x10 interface plugin (cm11a)

[CollinR]

It would be nice to send x10 command directly from EG.

Currently ~some~ can send them using the ActiveHome command line interface. However the ActiveHome comm bridge seems to lock my machine (x10comm.exe and x10com32.exe).

I would be interested in other command line utilities with x10.

[Bitmonster]

Some user has borrowed me a CM11 and a lamp module some time ago. I had started to write a plugin for it, but it is far away from complete. There is always something else holding me up to work on it.

I also tried the x10comm.exe with limited success. The USB-cable/driver seems to be very unreliable, so I had to use a real RS232 port to drive the CM11.

If you or somebody else is finding a suitable command line application, let us know.

[CollinR]

I can tell you this for sure!!!

DO NOT PUT BATTERIES IN THE CM11a!


If you do the reliablity seems to go to crap, it's supposed to hold timed schedules but with EG it's pointless.


If it seems the unit has stopped transmitting to the powerline, unplug it and remove the batteries. Let it sit for 30 minutes or so, it should start working again.


I wish I could help you and if I find something that does work I'll post up.


I may build another box specifically for lighting controls, then I would care more about getting the x10 comm bridge working. I plan to basically just have EG with network reciever.

I think it may be that I am using COM 1 and it's defaults are all COM 2, most of the other softwares have provisions for this. I am unsure how to configure the bridge when not using Active Home, it very well could be a command line switch but I don't know what it is.

I would think someone has replaced the 10x bridge, as every other software I have tried works. Just the ActiveHome stuff poses problems.

Sucks too as the Active Home command lines are cake.

x10comm.exe /device=A1 /command=on

However this locks my machine every time, I'm thinking its using COM 2 but I would expect an error and not x10com32.exe running away with the CPU.

[CollinR]

Okay I think have have this running halfway decently.

x10comm.exe
and
x10com32.EXE

Don't play nice in XP, don't know if it's just crappy SW or what (probably, this is x10 after all). Anyway running in W95 compatiblity mode got me much farther along. The command switches are even easier then I though.

x10com32.EXE a1 on

So what I have done is:

MediaServer>EG>Network Sender>AutomationServer>EG>Network Reciever>x10com32.EXE

It works ~okay~ the x10 software still crashes a lot, haven't found another option though.

[Bitmonster]

Yes, the X10 software seems to be written at Windows 3.1 ages and haven't been updated since.

It is quite funny so many software out there is using X10 devices, but there seems to be no good and easy replacement for this simple command line task.

[CollinR]

I did find support for the CM15 (newer USB version IIRC with RF) python support however I don't have one to play with.

[CollinR]

I noticed something else earlier, although I have all set at W95 compatibility I don't think the actual x10com32.EXE is whats having the problem. I think it's in Active Home's scheduler and macro apps, I just went through and renamed them to see if I got any errors.

No errors and no crashes since my last reply!


Now getting SageTV to jump through the hoops from an MVP client, then I'll be fat and happy.

[CollinR]

Been 4 days and still running solid, so if you guys want X10 commands out...


Install ActiveHome as normal.
Run it and confiure basically (COM port)

cd to the install directory
find x10comm32.EXE and set to run in W95 compatibility mode
rename or move all other .exe

Now from EG you can call it as

..\x10comm32.exe a1 on
..\x10comm32.exe a1 off
..\x10comm32.exe a1 dim 50%
..\x10comm32.exe a1 bright 50%


With x10 DIM and BRIGHT are relative, often you must OFF before you can do anything else predictable.

[nightrader_]

Hello,

I know this is an old thread but when I saw the thread, I thought I have some old delphi code laying around for the x10 stuff (from playing in the past.), so I dug it up and tossed together a small cmdline app that will do what you ask above (except the DIM and BRIGHT commands have no percentage, they are just steps relative to the current).
It runs hidden unless run with no cmdline parameters (pops a "Usage" dialog) and requires no x10 drives.
It should work with any of the FireFly type comport adapters.
The source is included and anyone is aloud to do anything they want with it

please enjoy.

[CollinR]

I am having troubles with this one, it locks my CM11a up is it made for the CM11a or one of the other x10 interfaces.

I would really like to have an alternative to the ActiveHome stuff as it is pretty unstable.

[nightrader_]

I am having troubles with this one, it locks my CM11a up is it made for the CM11a or one of the other x10 interfaces.

I would really like to have an alternative to the ActiveHome stuff as it is pretty unstable.

You are right, mine is a cm17a serial adapter. but the code was originally for a cm11a. So it should work. Basically it's just opening the com port and sends the command out the port.

The code defaults to Com1. what port are you using?

I will gladly make any changes that you think might help.

Nightrader

PS. Are you the same CollinR from the SageTV forum?

[nightrader_]

I did a little more research and I'm still not sure if the protocols are the same.

I do know that the little cm17a is rock solid and if needed I can move it to any unit in the house. Just plug the dongle into a com port and run my program.

Here is a link to the kit I have:http://www.x10.com/firecracker/fc_kitco ... _br1ab.htm

I love mine. (and I consider $40 cheap for a starter kit)

Nightrader.

[Bitmonster]

To my knowledge the CM17(FireCracker?) and CM11a work completely different. The FireCracker uses bit-banging to send the data. By contrast the CM11a has a higher level serial protocol.

[nightrader_]

To my knowledge the CM17(FireCracker?) and CM11a work completely different. The FireCracker uses bit-banging to send the data. By contrast the CM11a has a higher level serial protocol.

Yes, you are correct. I could not find anything for delphi but I was able to find C code for a x10.dll that is supposed to work with the cm11a.

I have attached it if someone could compile it.

If needed I could write a wrapper exe in delphi to access the dll.

Nightrader

[CollinR]

Sweet, I'll play with that too before long. I would really like to see x10 natively supported by EventGhost.

(Almost as much as xPL or xAP! )

PS. Are you the same CollinR from the SageTV forum?

Same same, also Cocoontech.com and CCTVForum.com and AVSForum.com