CM11usb problems

Post by **KolNedra** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:26 am

Copy from the homeseer board, hoping you geniuses have (had) simular problems and more important a solution

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I recently purchased a CM11 USB interface with 2 LM11 Marmitek modules.

To test things out I downloaded the homeseer 2.2 trial. Which I'm planning to buy in the nearby future.

But now I'm having problems with the CM11 interface.

I installed it through the update proces. Everything okay, and I was able to turn the lamps on/off, no biggy there.

But after turning the lamps on/off a couple of times (through the webinterface), the lamps weren't responding anymore. So I looked at the interface status which stated "Communication problem". After disabling and enabling this interface the status changed to "Error initializing"

If I restart Homeseer I will get a red error in my log "Initializing X10 interface CM11A/CM12U: Unable to open COM4". Chaning the COM port in the hardware list has no effect at all.

Only when I restart my computer and open Homeseer again I don't get this error and the CM11 interface works again, but after a while the above problem repeats itself.

I'm using the latest updates for cm11, homeseer and the cm11 update for homeseer.

Anyone? This is quite a teaser, because I was quite happy sofar with HS2 and almost ready to purchase it

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know the CM11 isn't the best solution around, but I can at least expect it to work longer then (say) 5 minutes...

Post by **drmacchi** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:59 am

Hi Kolnedra, i have had the same problem ... and many other people too!! If you look in board.homeseer.com you will find a lot of posts about that. It seems that it's a cm11 interface problem.
What is the solution? Sometimes it works the trick: homeseer -- setup -- interfaces -- cm11 disable , then SAVE , then enable ENABLE then SAVE.
Sometimes (for me) it doesn't work....
My solution: i will buy a new interface on serial port! there are 2 different solutions: xanura ctx35 and act cti213. may be i'll buy act cti213 , less expensive and plugin for homeseer ready to work. then if you HS server has serial rs232 port you're ready to start, otherwise (this is my situation) you'd need a serial port server over lan. See my post about that in this forum.
Have a nice day.
lorenzo

Post by **KolNedra** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:52 am

Thanks for your reply.

I've read about problems with the CM11, only they occur after a long period of usage. And I thought, ah well. At that time I'll probably have a better interface, but the CM11 is okay for now, just for testing and discovering the world of domotica with simple on/off commands and door/motion detectors. Nothing fancy.

But I can't even get this f*cking device to work properly and when you ask around and people say "buy a better interface", it doesn't encourage me to continue this "journey".

ps. none of the above solutions works for me, only a hard reset of my pc does. But after a while the problem repeats itsself.

Post by **drmacchi** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 12:12 pm

Did you try to change com port number. Sometimes i must change it! I thinks it's because of usb driver. My cm11 has double cable connection , usb or serial. Does yours too? If so try to use rs232 port.
Bye

Post by **KolNedra** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 12:21 pm

At the moment I use COM6 through USB. I'll give it a try to change it to RS232 instead of USB when I'm back home.
Thaks.

Post by **Stevexyz** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:53 pm

The "USB" CM11/12s that I've seen are simply free-running serial devices using only four pins GND, RX,TX, RI) connected to an RS232<->USB adapter. This adapter can introduce differences in signal timings and latencies which can cause an application to fail with precisely these symptoms. One rather early USB adapter didn't even bother to handle RI!

If you have a spare RS232 serial port (sadly becoming rare these days) then it's far better to remove the USB adapter completely and use the CM11/12 directly. Otherwise it's worth trying a serial->USB adapter with a different chipset, my favourite ones from FTDI work just fine but any one from a different manufacturer is worth a try.

Cheers, Steve

Post by **drmacchi** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:19 pm

Hi Steeve , so you agree with my theory. Nice to hear it! My cm11 has a plug where i can insert both (one at once) usb cable or serial cable, but a need a serial server because my notebook is without serial ports. when i'll receive it , i will try cm11 on serial and post my News just to confirm or not the theory.
Bye.
Lorenzo

Post by **Stevexyz** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:28 pm

Yes, I'm pretty sure you're right!

Cheers, Steve

Post by **KolNedra** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:57 pm

Thanks stevexyz.
I think I got a serial port left, my motherboard is from around 2002. So i might give your solution a try.

b_weijenberg also pointed me towards a FTDI USB-adapter. Thanks both!

Post by **KolNedra** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:55 pm

I put the CM11 in the serial port and everything works like a charm now!

Post by **Francois** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:45 pm

I've got a cm11 too, I recognize the problems of a non responsive device. Sometimes I had to takeout the batteries, disconnect RS232 and wait for 10 minutes and then it would work again. I only saw these problems with the home control software, Homeseer seems to work fine.

BUT, I am facing different problems, the effective range is very limitted, I cannot get the thing to wotk in a single pahse house! I have just about had it with the CM11 and was wondetring if the Xanura interface would improve the situation.

Is it really true the Xanura is more reliable, faster and has a higher output sinal thus a better range?

What's the best device to control X10 from HS2 (pref. serial or else USB). Suggestions apreciated!

Francois

Post by **Digit** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 12:32 am

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Francois
 Is it really true the Xanura is more reliable, faster and has a higher output sinal thus a better range?

What's the best device to control X10 from HS2 (pref. serial or else USB). Suggestions apreciated!

Francois
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It is not Xanura that makes it more reliable etc., it's the A10 protocol i'd say.

For controlling X10 from "whatever", i would recommend a CTX35/TI213 or the new PMIX35. Serial or USB: Serial is more flexible in my opinion.

Post by **Francois** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:43 am

If it's really the A10 protocol that make is more reliable, will this do me any good since I am only using X10 modules ("huismerk elekhomica")??

The PMIX35 is quite expensive (209 euro's), as I understand it it can be connected to Homeseer. My questions:
- Is connectivity built in or do I need an additional plugin?
- It has all kind of monitoring and anlyzing functions, do I need additional softare or can I see the values in Homeseer?
- The CTX35 is some what cheaper (173 euros), is the only difference the analyzing capabilities?

Post by **MindBender** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:43 am

The PMIX35 has an extra command set (and device ID) for it's internal analyzer. So I don't think it's analyzing capabilities will be of any use for HomeSeer without additional software. However, it's X10 inteface uses the same command set as the CTX35 and an identical device ID. Some existing software, including the curent HomeSeer driver, can treat and use it like a CTX35.
The price of the CTX35 has stopped me from buyin one for a long time, but once since the PMIX35 is only 33 Euro more expensive you will get a good value for money. The included program is a valuable tool for diagnosing your X10 network and to program your modules. 'No more guessing' is worth something too, for me.

Post by **drmacchi** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:58 am

MindBender, i was planning act ti213 or ctx35, but in Homeseer interface management , setup----install more interfaces : there are only these options for x10-powerline
X-10 Powerline and Wireless Interface Plug-Ins
Yes CM11A for HomeSeer 2.2
Release Info Plug-in 2.2.0.4 2.2.0.4 Free HomeSeer Tech
CM17A (Firecracker) Plug-In
Release Info Plug-in 1.0.2100.24010 Free HomeSeer Tech
Marrick LynX10-PLC X10 Plug-in
Release Info Plug-in 2.0.0.0 Free HomeSeer Tech
MR26A Plug-in
Release Info Plug-in 2.1.0.0 Free HomeSeer Tech
PowerLinc USB Plug-in
Release Info Plug-in 1.0.0.13 Free HomeSeer Tech
TI103 X10 Plug-in
Release Info Plug-in 2.0.0.0 Free HomeSeer Tech

then i found somewhere in homeseer board a post about a modification in an .INI file to make ctx35 running with Homeseer.
All this forced me to buy Act/ti 213, but i haven't still purchased. Did i understand wrong?
cheers.
lorenzo