Ocelot users?

[Bob Dozier]

Hello,

I am considering an Ocelot to control some X10 devices in my home.
Question: Does the Ocelot have the ability to see an X10 signal when I
turn on one of my X10 light switches and then send an 'off' to that
device after a programmed interval? If so, what type of X10 switch would
I need to send a signal when I turn the light on locally? Thank!

--
....Bob

[Mark Thomas]

Bob Dozier wrote:
> I am considering an Ocelot to control some X10 devices in my home.
> Question: Does the Ocelot have the ability to see an X10 signal when
I
> turn on one of my X10 light switches

How? Remotely via an X10 transmitter? At the switch? Sent from the
Ocelot?

> and then send an 'off' to that
> device after a programmed interval
> If so, what type of X10 switch would
> I need to send a signal when I turn the light on locally? Thank!

I think you want to know if the Ocelot can track status of devices on
network by listening to the commands sent. It can. You need a switch
that transmits X-10 in order for the Ocelot or any controller to be
able to know you did that. 2-way X10 switches will transmit their code
when set locally.

- Mark.

[Dave Houston]

"Mark Thomas" <mrt@thomaszone.com> wrote:
>
>Bob Dozier wrote:
>> I am considering an Ocelot to control some X10 devices in my home.
>> Question: Does the Ocelot have the ability to see an X10 signal when
>I
>> turn on one of my X10 light switches
>
>How? Remotely via an X10 transmitter? At the switch? Sent from the
>Ocelot?
>
>> and then send an 'off' to that
>> device after a programmed interval
>> If so, what type of X10 switch would
>> I need to send a signal when I turn the light on locally? Thank!
>
>I think you want to know if the Ocelot can track status of devices on
>network by listening to the commands sent. It can. You need a switch
>that transmits X-10 in order for the Ocelot or any controller to be
>able to know you did that. 2-way X10 switches will transmit their code
>when set locally.

It's not that simple. If the switch sends extended codes (e.g. some of the
Leviton two-way switches), the Ocelot will not receive them because its X-10
interface will not handle them. The Ocelot can only see standard codes
because that's all the X-10 interface can handle. Some of the SwitchLinc
switches send standard codes but they have a poor reputation for
performance,

[Mark Thomas]

You are correct. I had forgotten about the Leviton 2-ways, because I
don't use Leviton switches anymore.

I have many Switchlincs now and have had no problems with them (well,
except for some first generation ones I bought off of ebay--they were
horrid). The recent ones seem to perform well.

That being said, I am careful to minimize my 2-way usage due to concern
over signal loss. I try to keep my X10 accuracy near 100%.

[Dave Houston]

"Mark Thomas" <mrt@thomaszone.com> wrote:

>You are correct. I had forgotten about the Leviton 2-ways, because I
>don't use Leviton switches anymore.
>
>I have many Switchlincs now and have had no problems with them (well,
>except for some first generation ones I bought off of ebay--they were
>horrid). The recent ones seem to perform well.
>
>That being said, I am careful to minimize my 2-way usage due to concern
>over signal loss. I try to keep my X10 accuracy near 100%.

If it's possible to run the needed wire, photocells and the SECU16 are more
reliable.

[Thierry Parent]

The main issue is to obtain an X10 status each time that you control your
lamp locally.

I'm currently working on the lamplink 2000STW from smarthome.

This 2 way lamp module provides the expected functionality. Each time that
you will switch locally your lamp on, an X10 On command will be triggered
and could be interpreted by the Ocelot. In the same way, if you switch your
lamp off (or if the bulb blast ;-) an X10 OFF command will be send by the
module and could be interpreted by the Ocelot.

I'm not familiar with the concept of "extended code" and incompaibility
issues with TW523 and Ocelot.

The only thing that I know, is the fact that Ocelot provides dedicate
commands to send a determinist level of brightness (PCS 32 levels and
Leviton 64).

I tested with the 2000 STW and successfully used this kind of command issued
from my Ocelot / TW523 installation. In the same way, I requested the status
of 2000ST and received back two numbers, one being related to the current
level of the lamp module. Is it extended code or not, I'm unable to say it.

2000 STW seems very usefull with a lot of additional functionalities like
Ramp light On, preset dimming and group. Regarding the reliability, it's
difficult for me to provide a true feedback. All my modules were adapted in
220V. They stay stable, but sometime lock without apparent reasons (each 3
to 4 weeks).

Take care of the fact that local control is a little bit tricky. Low tension
halogene lamp or fluorescent bulb seems to be not compatible (no detection
or blinking with 12V transformer).

Hope it helps

Thierry
"Bob Dozier" <good_grief@charlie-brown.net> wrote in message
news:111n7ko5sar5151@corp.supernews.com...
> Hello,
>
> I am considering an Ocelot to control some X10 devices in my home.
> Question: Does the Ocelot have the ability to see an X10 signal when I
> turn on one of my X10 light switches and then send an 'off' to that
> device after a programmed interval? If so, what type of X10 switch would
> I need to send a signal when I turn the light on locally? Thank!
>
> --
> ...Bob
>
>

[Dave Houston]

"Thierry Parent" <TParent@stufly.com> wrote:

>The main issue is to obtain an X10 status each time that you control your
>lamp locally.
>
>I'm currently working on the lamplink 2000STW from smarthome.
>
>This 2 way lamp module provides the expected functionality. Each time that
>you will switch locally your lamp on, an X10 On command will be triggered
>and could be interpreted by the Ocelot. In the same way, if you switch your
>lamp off (or if the bulb blast ;-) an X10 OFF command will be send by the
>module and could be interpreted by the Ocelot.
>
>I'm not familiar with the concept of "extended code" and incompaibility
>issues with TW523 and Ocelot.
>
>The only thing that I know, is the fact that Ocelot provides dedicate
>commands to send a determinist level of brightness (PCS 32 levels and
>Leviton 64).

The Ocelot can send the Leviton 64 level commands but cannot receive them.

>I tested with the 2000 STW and successfully used this kind of command issued
>from my Ocelot / TW523 installation. In the same way, I requested the status
>of 2000ST and received back two numbers, one being related to the current
>level of the lamp module. Is it extended code or not, I'm unable to say it.

That's all done with the standard command set that X-10 has used from their
beginning.

>2000 STW seems very usefull with a lot of additional functionalities like
>Ramp light On, preset dimming and group. Regarding the reliability, it's
>difficult for me to provide a true feedback. All my modules were adapted in
>220V. They stay stable, but sometime lock without apparent reasons (each 3
>to 4 weeks).

That has been my experience with _every_ *Linc product - they go deaf to the
powerline. Since others have reported exactly the same symptoms, I think
they continue to have design flaws.

>Take care of the fact that local control is a little bit tricky. Low tension
>halogene lamp or fluorescent bulb seems to be not compatible (no detection
>or blinking with 12V transformer).
>
>Hope it helps
>
>Thierry
>"Bob Dozier" <good_grief@charlie-brown.net> wrote in message
>news:111n7ko5sar5151@corp.supernews.com...
>> Hello,
>>
>> I am considering an Ocelot to control some X10 devices in my home.
>> Question: Does the Ocelot have the ability to see an X10 signal when I
>> turn on one of my X10 light switches and then send an 'off' to that
>> device after a programmed interval? If so, what type of X10 switch would
>> I need to send a signal when I turn the light on locally? Thank!
>>
>> --
>> ...Bob
>>
>>
>

[Bob Dozier]

Lots of good information posted. Thanks. Now I wonder - wouldn't UPB solve
some of the status issues if the Ocelot supported it (UPB). I had heard that
the Ocelot would be supporting UPB soon - any news that someone can share?
Thanks again!
--
....Bob

"Thierry Parent" <TParent@stufly.com> wrote in message
news:421e4afd$0$29696$a3f2974a@nnrp1.numericable.f r...
> The main issue is to obtain an X10 status each time that you control your
> lamp locally.
>
> I'm currently working on the lamplink 2000STW from smarthome.
>
> This 2 way lamp module provides the expected functionality. Each time that
> you will switch locally your lamp on, an X10 On command will be triggered
> and could be interpreted by the Ocelot. In the same way, if you switch
your
> lamp off (or if the bulb blast ;-) an X10 OFF command will be send by the
> module and could be interpreted by the Ocelot.
>
> I'm not familiar with the concept of "extended code" and incompaibility
> issues with TW523 and Ocelot.
>
> The only thing that I know, is the fact that Ocelot provides dedicate
> commands to send a determinist level of brightness (PCS 32 levels and
> Leviton 64).
>
> I tested with the 2000 STW and successfully used this kind of command
issued
> from my Ocelot / TW523 installation. In the same way, I requested the
status
> of 2000ST and received back two numbers, one being related to the current
> level of the lamp module. Is it extended code or not, I'm unable to say
it.
>
> 2000 STW seems very usefull with a lot of additional functionalities like
> Ramp light On, preset dimming and group. Regarding the reliability, it's
> difficult for me to provide a true feedback. All my modules were adapted
in
> 220V. They stay stable, but sometime lock without apparent reasons (each 3
> to 4 weeks).
>
> Take care of the fact that local control is a little bit tricky. Low
tension
> halogene lamp or fluorescent bulb seems to be not compatible (no detection
> or blinking with 12V transformer).
>
> Hope it helps
>
> Thierry
> "Bob Dozier" <good_grief@charlie-brown.net> wrote in message
> news:111n7ko5sar5151@corp.supernews.com...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I am considering an Ocelot to control some X10 devices in my home.
> > Question: Does the Ocelot have the ability to see an X10 signal when I
> > turn on one of my X10 light switches and then send an 'off' to that
> > device after a programmed interval? If so, what type of X10 switch would
> > I need to send a signal when I turn the light on locally? Thank!
> >
> > --
> > ...Bob
> >
> >
>
>

[Dave Houston]

ADI has a support forum where you can ask:

http://www.appdigsupport.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

I don't recall seeing anything about UPB support but I do nbot try to keep
up anymore. They had announced plans for their own X-10 interface for 3Q2004
but that seems to have slipped.

"Bob Dozier" <rwdozier@apex2000.net> wrote:

>Lots of good information posted. Thanks. Now I wonder - wouldn't UPB solve
>some of the status issues if the Ocelot supported it (UPB). I had heard that
>the Ocelot would be supporting UPB soon - any news that someone can share?
>Thanks again!

[Mark Thomas]

Here's a list of controllers that currently support UPB:
http://www.pulseworx.com/upb_approved.html

Supposedly there will be more soon, for some definition of soon.