X10 questions

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Paul - 30 Dec 2005 20:03 GMT

I have a bunch of X10 stuff installed and it is flaky.

Problem #1:

Some parts of the house can't be controlled from some equipment etc.

The below will solve the problem, correct?

http://www.smarthome.com/4816a2.html

Problem #2:

I have a series of the X10 Slimline switches which, since they don't
plug in to anything, must actually be small RF remotes, correct? These
switches are flaky, I'm guessing because the signal is inconsistent.
Would the following help?

http://www.x10.com/automation/x10_sr731.htm

Does this thing affect macros that include RF commands? If so, the
only reason I use RF commands in macros is the problem in #1 above, so
that's should not be an issue any more, correct.

Reply to this Message

Brian - 31 Dec 2005 10:08 GMT

> Problem #1:

Maybe depends on your problems. Maybe you need filters?

>Problem #2:

Buy a WGL all house code RF transceiver

Signature

---------------------------------------
Brian Dye
brian@tech-home.com
http://tech-home.com
---------------------------------------

>I have a bunch of X10 stuff installed and it is flaky.
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> only reason I use RF commands in macros is the problem in #1 above, so
> that's should not be an issue any more, correct.

Reply to this Message

Dave Houston - 31 Dec 2005 11:29 GMT

#1: It really depends on the root cause(s) of the problem. It may be poor
coupling between phases, it may be that you have devices which are signal
sinks (i.e. that attenuate the 120kHz X-10 signal), it may be noise on the
powerline, or it may be a combination of two or more of these. Get an ESM1
signal strength meter. It will help you determine the cause(s) without so
much guesswork. AutomatedOutlet.com will even loan you an ESM1.

http://www.automatedoutlet.com/product.php?productid=463&cat=0&page=1

#2: Cut a piece of stiff wire (e.g. from a coat hanger) ~18" long and tape
it horizontally to the wall at the top of the Slimline switches. You will
see a big improvement in their range.

>I have a bunch of X10 stuff installed and it is flaky.
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>only reason I use RF commands in macros is the problem in #1 above, so
>that's should not be an issue any more, correct.

Reply to this Message

The Alien - 31 Dec 2005 15:56 GMT

X-No-archive: yes On Sat, 31 Dec 2005 11:29:48 GMT,
nobody@whocares.com (Dave Houston) used recycled pixels to say:

{snipped}

>#2: Cut a piece of stiff wire (e.g. from a coat hanger) ~18" long and tape
>it horizontally to the wall at the top of the Slimline switches. You will
>see a big improvement in their range.

Now how the heck did someone discover that neat little trick?!

#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#

mailto:postmaster@127.0.0.1

Reply to this Message

Dave Houston - 01 Jan 2006 14:37 GMT

>>#2: Cut a piece of stiff wire (e.g. from a coat hanger) ~18" long and tape
>>it horizontally to the wall at the top of the Slimline switches. You will
>>see a big improvement in their range.
>
>Now how the heck did someone discover that neat little trick?!

It just popped into my head one day when I was upgrading the foil liner in
my helmet. ;)

Actually, there were two people (whose names I cannot recall) who posted
here about this. One said he had gotten better range from a transmitter that
was suspended by a length of wire and another suggested a half wavelength
wire saying it was a parasitic element a la a Yagi antenna.

I tested it and found it did indeed work quite well. One of the BX24-AHT
users (Larry Nielsen) had access to a lab and measured a 10dB increase in
all directions. Larry also reported over 200' range with an eggbeater
antenna and wideband preamp on the receiver end. (I can no longer walk well
enough to conduct long range tests.)

The wire can also be vertical and one BX24-AHT user put two small holes
behind the transmitter and put the wire behind the drywall for higher SAF.

Reply to this Message

Robert Green - 01 Jan 2006 14:50 GMT

"Dave Houston" <nobody@whocares.com> wrote in message

<stuff snipped>

> The wire can also be vertical and one BX24-AHT user put two small holes
> behind the transmitter and put the wire behind the drywall for higher SAF.

I can imagine the average spouse's response to lengths of coathanger taped
to the walls: Either call the men in white coats or the divorce attorney!

Wasn't there also a guy who got better range by operating his credit card
remote tucked under his chin?

--
Bobby G.

Reply to this Message

Dave Houston - 01 Jan 2006 15:14 GMT

>Wasn't there also a guy who got better range by operating his credit card
>remote tucked under his chin?

Well there's actually some scientific basis for that. The average human
skull is about the right size to form a 1/4 wave resonant cavity. The
emptier the cavity, the better it's reported to work.

Reply to this Message

Homeowner Forum / Home Automation / January 2006

X10 questions