Can Vera receive X10 codes?

How can I receive X10 codes? I’ve seen this question asked before but I didn’t see an answer so I’m posting it again. I have Vera UI4 with firmware 1.1.1047 and a 2412U PowerLinc Modem. I can transmit X10 codes without problems I just don’t seem to be able to receive x10 codes.

I’m trying to use a standard x10 device, (add X10 device → Appliance Module) which creates an X10 device with the D_BinaryLight1.xml device file. This device can send X10 codes but how do I receive them? I have a X10 Signal Analyzer and I can see the ON/OFF commands on the power line so I know that the commands are there.

My goal is to have a scene triggered by an X10 event. I have a x10 device defined and when I manually push the on/off button in the gui it does trigger the scene. I just need the x10 device to receive the x10 command.

Is the capability missing in vera? Do I need a special device for this? Has anyone managed to do this?

If I understand your question correctly you are asking for the X10 device to communicate back to the Vera after receiving a command. X10 devices are not capable of two way communication and therefore cannot send the status of individual switches. The Vera should know the last state given to the switch by the Vera but if the switch is manually operated there is no way for the switch to update Vera.

Thanks for looking into this - I have a lot of transmitting X10 units (i.e. motion detectors, dusk/dawn sensor, fire alarms, etc) so I really only need a receiving X10 device in vera that can be used as an event for a scene. For example, I’d a have a “Sunset Scene” which has the X10 receiving device as an event, and when this device receives on ON from the dusk/dawn sensor it triggers the scene.
Is there anything in vera that would do this?

Acutally there are serveral X10 compatible switches on I believe made by Leviton that support 2 way communication… However you are correct in that most wall switches when switched from the wall switch are no sent to the X10 network…

My question is if I control an X10 device with an X10 controller does VERA receive the command and know that it has been updated? Much as X10 active@home works?

i know that back on UI2 vera didn’t receive commands nor keep track on status of send commands (you could send an ON command and vera would ‘forget’ it the device was on or off).

So unless they updated it in UI4, and i doubt they did, then it’s only good for sending x10 commands.

There may be some forward momentum with X-10 in UI4. I haven’t had a chance to do any testing on this yet but I did notice something within the UI that may indicate Vera now listens to X-10. UI4 1.1.1086.

I will post an update after some testing.

JOD.

can you looksee if it also keeps track of on/off status please?

michaelk,

Yes UI4 1.1.1086 does keep the status alive. Unfortunatly 1.1.1086 is back in the hands of MCV after a crash so as soon as I get an Alpha back from them I will re-test a scenario using X-10 as the trigger.

JOD.

very cool- thanks for trying.

Currently I’m having trouble getting my usb serial adapter to work with the vera2 and ui4. It worked fine on vera1 and UI2…

[quote=“JOD, post:8, topic:166592”]michaelk,

Yes UI4 1.1.1086 does keep the status alive. Unfortunatly 1.1.1086 is back in the hands of MCV after a crash so as soon as I get an Alpha back from them I will re-test a scenario using X-10 as the trigger.

JOD.[/quote]

Any further word on this?

The ability to integrate with my existing investment in X-10 is what’s keeping me from buying a Vera at this point. Well, that and the fact that after monitoring these forums for a few months, it appears the support from MiCasaVerde is atrocious at best. :frowning:

I wish I had some good news for you on the X-10 but I dont have any news at all. All of the focus recently has been on some Zwave issues but I can assure you MCV has been busy behind the scenes.
Believe it or not but since that last past 2 months ago my system has been UP about one week of that and I was asked to disable the Insteon for the duration.

Hang in there for another week and I’ll have something for you.

JOD.

[quote=“JOD, post:11, topic:166592”]I wish I had some good news for you on the X-10 but I dont have any news at all. All of the focus recently has been on some Zwave issues but I can assure you MCV has been busy behind the scenes.
Believe it or not but since that last past 2 months ago my system has been UP about one week of that and I was asked to disable the Insteon for the duration.

Hang in there for another week and I’ll have something for you.

JOD.[/quote]
Thanks, JOD for the update. Asked to disable Insteon for the last 2 months, and still MCV touts X-10 & Insteon compatibility to sell Vera. >:( With my indoor and outdoor X-10 motion detectors reporting movement, and Vera being totally deaf to that, but MCV trumpeting X-10 compatibility and yet never showing up here to address any of the X-10 questions (there’s another thread about X-10 started by someone just today) its pretty depressing.

Only bright spot is folks like you from the user community. Will look forward to your next update, thanks!

unless things change- I’m unsure that any of the currently sold wall warts for ‘speaking’ x-10 can be hooked to vera. I think the insteon serial is no longer made. there’s another thread around but i thought it said the current USB devices were to fancy for vera to handle also.

So while they might have fixed x-10 in the software might be too late.

I was looking forward to hooking up my Insteon tonight and running some tests as I just received a new Vera and a new firmware but its exactly the same as the previous setup!! Wont stay online long enough to turn a light on and off.
Insteon wont enable or enables and then disappears…
I saw todays post about X-10 but he was really asking if Vera would control X-10 out of the box without additional hardware and I actually posted innacurate info. I have all there PLM’s but got them mixed up.
What I am going to do is just install the Insteon and delete all my Z-wave stuff just so I can use something that works reliably.
I’ll let you guys know before the weekend if there was any further development on this recent FW with Insteon / X-10.

JOD.

After trying for a few days to get the Insteon Interface enabled with this new beta FW It’s a no go.
It may have been intentionally disabled within the FW until the Z-Wave is stable first? I’ve asked but did not get a straight answer.
I’ve submitted a ticket just for the hell of it. If there is any news or progress I’ll post it here.

JOD.

I am working on a RFXCOM interface to vera. It can receive X10 RF messages.

I now have a few devices working, like the standard remote HE300.
and the battery powered pir HE303
and the double wall switch HE308.

they now only produce log messages like HE303:
12/21/10 22:32:35.017 luup_log:41: [HOMEEASY: Device: 0008F49C Unit: 9 Command: off ( p: 8 i: 0 )]
12/21/10 22:32:37.018 luup_log:41: [HOMEEASY: Device: 0008F49C Unit: 9 Command: on ( p: 8 i: 0 )]

and HE300:

12/21/10 22:41:34.014 luup_log:41: [X10: B05-On]
12/21/10 22:41:46.019 luup_log:41: [X10: B-All lights on]
12/21/10 22:41:46.022 luup_log:41: [X10: B-All lights off]

and HE308:

12/21/10 22:42:38.015 luup_log:41: [HOMEEASY: Device: 000E870A Unit: 11 Command: off ( p: 12 i: 0 )]
12/21/10 22:42:39.013 luup_log:41: [HOMEEASY: Device: 000E870A Unit: 11 Command: on ( p: 12 i: 0 )]

I also get an oregon scientific message from my neighbour:
12/21/10 22:42:57.012 luup_log:41: [OREGONWGR918: WIND3 Device: AA Direction: 161 Speed: 0.00 Speed av: 0.00]

@evanes, I’d be interested in this for the weather station!

Didn’t you have a thread for this?

I am waiting to get svn access to code.mios so I can share the code.
Suppose micasaverde support is slow due to the holidays…

LOL, I wish it was just because of the holidays :slight_smile:

… Seriously though, What hardware is needed (receiver wise) for this to work?

I have an older version of the rfxcom receiver and transmitter.

see: http://www.rfxcom.com/receivers.htm

Product with ID: 10203 for Europe. You need to add a transmitter module with this receiver to have full functionality.

The website is very cluttered and unclear but the product works just fine…