Re: X-10 RF home automation being overwhelmed by M2 OFF, C2 OFF and Gxx DIM signals

["Robert Green" <robert_green1963@xxxxxxxxx>]

"Art Todesco" <actodesco@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:j5qdfk$9un$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> On 9/26/2011 6:08 AM, Robert Green wrote:
> > A quick (for me!) followup, so please forgive the top post.
Interference
> > was off for a week after Labor day but is now back on again full force.
> > Just stopped at 5AM.  Distributed 6 TM751's located proximate to most
> > important RF switch controls as their effective range bathed in
interference
> > is about 6 feet.  No collisions with each other because except for a few
> > spots, each TM751 is in a non-contiguous sphere.  Does NOT work with the
WGL
> > transceiver active, too.  Collision city.
> >
> > Two kinds of X-10 interference in this case.  One is plain old noise,
the
> > other is noise that the X-10 receivers believe is an actual X-10
> > transmission.
> >
> > I haven't yet "run down" the noise because a) I am lazy and b) IMHO,
it's
> > not a solution if it depends on something or someone external to my
house
> > doing something.
> >
> > All in all it's been an interesting study in how low power gear like
X-10 RF
> > acts when receiving "undesired" interference (is it ever desirable?").
Now
> > I'm going to see if I can put those TM751's on lamp or appliance modules
to
> > switch between the WGL global network or the array of TM751's.  There
might
> > be some very strong benefits to being able to disable RF control, room
by
> > room.  X-10. Forever futzing. (-:
> >
> > --
> > Bobby G.
> >
> >
> Bobby G.:
> I'm sure you've tried this; shutting off all but one circuit breaker in
> the house and see if the noise goes away.  I have been reading this
> thread from the beginning, but I don't remember now.  The reason I bring
> this up now is that I recently bought a new LCD/LED TV and the RF remote
> on my Dish DVR started working intermittently and then it stopped
> working all together.  I found that the TV was emitting a whole bunch of
> EMI and apparently jamming the input on the DVR.  It was intermittent as
> I was moving around various stereo and TV components, including a small
> FM audio transmitter.  I initially thought it was the transmitter
> because when shut off, things seemed to get better.  The remotes finally
> quit working all together when I finally got the components where I
> wanted them, even without the FM transmitter.  I fixed it by removing
> the remote control receive antenna on the DVR and connecting a coax
> cable instead and then, reconnected the antenna at the other end of the
> cable, some 25' away and in the basement.  This took care of my problem,
> but it show how a new TV can be splattering stuff all over the place.  I
> honestly don't know how the TV could pass FCC Part 15 requirements.
> BTW, have you contacted the guy recommended by HR Hofmann?  Bob is very
> knowledgeable about EMC and I'm sure the guy he mentioned has similar
> credentials.  It would be fun to use an RF spectrum analyzer and antenna
> in and around your house ... and in my house too, especially with the
> new TV.

Art, thanks for the followup.  I didn't contact anyone, I just switched back
to using TM751's located very close to the areas where I had motion sensors
or RF switches instead of using a whole house transceiver.

I am kinda of glad I didn't snoop much further because I wouldn't want to be
the guy who discovered any remote CCTV surveillance gear!  I figure if the
power company was doing it, then others had to be experiencing similar
trouble but no one was.  That meant it was local and my walkaround tests
proved that it was quite powerful interference and that it probably wasn't
emanating from my house.  The RF interference began shortly after neighbors
reported suspcious comings and goings and disappeared a day or two after the
5 vans full of black-suited cops/agents raided the place across the street.
So far, so good.

--
Bobby G.