Re: XTB-II 2-Phase Version

["BruceR" <br@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have the XTB plugged into the same power strip as the 2414X Insteon
translator (now extinct). While the translator is suffering from other
problems now, there was no degradation of performance caused by the XTB.
I wouldn't expect any problem because the XTB only works on signals from
its input and the Insteon devices are all on the output side. The only
thing on the input side is the TW523.
  Now, when RoZetta arrives I will have another configuration to test.
The Stargate TTL output will go to RoZetta and I'll have two outputs
from RoZetta, one going to an Insteon 2414S (serial controller) and the
other to a TW523 plugged into the XTB. Since I won't ever be sending
both I would think that there should be no collissions or interference
between the two.

 Jeff Volp wrote:
> "Dave Houston" <nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:44dbca05.146670468@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Just to avoid confusion, roZetta will send/receive X-10, Insteon or
>> UPB but _only_ via some type of powerline interface (e.g. 2414S, UPB
>> PIM, CM11A or TW523). It doesn't eliminate the need for an interface
>> and the initial release will require a TW523 or PL513 (or a 12V AC
>> transformer) in order to supply a ZC signal to controllers like JDS,
>> HomeVision, Ocelot, etc.
>>
>> Jeff will have to answer whether XTB can pass Insteon without
>> distortion. I'll try to test this a bit in a week or two - Jeff sent
>> me a prototype XTB. If it amplifies the Insteon signal, it _may_
>> exacerbate the Insteon flicker problem. There's also the possibility
>> that it will cause a phase shift in the Insteon signal which could
>> be a problem since Insteon has to be able to clearly distinguish
>> between two distinct phase states of its control signal - that's
>> what carries the information.
>>
>> I suspect (but again will defer to Jeff) that XTB & UPB will not get
>> along very well.
>
> The XTB cannot be used to boost the output of an Insteon transmitter.
> Testing I did with a couple of Insteon modules produced different
> results depending on the time of day.  Insteon uses a different
> modulation scheme to obtain the higher bandwidth, and that may be a
> factor.  The XTB was designed to boost X10 signal levels, and it
> would have been a bonus if it could also boost Insteon transmissions.
>
> I understantd the XTB is being used in several mixed X10 / Insteon
> installations to combat signal loss caused by multiple Insteon
> devices. Perhaps those users could report on any incompatibilities
> they have observed.
>
> A TW523 or CM11A can provide the X10 interface for roZetta.  If a
> 2-phase version of the XTB includes a microcontroller to gate the 1
> mS pulses, that microcontroller could provide a X10 line transceiver
> similar to the TW523.