Re: [mh] Thanks a million!

[Gregg L. <gr...@li...>]

Quoting Dean Junk (12/15/07 11:21 AM):

> That was one of the issues I had.  The other one was that I couldn't
> send X10 commands reliably.  When I added the CM11, I was able to move
> it on the powerline away from the PLM.  I can now send X10 commands
> reliably.  I still have the problem of receiving X10 commands (none of
> them make it back to MH).  The PLM must be generating enough noise to
> disrupt the X10 signals.  I had the same problem with the USB insteon
> controller.  I would like to be on just one controller. Any suggestions
> to more advanced troubleshooting that I haven't tried yet?

1) Try swapping the CM11 and PLM physical locations.  If the CM11 is
closer to a main or further away from "signal suckers", then possibly
this could account for reliability.  When I "adopted" use of the PLM, I
began w/ a single device running insteon and all of the others running
in x10 mode.  I then swapped my CM11 for PLM (plugging it in the exact
same location--5 electrical feet from the main).  I saw no change in
reliability (my cm11 had always been as reliable as x10 can be).  It was
not until I began changing from x10 to insteon mode that the remaining
(cheap) x10 devices began to lose reliability.  So, from my experience,
the PLM is as reliable in x10 sending as the cm11.  As an aside, I once
used a active x10 repeater until I moved the cm11 close enough to the
mains; I then noted that the active repeater had a tendency to amplify
things that it shouldn't--producing excess noise.  Switching to a
passive coupler actually improved reliability; possibly this should be
considered as well.

2) Make sure that you are not sending insteon and x10 at the same time.
 Now that you have 2 controllers, there is no way for the device itself
to regulate sending; so, be sure that you don't try sending multiple
commands simultaneously.

3) I'm assuming that you have a decent x10 bridge/repeater.  The same
applies for insteon--although placement and linking the new insteon
wireless access points is notably tricky (RTFM multiple times and really
pay attention to the linking LEDs).  The x10 bridge/repeater doesn't
help insteon any more than the WAPs do.

4) All issues regarding "signal suckers" and noise impacting x10 also
impact insteon--although to a lesser degree.  That means you shouldn't
just ignore such issues and depend on the built-in repeating.  I've also
noticed that only the latest FilterLincs work w/ Insteon.  All of my ACT
filters are worthless for filtering wrt Insteon.