Re: X10 Automated Home s/w ?

["John Andrews" <groups@xxxxxxx>]

Marcus

First go to http://www.homeseer.com
and download an eval version - much much
superior than active home.

J

----- Original Message -----
From: "Marcus Warrington" <marcusw@xxxxxxx>
To: <ukha_d@xxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 6:33 PM
Subject: [ukha_d] X10 Automated Home s/w ?


> Just bought a job lot of X10 stuff [on impulse] to play with....
> (2 TM12U transceiver units, 2 CM12U PC interfaces, 2 HR10 Remote
Controls,
>  4 AM12U Appliance Modules, 7 LM12U Lamp modules and a MT7222
MiniTimer)..
> and just realised what I've been missing, boy is this FUN! Plugged a
couple
> of lamps in and a fan heater (the only appliance I could lay my hands
on
> quickly) and the kids LOVED it. SWMBO didn't seem quite as excited by
it..
> she just kept muttering something about "silly toys" and
"when was the
> kitchen going to be ready" (.. a on going project that's lasted 2
years
> so far ..gulp)
>
> Anyway, the point is I tried using the supplied "Active
Home" software but
> it seems to get stuck. All seems well until I manually switch the
TM12U's
> appliance state (via the front on/off button) and then ask the
"ActiveHome"
> software to do a status enquiry.. at this point all communication
stops.
> The s/w isn't hung, I can click the mouse and flick switches... but
the
> LM12U and TM12U don't respond. I know the devices are OK, because I
can
> use the remote control to change them, its seems the software just
fails
to
> send the commands.. (or the CM12U is playing up) ?
>
> Why does the TM12u allow manual on/Off control of the plugged in
appliance,
> but the AM12U appliance modules don't ? Does this not mean that by
using
> an AM12U I can ONLY control it via X10 and loose all manual control ?
>
> Since I can have 16 devices on each house code I'm guessing most
people
use
> more than one house code ? I'm thinking maybe having a house code per
floor
> and/or a house code for lighting and a house code for appliances ?
>
> If I have each floor on a different house code and I want to have a
"All
> lights in the house off" button, I assume I'll need a macro to
send an
> "All Off" command to each house code ? Can this be done with
the HR10
remote?
> I'm assuming I'd have to program the CM12U with the macro that would
be
> activated by a specific command (On/Off) from the HR10 set to a
specific
> HouseCode/Device ?
>
> Do the CM12U's require a battery in all the time or is it just for
backup
> while they are removed from the mains. The information I've found
implies
> that it NEEDS the battery to maintain its memory, if so what happens
when
> the battery runs out and/or you want to change the battery.. does it
loose
> everything and have to be reprogrammed ?
>
> Buying this lot has now fired my desire to get the main room lights
(not
> just lamps) X10 controlled. This doesn't appear to be as straight
forward
> as I'd hoped. The house has just been rewired and unfortunately non of
the
> switches have a neutral, it would also be pretty much impossible to
pull
> a neutral wire. So what choices do I have ? I've heard talk of
mounting
> the X10 unit in the floor void, but apparently I would need to have
access
> to change fuses, so its probably not a very feasible plan.
> Looking at the AW12/AWM2/TMA4/TMA4D units (..pricey) they don't appear
> to have a fuse..?
>
> I'll stop there.. the more questions I'm asking, the more new ones I'm
> starting to think of :)
>
>
> Marcus Warrington
> marcusw@xxxxxxx MIS Computer Services (UK)
>
>
> ** UKHA2004 BE THERE! ** - start planning now.
>
> http://www.automatedhome.co.uk
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