CM11A X10 Without SlinkE

[graemef]

Hi there,
I have a CM11A X10 interface, but not a SlinkE interface. Is there any way I can control my X10 devices without calling a batch file and executing the X10Com32 application. I stopped using this as it periodically locked up and took cpu to 100% freezing PC.
Do you need the SlinkE interface to or can the driver talk directly to the CM11A, I cannot load the SlinkE driver error "Couldn't find server CLSID Error Code == 0x800401f3" followed by "Couldn't create server object. Error Code == 0x80040154" whenever I select the plugin then girder GPF's

Cheers
Graeme

[jeroen020]

I'm in a similar situation. X10Com32 is very unstable for me too! I've been looking into Homeseer as a way to control everything that's X10 related, but I couldn't find out how to get this to work yet with Girder. This thread http://www.girder.nl/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=27&highlight=x10 might be of interest to you.

[graemef]

Oh well, I have looked into the CM11A protocol, they probably could have made it more complicated but I am not sure how. :o
I am using a product called X10 Home Monitor, from http://members.tripod.com/~abastien/x10hmon.htm this allows me to do X10 control from a command line interface, works well.
Cheers
Graeme

[jeroen020]

Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out when I get home tonight. I'll see how this compares to Homeseer!

[s.morris]

Hi
not sure if this is what you are looking for, not tried it, but look interesting

http://www.gadgetland.net/

[jeroen020]

Looks promising, I'll have a lot to check out tonight! Thanks!

[andybryant9]

I've got it going in 2 directions, but am having a little trouble with the stability of the link. See post on the gadgetland webboard for details.

I am convinced that the best setup is to have homeseer & girder both running, with homeseer doing the X10, and girder doing the IrDA & application control.

The key, missing element is a highly functional 2-way interface between the two. Command line stuff is probably going to suffice, but a plugin in one app or the other could be better.

I'm just off to give hsc.exe a go.

Andy.

[graemef]

Here is a quick and dirty application I have developed for X10, it works with the CM11A and executes single commands from a command line.
Usage:
X10 COM2 A 3 Dim 30
Param 1 = Com port
Param 2 = House code
Param 3 = Unit Code
Param 4 = Command
Param 5 = Dim / Bright %
Commands are
On, Off, All_Lights_On, All_Lights_Off, All_Off, Bright, Dim

It is dirty, but it works.
Cheers
Graeme

[jeroen020]

Thanks, Graeme! It works brilliantly. I can use it from Girder with the O.S. execute command.

[graemef]

I have nearly finished the plugin for girder, there is a newer version of the app in the developers forum.
cheers
Graeme

[jeroen020]

Thanks, the new textfile system works. When executing multiple x10.exe commands from girder, you need to insert a wait for about 2 seconds, so for multiple commands the text file seems better equipped (and easier to manage).

I tried the plugin you posted on the dev forum too and configured it for COM4, but it would crash girder every time I would run a command based on the plugin.

Two way communication would be great, since I can't seem to be able to run both Girder while executing x10.exe (and probably the plugin) and Homeseer simultaneously. I would like to add X10 IR sensors etc and have them act as triggers for Girder.

Keep up the great work!

[graemef]

May be worth trying the plugin again, there was a bug that only allowed it to work on Com2. Let me know if it still does not work on com4, I have tried Com1 and Com2 both OK.
Cheers
Graeme

[jeroen020]

Nope, I downloaded it again but the date/time on the file were identical to the one I downloaded before... I can configure the plugin (select com4), but as soon as I apply an added command based on this plugin (e.g. A 1 On), Girder crashes. The O.S. Execute still works nicely!

[graemef]

Hmmm. I am using girder v3.2.6b.
Does the plugin initiate when selected ?
Can you try it on com1 or 2 and see if it still crashes, I dont have a pc with 4 com ports on to try it.
What other plugins are you using at the same time.
Make sure you have no other x10 stuff loaded using com4, it will crash if it cannot open the com port.

cheers
Graeme

[andybryant9]

Two way communication would be great, since I can't seem to be able to run both Girder while executing x10.exe (and probably the plugin) and Homeseer simultaneously. I would like to add X10 IR sensors etc and have them act as triggers for Girder.


Agreed... that would be interesting. I noticed some time back that running both homeseer & active home at the same time caused big problems. I suspect we're running into similar issues here.

If you can get a girder plugin going that works bidirectionally, I might just have to write off that $99 I just spent on homeseer. Doh!

Andy.

[graemef]

The girder plugin now does 2 way communications. Download version 1.2 and check it out. This replaces the X10.exe with a proper girder plugin.

Cheers
Graeme

[jeroen020]

Well I've been busy installing some in-wall switches and dimmers, but now I'm back to Girder. I tried the new version of the plugin after upgrading Girder from 3.2.4 to 3.2.6b. It seems to work brilliantly for me now, even on COM4. I'm off to get me some motion detectors and see if I can get two way going!

Great work, Graeme!

[jeroen020]

Yep, two way works, I can get Girder respond to incoming x10 signals from an IR sensor.

However, there's one thing the current plugin lacks which I liked about the x10.exe solution: I could use text files with multiple x10 commands, triggerd by a single Girder command. For x10 command macro's (e.g. set lights to theatre settings), I created one text file and if I add a light or something, I only needed to adjust the text file. Since the theatre setting applies to many girder commands, I now have to update multiple Girder commands every time I make a change. Would it be possible to add a textfile parameter to the plugin, similar to the x10.exe feature? That would be the best of both world!