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Topic:
X-10 Powermid?
This thread has 7 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Monday July 9, 2001 at 19:24
Dan
Historic Forum Post
Will the RF signal put out by the X-10 powermids be picked up by a standard X-10 receiver? I would like to control all the X-10 devices in my house via my Pronto, but because of the way the wiring in my house is I have to use several of those little receivers to control everything. Because of that I seriously doubt one of those IR->X-10 converters would work, so my next thought was to use the transmitter side of a set of powermids to transmit an RF signal that any of the little receivers could pickup. However I can't tell from the documentation, or any previous advice given here, whether this will work or not.

Dan
OP | Post 2 made on Monday July 9, 2001 at 19:42
Matt
Historic Forum Post
Nope...X10 is received via the powerline in your house. If your having problems with x10 signals have you tried to localize the problems in your house? Or have you tried to couple the phase of your electrical system with a phase coupler (electrician only please!)

The IR to X10 is really the only way to get IR to control X10...although you can use a home controller such as the Ocelot to do this with various other 'input' methods such as contact closure etc. Although, the still have to attatch to your powerline.



OP | Post 3 made on Monday July 9, 2001 at 19:54
Dan
Historic Forum Post
I know X-10 is transmitted via the power line! My question is whether the RF signal put out by the powermid when it receives an X-10 IR command is the same signal that would be put out by a standard X-10 capable RF remote? If so then the little RF receivers throughout the house can pick up the signal from the powermid and turn it into the X-10 power signal.

As for the wiring issue... I just assumed that the X-10 signal could not travel across a breaker. Is that not true? Basically I've got a couple lights in the living room and one in each of two bedrooms controlled via X-10. The only way I could get it to work with the standard RF remote was to give each room it's own receiver. Is that not how it's suppose to work?

Dan
OP | Post 4 made on Monday July 9, 2001 at 20:02
erk
Historic Forum Post
Dan,
The RF signal used by X-10 devices will not be transmitted by the Powermids. If you want to control X-10 via your Pronto you do need some sort of IR->X-10 converter, be it the Ocelot, JDS, or the inexpensive IR543. Whatever one you get, you can use the Powermids to carry your IR signal to the IR device from any location in your home, provided you have a Powermid Transmitter in each room you want to use it from. (you can have many transmitters going to one reciever near the IR->X-10 device) Hope this helps!
-erk
OP | Post 5 made on Monday July 9, 2001 at 20:07
Dan
Historic Forum Post
Thanks! I was hoping that they were smart enough to design their own device to recognize X-10 IR commands and convert them to the corresponding X-10 RF commands.:( I really don't want to spend $200+, on 3 sets of powermids and 3 of those IR->X10 converts, just so I can use my Pronto instead of the RF remote I already have, so I think I'm going to scrap that idea.

Dan
OP | Post 6 made on Monday July 9, 2001 at 20:07
erk
Historic Forum Post
Dan,
Yes X-10 should be able to get everywhere in your house. A coupler will probably do the trick, but if your house is large (3000sf +) you many want an amplifer also. Check out HomeAutomationNet:
[Link: homeautomationnet.com]
-erk
OP | Post 7 made on Monday July 9, 2001 at 21:44
Larry in TN
Historic Forum Post
Dan,

There is no such thing as an "X10 IR command". The IR543 has a set of IR commands which *IT* associates with particular X10 commands but those IR commands are "IR543 IR commands" not "X10 IR commands". Likewise, the powermid's RF signals are specific to the powermid and will be ignored by other RF devices such as an RF -> X10 transceiver.

I think you still have a few of the common misconceptions regarding X10 and I'd suggest that you do a little more research before ording anymore products. A little extra time planning will help you avoid the expense and frustration associated with ordering the wrong products.

First, you need to build a solid X10 platform. Once you have established that platform, any transmitter on any circuit in your home will be able to reliably control any receiver on any circuit anywhere in your home. I'd suggest that you start by reading Bill's explaination of an X10 platform, at the following link, then come back and ask whatever questions that reading might generate.

[Link: homeautomationnet.com]

I'm currently working on an article on IR control of X10 systems but it's still got a ways to go before it's finished. You're welcome to look at it now, at the following URL, just remember that it's still a work in progress and some information is still missing. Once you read it I would be interested in any areas that you, as a relative newcomer, find confusing.

[Link: members.home.net]
OP | Post 8 made on Tuesday July 10, 2001 at 13:01
Dan
Historic Forum Post
Honestly I'm not trying to build a platform here! I bought a few X-10 components to play with when they were having one of those deals where you could get everything for the price of shipping.(~$12) I hooked them up to a few lamps throughout the house, and thought it was kind of cool. The only reason I was asking about the pyramids is because I was considering getting a set for something else (for some reason my LeapFrog won't control my RCA DVD player) and thought this might help justify the $50. On top of all that I live in rental house, and really know nothing about electrical wiring, so adding a coupler is completely out of my league.

Anyway I really appreciate your help and clarification, but I'm really not in a position to make a project out of this so I'm just going to forget it and move on.

Thanks,
Dan


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