Home Automation X-10 Active Home?

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Subject Author Date
X-10 Active Home? JJ 05-14-08
Posted by David White on May 14, 2008, 6:17 pm
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I agree that they are pretty limited and that the lack of conditionals
is less than optimal. As a programmer, I expect these sorts of things.
Perhaps my needs are not that complex. But I have managed.

John J. Bengii wrote:
> CM-11 macros suck! There are no conditionals. It takes an active computer to
> make it perform worth not getting up and manually turning on the lights.
> This means not setting anything into the CM-11 but using it as a constant
> peripheral.
>
>
>
>> Perhaps if you made it clear what controller/transmitter you were using
>> that would make things more clear. At the minimum, you really only use the
>> USB interface to connect to the computer for downloading macros. Then you
>> can plug it in anywhere.
>>
>> John J. Bengii wrote:
>>> USB? yuk!
>>>
>>> My transmitter/receiver is at my electrical panel in the garage and my
>>> computer is 100 feet away (by wire length)
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hello JJ.
>>>>
>>>> When you talk about resources being used up, that may really be more a
>>>> function of the controller's on-board memory rather than the software
>>>> which downloads the macros. I have a CM11A and I too had to set my
>>>> resolution lower than I wanted to get things to fit. I believe that the
>>>> newer units (which are USB instead of RS-232) have more memory so that
>>>> may help me out - perhaps you too?
>>>>
>>>> I also don't quite understand what you are saying about macros not
>>>> working for multiple modules. I have single macros which operate on
>>>> multiple receiver modules (with different codes) turning on some and
>>>> turning off others. These macros are downloaded into the CM11A and seem
>>>> to work just fine.
>>>>
>>>> For the record, I have been using Active Home 1.32 and only recently
>>>> moved to version 1.42. It seems that 1.42 is a little better on XP in
>>>> terms of its RS-232 communications. But other than that, they seem
>>>> nearly identical. I doubt these versions of Active Home will work with
>>>> the new USB controller and I am not sure if the new version of Active
>>>> Home that does will work with USB supports the CM11A.
>>>>
>>>> JJ wrote:
>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm using Active Home for my X-10 interface and can't stand it. Is
>>>>> there better software for controlling my modules? My biggest
>>>>> complaints are that using 10 modules and the sunrise/sunset commands
>>>>> suck up all the resources and my resolution is such that I can only
>>>>> adjust the timings every 20 days. The other complaint is that macros
>>>>> won't work for multiple modules, just for a simple on command.
>>>>> I used to use X-10 powerhouse but that never interfaced with XP or some
>>>>> other problem which I can't quite recall, its been about 6 years since
>>>>> that worked.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks,
>

Posted by John J. Bengii on May 14, 2008, 10:26 pm
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I use the timers inside the wireless remotes as a backup timer. The computer
smarts then decides how long the lamps are needed on and shut them off
sooner based on time of day.

On workdays and long weekends are always filtered out, save Good Friday (no
formulae can be determined) I have a 300w halogen that acts as a dawn box. A
self recursing routine brightens the lamp by 5% every 3 minutes to wake us
up.

About a dozen wireless units operate various lights and tell the system
somebody is home. This determines how often the furnace fan cycles the air.

Right now my grass growing algorithym is taking place for new seed. Every
hour during daylight hours the seed gets 3 minutes of water on a sunny day
and only 2 minute every two hours on a dull day.

My security alarm flashes lots of light in the house, and all outside lamps
as well as the usual 30W siren.

Motion on a porch or deck flashes the deck light and rings a close inside
X10 ding dong to alert me on the deck for visitors being exposed to my naked
suntanning body.

Select times during the night and day if no motion has detected motion
(house empty) for some time every unit inside and outside is turned off in
case of random on codes or lazy humans.

I need the conditionals...LOL


>I agree that they are pretty limited and that the lack of conditionals is
>less than optimal. As a programmer, I expect these sorts of things. Perhaps
>my needs are not that complex. But I have managed.
>
> John J. Bengii wrote:
>> CM-11 macros suck! There are no conditionals. It takes an active computer
>> to make it perform worth not getting up and manually turning on the
>> lights. This means not setting anything into the CM-11 but using it as a
>> constant peripheral.
>>
>>
>>
>>> Perhaps if you made it clear what controller/transmitter you were using
>>> that would make things more clear. At the minimum, you really only use
>>> the USB interface to connect to the computer for downloading macros.
>>> Then you can plug it in anywhere.
>>>
>>> John J. Bengii wrote:
>>>> USB? yuk!
>>>>
>>>> My transmitter/receiver is at my electrical panel in the garage and my
>>>> computer is 100 feet away (by wire length)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hello JJ.
>>>>>
>>>>> When you talk about resources being used up, that may really be more a
>>>>> function of the controller's on-board memory rather than the software
>>>>> which downloads the macros. I have a CM11A and I too had to set my
>>>>> resolution lower than I wanted to get things to fit. I believe that
>>>>> the
>>>>> newer units (which are USB instead of RS-232) have more memory so that
>>>>> may help me out - perhaps you too?
>>>>>
>>>>> I also don't quite understand what you are saying about macros not
>>>>> working for multiple modules. I have single macros which operate on
>>>>> multiple receiver modules (with different codes) turning on some and
>>>>> turning off others. These macros are downloaded into the CM11A and
>>>>> seem to work just fine.
>>>>>
>>>>> For the record, I have been using Active Home 1.32 and only recently
>>>>> moved to version 1.42. It seems that 1.42 is a little better on XP in
>>>>> terms of its RS-232 communications. But other than that, they seem
>>>>> nearly identical. I doubt these versions of Active Home will work with
>>>>> the new USB controller and I am not sure if the new version of Active
>>>>> Home that does will work with USB supports the CM11A.
>>>>>
>>>>> JJ wrote:
>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm using Active Home for my X-10 interface and can't stand it. Is
>>>>>> there better software for controlling my modules? My biggest
>>>>>> complaints are that using 10 modules and the sunrise/sunset commands
>>>>>> suck up all the resources and my resolution is such that I can only
>>>>>> adjust the timings every 20 days. The other complaint is that macros
>>>>>> won't work for multiple modules, just for a simple on command.
>>>>>> I used to use X-10 powerhouse but that never interfaced with XP or
>>>>>> some other problem which I can't quite recall, its been about 6 years
>>>>>> since that worked.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks,
>>



Posted by JJ on May 14, 2008, 5:10 pm
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> Hello JJ.
>
> When you talk about resources being used up, that may really be more a
> function of the controller's on-board memory rather than the software
> which downloads the macros. I have a CM11A and I too had to set my
> resolution lower than I wanted to get things to fit. I believe that the
> newer units (which are USB instead of RS-232) have more memory so that
> may help me out - perhaps you too?
>
> I also don't quite understand what you are saying about macros not
> working for multiple modules. I have single macros which operate on
> multiple receiver modules (with different codes) turning on some and
> turning off others. These macros are downloaded into the CM11A and seem to
> work just fine.
>
> For the record, I have been using Active Home 1.32 and only recently moved
> to version 1.42. It seems that 1.42 is a little better on XP in terms of
> its RS-232 communications. But other than that, they seem nearly
> identical. I doubt these versions of Active Home will work with the new
> USB controller and I am not sure if the new version of Active Home that
> does will work with USB supports the CM11A.
>
> JJ wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I'm using Active Home for my X-10 interface and can't stand it. Is there
>> better software for controlling my modules? My biggest complaints are
>> that using 10 modules and the sunrise/sunset commands suck up all the
>> resources and my resolution is such that I can only adjust the timings
>> every 20 days. The other complaint is that macros won't work for multiple
>> modules, just for a simple on command.
>> I used to use X-10 powerhouse but that never interfaced with XP or some
>> other problem which I can't quite recall, its been about 6 years since
>> that worked.
>>
>> Thanks,
I am currently using 1.42. As far as the macros...I have tried to set up 3
modules to turn on at the same time and it never works. None of them will
turn on. They work individually, but not on the macro. I thought I could
free up resources if I used the macro, but every time I try, nothing turns
on. I have backpedaled and tried just 2 modules, then 1 module but the
macro does not work. Any suggestions? I mean it is simply drag and drop
the module into the macro. I have tried standard and fast, but neither
works.

Joe J.
>



Posted by David White on May 14, 2008, 6:29 pm
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JJ wrote:
>> Hello JJ.
>>
>> When you talk about resources being used up, that may really be more a
>> function of the controller's on-board memory rather than the software
>> which downloads the macros. I have a CM11A and I too had to set my
>> resolution lower than I wanted to get things to fit. I believe that the
>> newer units (which are USB instead of RS-232) have more memory so that
>> may help me out - perhaps you too?
>>
>> I also don't quite understand what you are saying about macros not
>> working for multiple modules. I have single macros which operate on
>> multiple receiver modules (with different codes) turning on some and
>> turning off others. These macros are downloaded into the CM11A and seem to
>> work just fine.
>>
>> For the record, I have been using Active Home 1.32 and only recently moved
>> to version 1.42. It seems that 1.42 is a little better on XP in terms of
>> its RS-232 communications. But other than that, they seem nearly
>> identical. I doubt these versions of Active Home will work with the new
>> USB controller and I am not sure if the new version of Active Home that
>> does will work with USB supports the CM11A.
>>
>> JJ wrote:
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> I'm using Active Home for my X-10 interface and can't stand it. Is there
>>> better software for controlling my modules? My biggest complaints are
>>> that using 10 modules and the sunrise/sunset commands suck up all the
>>> resources and my resolution is such that I can only adjust the timings
>>> every 20 days. The other complaint is that macros won't work for multiple
>>> modules, just for a simple on command.
>>> I used to use X-10 powerhouse but that never interfaced with XP or some
>>> other problem which I can't quite recall, its been about 6 years since
>>> that worked.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
> I am currently using 1.42. As far as the macros...I have tried to set up 3
> modules to turn on at the same time and it never works. None of them will
> turn on. They work individually, but not on the macro. I thought I could
> free up resources if I used the macro, but every time I try, nothing turns
> on. I have backpedaled and tried just 2 modules, then 1 module but the
> macro does not work. Any suggestions? I mean it is simply drag and drop
> the module into the macro. I have tried standard and fast, but neither
> works.
>
> Joe J.
>
>
If you are downloading macros into a CM11A and NOT leaving it connected
to your computer, I believe you MUST create FAST macros.

With my computer temporarily connected to my CM11A, I just created a
test fast macro on C1. To it I added my indoor lights (B2) and porch
lights (B5). No other changes. By default, the switch icons on the B2
and B5 are in the ON position and I leave them there. I right the macro
icon and choose Test. After a brief delay, both B2 and B5 get turned-on.

Does this work for you?

What is supposed to "trigger" your macro once it is downloaded? Are you
using a remote control, an AC line controller, or is it supposed to be
triggered by a timer?

Posted by JJ on May 15, 2008, 9:47 am
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Snip
>>>> Thanks,
>> I am currently using 1.42. As far as the macros...I have tried to set up
>> 3 modules to turn on at the same time and it never works. None of them
>> will turn on. They work individually, but not on the macro. I thought I
>> could free up resources if I used the macro, but every time I try,
>> nothing turns on. I have backpedaled and tried just 2 modules, then 1
>> module but the macro does not work. Any suggestions? I mean it is
>> simply drag and drop the module into the macro. I have tried standard
>> and fast, but neither works.
>>
>> Joe J.
>>
>>
> If you are downloading macros into a CM11A and NOT leaving it connected to
> your computer, I believe you MUST create FAST macros.
>
> With my computer temporarily connected to my CM11A, I just created a test
> fast macro on C1. To it I added my indoor lights (B2) and porch lights
> (B5). No other changes. By default, the switch icons on the B2 and B5 are
> in the ON position and I leave them there. I right the macro icon and
> choose Test. After a brief delay, both B2 and B5 get turned-on.
>
> Does this work for you?
>
> What is supposed to "trigger" your macro once it is downloaded? Are you
> using a remote control, an AC line controller, or is it supposed to be
> triggered by a timer?

I drag the two modules I want into the fast macro. Once I'm done, that
macro now appears as a "virtual wiring" macro module in lets say the living
room. I give it time of day on/off settings just like a normal module, but
it never triggers the two I've dragged in there. Am I supposed to turn the
two lamp modules on before I create the macro?
Thanks,
Joe J.



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