XTB - the Future of X10 has arrived!

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

Every once in a while you come across a product so useful that it changes
the fundamentals of how you live and work.  Recently, I had the opportunity
to help beta test fellow newsgrouper Jeff Volp?s XTB (X10 Transmit Buffer).
This is one of those ?breakthrough? products.

Anyone who has an even moderately complex X-10 based system has more than
likely been sucked into the netherworld of signal attenuation.
Transmission problems are the work of a variety of demons, pixies and Orcs
that inhabit the average home?s power lines. I've wasted countless hours
tracking down X-10 signal strength issues.  The XTB is like a mighty
electrical Excalibur, capable of slaying the motley army of X-10 demons with
a single slash.

What is it?  Well, it?s almost like the mythical carburetor than runs on
water.   If it were a rifle, you?d never miss.  If it were a cell phone,
your calls would never be dropped.  If it were a power drill, you?d be able
to punch through stainless steel ingots as if they were butter.

The XTB is an amplifier unlike any you?ve ever seen.   It takes the
real-time output of an X-10 transmitter like a TM-751 or a CM11A and
turbo-charges it to previously unheard of levels in the X-10 world.  (At
least I?ve never heard of them!)   The output is so high that both my
Monterey Signal Analyzer and my ESM1 bar graph meter ?pegged? out at their
maximum levels (4v for the former, 5v for the latter) at a considerable
electrical distance from the XTB.

It was fairly easy to calculate the voltage based on extrapolation.  I
compared the voltage drop between point X and Y with a weak transmitter like
the CM11A.  Then I repeated the readings with the  XTB.   Based on the
output voltage, I concluded that the signal exits the XTB at 22 to 24v.
Admittedly, it?s nowhere near as precise as an o?scope but the attenuation
ratios are fairly consistent in my house for point to point readings.  If
the CM11A clocked in at 50mV at a particular receptacle, adding the XTB
would boost that reading to .25 volts, or about 5 times the original signal
strength.

Even with 10 X-10 filters deployed throughout the house, my humble abode is
an X-10 nightmare.  Lots of X-10 transmitters, lots of PC and hi-tech gear,
lots of UPSs, switching power supplies and other tiny, twisting passages for
X-10 signals to get lost in.  In short, a house full of X-10 demons, ready
to absorb or corrupt an X-10 signal at any time.   I?ve gotten used to the
fact that my wife?s sewing room was beyond the reach of X-10.  She?s
actually glad that it is.  When I plugged the Maxicontroller into the XTB ?
the sewing room lights flashed on and off even though they never had before.
The signal, as read by the Monterey, was a fairly low (but still very
reliable) .11 volts.  But what was more peculiar is that the sewing room was
on a different phase than the Maxicontroller.   So what was coupling the
phases?

I decided to check at the panel.  All of the circuits on the phase opposite
the transmitter were evidencing a steady .11 volts.  I turned off the
central AC breakers, expecting to see the Monterey read 0 volts.   No
change.  Steady .11 volt signal.  I turned off the furnace.  No change!  I
shut down EVERY breaker in the panel except for the meter and the TM751/XTB
combo.  That would surely reveal the ?good? elf that was somehow coupling
the two phases of my house.  But once again, there was no change.

After a flurry of emails to Jeff, it became clear what was happening.  The
XTB signal was SO strong it was coupling at the pole transformer! That might
not be the case with other houses.  My power pole transformer is less that
100? away from the breaker panel.

I threw the XTB every curve I could think of, rummaging through my box of
X-10 goodies for test candidates.  I tested the XTB against several flavors
of transceivers, from the RR501 to the TM751 and even the Robodog.   If you?
ve got more than one transmitter, you may need more than one XTB.  Unlike
Smarthome?s BoosterLincs, the XTB will only amplify signals from the
device(s) plugged into the unit?s outlet.

While you can?t plug in a vacuum cleaner into that outlet, you can plug in a
power strip and have the XTB amplify several devices plugged into that
strip.  I?ve currently got a CM11A, a TM751, a TW523 and a
SmartMaxi-controller plugged into the outlet strip without any apparent
issues.  I even plugged a CM11A into the XTB and then a TM751 into the CM11A
?s pass-through outlet without a glitch.  I?ve also tried the Leviton All
Housecode Transceiver, the X-10 Mini Timer, Mini-controllers, and the IR543.
All worked without incident.  The SmartMaxi (All Housecode Maxicontroller
from Smarthome) with its macro capability was particularly enhanced by the
XTB.

One of the nicest benefits of the XTB is that it may allow you to kiss your
active repeater goodbye.  I disconnected my Leviton repeater a long time ago
because it would lock up far too frequently for reasons I could never quite
pin down.  I avoided needing a repeater (or even a coupler) by using TM751?s
spread throughout the house at the very end of each circuit.  This kept them
from interfering with each other, mostly, but it really created problems
using a CM11A or TW523 based controller like the Ocelot.  There was no way
to insure that the output from either unit was able to reach all of the
circuit ends -- until now, that is.   The XTB is certainly going to change
the way I?ve got my X-10 units deployed but it will be for the better in the
long run.

The XTB also turns out to be a very useful adjunct to my X-10 power line
meters.   With the XTB plugged into an outlet about 10? from the panel, I
see a signal everywhere in the house, which is about 1000 sq. ft.   That?s
been pretty helpful in finding unusual signal suckers because I can see a
signal and calculate the attenuation whereas before the signal would be too
weak to even register on the meters.

I?m sure Jeff will fill in the pricing details and all the usual warnings.
I?m starting off with two assembled units because of my less-than-sterling
solder skills.  I?ll probably even try building one of my own with a little
help from a better solderer since there are surface mount components that
have to go on the board towards the end of the assembly process.  I
recommend buying at least one assembled one.  If there was a program called
?This Old Circuit Board? Jeff would be one of the hosts.  I showed the XTB
to a friend, asking him if he could solder one for me.  His comment was ?not
like that ? that?s perfect!?  He was floored by the how neatly Jeff had
assembled the beta.  So was I.

I'll be doing more detailed testing of the units as soon as the production
models are available.  Jeff told me he's made a few tweaks to enhance the
performance so it seems prudent to measure the actual production units
rather than the beta.

If you?ve got dragons and goblins in your X-10 setup and are looking for a
remarkably effective dragonslayer get yours hands on Jeff Volp?s XTB.  And
even if things are running fine for now, the XTB will help keep them that
way by insuring plenty of headroom.  Its output is even visible behind the
X-10 5A filter module.  Signal suckers beware:  Your days are numbered!

--
Bobby G. (BTW, I have no business affiliation with JV, other than as a beta
tester and deliriously happy customer.)