OK folks - I've had it with the IR543. Apparently China is out to get us, because I'm on my second one, and I see several others in this forum having problems as well. First one worked fine for like a minute before it just died. Here's what's happening with the new one...

- Buttons on top are all hosed up electronically - looking at the results on an X10 analyzer shows that the number buttons sometimes are mapped to 1 - 8, but sometimes are mapped to 9 - 16! All other buttons do nothing, but cause the red light to stick on.

- IR works for about a minute, then the red light sticks on and I have to reset the unit (pull the plug). When IR does work (for that one minute), On/Off and All On/Off do nothing (no X10 signal generated), which would explain my earlier posts complaining that the On/Off buttons on the Pronto CCF weren't working. Brt/Dim seem to work fine, up until the unit locks up.

- I have moved the unit and the X10 analyzer all over the house - no difference. I've used both Pronto and X10 remotes to test with - no difference. All X10 devices are working fine otherwise. I have no FL's that could be interfering, as was previously suggested.

Bottom line - these things are crap! If they are indeed shorting, as I read elsewhere, I don't want one anywhere near the $80 Smartlinc switches I have everywhere. I need another IR-to-X10 device - Ocelot? Hate to pay $180 for Ocelot (plus the add-on emmitters and whatnot) after paying $20 for IR543, but then IR543 doesn't work. Suggestions?

Bill E. - Sorry guy - but I'm sending both units back to you for a credit. Thanks for the effort. I'll buy other stuff from you, don't worry! How about a good deal on an Ocelot? :-)

Ed, no problem on a credit you were only charged for the one. I still find it strange that you have had 2 of the 3 bad ones in approximately 300 I have sold. But if you into this enough that you have a signal analyzer, I will take your word. The buttons should not even be capable of triggering past 10.

If there were a rash of bad ones out there I would like to hear about it. But they are not coming back to me.

Not that anyone can expect a precision state of the art super reliable controller from out of China for under $20, but so far I have been impressed with the reliability.

Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com

It really is strange that it's doing that many different things wrong with the X-10 signal in that many different ways, yet have bright/dim work. Do you have an X-10 signal amplifier or repeater or anything like that? It's like something is messing with the timing or signal quality of the unit code.

I agree Russ - it is strange. But without the IR543 in my system, everything else works fine. I can't explain it. Also, I know the unit must be messed up because even the IR end doesn't respond right, regardless of what's going on on the X10 side. i.e. I should get a red signal light whenever I execute a valid X10-IR command. I don't, or if I do, it gets stuck on. The X10 side would cause this, would it? I don't know - I haven't seen a schematic on these devices to see how they're layed out! As I explained to Bill, other folks have the bad luck stories with the SmartLincs. Mine are working great. It's the IR543's that cause me problems. Who knows why these things work out like that! I'm gonna test the thing some more under different conditions with the analyzer and see if I can find a pattern.

I got a new IR543 from Bill a few days ago and am having no problems at all. I'm using an RCA RCU-810 universal remote and some Radio Shack pyramid IR extenders to control it.

Talking of this
What is the best choice: I'll be using Pronto

1. IR543
2. IR543AH - I read about it today in one of the posts
3. HAN-01

Thanks
Irfan

I too just recieved a IR543 from Bill E. and it works with my MX1000 (code 183) as advertised. I am very pleased with all my X10 equipment.

BrianB

Maybe its your Light bulbs. I get similar results sometimes when I have a Philips CFL on.

I have two IR543s from Bill at www.homeautomationnet.com and they are very reliable. The recieving or signal from Pronto is outstanding.

Brandy:

Why did you need two IR 543s? Is it just easier/cheaper than just getting the IR extention pyramids or is it because the IR 543's only support 16 devices? Thanks

I'm glad I saw this thread....I was just getting ready to complain about my 2 month old IR543. I am having the same problem - as soon as I touch one of the buttons on the 543, the red light locks on and I lose all control until I unplug the unit. After plugging it back in, I might get one more use out of it, then it locks up again. I only have 1 x-10 module so far in the whole house, and it is only 3 feet away from the IR543. HELP

Sounds like a bad IR543.

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Sounds more like line disturbance from something else in the house.

Why would noise on the line cause the IR543 to lock up?

Not so much Electrical noise. IR "noise" from any Compact Flourescent bulbs. I have a few in my office and balcony. All of which are near an IR543 which locks up. Turn the bulbs off and they work great. Having discovered this they have been replaced with 40watt GEs.


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