Re: XTB - the Future of X10 has arrived!

["BruceR" <br@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Great news!


> 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!