When you guys get around to it.... here are some specific questions I have. I'll fill in my own answers once I get a unit to play with (should be this week)

1. Verify that the RS232 ports (RJ45) are currently working. (1 way only I know).

2. Verify that the relays can output 12V themselves without connecting to the 12V and Gnd

3. Can all the relay ports (8) EACH output 12V at the same time? No load issues?

4. Consider the following scenario:

Lets say I have 2 macros (Macro A and Macro B).

Macro A turns on a Receiver, handles delay, then turns on TV, and other stuff.
Macro B turns on a DVD player.

If I create an EVENT that RUNS macro B, when the receiver power sense is triggered (in macro A), will macro A need to finish before the Event starts macro B?


For more clarity... which of these 2 scenarios is true:

1. Macro A turns on TV
2. Macro #A turns on receiver
3. Macro #A begins a 10 second delay
4. Receiver 12V trigger output triggers the EVENT which starts macro A
5. Macro B turns on DVD player
6. Macro A delay ends...and macro continues on


OR

1. Macro A turn on TV
2. Macro A turns on receiver
3. Macro A begins 10 second delay
4. Macro A delay ends
5. Macro A continues to completion
6. Macro B BEGINS as triggered by the EVENT.



If I get my answers before you do...I'll post them here.

TIA

Is you scenario using an VPS1 to sense the voltage, or is the voltage triggering one of the independent sense inputs?

If macro B is triggered by an external factor (independent sense input), macro B will execute when it is triggered, macro A will be unaffected. Of course any IR commands issued by macro B will not be issued until the first part of macro A is not using the IR engine (as your example has a delay, macro B should execute immediately), such as when a delay starts, relays are triggered, etc.

Now if macro B is triggered by the status of sensing voltage from an VPS1, Macro A stops executing until macro B has completed, then macro A resumes. This calling a system macro from within another system macro is referred to as "nesting macros" in the XP8 manual.

Either way, your first scenario is closest to how things execute. I'm going to be plugging things into it tomorrow, as I've got some of the same questions you have. I'll repost when I've got some answers.

I can comform RS232 out of the TS232 ports work.


BUT..

I could not get an If/Else system maro to work using the sense hardwired XP8 sense inputs.

I'm still scratching my head on that one.

What type of sensing are you doing? Voltage or contact closure? The software default is set for voltage sensing (+ and - connected to the two terminals). You'll need to change the setting under properties if you are using contact closure.

I set the sense port in the software to voltage sense, Ran a Xantech 781RG from the switched outlet on a motorola cable box to sense port 4, and put in a system macro: with an if/else statement (like I always do with a RP1/rp6) (the RP 6 uses a VSP1, but I undersatnd from the XP8 instructions you can do direct sensing on the sense port).

I'm going to call RTI tomorrow.

The last Moto box I saw from the new design. The switched outlet didn't work. It stayed on when the box was off. However it did shut down the Digital audio out then it was off. So that is how I "sensed"that piece. The older boxes with the oval did have working switched outlets. It was a joy figuring out those quirks.
(Comcast boxes.)

The Fios Switched outlets stopped working properly after a software update.

Thanks Springs, but I did check +12v with a meter, and it worked

Let me rephrase that... the 12 volts is there. Just when you shut it off it doesn't stop. Effectively despite being set as a switched outlet in the menus... it isn't. Hence "doesn't work" for the monitoring of power application.

But thats just the software/firmware here in the DC metro area.

When you say it worked...
When you cut off the box the 12Volt signal dies?

fluid-druid:

I set up the XP8 with a couple of system macros, like your example. I set both up triggered by sense inputs, but should be the same as triggering with a remote command. I just plugged in a couple of blink emitters and port routed the macros so I could see which commands were running.

My macro 1 is just a string of IR commands; macro 2 is IR comand, delay, IR command, delay and so on. If I trigger Macro 1, it runs completely, even if I trigger macro 2 while it is running; then macro 2 runs if I had triggered it.

If I trigger macro 2, it begins running, then when it gets to a delay, If I trigger macro 1, it runs to completion (as it takes control of the IR engine), then macro 2 resumes.

The XP8 would not respond to a trigger input at all when I first loaded the program file. After checking and rechecking the routing, triggering, and other settings, it worked after about the 5th program transfer. Very odd.

Edit: (well, add on)
The status screen showed the status of the sense ports correctly, even when the program was first loaded, but nothing was triggering until after the last program load.

hmmm interesting...

Can't wait to get my hands on a real unit! lol

Keep up the good work though.

So now that you guys have had some time to play with the XP8 what do you think? Does it meet all of your expectations?

I just got some units in and have started playing with them. We are considering swapping out the 3 RP-6's we have in an upcoming project for the XP8.

I'm not expecting it to do anything more than the RP6, this is basically just to eliminate all of the standalone buttons that talk to multiple control processors. Macros are MUCH quicker when they are all running off the same processor.

I have RP-6's installed in client's homes that have been running for over a year flawlessly without even a reboot. Do you guys feel like the XP8 can do the same?

I just put an XP 8 into a project and got to test some things. The project isn't finished yet....but here's the features I have working now:

1. RS232 out of the RJ45 jacks
2. IR out of the MPIO jacks
3. 12v sensing on the SENSE terminals
a) IF/ELSE working fine
b) Event triggering working fine

Haven't tested the relays yet.
Haven't connected to the network yet.

I replaced 3 RP6 units with the 1 XP8.
I had to rearrange my rack a bit to get it in there...but so far, so good... I'm glad I did.

Cliq Labs,
Someone reported that the unit lost its network settings after a reboot. I have not had time to confirm this yet.

I have relays working and it is a pleasure to have the trigger option

The molex plugs are all separate for each relay: but difficult to reinsert in some cases (very tight fit in between adjoining plugs): one plug came defective (screw binds) so I have to ask for some spares

It is a nice fit in a rack especially if you can manage a blank space below: that gives a good place for wire management

It doesn't keep any changes you make from the front panel, but the network settings you enter in Integration Designer do stick across reboots.

Bruce