X10 working with CM11A serial interface - UI5 - a noob's walkthrough.

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Just received my veralite and working through as many plugins as I can. A good HowTo does wonders when bumping our heads. Here’s what I compiled from other posts on this forum.

All of this is based off of an OOTB install using FW 1.5.408. I did not SSH or look at any logs. This took about 4 hours total after learning how not to create a plugin or not use the insteon/x10 feature.

Connect the serial adapter and reboot.

I think I was fortunate because the USB → Serial adapter I had was automatically recognized as a PL2303 (1 of 2 commonly referenced chipsets, $9.49 on Amazon, Trendnet TU-S9). The config that was auto-populated under Apps → Develop Apps → Serial Port Configuration was mostly correct but I NEEDED TO CHANGE THE PORT SPEED TO 4800 for it finally work.

  1. Download and upload the plugin. - I really like the idea of how to install apps from a repository in the gui but the documentation of how to create one from file(s) provided in the forum was difficult to find. To install the plug-in I used the file from the first post in this thread - http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,10817.0.html. After extracting the 4 separate files you need to upload them as 4 separate files. In the webgui go to Apps → Develop Apps → Luup Files. Upload all 4.

  2. To create the plugin I followed the instructions from this thread: http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,10593.msg82160.html#msg82160

Goto APPS > Develop Apps > Create Device Enter the following details: Description = X10 (or what you wish to call this) Upnp Device Filename = D_CM11.xml Upnp Implementation Filename = I_CM11.xml Click Create Device

Wait for the system to restart and then click Reload again. Wait for the system to restart again.

Goto APPS > Develop Apps > Serial Port Configuration (note I am doing this blind)
You should see the USB device (what ever it may be called will depend on the type of USB)
Modify the setting as per instruction:
Serial Line settings:
Baud Rate: 4.800 bps
Parity: None
Data Bits: 8
Stop Bits: 1
In the bottom of the details set the Used by device to Description (X10 (or what called it))
Click Save

  1. Set the serial port to match the name given in “Description” from above. - see screenshot.
    Apps → Develop Apps → Serial Port Configuration

  2. Reboot, Reload - especially before giving up.

  3. I was able to test using the auto-created A1 with an appliance module I plugged straight into the cm11a. During testing I noticed a few times where I would turn A1 on and off and the webgui status of the device wouldn’t respond. This was usually due to me rebooting the veralite physically or from the “Reload” button. Hearing that appliance module go click was pretty satisfying. Now I need to get a phase coupler.