Subject: From: Date:

Re: X-10 chaos Mark Gilmore Sun, 07 Feb 1999 08:11:52 -0800

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Goodmorning Walter,
I am not an expert on such problems, but it sure sounds
like line noise, either from a neighbors's appliance/device
or possibly that construction project, though I wouldn't
expect this to be a problem, given that they would be on
a different transformer. Did this project start up AFTER
the problems began ? If so, we can eliminate that as the
cause. I am forwarding your question to our ECS user's list,
as many of my customers are more knowledgable in this area
(and they are very helpful).

Regarding call-forwarding, I can only say that ECS can
respond in any way that a person could: "Push" flash-hook,
dial another number, etc. I THINK this would do the trick,
but am not sure.

Further responses from ECS user's will be forthcoming...

WALTER SANDS wrote:
> 
> Mark,
> I saw your response to someone regarding doing it himself (home
> automation). I thought I'd try asking you for help. I had my whole
> apartment's lights and  coffee maker X-10'd for years. Then over a
> period of a few months things went blooie. I was used to wall switches
> that were used frequently needing to be replaced yearly. But I found
> that modules were not responding to commands from some control boxes and
> were from others. Then sometimes they would. I tried switching modules,
> control boxes, channels and replacing items with new ones. There was no
> (in my mind) discernible pattern that would allow me to narrow it down
> to any one or several parts. Finally, I removed the entire system. This
> was quite sad as I really appreciated the convenience. I presumed that
> the problem lays in the lines or signals coming through the ether,
> etc... I live in an apartment building in Manhattan. Two buildings down
> there is a major construction project.
> I am writing you because I want to know if you can advise me on solving
> a problem like this? I know there is testing equipment. But I haven't a
> clue on how to use it. Can you recommend a way to learn? Are there good
> simple books? Or are there qualified pros? How do you find them? How
> much do they charge?
> I hope you can help. I really would like to replace the system. I am
> interested in expanding on what I had (ie., combined X-10 and A/V remote
> control, telephone interface, etc...).
> While I am at it... my phone company does not offer remote call
> forwarding. That is call forwarding with the ability to switch it on and
> program it away from home. Got any ideas?

-- 
Mark Gilmore
Omnipotence (ECS Home Automation Software)
omnip@usit.net
http://www.usit.com/omnip

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