it... you know your stuff.  At
the same time, it's also very clear that
you don't like the CM15a & AHP.

So... in all due respect..

Why are you still here?

If you go to a restaurant and you don't
like the food, do you keep going back to
that same restaurant, just hang out and bad
mouth the food?  Inquiring minds want to
know. )

Regards,
Marty K.

[carmine pacifico]

Just for fun

[marty]

Fair enough.  At least you're honest. )

Cheers,
Marty K.

[carmine pacifico]

Marty K

The forum was getting boring; I thing some
people expect miracles for what they are
paying for the CM15a + AHP +Smart Macros.
With all new products interfering with X10
signals (Computer power supply, filtered
power bar, TV’s, etc.), it’s very difficult
to get reliable working system even with a
higher end product, I am serious
considering rewiring the house for home
automation; the cost of filtering almost
every new electronic device it’s getting to
high, and it appears to be a loosing battle.

[marty]

My needs are pretty simple with this stuff
and I'm not experiencing anywhere near the
problems that some of these people here
write about.  I'm not real happy with the
RF range of the CM15a.  It seems to change
daily.

Marty K.

[SteveRF]

Marty, Carmine, Jeff
I have had a few problems but after solving
these 3 issues:
1. Getting a replacement CM15A
2. Installing a passive coupler
3. Turning off a VERY OLD pentium/WinME
machine..... I was left with a CM15A/software
combination that takes X10 action or makes
verbal announcements at dawn, 7:00AM, 9:00am,
2:00pm, 5:00pm, dusk, dusk+20min, late night
exterior intrusion, turn on/off lights, dims
lights, reacts to interior motion (albeit not
always 100% accurate, sometimes I have to
wait 8 seconds or push a button) and offers
pretty reliable remote/manual operation of
lights and switches... all this with neat
computer configurable control for $99.00.
So, the bottom line for my configuration is:
Works pretty darn well and I am happy enough
to now start thinking about adding some X10
Cam stuff... I even put the antenna mod on
hold because all was working so well.  I may
still do that mod to get more outdoor range
but for now that shop light nearly 200 feet
from the house stills works with X10 control.
It's all still working after hurricane
Dennis...YIPPEE.. although the power outage
caused my batteries to drain...forgot to
remove them..oops...

and I do wonder what is in store for the next
release.... especially when the next redesign
of the CM15A appears....smile

[marty]

Steve RF,

Glad to hear you are fairly satisfied with
your setup.  I, too, had a few hurdles to
overcome in this house; which is the second
house where I've used X10 products.  I've
installed an active coupler/repeater that
made things much more reliable.  I'm still
having a bit of trouble with my aquarium
light putting a bit of noise in the
system.  I've got an X10 filter on it but
there's still some noise fouling a few
lights up when the aquarium light is on.
I've successfully overcome it to some
extent by creating a macro that turns the
aquarium light off first, then turns on or
off the troubled lights, and then turns the
aquarium light back on.

One thing I think a lot of the people here
have trouble with, whether they know it or
not, is that they are expecting their new
setup to be completely reliable without
ever correcting the existing electical
noise problems throughout their house.
Can't say that it's entirely their fault
either.  X10 needs be more up front and
step up to the plate, providing
instructions on how to do that from the get
go.  I didn't know anything about filters
or couplers when I first got into this
stuff 10+ years ago.  I've learned to be
creative when it comes to workarounds, and
when to just plain give up on an idea.

Regards,
Marty K

[Matt K]

I think the biggest complaints have not
been by new customers but rather by the
tried and true like myself.

Most of the complaints were not because we
didn't know we had issues with the wiring
in our homes, i.e. interference, noise,
etc., rather, we were using the CM11a with
no problems for years.  At one time, my
system ran for 2 years without me adjusting
a single thing.

Then X10 released the CM15A and we all
thought... COOL!  A more user friendly
program, etc.

I wouldn't have thought the reliability of
the CM11A with the new interface would have
been that difficult to produce.

X10 would have been better off with a new
version of Active Home, similar to Windows
ME.  Same OS as Windows 98... just prettier!

One last comment... why is it that
Smarthome works out of the box?
Or for that matter... the newer Insteon?

[carmine pacifico]

Matt K

Smarthome is a small company, they can not
afford the “Ship first, fix later and only
if customer complains” attitude of X10;
they have a real beta program with rewards
for beta tester.
X10, knows that this technology ( X10 PLC)
has it days counted, only older home with
old appliances will have reasonable success
with X10 as it is today.
I find more and more new appliances
attenuating X10 signal, soon will be un-
economical to add a noise filter to every
device that attenuate X10 signals;
technology like   Insteon or similar will
be the new standard; let not forget that
this technology is over 20 years old, by
today standard is a Dinosaurs, it has
served well, but it is time to move on.

[david l]

I've always had noise problems, even with
the CM11a. When I bought the WGL V572 all-
house-codes transceiver a couple of years ago
(http://www.wgldesigns.com/v572.html), the
difference was no less than astounding.
That's when I finally had a robust system
that worked most of the time, with amazing
range (1000 ft or more).  I tried using the
CM15a as a receiver when I first got it, but
it failed miserably compared to the V572; it
won't even work from the next room.  I just
keep all codes blocked for it.

The big question for me is why doesn't X10
offer any line filters or phase couplers?
These are very simple devices which I think
they could produce far cheaper than, for
instance, a lamp module.  I have built all
my own filters and couplers with good
results and I know they could make a whole
lot of people happier if they added these to
their product line.

Much equipment now contains electronics and
internal filters to protect it.  However,
these filters suck down X10 signals
dramatically.  When I turn on the breaker
for my cooktop, X10 signals drop to 50% of
their previous level.  My computer UPS
completely kills any X10's in the room but
when I install an external filter,
everything works fine again.

X10 could make things a lot easier for
everyone with a proper line of good filters.

[carmine pacifico]

David L

In our city new home are pre-wired for new
technology for smart home, I know of some
home automation installers that are going
away from X10 based system all together, it
is a loosing battle to keep them working
reliable and as professional they can not
afford it.
Most people on this forum do not own or
have access to a X10 signal meter, how they
can properly diagnose if they new appliance
or those cute white LED night lights they
just purchased are the cause of the X10
system malfunctioning?
For a reliable installation a passive
coupler/blocker is a must, and a filter for
every appliance that attenuate X10 signals,
personally I would not put a $10 filter on
a $2 night-light.
Regarding RF range, the WGL transceiver are
great, as long as you neighbours do not
have X10 system else, or you will have a
lot of unwanted signals slowing down an
already slow system.