Re: Lynx X-10 Analyzer (WAS Re: Decora HCPRF)

["BruceR" <brNOSPAM@xxxxxxxxxx>]

You're heading down the same tester path I took. The TesterLinc at $89
is probably too good to pass up. The "quality" level it reports is
interesting but I like to see what's happening. The Monterey is
certainly a good unit but when there's a problem it reports lots of
"BSC" (Bad Start Code) messages when that's not really the problem.  I
think that's the same issue Dave pointed out.  The ACT 004 not only
provides accurate readings but can test 220 volt lines if you need to
(using a different plug in power connector) and also has a transmit
function with selective signal output levels.
 I haven't really needed to log data to a PC to shoot trouble so that's
not part of my criteria.
 See: http://www.act-solutions.com/PCCSpecFrame.htm for a spec sheet and
here's where the manual is found:
 http://www.act-solutions.com/PCCInstFrame.htm  Click on AT004 on these
pages. CAUTION: I think a read of the manual might get you diving into
the seat cushions looking for spare change to add to your tester budget!

From:Robert Green
ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx

> "BruceR" <brNOSPAM@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>
>> I have the Lynx which shows a lot of interesting detail but hasn't
>> really helped me do much troubleshooting.
>
> I spent a while fretting about how I would load the Lynx program CD
> onto the old Compaq Armada I had earmarked for it (no CD drive!).
> Then I looked at the files on the clearly limited-edition
> paper-labeled CDR disk and saw they were from 1998 and 2002 and would
> all easily fit on a floppy.  It installed nicely, although it took me
> a while to realize it was "locked" and I had to enter my CD-Key to
> activate it.
>
> At first I was both overwhelmed by the complexity of the screens and
> underwhelmed by things like simple signal strength measurement.  It
> can draw all sorts of fancy phase angle graphs and
> pseudo-oscilloscope output, but I didn't see anything that would
> really help me get to the bottom of the Phantom Menace that's been
> haunting my X-10 setup.
>
> Then, just to see how it would react, I decided to press two keychain
> remotes simultaneously, one set to housecode "B" and the other set to
> "D." Lo and behold!  Now I had a grid the showed the breakout of what
> the Lynx receiver saw on the powerline, bit by bit, and it showed,
> embedded in the middle of lots of what it labels "code fragments" was
> a DIM command for Housecode M, Unit 16.  Bingo!  There's no M
> housecode in use in my system anywhere.  I'll run a few more tests
> and even set up a few lamp modules on the M housecode to see if I
> can't get it to activate by pressing transmitters on D and A codes.
>
>> I spent an hour with the engineer who designed it at an EHXpo 2
>> years ago and he showed me how to read it.
>
> From what I see, in the display that looks a little like what Disk
> Defragmenter shows, there's one line with the actual powerline bits,
> another line that shows them mapping into X-10 binary codes and
> another line that shows the actual X-10 commands.  I was hoping that
> I could read the power level of each bit but I haven't found that
> function, if it indeed exists. It does seem able to tell me the
> location of each bit along the AC cycle, which I assume is really
> just the number of milliseconds past the zero crossing point  That
> could end up being as valuable in figuring out the mechanics of such
> collisions.  Did you take notes at the EHXpo?  :-)
>
>> He talked about updating the software to make it a little more
>> useful for field work but nothing came of it.
>
> I thought that loading the SW on a laptop would make it a useful
> tool, too but it's too clunky for fieldwork. Actually, when buyer's
> remorse was at a peak this morning, I came across the Smarthome
> Monterey clone that's on sale here (no affiliation) for $89
>
> http://www.homeautomationnet.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=921
>
> and thought that was what I really needed.  I can't see much
> difference from the Monterey when I compare the specs  - except maybe
> the Testerlinc is 200 bucks cheaper!  Well, one thing that's odd is
> they use a "quality count" rather than display signal voltage.  But
> again, the Testerlinc does not log to a PC.
>
>> The ESM is handy for a quick test particularly when you want to look
>> >
> across a room and see if a signal is getting through.  I like the
>> Monterey but it is somewhat error prone as Dave mentioned.
>
> I'll bet the Testerlinc suffers from similar issues.  One thing that
> freaked me (and Dave, if you are reading, please correct me if I am
> wrong) is that I think Dave said they used the Monterey to
> *calibrate* the ESM1.  How bad could the Monterey be if they use it
> to calibrate other meters!!!?  :-) FWIW, as soon as I opened the Lynx
> box, a little voice said "you should have bought the Monterey or the
> Testerlinc!"
>
> I'd like to figure out how to "broadcast" the output of the ESM1.
> I'd like to be able to bring it up as a system tray icon so that
> every time an X-10 command was sent, I could see its strength.  Maybe
> I'll just set up an old CCTV camera and broadcast it via cable TV
> modulator.  Now showing on channel 111!  X-10 Signal Strength!
>
>> It is still useful and was my favorite UNTIL I got my hands on the
>> ACT 004 tester.
>
> Don't make me spend any more money!!!!!!  I've already decided I have
> to get that little USB scope that Dave mentioned earlier.  I just
> haven't found the cheapest price for it yet.
>
> http://www.usb-instruments.com/buy.html
>
> lists only one dealer which means they can command list price.
> Still, it's an OK deal for $220 since it includes the software.
>
>> Not cheap, it is, (saw StarWars the other night) but for the money
>> it's a better unit than the Monterey and is my current favorite.  I
>> still have my old Leviton tester too, now about 20 years old, and it
>> still does the job in a primitive sort of way.
>
> What does it do that the Monterey doesn't?
>
>>  If I could only have one, it would be the ACT 004. (Home Controls
>> had the best price on it at the time).
>
> Maybe providence and the spirit that protects wallets and bank
> accounts has made the ACT 004 impossible to find on Google.  No,
> wait, oh, darn, here it is:
>
> http://www.homeautomationnet.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=214
>
> For $250, it might be worth it if I did installs and needed to leave
> something overnight to log data.  But it's got the same damn
> Achilles' Heel that the Testerlinc and the Monterey have - no way to
> log to a PC.  It's got lots more neat buttons and features, though.
> Next time I save myself a lot of money buying Minicontrollers for $2
> each I'll be able to justify buying the ACT.  There's something
> perverse about spending all the money I save buying cheap X-10 gear
> on expensive X-10 test equipment.
>
> --
> Bobby G.