X10 is driving me nuts!

I have a strange problem that I'm hoping someone can help with.

After 3 years of (almost!) flawless operation, my X10 setup has
virtually stopped working.

There have been no recent additions to the appliances in the house
however I have ascertained that it is the transformer of a 4 year old
Sony LCD TV in the kitchen that is causing the problems.

I've tried an filter on the TV but with no luck - every time I plug it
in, 80% of the X10 devices stop working.

Apart from "bin the TV" do you guys have any other suggestions?

Thanks
Mike

A couple of things come to mind...

First, I am surprised that a filter didn't help. I noticed that you are in
the UK, so be sure that is a filter designed to block signals in the X10
frequency band. You might also try two in series for extra attenuation.

That "transformer" is probably a switching power supply if it causes
problems for X10 communications. You can read about a particularly nasty
device here:

http://jvde.us/x10/x10_cellet_noise.htm

Before you trash the TV, you should look for an alternate "transformer" with
similar ratings (same voltage and the same or higher current rating). If
you can find an older unit that really used a power transformer, you can be
sure that will not interfere with X10 communications.

Years ago the worst problem we had with X10 communication was caused by a
Sony XBR TV. That was my first introduction to the world of X10 filters.
Too bad manufacturers don't consider the other electrical devices they share
the powerlines with.

FYI, I have a complete X10 troubleshooting series at:

http://jvde.us/x10_troubleshooting.htm

Jeff

"MikeG" <fromnews@supply.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3rej74pj2rk4v5hnhm93e14e3pqedapth2@4ax.com...
>I have a strange problem that I'm hoping someone can help with.
>
> After 3 years of (almost!) flawless operation, my X10 setup has
> virtually stopped working.
>
> There have been no recent additions to the appliances in the house
> however I have ascertained that it is the transformer of a 4 year old
> Sony LCD TV in the kitchen that is causing the problems.
>
> I've tried an filter on the TV but with no luck - every time I plug it
> in, 80% of the X10 devices stop working.
>
> Apart from "bin the TV" do you guys have any other suggestions?
>
> Thanks
> Mike

Hi Jeff,

I received the XTBIIR unit and have it installed. First, it's really a nice
piece of work from a design and construction standpoint. I was running some
pre and post tests and was wondering if you could explain what I was seeing
on the ESM-1. I have a light controlled by an X10 motion detector. The ESM-1
showed a single 5 bar signal from the motion sensor, but when I tripped the
light using a palm pad controller I see what looks like two signals, a 2 bar
signal followed by a 5 bar signal. What's the difference between the two
signal sources. These tests were done pre XTB install and I have no other
repeaters or couplers installed, just a CM11A. After the XTB install I still
see the same one signal, two signal difference between the two sources,
although at a higher level. The single signal is a full 10 bar, and no doubt
more, and the two signal reading is 8 bars and 10 + bars.

I am glad you mentioned in the instructions that installing the power cord
would be easier if the board was removed from the case. I would have been
more hesitent to do so other wise, but it certainly was a great deal easier.
I don't supose you know of a rubber plug for the RJ socket. Since it's
installed on the top of the unit, I would think it should be covered to
protect it against dust and dirt if it's not being used.

Thanks
Dennis Raher

Hi Dennis,

Thank you for the feedback.

The two-level signal is normally what you see when a repeater boosts the 2nd
half of a command. With no repeaters active in your home, I can think of
several other possibilities:

If you have multiple RF transceivers, it is possible that one might relay
the command first, followed by the second (particularly if that is a RR501).
If the second is closer to the ESM1, its signal would be stronger.

Another possibility is that the first command is triggering a macro in the
CM11A. Again, if the CM11A is closer to the ESM1, its signal would appear
stronger.

The last idea I have is that there might be a repeater at a nearby home that
shares the same utility transformer.

For two different signal levels, there must be two different sources.

I am not aware of any plug for a RJ receptacle. If you want to keep the
dust out, how about simply a piece of electrical tape?

Jeff

"news groups" <djraher@att.net> wrote in message
news:CMrek.6562$vn7.5555@flpi147.ffdc.sbc.com...
> Hi Jeff,
>
> I received the XTBIIR unit and have it installed. First, it's really a
> nice piece of work from a design and construction standpoint. I was
> running some pre and post tests and was wondering if you could explain
> what I was seeing on the ESM-1. I have a light controlled by an X10 motion
> detector. The ESM-1 showed a single 5 bar signal from the motion sensor,
> but when I tripped the light using a palm pad controller I see what looks
> like two signals, a 2 bar signal followed by a 5 bar signal. What's the
> difference between the two signal sources. These tests were done pre XTB
> install and I have no other repeaters or couplers installed, just a CM11A.
> After the XTB install I still see the same one signal, two signal
> difference between the two sources, although at a higher level. The single
> signal is a full 10 bar, and no doubt more, and the two signal reading is
> 8 bars and 10 + bars.
>
> I am glad you mentioned in the instructions that installing the power cord
> would be easier if the board was removed from the case. I would have been
> more hesitent to do so other wise, but it certainly was a great deal
> easier. I don't supose you know of a rubber plug for the RJ socket. Since
> it's installed on the top of the unit, I would think it should be covered
> to protect it against dust and dirt if it's not being used.
>
> Thanks
> Dennis Raher
>
>
>
>

On Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:31:49 +0100, MikeG <fromnews@supply.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>I have a strange problem that I'm hoping someone can help with.

>After 3 years of (almost!) flawless operation, my X10 setup has
>virtually stopped working.

>There have been no recent additions to the appliances in the house
>however I have ascertained that it is the transformer of a 4 year old
>Sony LCD TV in the kitchen that is causing the problems.

>I've tried an filter on the TV but with no luck - every time I plug it
>in, 80% of the X10 devices stop working.

get a better filter. maybe even stick in a UPS.

> I don't supose you know of a rubber plug for the RJ socket. Since it's
> installed on the top of the unit, I would think it should be covered to
> protect it against dust and dirt if it's not being used.

Just lop off the end from a phone cord and use just the plug.

Hi Jeff,

I do indeed have several RF transceivers, and one of them is a RR501. Now
that you mention it, it does make sense that the signal from the palm pad is
stronger then that from the motion sensor and was also picked up by the
RR501 unit.

Thanks
Dennis Raher
"Jeff Volp" <JeffVolp@msn.com> wrote in message
newsfsek.116547$102.103776@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> Hi Dennis,
>
> Thank you for the feedback.
>
> The two-level signal is normally what you see when a repeater boosts the
> 2nd half of a command. With no repeaters active in your home, I can think
> of several other possibilities:
>
> If you have multiple RF transceivers, it is possible that one might relay
> the command first, followed by the second (particularly if that is a
> RR501). If the second is closer to the ESM1, its signal would be stronger.
>
> Another possibility is that the first command is triggering a macro in the
> CM11A. Again, if the CM11A is closer to the ESM1, its signal would appear
> stronger.
>
> The last idea I have is that there might be a repeater at a nearby home
> that shares the same utility transformer.
>
> For two different signal levels, there must be two different sources.
>
> I am not aware of any plug for a RJ receptacle. If you want to keep the
> dust out, how about simply a piece of electrical tape?
>
> Jeff
>
> "news groups" <djraher@att.net> wrote in message
> news:CMrek.6562$vn7.5555@flpi147.ffdc.sbc.com...
>> Hi Jeff,
>>
>> I received the XTBIIR unit and have it installed. First, it's really a
>> nice piece of work from a design and construction standpoint. I was
>> running some pre and post tests and was wondering if you could explain
>> what I was seeing on the ESM-1. I have a light controlled by an X10
>> motion detector. The ESM-1 showed a single 5 bar signal from the motion
>> sensor, but when I tripped the light using a palm pad controller I see
>> what looks like two signals, a 2 bar signal followed by a 5 bar signal.
>> What's the difference between the two signal sources. These tests were
>> done pre XTB install and I have no other repeaters or couplers installed,
>> just a CM11A. After the XTB install I still see the same one signal, two
>> signal difference between the two sources, although at a higher level.
>> The single signal is a full 10 bar, and no doubt more, and the two signal
>> reading is 8 bars and 10 + bars.
>>
>> I am glad you mentioned in the instructions that installing the power
>> cord would be easier if the board was removed from the case. I would
>> have been more hesitent to do so other wise, but it certainly was a great
>> deal easier. I don't supose you know of a rubber plug for the RJ socket.
>> Since it's installed on the top of the unit, I would think it should be
>> covered to protect it against dust and dirt if it's not being used.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Dennis Raher
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>

Hi Bill,

I did think about that, but hated the idea of hacking up a perfectly good
cord. I guess I will use a piece of tape for now.

Thanks
Dennis Raher
"Bill Kearney" <wkearney99@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:nfudnT67T8DjOefVnZ2dnUVZ_jKdnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
>> I don't supose you know of a rubber plug for the RJ socket. Since it's
>> installed on the top of the unit, I would think it should be covered to
>> protect it against dust and dirt if it's not being used.
>
> Just lop off the end from a phone cord and use just the plug.

Well, you CAN buy the bare plugs alone. But I figured since everyone's
probably got SEVERAL spare telephone cords lying around this would be a
cheaper/easier solution. A plug might be only a few pennies, but the fuel
or shipping costs to get it would cost a lot more.

-Bill

> I did think about that, but hated the idea of hacking up a perfectly good
> cord. I guess I will use a piece of tape for now.
>
> Thanks
> Dennis Raher
> "Bill Kearney" <wkearney99@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:nfudnT67T8DjOefVnZ2dnUVZ_jKdnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
>>> I don't supose you know of a rubber plug for the RJ socket. Since it's
>>> installed on the top of the unit, I would think it should be covered to
>>> protect it against dust and dirt if it's not being used.
>>
>> Just lop off the end from a phone cord and use just the plug.
>

I thought he was asking for a rubber plug to seal the entire hole. Many of
us probably have a bag of regular plugs to make up our own cables, but I am
not aware of any rubber plugs for RJ sockets. A small piece of tape will do
the job.

Jeff

"Bill Kearney" <wkearney99@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:y6ednUP8bJT1EeHVnZ2dnUVZ_t3inZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
>
> Well, you CAN buy the bare plugs alone. But I figured since everyone's
> probably got SEVERAL spare telephone cords lying around this would be a
> cheaper/easier solution. A plug might be only a few pennies, but the fuel
> or shipping costs to get it would cost a lot more.
>
> -Bill
>
>> I did think about that, but hated the idea of hacking up a perfectly good
>> cord. I guess I will use a piece of tape for now.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Dennis Raher
>> "Bill Kearney" <wkearney99@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:nfudnT67T8DjOefVnZ2dnUVZ_jKdnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
>>>> I don't supose you know of a rubber plug for the RJ socket. Since it's
>>>> installed on the top of the unit, I would think it should be covered to
>>>> protect it against dust and dirt if it's not being used.
>>>
>>> Just lop off the end from a phone cord and use just the plug.
>>
>