Re: x10 Help

["Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

"Jeff Volp" <JeffVolp@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:nm8Li.147999$ax1.82584@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> "Robert Green" <ROBERT_GREEN1963@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:aqudnT6tp6SjamHbnZ2dnUVZ_j6dnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > Why would you care about low, unboosted signals like that?  If you
> > plug something like that into the outlets of a house with an XTB-II in
> > the repeater mode, it's going to boost the signal....
>
> The "International" version of the XTB-II can only repeat the
zero-crossing
> burst as that bit is sent out the digital port.  So, the basic repeater in
> the XTB-II will not help in a 3-phase installation.  The XTB-IIR will
> transmit all 3 phases, but that unit is not available in a 50Hz version.
> All the timing slots have to be changed for that mod.  Since I can't
> thoroughly test at 50Hz here, I am hesitant to offer a 50Hz version.

That's interesting for a number of reasons.  It shows that the difference in
powerline frequencies is not always negligible and that Frank was right to
be at least a little concerned about using 60Hz gear like the ESM1 on a 50Hz
system.  I realize that the issues facing a repeater are far more complex
than those that might affect a signal strength meter, but it's still a good
reminder that things can get complicated.

IIRC, Frank implied that he didn't have any X-10 transmitters other than the
XTB-II and the connected HomeVision controller.  I believe that's why he was
going to buy an independent maxi controller so that he could at least have a
standard transmitter he could use to calibrate the ESM1.  If the XTB's going
to be the only device transmitting X-10 on the line, it still makes sense to
me to ensure that the ESM1 can read the weakest signals the XTB can output
rather than calibrating it to a maxi-controller that won't really be part of
the day-to-day operations.

--
Bobby G.