Re: CM12U - any issues - reliable ?

["David Gumbrell" <david.gumbrell@xxxxxxxxx>]

I did read the original post, but didn't chip in.  You can try Cortex
for
free for 30 days from the Idratek site. In theory it may do a better job
than the very simple macro systems, and also has verification logic that
can
check if something has happened (if you can provide feedback, eg change in
light levels for a curtain). But the fundamental issue is that there is
little feedback with X-10 controls and they can be unreliable due to mains
noise etc. Cortex comes into it's own with richer sensing, such as presence
and light level.

So really I think Cortex may be a sledgehammer to crack your particular nut
unless you intend adding a much larger degree of sensing and getting the
reliability of a fully-wired system. At that point you would abandon AM12s
and use dedicated relay units from the Idratek range local to your
curtains.

Cortex does support X-10 and I use it for plug-in devices in arbitrary
places, such as side lights and the odd appliance. But it is relatively
slow
and not always reliable, so where possible I am building network controlled
power sockets.  Idratek Cortex also supports Rako wireless system, I know
Rako have dimmers, but I haven't looked for relay modules.

Cheers,

David

On 3/25/07, Chris Hunter <cjhunter@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
> Idratek offers very good & accessible controls ... maybe David G.
> could advice definitively, but I think it would be easy to arrange
> for it to overcome tendencies to erroneous operations ... their
> Cortex software runs on PCs & can deal with X-10 ... worth a look,
> anyway ... via their website & via David's blog :
>
> http://www.idratek.com/ & http://www.gumbrell.com/archives/
> home_automation/
>
> Chris
>
> On 25 Mar 2007, at 10:40, David Chapman wrote:
>
> > Automated Home DiscussionI have had 3 "add-a-motor"
units
> > controlling curtains here and they work great. The add-a-motor is
> > very dumb and opens or closes when power is applied so I've been
> > using simple pin type mechanical timeswitches to control them. It
> > works OK but is a bit hit and miss and this time of the year I'm
> > always adjusting them as they open too late and close too early.
> >
> > About 2 years ago I bought a basic X10 system to control them - a
> > CM12U and 4 x AM12U switches. All looked good on paper and it
sort
> > of worked but the PC software was flakey and occasionaly it would
> > "miss" commands and get out of sync so the curtains
would close
> > when they should be opening - no time to noodle so went back to
> > timeswitches.
> >
> > However in a wave of optimism inspired by having to set the
> > gazillion clocks in the house this morning I'm ready to give it
> > another go. Where is the best place to start with software to
talk
> > to the CM12 ? I'm a PC not Linux bloke but want something very
> > simple and hopefully therefore cheap or even less than cheap.
Also
> > any firmware updates for the CM12 - I'm assuming it has firmware
?
> >
> > David C
>
>


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