X10 continuous bright problem...

[martin.reynolds@xxxxxxxxx]

I've been running a fairly large X10 system for almost 20 years. 60
modules, repeater. I've eliminated the wireless leg over power lines.
It's been generally reliable, with a few soft spots on long runs and
the occasional killer power supply in a PC, printer or game device. No
whole house filter, but my neighbors are 100 - 200 feet away.

So today, it stops working. Total shutdown. A little research turns up
a continuous E9/bright command. My little tester flags it as a strong,
clean signal with noiseless zeros and full strength 1s.

A long search reveals no suspicious devices, so I turn off the
breakers one at a time. Doesn't work. I open all the breakers, and
find that the signal is on at least two separate circuits. I have the
repeater disconnected as well.

Then comes an indiscretion with the tester as I connect it across the
two lin phases, and it ejects black smoke. So I never quite nailed it
as an external influence, but it seems that is what it has to be.
Almost like one of my neighbors is blasting e9/b with a big amp.

Of course, it is gone now. And the whole house filter will arrive this
week.

Anybody ever seen anything like this? It was almost like a deliberate
jamming signal.