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[johnn]

I seem to be one of the few people on this
forum that has a working system.   However,
I made a very minor modification to my
program and encountered a poltergeist.
Specifically, my gremlin is a very simple
macro that will not execute when triggered
by the interface, but, works perfectly when
run from the computer (“Run Macro” button
pushed) or by the Palmpal.  I can see that
the macro is being triggered (flashes on
screen) by the interface, but, the commands
do not execute.  The activity monitor shows
that the trigger signal was sent.  I would
like to send you the “possessed” file to
see if another interface responds the same
way.  This problem is absolutely repeatable
and I’ve tried everything that I could
think of to get it to work.  One other
supernatural thing is that when I do
execute the macro from the PC or Palmpal
a “ghost” RF command is “received” and
retransmitted by the CM-15A.  I know it’s a
ghost, because I can see it in the Activity
Monitor every time I execute the command.

The specifics of my system are AHP version
3.186 with Smart Macros and a 05C10 version
of the CM-15A.   I’m running XP SP-1 and
have virtually no problems with the
software.  My system is of moderate
complexity and has 10 modules, 3 motion
sensors, 11 timers and 24 macros.

I’m fairly experienced and am sure this is
some kind of bug.  Please let me know how
to send you this file and a more detailed
explanation that is specific to my program.
I have captured the ghost commands in a
copy of my activity monitor, which I would
also like to send to you.

Thanks.

[louis]

I am having the identical problem.

[johnn]

Hi Gerry,

Nice to know I'm not the only one to have a
haunted CM-15A.  Let’s see if X10PRO will
be able to find the magic spell to rid our
units of their gremlins.

[david k]

Also having similar problems and am getting
nowhere fast with any kind of assistance
with X10Pro.  Starting to get the feeling
that he/she/they are no longer responding
to posts or requests for help.

Hopefully, they are reading the posts and
are making fixes.

[tcassio]

Good luck guys, this is why I jumped ship
and went with another product.  I went 6
weeks with cronic problems and no help no
matter what avenue I took, posts here,
calls to tech support or emailing tech
support.  I got zero help.
T.

[raym]

Hi,
In my own biased opion, the AH software
is 'beta' quality. 'beta' is a term given to
software that is not de-bugged enough to
sell as 'production (alpha)' software.
Generally the people who write the stuff
will offer it, 'as is', for a reduced price.
The users must then report all bugs as a
condition of being 'beta' testers.
Well, guess what? We are all testing 'non-
production' level software (and hardware).
To get back on track. I REALLY needed some
hardware and software that is reliable.
I ended up with a 'SmartHome' USB PLC
controller and their 'SmartHome Manager
Plus' software.
I have great expectations for X10, BUT, I am
worried about a home security system
and 'beta' just ain't part of it.

Regards to all,
Ken

[Tigger]

 
I had a similar problem (reported elsewhere
in the forums).  A macro wasn't working from
the remote, and there were unusual entries
showing up in activity monitor whenever I
issued an RF command.

Here's roughly what was in place:

Macro A1 (On)
H12 On
Delay 00:01:30   (90 seconds)
H12 Off

A1 is triggered by an MS12A motion sensor.

H12 would turn on just fine, but it
wouldn't go off.

This is what is so bizarre -

If I used a PALMPAD to manually turn
H12 off, I would see something like this
in activity monitor:

H12
H12 Off
Macro RF A000TV    (or something similar)

This would appear in activity log
EVERY time I turned H12 OFF with the
palmpad.

I didn't have any macros designed to
trigger on H12. . .

I deleted both the module and the macro,
and re-created them, and the problem went
away.


T

[johnn]

Tigger,

Your problem does sound similar to Gerry’s
and mine.  I also discovered that I could
bring a Zombie module to life (one that
isn’t responding) simply turning the module
on or off or brightening or dimming it.
I’ve tried all that with my current macro,
but it’s still non responsive.  I haven’t
tried deleting the macro, however, I will.

I have seen the phantom responses before,
however, there doesn’t seem to be any
consistency around their appearance.  I’m
hoping that X10PRO will take my file and
possibly Gerry’s and others to see if their
CM-15’s exhibit the same behavior.  Perhaps
by collecting enough of these programs X10
can figure out what the problem is.

Like most of the folks on this forum, I’ve
had many challenges getting AHP to work.
However, unlike some I have had a system
functioning for quite a while.  So, I’m
hooked.

I have to agree with Ken Miller, tcassio
and David K that X10 has it’s hands full
getting AHP to a stable state and that both
hardware and software have far more
problems than any other product I have ever
purchased.  I have found X10’s customer
support to be quite helpful, given that you
have patience.  This is my first attempt at
getting technical help… we will see what
happens.

I followed the forum for a while, before
purchasing so I knew going in that there
were issues.  Like others on the forum, I
purchased AHP as part of a package so from
my perspective it was essentially free.
Perhaps at some point I too will give up
and move on… for now I’ll just do what I
can to try and help get it stable.

[X10 Pro]

I'm here now (I was out of town for a bit --
sorry for not posting a notice here), and am
processing all the data that's here. I have
David K's e-mail, and a few others. We're
working on this stuff, and hopefully will
have something soon.

[johnn]

X10Pro

Thanks for responding.  I assumed you were
out, since I hadn’t seen a post from you
for a while.  Glad to hear it was travel
and not a medical issue.  Please let me
know if there is anything I can do to help.

For now my system is down due to excessive
noise on my power lines.  Something
suddenly started coming in on the power
that is swamping my CM-15A and TM-751 PLC
signals.  I can’t get anything to respond
to either the CM-15a or the TM-751.  When I
look at the activity monitor I see a
constant B7 on – off sequence.

I’ve contacted my power company, but given
the nature of the problem, I’m not too
hopeful that I’ll get their attention.
I’ve started to research things that I can
do at my panel to block he noise.  Any
thoughts or suggestions, based on your
experience, would be greatly appreciated.
I’m new to X10, but have been around
technology for a long time.

[carmine pacifico]

JohnN

How you determinate that is power line
noise?

I use an Oscilloscope + a meter from Elk
Products for troubleshooting. Recently I
had experienced a loss of signal, it
turnout that those cute white LED night
light I had purchased, were attenuating the
signal by more than 30% each.
If you not already have one I would install
a coupler blocker on the main electrical
panel there are many choices on the market
from different vendors, some have signal
booster capability.

[johnn]

Carmine,
Part 2 of 2

So, my logic (and it may be flawed) is that
if every line in my house was turned off
and both the CM-15a and TM751 are not able
to control any of the 9 modules I have
installed either all 9 modules failed
simultaneously or I’m getting one whopping
continuous signal on the power line.  I’m
also assuming that if one of the modules or
a night light was causing the problem,
because of a sudden failure, then the
system should have worked when I turned
that circuit off.

Since I had such a “clean” system, I hadn’t
installed either a coupler or blocker.  I
was able to control modules on either phase
reliably without a coupler… before Sunday.
I’m now researching blockers and would
appreciate any thoughts that you have on
them or any experience with good or bad
ones.  Also, if I’m missing anything I
would honestly appreciate your thoughts.
Needless to say, I’m totally frustrated.

[johnn]

Carmine,
Part 1 of 2

Thanks for the response and help.  I don’t
have access to an Oscilloscope and haven’t
yet purchased a meter.  So, I arrived at my
conclusion through observation and
deductive reasoning.

First, my system has been flawless, with
regard to operating modules, up till last
Sunday morning.  Suddenly, nothing worked.
The activity monitor on the CM-15a
indicated that it was receiving a
continuous PLC signal and interpreting it
as alternate B7 on then off commands.  The
on-off cycles do not allow the CM-15a to
process rf commands from any of my 4
Palmpals.  The CM-15a doesn't seem to be
able to process anything else. and the
signal is there 24 hours a day.

I then tried using my TM751 to operate my
modules using the Palmpals.  Again, no
response.  Next I turned off the power to
each of the circuits in my house, one
circuit at a time, while my son monitored
the activity on the CM-15a.  No circuit
affected the continuous B7 on-off cycling.
No circuit being turned off allowed the
Palmpals to control the modules directly.
I then moved the computer and CM-15a to
another circuit, turned off the circuit I
was using to monitor the other circuits.
Again modules did not respond.

[tcassio]

Try using the 751 and remove the CM15A from
the equation.  It could be defective.
T

[johnn]

Tcassio

Thanks for your suggestion.  But, I tried
that.  I've tested with just the CM-15a,
just the TM751 and with both.  Nothing
seems to allow any of the modules to work.
Athough I have noticed bu pressing the on
or off buttons on the Palmpal many times in
a row a module may respond.

I did get the power company to respond.
They came out, unfortunately when I wasn't
around, and check the transformer.  They
left a note saying it was fine.