I've started with the very basic, a Transceiver, a palm remote and a lamp module. I've already ordered some more modules, but while I was playing around with my basic setup, I noticed that if I go to the other side of the house with the remote, I cannot control the lamps.

So, my question is what do I need? Another Transceiver to relay the commands? A better transceiver (if there's a better one, I have the TM751). Or something that extends the range?

Thanks.

Look here. A call to Bill there will point you to the best soultion.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

That doesn't address the problem. He's talking about poor RF range. There's little to do about that as there's no way to safely improve the antenna on the transceiver.

You might want to look here [Link: homeautomationnet.com] down a few items at the V572. The transciever you own TM751 is the worst of the units X10 makes. You can also look here [Link: geocities.com] for tips on getting more from the X10 transcievers.

Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com

I just installed the V572 that Bill mentions above. I use 8 house codes and had tranceivers all over the place, some picking up the RF better than others, depending on location.

I purchased the V572 from Bill, pulled all of my existing tranceivers out of the wall sockets, plugged the V572 in and left it lying on my workbench in the basement. From there it's running the whole house. RF pickup seems excellent from every location.

I do intend to install it permenantly, just wanted to get a feel for it's performnace before I did. Seems just fine.

so how does the v572 transceiver know the correct house code for a typical remote/motion detector that is typically only sending the unit (module) code??

Can't answer your question there. I wasn't aware until your post that there were any devices that only sent out a unit code. I suppose my next question would be "how does any tranceiver know when to respond if no house code is sent?"

This message was edited by Deane Johnson on 03/23/04 10:49.

my basic understanding is that the cheapo keychain remotes and the like send out "1 ON", "1 OFF" and then the transceiver is dialed into a house code and it will add that to the signal so that any RF command is preceded by the house code to be "A1 ON", "A1 OFF"...

this holds true to the IR543 also... and that is why the IR543AH is much more expensive, because someone has gone in and changed the device to be able to translate an IR signal for a house code... so typical IR543 is only capable of receiving "1 ON", but the AH adds the ability to receive and retransmit "B1 ON" and "C2 OFF"...

help me clear the clutter in my brain... anyone??

The keychain remote I have sends out a housecode, I'm not aware of those that send out only the unit code and "on". I don't do much with these type remotes, so I don't have any experience with them. I got unhappy with mine when I held a button down too long and it reprogrammed to "default", so I tossed it away.

I haven't used an IR543, but my understanding is that you dial in the housecode you want it to transmit on, but can only dial in one housecode. My understanding is that the IR543AH responses to all house codes, but I haven't used one of these either, so someone else needs to jump in with an answer as to how it works. I would presume the IR remote sends out both the housecode and unit code commands, the IR543AH relays them in the X-10 protocol, but that's only a guess.

I debated between the IR543AH and an Ocelot, went with the Ocelot and have been happy ever since with the decision.

Hi.

The RF Transmitters transmit the house code and the unit code. for example, if you have a motion sensor (hawkeye for example) set to C1, when it detects movement it will send out "C1, C-ON". you can see this by monitoring the powerline with a controller such as the CM11A (I have an Ocelot and that is what it "sees").

Do not confuse RF transmission with IR such as the IR543. It is actually "Receiving" an IR signal from your remote control and converting it to X-10 protocol, to whatever letter was set on it. For example your IR remote sends "1-ON" and the IR543 sends out an X-10 protocol "C1, C-ON".

I hope this helps.

-Chris

my rf transciever is dialed into house code A... so that is why I assumed that it works like the IR543...

an IR signal only sends the unit code, unless you program your remote to send the house code - which can only be received by the IR543AH and not the IR543 (not saying there aren't others, just deciphering between the two)

not sure what you mean by not confusing the IR with the RF... I got the light and radio wave principles straight in my head, but both the IR543 and the RF transceiver are both "receiving" the signal and converting to X10...

Thanks for the responses.

Bill, is there a similar product as the V572 without using computer softwares? I do not have a computer running constantly.

Will the PAT01 be an improvement to the TM751 transceiver?

And can I use multiple transceivers in different sections of the house? Is this a good solution?

Thanks

The V572 does not require a computer. The computer is used only for the purpose of de-programming the V572 from receiving certain house codes and certain blocks of unit codes, if desired. If you have no desire to exclude certain housecodes, which most people don't seem to desire to do, it never needs to be connected to a computer. It is ready to fly right out of the box.

If you do want to program out some housecodes for some reason, you can connect it to the computer temporarily, program out the housecodes, and then disconnect it.

Mine is sitting in the basement on my workbench plugged into a socket and has no other connections. It works great.

Thanks for clearing that up Deane.

Sounds like that's what I need.

So, I'm guessing adding multiple transceivers would not work?

If you're thinking of adding an additional tranceiver operating on the same house code, I should think that would create collisions during those times when both trancivers picked up the signal and both transmitted an X-10 command.