CM15A vs CTX35

[Andro]

I have a strange problem I would like some input on.

I have just made my first steps in the domotica world en bought a small homeserver and a CM15A that I placed in my metercloset. I use both the Marmitek (plug in) as the Xanura (build in) switches. With Activehome I can reach most of the switches in the house, but as you guys know the userinterface isn't as nice.

So I looked into Homeseer. Unfortunately I found out after I bought Homeseer that there is no support for the CM15A and that the CTX35 is a good alternative. Most people here and on other fora actually recommend it because it's more reliable. So I bougt a CTX35 next to the CM15A. However with the CTX35 I wasn't able to reach some of the Marmitek switches, even though the CTX35 is in exactly the same position as the CM15A (even in the same socket in some cases for testing).

I know I have to do something about filtering interference in the Grid since I noticed that my Nespresso machine is a source of it. However when a driver came available for the CM15A for homeseer I started to notice that some of the switches could be reached with the other controller.

So this is the new situation:
CTX 35 -> can reach bookcase lights (Xanura switch), but not the kitchen lights.
CM15A -> can control the kitchen lights (Marmitek switch), but not the bookcase lights.
Both controllers are in the metercloset, both controllers use X/A10, both controllers have been in the same socket (I tested if that made a difference!). And you can't use two X10 controllers at the same time in homeseer. So I am at a loss here.

One solution might be to setup a macro in activehome a receive the CTX35 signal to convert it into marmitek, but that is silly since it should be the same protocol. I tried btw, and most of the time it works.

Anyone got an idea what might be going on and what the difference is between the controllers?

[Pieterpaul]

Maybe a silly question: Are you using the different house codes?

[TANE]

Is the PSU of your Homeseer server not the problem?
Try to plug in the server in another socket far from the CM15 and CTX35

[Andro]

@Pieterpaul: Housecodes are the same. I send the same command through both interfaces, the only thing I change is the interface within homeseer. [:)]

@Chak: Not sure how I can create more distance between the server and the interfaces. The interfaces are connected to the server which runs homeseer. Both the server and the CM15/CTX35 are in the metercloset and the number of electrical sockets are limited in there.

It does seem strange that the CTX35 has more chance on switching Xanura and the CM15 has more change on Marmitek. Like they are optimized on their own brand.

[Digit]

Chak meant <b>far away</b>, you can use a long extension cord for that so you can reach the other end of your house, for example.

[Andro]

Ok, I was able to hook up the computer to an extension cord and plug it in on the other side of the house. Sorry to say.. no .. still the same problem.

But the problem isn't really the interference, but the fact that the two interfaces each control different modules. They are in the same place and they both should have the same interference problems. But somehow they are able to reach different modules even though they are on the same powerline. Between the two of them they can reach everything, but separately they can't.

[Snelvuur]

Do you also have the phase couplers/phase filters?

// Erik (binkey.nl)

[Andro]

I have no phase couplers or filters. I have a one phase connection so I guess a phase coupler would not be necessary. I do need to get a phase filter, but since I need an electrician for that I was holding off. I am aware that it might help.

[Bwired]

Very strange situation, not sure a filter will help on this. To zoom in on the problem you need to analyze your powerline with a PMIX35.
Try to switch the modules, see what happens then?

[Andro]

Ok, I think I might have an idea that it might be the homeseer driver for the CTX. I am using the ACT TI103 driver (version 2.0.0.2) but am experiencing other problems as well. For instance: with command D3, D2 also switches on. After I used D2 the next off seems always D2 keeping it in memory.

The CM15 driver doesn't seem to have any problems at all. I have isolated some of the problems and am able to reach the specific switch (computers were generating the 'noise').

But I would really like to use the CTX because it is 2-way and is supposed to be better (!!). The CTX doens't perform any better, even when cancelling out the noise: it is not able to reach some of the switches that the CM15 can.

Any thoughts?

[Andro]

One more thing. The CTX15 is a RS232 interface. Unfortunately no computerstore here had a cable, so I had to use an USB emulator. I wonder if this might scramble the communications somehow.

[Pieterpaul]

I can't make anything of your problem. I don't use Homeseer so I can't tell you if that driver could generate these issues, but even so it doesn't make any sense to me at all. Did you try to physically swap the Xanura with the Marmitek devices and if so, does that make any difference?

[MindBender]

Andro, Does the problem still show if you type commands to the CTX directly, using TeraTerm (or Hyperterm, if you have to)? The CTX offers the great advantage of a human-readable protocol, unlike the CM11. just download the manual and start typing away!

Be careful with these USB-to-serial converter: They have given me a head ache too. Including the one built-into the PMIX35.

[Digit]

Andro, there's a piece of software (windows) that makes it very easy to test the CTX.
It's here: http://www.hekkers.net/files/Test_CTX15_35.zip
If you don't have this yet, give it a try. It works very easy and you can see exactly what's happening.

[Andro]

short status update. I have bought some filters and the CM15A is starting to work even better. No improvement on the CTX though.

Question: Who of you is using a CTX on an USB converter? I suspect that might be the problem, but I don't have a serial cable and no computer store seems to carry it anymore.