Subject: From: Date:

RE: [ECS] Re: X-10 chaos Clay Jackson Sun, 7 Feb 1999 10:33:04 -0800

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Mark - (et al).  I'm having some strange things happening as well.  Here are
my details.

I've got a fairly large (2600 SF) house on three levels with one Service
Panel.  We have a coupler in the panel; on it's own breaker.  We also have a
"whole house" surge suppressor (the same ones that a company I used to work
for used to protect cell sites).

I have an ES1400 and a CM11A.  The 1400 nominally runs it's own code; and
the CM11 is what I'm using to set up ECS - the goal is for ECS/CM11/PC to
replace my ES1400.  So - here's whats happening:

The ES1400 occasionally "misses" signals and I have to send stuff multiple
times (from a mini-box to the 1400, which will turn on/off lights, etc).
This has been an annnoyance until now.  I'm just starting off with the CM11
and ECS.  So, when I tell ECS to turn ON the light outside the room the
computer is in, it comes on.  But, when I tell it to turn said light OFF,
nothing happens (the "light" is a pair of flourescents on a Leviton "relay"
rocker switch).  Also, I've got another flourescent light on an appliance
module that I cannot control at all with ECS/CM11.  When I tried using the
ES1400 as the ECS interface, I could control the "other" flourescent light;
but do NOTHING to the hall light.

Any ideas anyone has would be appreciated!

Clay Jackson
clayj@nwlink.com


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Gilmore [mailto:	]
> Sent: Sunday, February 07, 1999 8:12 AM
> To: misterz@ix.netcom.com; ecs-list@netbloc.com
> Subject: [ECS] Re: X-10 chaos
>
>
> 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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