Re: X10 programming from PC

["frank.agee@xxxxxxxxx" <frank.agee@xxxxxxxxx>]

Who makes these CM11 and CM12 units?  Do other people make such?

Have you read Finux Smart Homes for Dummies, by Neil Cherry?

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realtime_signal_and_control@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Geordie wrote:
> "Staiger" <Staiger@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:g-adnYo8t_qaH43YRVny2g@xxxxxxxxx
> >
> > In my experience the CM11/12 is the most unreliable piece of junk you can
> > buy.  I've been using ActiveHome recently, like Geordie, and have found
> > that after a few downloads of "timers and macros" the CM11 just stops
> > responding. There are clearly problems with the software in the CM11/12,
> > and it's appalling that the manufacturers haven't fixed it after all these
> > years.
> >
> > However, if you unplug it, remove the batteries and wait, refit the
> > batteries, plug it in and start again it works again.  Obviously a
> > software lockup.
> >
> > My suggestion to Geordie is to do that, rather than replacing the unit,
> > when it goes wrong next time (which it surely will).
> >
> > Incidentally, I'm pretty unhappy with ActiveHome.  It's a 16-bit
> > application which hasn't been updated in years, and has a very clunky look
> > and feel to it.  I tried Harmony, but it looks like it's been put together
> > by someone who's just learned Visual Basic so, like Geordie, I also will
> > be writing my own control program.
> >
> > Geordie, what programming language/environment are you using?  I was gonna
> > use Delphi, with which I'm reasonably familiar.
> >
> > Thack
> One thing that convinced me my CM12 was beyond hope, was that it didn't get
> warm in the right places (around the transformer).  I had effectively
> already done a cold-start when I tried replacing the batteries without
> effect.
>
> After I replaced the unit, I opened it up.  The build quality reminded me
> 1960's transistor radios - the first ones, just after they stopped using
> miniature valves.  Paper-based PCB, globs of solder and globs of rubber
> cement (do I really want something like this connected to the househuld
> wiring?).  This was a serial-port version - I don't know whether the
> replacement USB versions are any better.
>
> My software is on the back burner now that the system is running again (and,
> when the h/w is so flaky, do I really want to spend time writing s/w for
> it?).  I'm using C++Builder - I like Borland's language products but prefer
> C(++) to Pascal.
>
> Cheers,
> Geordie