jantypas@hope.UUCP (02/13/87)
I just noticed that DAK lowered the price on the X-10 system controller to $19. Now, assuming this thing can run on something other than MSDos, has anyone ever had trouble with BSR modules? John Antypas uucp: ...!sdcsvax!ucrmath!hope!jantypas
psfales@ihlpl.UUCP (02/14/87)
> I just noticed that DAK lowered the price on the X-10 system controller > to $19. Now, assuming this thing can run on something other than MSDos, > has anyone ever had trouble with BSR modules? DAK sells the system in several "flavors" for several popular computers: IBM compatibles, Apple II, Commodore, and Macintosh. If you have another computer you can order the IBM version - you won't have all the fancy menu driven software, but it does come with a manual that explains how to talk to the controller over any 600 baud serial port. I have never had a problem with the BSR modules except for brief periods (on the order of a couple of hours every couple of months) some devices will fail to respond to some commands. I have attributed this to noise on AC lines but I have no idea how to find out anything more. -- Peter Fales UUCP: ...ihnp4!ihlpl!psfales work: (312) 979-7784 AT&T Information Systems, IW 1Z-243 1100 E. Warrenville Rd., IL 60566
straka@ihlpf.UUCP (02/16/87)
> > has anyone ever had trouble with BSR modules? > I have never had a problem with the BSR modules except for brief > periods (on the order of a couple of hours every couple of months) some > devices will fail to respond to some commands. I have attributed this > to noise on AC lines but I have no idea how to find out anything more. I had to do some gyrations in my house when I set them up. My neighbor has one of those intercoms (FM) that go through the house wiring, and are using it as an baby monitor. It interfered with my x-10 stuff since we share a distribution transformer. However, one side of the 220 was better that the other. Soultion: I swapped all of the important circuits in my house to the better phase (the one his intercom ISN'T on), and it works pretty well. However, I did buy some wall switch modules from Radio Shack that turned the lights off quite well, but didn't turn them on (yes, I tried a wide range of wattages). I haven't gotten around to trading them in for new units yet. Any ideas from netland? -- Rich Straka ihnp4!ihlpf!straka
jeffp@phred.UUCP (02/19/87)
In article <1025@ihlpf.UUCP> straka@ihlpf.UUCP (Straka) writes: >> > has anyone ever had trouble with BSR modules? > >> I have never had a problem with the BSR modules except for brief >> periods (on the order of a couple of hours every couple of months) some >> devices will fail to respond to some commands. I have attributed this >> to noise on AC lines but I have no idea how to find out anything more. > >has one of those intercoms (FM) that go through the house wiring, and >are using it as an baby monitor. It interfered with my x-10 stuff since we > >However, I did buy some wall switch modules from Radio Shack that turned the >lights off quite well, but didn't turn them on (yes, I tried a wide >range of wattages). I haven't gotten around to trading them in for new >units yet. Any ideas from netland? No ideas, but I have the same problem, which seemed correctable with limited success by putting some .1 uF caps accross the line in randomly selected spots. My neighbor has the FM intercomm too. I'd sure like to hear of any more scientific, permanent solutions. (Like, has anyone figured out how to boost the power ofthe BSR transmitters?). {seismo!nike!uw-beaver, ihnp4!allegra!fluke} !tikal!phred!jeffp {Jeff Parke} Genie : JEFFP DELPHI : JEFFPARKE
jjk@linus.UUCP (02/26/87)
I've been using the interface with my MAC+ for a couple of months now with lamp modules, and switch modules. It's been working fairly well, much better than the mechanical timers on the market. I'm getting ready to call DAK (or find a cheaper source) for additional modules and switches, I'm going to try their outlets also. joek
ted@blia.UUCP (02/27/87)
I've never had a problem as such with X-10 modules, having wired them and then
moving them between a number of apartments and houses over the last 5 years.
The only complant I have is that the wall switch modules at the full brightness
setting are still dimmed just a tad. Not enough to notice from the lamp
brightness, but some light bulbs buzz. Also, sometimes this generates enough
RFI to cause a buzz on an AM radio.
I am sure there is a good technical reason that this is this way. For example,
since the switch is just in series with the power line and the is no separate
nutral return, I expect that they fire the triac just a bit late so that they
can pick off enough voltage to run the circuitry.
===============================================================================
Ted Marshall
Britton Lee, Inc.
p-mail: 14600 Winchester Blvd, Los Gatos, Ca 95030
voice: (408)378-7000
uucp: ...!ucbvax!mtxinu!blia!ted
ARPA: mtxinu!blia!ted@Berkeley.EDU
disclaimer: These opinions are my own and may not reflect those of my employer;
I leave them alone and they leave me alone.