x10 Housebot problems

[danes75]

I'm having trouble with housebot sending x10 commands. When I first installed the software, sending x10 commands manually worked for almost all of my lamp modules (minus one from smarthome). When I set up a task to turn on/off multiple lights, ones set with specific off times worked fine, but ones based upon sunset did not execute (and yes, i've set up the lat/lon).



Reviewing the logs revealed housebot is not sending the commands specified in the sunset task.



Furthermore, when it did work (once), it only sent two of the four x10 commands. There was not even a log of the last two being sent.



Now housebot isn't able to turn on half of the lights even when I manually send the command (all of the lamp modules worked before except the smarthome unit). Nothing in the house has changed... no new electronics, interference, nada. All of the major electronics are on Monster surge protectors which are supposed to suppress interference from the things plugged into them. Also, the house isn't even a year old, so old/bad wiring isn't the case.



The odd thing is that all of the units still receive the off commands sent as an evening task (11:30pm). The problems only seem to happen with on commands, both manual and scheduled.

[danes75]

i forgot to add that i'm using a powerlink USB transmitter.

[ScottBot]

Reviewing the logs revealed HouseBot is not sending the commands specified in the sunset task.

So you're certain that the sunset task did indeed execute, and the lights just didn't turn on? What log are you looking at to see that Housebot has tried to turn on the lights?



Do you see any messages in the Error Log?

[danes75]

no, the task has executed one time, and only sent two of the four x10 commands. the rest of the time the sunset task doesn't execute at all, and it is enabled.



i'm reading both the error logs and the system logs.

[ScottBot]

It sounds like you're dealing with two different problems (the task not executing and lights not turning on).



If you're wanting to execute the Task exactly at sundown, make sure your condition for the Task is

Code: Select all

if ('System Time.Sun Rise Indicator' is Equal '0')

. I use this exact same Task and it fires every night.



For troubleshooting the lights, go directly to the X10 lamp Device in HouseBot and make sure the Allow Same Value Changes is checked for the Power State Property. Then manually change the Power State Property to On several times (just hitting enter in the edit field will send the command again) and see what happens. If the Allow Same Value Change is NOT checked and the Property is changed to "On" while it is currently set to "On", it won't send the request.

[danes75]

ah... there's the problem. i used "system time.sunset time is equal..."



i solved the issue of some x10 devices not working by moving the usb adapter to the HTPC in the living room... where most of the x10 devices are.



does anyone have any experience with zwave devices? i've read they are supposed to be much better than x10 because of the way they transmit signals and that they're very reliable.

[ScottBot]

I've been using it for several months now without any problems. I like it much better than X10.

[danes75]

i read about some issues with flashed bulbs burning out the modules, is this still a problem?