Subject: XTension Discussion Digest - 02/14/00 Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 23:00:01 -0800 From: "XTension Discussion List" To: "XTension Discussion List" XTension Discussion Digest - Monday, February 14, 2000 Re: Sunday Chicken by "Bob Vennerbeck" Integrating WeatherTracker (was: RE: 2.3.7...) by "Davis, Dean" Re: Powerful lighting by "Chad A Gard" Re: florescent bulbs by Nother Newbie Note by "Atalanta" First experience with Xtension demo and a bit confused.. by "Don Preisler" Remote Database Update by Re: First experience with Xtension demo and a bit confused.. by "Chad A Gard" Re: Remote Database Update by "Chad A Gard" Re: First experience with Xtension demo and a bit confused.. by "Don Preisler" Re: Remote Database Update by Re: Remote Database Update by "Chad A Gard" Re: First experience with Xtension demo and a bit confused.. by Re: First experience with Xtension demo and a bit confused.. by "Don Preisler" Re: Remote Database Update by Re: First experience with Xtension demo and a bit confused.. by "Chad A Gard" Re: X-cam anywhere - but here by "Chuck Pelto" Airport & X10 by "Chuck Pelto" Re: X-cam anywhere - but here by "Don Preisler" Re: X-cam anywhere - but here by "Chad A Gard" ZephIR arrives! by "studioZee" RE: ZephIR arrives! by "Davis, Dean" RE: ZephIR arrives! by "Davis, Dean" Re: X-cam anywhere - but here by "Don Preisler" Re: Airport & X10 by "Sean McMains" Re: ZephIR arrives! by Re: ZephIR arrives! by "Robb Cutler" Re: ZephIR arrives! by "Thomas Arman" Re: ZephIR arrives! by "Sean McMains" Re: ZephIR arrives! by Re: ZephIR arrives! by "Robb Cutler" Re: ZephIR arrives! by "Sean McMains" Re: ZephIR arrives! by "Ray" Re:Paging software? by "Jeff Kandt" Re: Paging software? by "Gordon Meyer" Error message ! by "Robert Lesperance" Re: Paging software? by "Tom Chiara" Re: Error message ! by Re: ZephIR arrives! by "Ken Landers" Re: ZephIR arrives! by "Robb Cutler" Re: ZephIR arrives! by "AL Assid" BY & RANGE by "Jean Laroche" Re: Powerful lighting by "Jean Laroche" Re: Powerful lighting by "Clark Martin" Re: ZephIR arrives! by "Chris Youngers" Re: Powerful lighting by "Bob Schatzman" Re: Powerful lighting by "Bob Schatzman" FW: ZephIR arrives! by "studioZee" E-mail from Marrick by "Chuck and Karen Coleman" Re: FW: ZephIR arrives! by "Chuck Rice" Re: ZephIR arrives! by "studioZee" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Sunday Chicken From: "Bob Vennerbeck" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 08:14:00 -0500 Michael et al Will chickens push open a lightweight door flap that is not latched? I had a manual cat-door (paw-ual?) that I thought would be out-only until the cat learned to bounce it from the outside then pull it toward him - so then I revised it to have a latch that could go into one of three slots - one slot pinned the door shut, the other two allowed it to swing either in-but-not-out, and out-but-not-in, and set the whole thing into the frame so the cat couldn't get at the edge of it...he learned how in about 15 minutes... but anyway - if your chickens can provide the door opening force - you can provide the electromechanical logic for various door opening 'permissions' -- Bob VENNERBECK = ; RI School of Design Film/Video Tech 2 College Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903-2784 USA (401) 454-6236 michael@shed.com wrote: > > Hi Folks, > > It's Spring here already, and we're preparing a garden and > raising 24 exotic baby chicks. > > This is causing me to think about all the things I could do > with XTension to eventually assist both tasks. > > The garden is already 'wired for water', in that I can control > multiple zones of big sprayers and little misters with XTension. > > The weather station is still chugging, and will provide the input > for modifying the irrigation regime. > > I haven't discovered an automated way to do the weeding and > harvesting...or feather-plucking yet > > Of course, with chickens and a garden, the cost is not the issue. > It's a lot cheaper just to buy already prepared... > > I do love fresh veggies, and known-diet chicken, but the real incentive > for me is the beauty. > > So, I ordered two of the X-10 cameras, one for the chickens, and > one for the garden. Now I'll be able to watch them both while working. > > And, as always with my cameras, each will offer both a view of the > beauty, and of a pathway that humans (intruders) might take. > > I've decided to get some more of the venerable old "PR511"s, the > combo motion/dusk sensor and floodlights, and use them to both > light the areas on demand, provide walk lights for us, and be able > to flood the chicken yard and garden when motion is detected at night. > > Thus, if a dog or raccoon gets into the area, I'll be able to see it > on the cameras, and perhaps turn on the ReX-10 DOG, or grab the gun... > > I still want to put door sensors on the main gates to the chicken yard > and the garden. Someone may have left them open, and it's a sure thing > that it takes a two-legged thief to open them... > > The one thing that I want to do for the chickens, is to have an > automatic door just for them. > > Considering the masses and forces, and that I don't care to squish > a chicken, it's probably going to have to be a hard but light door > that is raised and lowered in a slot. > > The question is which is the best 'fail-safe' position for the door? > If the system fails, should the door be stuck open or stuck closed? > > Since the chicken house itself will have water and food, it's probably > best to fail-closed. Except, what if they're all outside and it > fails-closed... > > Oh yes, if you've never raised chickens before, be advised that they're > utterly maddening sometimes. They can be very clever in some things, > and totally imbicilic in others. If there's something about the door > that they don't like, they won't use it. Like if it suddenly pops open > or closed... So, it's gotta be some motorized thing that can be > gently opened and closed. > > I think this can be done with some sort of 'portcullis' door, winding > and un-winding a cord tethering the sliding door. > > As usual, of course I want to make this 'cheap' and my first thoughts > turn to the 'Skyway Rider' toy.. : > > It's got both forward and back motion control, and although it's a > little fast, I can probably gear it down easily with the diameter of > the cord winder. > > Now I guess I need to spend a little more time thinking about the > number of devices I have in the chicken area, and maybe I need to > build another little shed just for them :-) > > Obviously it's beautiful here today, and all of the seedlings are > wanting to be planted... > > Hope you're all enjoying the day > michael > > _____________________________________________________________________ > This message brought to you with the BeeHive List Server > Subscription changes: < http://www.bzzzzzz.com/lists/ > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Integrating WeatherTracker (was: RE: 2.3.7...) From: "Davis, Dean" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 09:40:52 -0500 I don't understand why one would need to use an attachment script to integrate WeatherTracker. I just keep WeatherTracker running on my Xtension machine. It updates itself every hour. (You can send it an "update" message to force an update" On Xtension I have an hourly scheduled event that extracts the data from WeatherTracker and plugs the info into several Xtension psudos (including last time WeatherTracker updated and current conditions). Then I have a "TellTemp" script which speaks the current conditions (temp, wind chill, heatindex) At all time only one of wind chill or heat index will be valid (i.e. if wind chill is 10F then heat index will be -999, if heat index is 99F then wind chill would be -999). A simple if then will report the correct on in the spoken string. So the Mac ends up saying "As of eleven fifteen A M, the current temperature is 30 degrees. Wind chill is minus 2 degrees." or "As of eight thirty P M, the current temperature is 80 degrees. The heat index is 95 degrees." Of course I'm switching this to the real-time data I get from my WM-918 weather station. MTC, Dean Davis EDI Administrator Holland Hitch Company 467 Ottawa Ave. Holland, MI 49422-2099 PH:616-396-6501 x4427 -----Original Message----- From: a.h.s. boy [mailto:spud@nothingness.org] Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2000 11:14 AM To: XTension Discussion List Subject: Re: 2.3.7... On the subject of "Re: 2.3.7..." hath scrawled Andy Montag: >This is super cool. Care to share your technique for integrating >WeatherTracker? Did you use an attachment script? I did it a while >back using attachments, but I need to revise it to take advantage of >Michael's latest goodies. I did do it using an Attachments script, largely pilfered from someone who had posted it here a while ago (search the archives for "WeatherTracker"). Apologies to the original poster! I did have to modify the script a bit, for both speech-related reasons (on a side note, I'm surprised to find that it pronounces "wind chill" as "whined chill") and because the Baltimore, MD weather data for some unknown reason doesn't include wind speed or current conditions, and defaults to "-999.0" for wind speed, wind chill, and heat index. It defaults to "N/A" for others. So I adjusted the script for these circumstances. Also, I keep track of the month reported, and have my "WeatherSpeaker" unit add "wind chill" during certain months, and "heat index" during others. spud. -------------------------------------------------------------------- a.h.s. boy spud@nothingness.org "as yes is to if,love is to yes" http://www.nothingness.org/ _____________________________________________________________________ This message brought to you with the BeeHive List Server Subscription changes: < http://www.bzzzzzz.com/lists/ > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Powerful lighting From: "Chad A Gard" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 09:45:31 -0500 > Reply to: Re: Powerful lighting >ED, > >I am truly afraid of running this setup on a single appliance module. (I'm >not a wuss, I dig elbow deep into computers without a grounding strap on a >regular basis by trade, but these suckers run HOT. I wish they were two >seperate 250 watts on individual ballasts. If that were the case I would >feel more comfortable. Maybe I'll give it a shot when I know I'll be >around for the whole day and can give it the "hand on the module test" >every half hour or so. I love X10, just wish they were a little more >dependable. To me they are a little too quirky. The wife acceptance factor >(WAF) still is a little wanting. She's tolerant, but not enthusiastic. > I would also shy away from using a single module. I'd probably try to find 2 ballasts and re-wire your aquarium hood. Then I'd put each lamp on a separate heavy-duty appliance module (the 30 Amp rated ones). I'd also put the modules somewhere besides in the hood. I tried that for my now-defunct freshwater planted tank, which had just had one 250 W metal halide lamp. The module inexplicably turned off one evening, and when I opened the hood and looked, it had melted, and the plastic had pushed the relay open - probably a good result considering... Anyway, I would try putting the module on the back of the tank, or below it, provided you droop your cords so any spilled water will not follow them into the module. If you have an open sump or anything, you probably should keep the module away from it, as well. I'm not sure how well X10 modules would handle briney air over the long run. Anyway, another reason to use 2 modules is in case one fails. At least your fish and/or inverts will get some light, like it's an overcast day or something. I've never had a saltwater tank, but I do know that my loaches get quite "punchy" if they don't have any light and dark alternation throughout the day. On my tank, I have 4 "spectramax" full spectrum fluorescent tubes. each pair is on its own balast/appliance module. I also have 3 incadescent floodlight sockets with floodlight style "grow lamps" on a lamp module. The fluorescents (and the incadescent little el-cheapo aquarium tube bulb on my little quarantine/hospital tank) are all on the same X10 address, so one command turns them all on, and if one balast or module should die, the fish still get half their light. The "grow lamps" turn on shortly before the fluorescents, then off after the fluoresents are on, and on again shortly before the fluorescents turn off, and off an hour or so later. The grow lamps are set to "simulate preset dim", and help ease the transition from night to day for my fish by simulating dawn and dusk. I found my clown loaches really got startled when they were out perusing the tank and all the sudden it got noon on them. This helps avoid that. Since we're talking about aquariums in general....I also have my heaters on an appliance module (actually, two, for the same reason as the lamps), as well as the power heads for the UGF and the power filter. Actually, the filters are all on one module. That way, when it comes time to clean the tank, I simply push a button and the filters stop and the heaters turn off. No futzing to pull plugs, no killing impellers when they run dry, and no burned-out heating elements. when I'm done with the water change, I push a button and all turns back on. As soon as I get the time to play with it, I'm going to dedicate a computer to the aquarium. I won an ADB I/O in the mail-storm contest a while back, and plan to use it to monitor temperature (and turn off the heaters if it looks like their thermostat gets stuck, and I'm also planning on creating a chiller using peltier junctions, which also would be controlled by the adb/io) and pH, as well as isolating the aquarium system with it's own CM11 or Lynx and UPS for better reliability and lower likliehood of false X10 signals. Chad Gard ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: florescent bulbs From: Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 08:59:31 -0800 (PST) > Just a warning to anyone wanting to use those florescent bulbs in > their lamp modules. Don't. Well, not the Phillips ones anyway. > I figured I could save some electricity and replace my incandescent > bulbs with some of these. I then put the lamps on appliance modules > (florescent's can't be dimmed so you can't use a lamp module). > Everything worked great for a week then, dead bulb. I though maybe I > just had a bad bulb so I tried another. 2 weeks later, dead bulb. > So, I finally decided to read the fine print on the Phillip's box. > "Do not use with electronic timers." If I had taken the time to read > that before, I wouldn't be out $30. Oh well.... Actually, I'm not sure that an appliance module with a relay counts as an "electronic timer" -- they are probably referring to timers that use an SCR or triac and not a relay. I've used standard fluorescent bulbs with appliance modules without any problems. I think a more likely suspect is the brand of bulb you selected -- there's a huge range of variability in the quality of these energy saving bulbs, with some of them being total crap. I've had some brands fail once a month or so like clockwork. And in one case one of them got so hot the plastic base melted. And all of this was with a regular light switch -- no appliance module or anything similar was involved. I now buy the more expensive ones rather than the cheapies, and I'm much happier with the results. In addition, a relatively recent item on the market is a variant of these bulbs that's specifically intended for use with wall dimmers, electronic timers, and similar things. The one I have in hand is "Phillips Dimmable Earthlight". Such a bulb should work with either a lamp or appliance module. (This is one case where I actually want the one I have to burn out -- I really want to take it apart and see what electronic trickery is involved...) Ned ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Nother Newbie Note From: "Atalanta" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 10:53:01 -0500 (I try to be [a]literate ) I'm making a list of what things I'd like to get started with this X-10 stuff (modules since software is a no brainer ). My house is filled with ceiling fans. The only wall switches I've seen for ceiling fans are the Decora style. That's nice, but I'm looking for standard toggle-style switches. Are the standard toggle-style switches OK for ceiling fans? Can two X-10 controls be put in the same line, ie: Ceiling fan has light. Can the wall switch for the fan be put on, say, B-7 and the light (with a screw-in controller) be put on C-8? I know that if the main switch is "off" the light will be off, but I'd like to control it so that when the fan is on, the light can be off or on by remote control rather than by pull-chain (the fan would have to be "mastered" by manual). Y'see, all the lights in my house are ceiling lights, many attached to the ceiling fans. (heh, the wiring schematic for this place would make a grown man cry ). That's why the weird questions. (and if you want to hear a good one, my washer & drier are on the same circuit as my basement lights so I have to turn on the lights to do laundry. It takes me a long time to do wash because I've got the "turn off the light when leaving the room" reflex ). Thanks! Pat Ritter Imagination Design P. O. Box 13238 Phila., PA 19101-3238 http://home.earthlink.net/~atalanta/ atalanta@cyber-wizard.com 215-781-2028 (phone) 419-791-9957 (fax) "That biological clock you hear ticking is, in actuality, a crocodile." ----- Floyd ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: First experience with Xtension demo and a bit confused.. From: "Don Preisler" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 10:30:56 -0800 Please help a novice, Been trying demos of a number of home automation programs (previously Mousehouse and Thinking Home) and tried the Xtension demo over the weekend. Had some strange things happen though. I cleared out all the entries from the demo's "Master List" so I could try my 5 devices that the demo allows. I'm not doing Applescripts, just the basic lights and coffee pot on & off at their needed times. I'm using a CM11a that I recent purchased and my old, but very clean IIsi with 16 megs of RAM and a very minimal number of system extensions. On Friday all was fine, lights were going on and off at their scheduled times until I went to bed. In the middle of the night I found the lights and coffee pot had switched on (they were not scheduled to do so). There was NO reference to them turning on in the log file. (although before midnight I do see log entries about "House code 'M'" which I have no idea were that comes from since I deleted all the demo entries). So not wanting my lights or coffee pot on in the middle of the night, I unplugged the CM11a (batteries removed) from the wall and the computer and let it sit for 24 hours. Yesterday morning I plugged it in again, rechecked all my times and entries. Everything went fine throughout the afternoon and evening, but I again woke up at 4 am to find my X10 lights on. I grabbed my hand controller next to my bed and pressed all the off buttons and went back to sleep. This morning the log had entries of all my "off" button pressing but again, nothing of any of the lights being turned on in the middle of the night. I read Michael's documentation pretty closely, but can't find an explanation. I there something "hidden" in there, being a demo that's making this happen. Is it a look-see demo that I shouldn't be evaluating with real tasks? Please let me know. Don Preisler dmpreisler@ucdavis.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Remote Database Update From: Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 14:02:15 -0500 Hi Folks, It isn't what some have suggested, but I've found a way to script the update of the database 'on another Mac'... So that when you are running in 'multi-mac' mode, and make changes to the 'monitor' database, you can selectively update the 'master' copy of the database. The method simply uses the 'Import' function, but now makes it scriptable with the "Open (file)" verb. The Open file verb has always been there, but had little use until now. The way it will work is like this: > Edit the database from the 'monitor' copy. > Create an 'export' plugin that includes the units, scripts, events, lists etc, that you want to transfer to the 'master'. > Send that file to the 'master' > Tell the 'master' to Open that file. > (maybe tell the 'master' to save the database ?) I know that some want another GUI button that says something like "Update Target Too?", but that really turns out to be a lot of code in some nasty places. This way, you can at least check all of your changes on the 'monitor', and then transfer all of the new stuff to the 'master'. Yes, it takes a script to do the transfer, but we've done this before with the 'export/import snapshot' scripts. And you can use the same export file to update multiple databases... One little caveat: Because this is a scriptable technique, please make sure that you really DO want to change/replace ALL of the units etc., that are included in the 'plugin'. There is no 'are you sure ?'... This'll be in version 2.3.8, OR maybe I'll call it version 3.0 ??? michael ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: First experience with Xtension demo and a bit confused.. From: "Chad A Gard" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 13:59:48 -0500 >Been trying demos of a number of home automation programs (previously >Mousehouse and Thinking Home) and tried the Xtension demo over the weekend. >Had some strange things happen though. Ah, welcome to the HA world. > >I cleared out all the entries from the demo's "Master List" so I could try >my 5 devices that the demo allows. I'm not doing Applescripts, just the >basic lights and coffee pot on & off at their needed times. > >I'm using a CM11a that I recent purchased and my old, but very clean IIsi >with 16 megs of RAM and a very minimal number of system extensions. I wouldn't worry about the IIsi. It's a powerhouse compared to some of the machines many people run XTension on. > >On Friday all was fine, lights were going on and off at their scheduled >times until I went to bed. In the middle of the night I found the lights and >coffee pot had switched on (they were not scheduled to do so). There was NO >reference to them turning on in the log file. (although before midnight I do >see log entries about "House code 'M'" which I have no idea were that comes >from since I deleted all the demo entries). > >So not wanting my lights or coffee pot on in the middle of the night, I >unplugged the CM11a (batteries removed) from the wall and the computer and >let it sit for 24 hours. Not to rule out a bug in XTension (though I would find one this pervasive to be quite surprising), I'm guessing there's something wrong with your CM11A and/or noise on the power lines. House code "M" is one of the more susceptible ones to power line noise, so the odd log entries are not so surprising. Especially if you typically use something arround then that you don't at other times - a blender for the evening drink, an electric toothbrush, etc. You mentioned that you "unplugged the CM11a (batteries removed)"... Does that mean the batteries were in when it was connected? XTension's biggest difference (and greatest strength) over the other HA systems I've used is that it is "host based" (to use recording studio terminology) and doesn't rely on the CM11a's memory or clock (both of which get messed up easily). Leaving the batteries in can cause the CM11a to do weired things - particularly if you had previously stored macros in it via some other program (wether you deleted them or not). This could include executing those events correctly, or with the wrong addresses and likely the wrong time (simply because the CM11's clock pretty well stinks). So, anyway, if you've been running it with the batteries in, you might try to remove them. Also, it's possible that your problems are the result of someone else in the neighborhood with X10 stuff (who may not even know it). The signals might not get to the computer because of the the differences in sensitivity of the CM11 and various modules, as well as the outlet each is plugged into. So you might try changing outlets for the CM11 and see if that makes things better or worse. > >Yesterday morning I plugged it in again, rechecked all my times and entries. >Everything went fine throughout the afternoon and evening, but I again woke >up at 4 am to find my X10 lights on. I grabbed my hand controller next to my >bed and pressed all the off buttons and went back to sleep. This morning the >log had entries of all my "off" button pressing but again, nothing of any of >the lights being turned on in the middle of the night. > This is what really makes me thing it's the CM11 messing up or spurrious signals from a neighbor not quite strong enough for the CM11 to recognize, but strong enough to turn things on. >I read Michael's documentation pretty closely, but can't find an >explanation. I there something "hidden" in there, being a demo that's making >this happen. Is it a look-see demo that I shouldn't be evaluating with real >tasks? > No, I don't think it is. There was a discussion about what we thought Michael should do with regards to demos and the CP290 version, etc, and I'm pretty sure he decided that a functioning demo would be A Good Thing. Anyway, good luck. If that doesn't help, I'm sure someone else will pop in to help shortly. Chad Gard ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Remote Database Update From: "Chad A Gard" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 14:06:20 -0500 This sounds quite spiffy for those of us who don't run in multi-mac mode, but do edit remotely and run headless XTension machines as well. I'm excited (maybe enough to upgrade from 1.7.3 that I've never changed from....) >This'll be in version 2.3.8, OR maybe I'll call it version 3.0 ??? > I don't know that that's a big enough change for a whole new version. Maybe 2.4? Chad Gard ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: First experience with Xtension demo and a bit confused.. From: "Don Preisler" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 11:17:52 -0800 Thanks for the help Chad, I forgot to mention, I DON'T use housecode "H". So that could be one of my neighbor's X-10 systems (I don't know hardly any of my neighbors). On the same note, another neighbor could be using MY housecode which might be an answer to why certain, not all devices, turned on in the middle of the night. There was no electrical activity in my house (blender, electric toothbrush, etc..) at that hour. the reason mentioned the batteries in the CM11 was that I was also trying the demo of Mousehouse the previous week. I made a conscious effort to make sure any memory or clock activity from the Mousehouse experience was no longer active. I pulled the batteries out a day before I even installed Xtension. So I'll switch housecodes tonight and see what happens (and keep the coffee pot unplugged). Thanks again for your input. Don Preisler dmpreisler@ucdavis.edu > From: Chad A Gard > Reply-To: "XTension Discussion List" > Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 13:59:48 -0500 > To: "XTension Discussion List" > Subject: Re: First experience with Xtension demo and a bit confused.. > > >> Been trying demos of a number of home automation programs (previously >> Mousehouse and Thinking Home) and tried the Xtension demo over the weekend. >> Had some strange things happen though. > > Ah, welcome to the HA world. > > >> >> I cleared out all the entries from the demo's "Master List" so I could try >> my 5 devices that the demo allows. I'm not doing Applescripts, just the >> basic lights and coffee pot on & off at their needed times. >> >> I'm using a CM11a that I recent purchased and my old, but very clean IIsi >> with 16 megs of RAM and a very minimal number of system extensions. > > I wouldn't worry about the IIsi. It's a powerhouse compared to some of the > machines many people run XTension on. > >> >> On Friday all was fine, lights were going on and off at their scheduled >> times until I went to bed. In the middle of the night I found the lights and >> coffee pot had switched on (they were not scheduled to do so). There was NO >> reference to them turning on in the log file. (although before midnight I do >> see log entries about "House code 'M'" which I have no idea were that comes >> from since I deleted all the demo entries). >> >> So not wanting my lights or coffee pot on in the middle of the night, I >> unplugged the CM11a (batteries removed) from the wall and the computer and >> let it sit for 24 hours. > > > Not to rule out a bug in XTension (though I would find one this pervasive > to be quite surprising), I'm guessing there's something wrong with your > CM11A and/or noise on the power lines. House code "M" is one of the more > susceptible ones to power line noise, so the odd log entries are not so > surprising. Especially if you typically use something arround then that > you don't at other times - a blender for the evening drink, an electric > toothbrush, etc. > > You mentioned that you "unplugged the CM11a (batteries removed)"... Does > that mean the batteries were in when it was connected? XTension's biggest > difference (and greatest strength) over the other HA systems I've used is > that it is "host based" (to use recording studio terminology) and doesn't > rely on the CM11a's memory or clock (both of which get messed up easily). > Leaving the batteries in can cause the CM11a to do weired things - > particularly if you had previously stored macros in it via some other > program (wether you deleted them or not). This could include executing > those events correctly, or with the wrong addresses and likely the wrong > time (simply because the CM11's clock pretty well stinks). So, anyway, if > you've been running it with the batteries in, you might try to remove them. > > Also, it's possible that your problems are the result of someone else in > the neighborhood with X10 stuff (who may not even know it). The signals > might not get to the computer because of the the differences in sensitivity > of the CM11 and various modules, as well as the outlet each is plugged > into. So you might try changing outlets for the CM11 and see if that makes > things better or worse. > >> >> Yesterday morning I plugged it in again, rechecked all my times and entries. >> Everything went fine throughout the afternoon and evening, but I again woke >> up at 4 am to find my X10 lights on. I grabbed my hand controller next to my >> bed and pressed all the off buttons and went back to sleep. This morning the >> log had entries of all my "off" button pressing but again, nothing of any of >> the lights being turned on in the middle of the night. >> > > This is what really makes me thing it's the CM11 messing up or spurrious > signals from a neighbor not quite strong enough for the CM11 to recognize, > but strong enough to turn things on. > >> I read Michael's documentation pretty closely, but can't find an >> explanation. I there something "hidden" in there, being a demo that's making >> this happen. Is it a look-see demo that I shouldn't be evaluating with real >> tasks? >> > > No, I don't think it is. There was a discussion about what we thought > Michael should do with regards to demos and the CP290 version, etc, and I'm > pretty sure he decided that a functioning demo would be A Good Thing. > > Anyway, good luck. If that doesn't help, I'm sure someone else will pop in > to help shortly. > > Chad Gard > > > > > > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ > This message brought to you with the BeeHive List Server > Subscription changes: < http://www.bzzzzzz.com/lists/ > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Remote Database Update From: Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 14:44:53 -0500 Chad A Gard wrote: > > This sounds quite spiffy for those of us who don't run in multi-mac mode, > but do edit remotely and run headless XTension machines as well. I'm > excited (maybe enough to upgrade from 1.7.3 that I've never changed > from....) Hi Folks, I'd like to point out a an important fact about my philosophy of 'upgrades'... Chad's one of our long term members, and although XTension is at probably 50 revisions past 1.7.3, he is still using it. Why? Because that version probably offered just about everything that others had suggested for over a year, and it really was the first of the really stable versions. (I've heard of version 1.5 running for 3 years with no problem) Most of the changes since then have been to indulge the 'developer' in the rest of us who want to really stretch the limits of this home automation thing. Along the way, everyone benefits, but the word to the most common user is that if you don't need it, don't upgrade. Sure, it doesn't cost anything (yet), but really, my primary systems here hardly use one third of the available verbs for the 'critical' functions, and all of the gew-gaws I have just add a bit of fun. Of course there's the fun.... Like, when the carpenter became familiar with the siren, I decided to randomly decide whether to turn it on when he gets into the beer cooler ? He jumps even higher now .... :-) michael ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Remote Database Update From: "Chad A Gard" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 14:55:02 -0500 >I'd like to point out a an important fact about my philosophy of >'upgrades'... I must say that I agree with Michael's upgrade philosophy. Just thought I would expound a little. > >Chad's one of our long term members, and although XTension is at >probably >50 revisions past 1.7.3, he is still using it. > >Why? Because that version probably offered just about everything that >others >had suggested for over a year, and it really was the first of the really >stable >versions. (I've heard of version 1.5 running for 3 years with no >problem) 1.7.3 is quite stable. I think I've rebooted 2 times since I rearanged the house in October. Once was because of a power failure, and once was because I was looking for something under the table the XTension machine sits under and inadvertantly pulled the cord. I am currently having some pretty severe X10 signal propagation problems due to some recent additions to the household noise-maker supply, but that has nothing to do with software. > >Most of the changes since then have been to indulge the 'developer' in >the >rest of us who want to really stretch the limits of this home automation >thing. > I wouldn't say that I don't stretch the limits (OK manybe not as far as some others, but, for a guy who lives alone, I do have quite a bit going one in my systems...). It's just that for me, by the time someone else asks for a new feature, or perhaps I decide to ask, and then Michael implements it, I usually have already created a work-arround. Sure, there would be a speed improvement letting XTension do some of those things, but not enough to go through the hassle of lugging a monitor up there (TB2 and my XTension host have never gotten along, and it's far too far away from the KVM switch), plugging it in, installing the new software, and hopping some new bug hasn't crept in in the meantime, which is extremely obscure but targeted right at the one thing I do all the time. Since I run XTension on a Performa 6200 with only NUD, NUD PES, and various stability adding things to join it, I have pleanty of "horsepower" to plow through my work-arrounds. In short, my system never broke, and I've been able to do pretty much everything I've wanted to do (and the things I haven't done are more because I'm just too busy/lazy to do them). And, much like the advice I give to clients with databases I've designed: Just because there's a new, potentially better X, it doesn't mean you need to get it. It's a testament to the design concept of XTension, that it is so flexible to allow tons of nifty stuff to be accomplished, in a completely personalized way. It also lends itself to modularity and redundancy - after all, I've got the WX200, and weathertracker each running on separate machines, and have been working on the LCARS interface thingy on yet another, all completely integrated. Proof that XTension truly is a "development environment", rather than an application like most HA software. If you think about it, it's an "environmental development environment." Cool! Chad Gard ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: First experience with Xtension demo and a bit confused.. From: Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 15:14:34 -0500 Don Preisler wrote: > On the same note, another neighbor could be using MY housecode which might > be an answer to why certain, not all devices, turned on in the middle of the > night. There was no electrical activity in my house (blender, electric > toothbrush, etc..) at that hour. Hi Don, Just in case you or others don't remember, there was a rash of messages some time ago about a cordless toobrush that was generating noise from the 'recharge station', and didn't need to be 'running' to create enough noise to stop every X-10 command in the vicinity... michael ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: First experience with Xtension demo and a bit confused.. From: "Don Preisler" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 12:15:07 -0800 Thanks, I'll unplug the toothbrush. Any other know interference items? If the devices don't have to be "switched on" I may have to systematically rule out all the power supplies too (Zips, modems, powered speakers, laptop chargers, cordless phones, etc..). I hope I don't have to go that far. Between my wife and I, the house is an electronic nerd-haven. Don Preisler dmpreisler@ucdavis.edu > From: michael@shed.com > Reply-To: "XTension Discussion List" > Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 15:14:34 -0500 > To: XTension Discussion List > Subject: Re: First experience with Xtension demo and a bit confused.. > > Don Preisler wrote: > >> On the same note, another neighbor could be using MY housecode which might >> be an answer to why certain, not all devices, turned on in the middle of the >> night. There was no electrical activity in my house (blender, electric >> toothbrush, etc..) at that hour. > > Hi Don, > > Just in case you or others don't remember, there was a rash of messages > some time ago about a cordless toobrush that was generating noise > from the 'recharge station', and didn't need to be 'running' to > create enough noise to stop every X-10 command in the vicinity... > > michael > > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ > This message brought to you with the BeeHive List Server > Subscription changes: < http://www.bzzzzzz.com/lists/ > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Remote Database Update From: Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 15:39:28 -0500 Chad A Gard wrote: > I wouldn't say that I don't stretch the limits (OK manybe not as far as > some others, but, for a guy who lives alone, I do have quite a bit going > one in my systems...). Hi Folks, Well it was a stupid example. Chad's certainly stretched the limits since the beginning. It's really people like Chad who have pushed ahead and found the need for new features, and then been patient while I figure out how. sorry Chad, michael ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: First experience with Xtension demo and a bit confused.. From: "Chad A Gard" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 15:34:26 -0500 >Thanks, I'll unplug the toothbrush. Any other know interference items? > >If the devices don't have to be "switched on" I may have to systematically >rule out all the power supplies too (Zips, modems, powered speakers, laptop >chargers, cordless phones, etc..). I hope I don't have to go that far. >Between my wife and I, the house is an electronic nerd-haven. Well, you just listed the major ones right there. Ironically (?), two of the most notorious power line poluters are computer power supplies and UPSes. But TV's, Amplifiers, Microwaves...many things like that have been known to make noise and/or "suck" signals. One baffling problem device I have is my soldering station. Not one you would normally think would be a problem. I'm also in the process of building a tiny model railroad layout on my coffee table, which I will control via XTension, and wonder if that might also become a noise problem. Luckily, once we know the offending device(s), a filter isn't terribly expensive. If you want to be amused, you might want to go back to the archives and read my tale of a certain dual PII server that would send a "Nuclear Attack Warning" SAME code to my weather radio... Chad Gard ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: X-cam anywhere - but here From: "Chuck Pelto" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 13:45:59 -0700 Hi Eric, >Ok, so the concensus is that these things suck. I guess I will call them and >ask why they are too dark to be usable, then I will return it and keep the >free palmpad and lamp modules. Perhaps I will keep the video sender and look >for an alternate video camera to use with them. Any suggestions for an >inexpensive composite video camera, suitable for a front door? -- Eric I can understand the frustration factor. I was looking forward to getting one of these myself. However, based on this report may abstain. However... ...you brought up something that intrigues me... ...can the video sender/receiver work with any other digital camera? Anyone got any ideas? Chuck ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Airport & X10 From: "Chuck Pelto" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 13:51:05 -0700 Hi There, Has anyone come up with any useful applications of the Mac Airport, RF networking, vis-a-vis X-10? Chuck ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: X-cam anywhere - but here From: "Don Preisler" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 12:58:08 -0800 Yes, Video sender can work with other cameras. Rather nicely. It's very generic. Don Preisler dmpreisler@ucdavis.edu > From: Chuck Pelto > Reply-To: "XTension Discussion List" > Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 13:45:59 -0700 > To: "XTension Discussion List" > Subject: Re: X-cam anywhere - but here > > Hi Eric, > >> Ok, so the concensus is that these things suck. I guess I will call them and >> ask why they are too dark to be usable, then I will return it and keep the >> free palmpad and lamp modules. Perhaps I will keep the video sender and look >> for an alternate video camera to use with them. Any suggestions for an >> inexpensive composite video camera, suitable for a front door? -- Eric > > I can understand the frustration factor. I was looking forward to getting > one of these myself. However, based on this report may abstain. > > However... > > ....you brought up something that intrigues me... > > ....can the video sender/receiver work with any other digital camera? > > Anyone got any ideas? > > Chuck > > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ > This message brought to you with the BeeHive List Server > Subscription changes: < http://www.bzzzzzz.com/lists/ > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: X-cam anywhere - but here From: "Chad A Gard" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 16:05:19 -0500 >Hi Eric, > >>Ok, so the concensus is that these things suck. >I can understand the frustration factor. I was looking forward to getting >one of these myself. However, based on this report may abstain. > >However... > >...you brought up something that intrigues me... > >...can the video sender/receiver work with any other digital camera? > >Anyone got any ideas? I, too, was looking forward to getting one of these, and will probably now abstain. But I have recently had an idea. It actually started forming when we were talking about gutter icing the other week. Just how small is the sender? How much current draw does it use when sending and powering one of the cameras? What I was thinking...Perhaps you could power the sender/camera combo with a battery instead of with the power adaptor. Then, you could mount it on a sky rider toy. That would mean I could chase squirrels from the comfort of my living room, and they wouldn't have any idea when I was playing. They also wouldn't be able to throw accorns at me anymore. 'Course, that also might take some of the fun out of it for them (but not me). What I was thinking was that it wouldn't need to be powered for very long - 30 minutes maybe. So, we could use a rechargeable battery, perhaps from a radio controlled airplane or car. We could provide contacts and brushes on little armatures on the car, such that when it pulls into the "hanger", not only is it protected from the weather, but the battery can be recharged as well. This idea could also be expanded to gutter inspection, cat tormenting, security for those with big lawns (like Michael), and so forth. Well, whadaythink? Chad Gard ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: ZephIR arrives! From: "studioZee" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 14:02:55 +0900 Happy Valentines Day from studioZee. http://www.thezephir.com/special/shed/shedofferv.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: RE: ZephIR arrives! From: "Davis, Dean" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 16:11:58 -0500 What's the password? The site asks for user name and password. Dean Davis EDI Administrator Holland Hitch Company 467 Ottawa Ave. Holland, MI 49422-2099 PH:616-396-6501 x4427 -----Original Message----- From: studioZee [mailto:shed@thezephir.com] Sent: Monday, February 14, 2000 12:03 AM To: XTension_Discussion@lists.bzzzzzz.com Cc: michael@shed.com Subject: ZephIR arrives! Happy Valentines Day from studioZee. http://www.thezephir.com/special/shed/shedofferv.htm _____________________________________________________________________ This message brought to you with the BeeHive List Server Subscription changes: < http://www.bzzzzzz.com/lists/ > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: RE: ZephIR arrives! From: "Davis, Dean" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 16:15:22 -0500 Retract that. The network guys installed a proxy server and it was that that was asking for a password. Sorry to alarm. Dean Davis EDI Administrator Holland Hitch Company 467 Ottawa Ave. Holland, MI 49422-2099 PH:616-396-6501 x4427 -----Original Message----- From: Davis, Dean [mailto:Dean.Davis@HollandHitch.com] Sent: Monday, February 14, 2000 4:12 PM To: XTension Discussion List Subject: RE: ZephIR arrives! What's the password? The site asks for user name and password. Dean Davis EDI Administrator Holland Hitch Company 467 Ottawa Ave. Holland, MI 49422-2099 PH:616-396-6501 x4427 -----Original Message----- From: studioZee [mailto:shed@thezephir.com] Sent: Monday, February 14, 2000 12:03 AM To: XTension_Discussion@lists.bzzzzzz.com Cc: michael@shed.com Subject: ZephIR arrives! Happy Valentines Day from studioZee. http://www.thezephir.com/special/shed/shedofferv.htm _____________________________________________________________________ This message brought to you with the BeeHive List Server Subscription changes: < http://www.bzzzzzz.com/lists/ > _____________________________________________________________________ This message brought to you with the BeeHive List Server Subscription changes: < http://www.bzzzzzz.com/lists/ > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: X-cam anywhere - but here From: "Don Preisler" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 13:22:47 -0800 Stack three Palm Pilots together and you have the size of the sender. It's not heavy though. Strip it out of it's plastic case and you may have something quite smaller. I was going to put 8 AA's together to see it I could power it and the camera, but haven't gotten to it yet.. I was thinking more of mounting it (temporarily of course) to the shell of my desert tortoise and uploading the files to a website, the "tortoise cam". Although the lens on that XCam is not wide enough to pick up the back of his head in addition to the direction he's heading. And I don't want the California SPCA paying me a visit either. Don Preisler dmpreisler@ucdavis.edu > From: Chad A Gard > Reply-To: "XTension Discussion List" > Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 16:05:19 -0500 > To: "XTension Discussion List" > Subject: Re: X-cam anywhere - but here > >> Hi Eric, >> >>> Ok, so the concensus is that these things suck. > > >> I can understand the frustration factor. I was looking forward to getting >> one of these myself. However, based on this report may abstain. >> >> However... >> >> ...you brought up something that intrigues me... >> >> ...can the video sender/receiver work with any other digital camera? >> >> Anyone got any ideas? > > > I, too, was looking forward to getting one of these, and will probably now > abstain. But I have recently had an idea. It actually started forming > when we were talking about gutter icing the other week. > > Just how small is the sender? How much current draw does it use when > sending and powering one of the cameras? What I was thinking...Perhaps you > could power the sender/camera combo with a battery instead of with the > power adaptor. Then, you could mount it on a sky rider toy. That would > mean I could chase squirrels from the comfort of my living room, and they > wouldn't have any idea when I was playing. They also wouldn't be able to > throw accorns at me anymore. 'Course, that also might take some of the fun > out of it for them (but not me). > > What I was thinking was that it wouldn't need to be powered for very long - > 30 minutes maybe. So, we could use a rechargeable battery, perhaps from a > radio controlled airplane or car. We could provide contacts and brushes on > little armatures on the car, such that when it pulls into the "hanger", not > only is it protected from the weather, but the battery can be recharged as > well. This idea could also be expanded to gutter inspection, cat > tormenting, security for those with big lawns (like Michael), and so forth. > > Well, whadaythink? > > Chad Gard > > > > > > > > > _____________________________________________________________________ > This message brought to you with the BeeHive List Server > Subscription changes: < http://www.bzzzzzz.com/lists/ > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Airport & X10 From: "Sean McMains" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 15:50:20 -0600 > Hi There, > > Has anyone come up with any useful applications of the Mac Airport, RF > networking, vis-a-vis X-10? Hi Chuck, I've got an Airport in my iBook and really like it. I'm afraid its utility is a bit limited for HA applications, however, since it pretty much wants to have a computer on the end of it. The most compelling way that I'd see to integrate it with an HA system would be to have a copy of XTension (or one of the clever front-ends people have created) running on an iBook that you could haul around to various places in the house with you. An iBook would make a pretty stylish remote control, and it's always easier to find just a power outlet than it is to run a network connection. Sean ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: ZephIR arrives! From: Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 17:19:11 -0500 Hi Folks, I'm still loving mine, and works without a problem with XTension. It's so nice to promote a product for a change that actually gets to market :-) Congratulations to John and Mike, of studioZee ! michael PS: Hey folks, John and Mike look to be straight-arrow. Let's help keep them in business... studioZee wrote: > > Happy Valentines Day from studioZee. > > http://www.thezephir.com/special/shed/shedofferv.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: ZephIR arrives! From: "Robb Cutler" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 17:03:29 -0500 On 2/14/00 5:19 PM, michael@shed.com at michael@shed.com wrote: > Hi Folks, > > I'm still loving mine, and works without a problem with XTension. > > It's so nice to promote a product for a change that actually > gets to market :-) > > Congratulations to John and Mike, of studioZee ! > michael > > PS: Hey folks, John and Mike look to be straight-arrow. > Let's help keep them in business... Can't wait. First to order (according to Mike)... - Robb ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: ZephIR arrives! From: "Thomas Arman" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 16:56:13 -0500 Anybody been able to add one to their shopping cart? I click "Add to Order" and I get "0 items in shopping cart"! Help! Tom At 02:02 PM 2/14/00 +0900, you wrote: > Happy Valentines Day from studioZee. > > http://www.thezephir.com/special/shed/shedofferv.htm > > > > >_____________________________________________________________________ > This message brought to you with the BeeHive List Server > Subscription changes: < http://www.bzzzzzz.com/lists/ > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: ZephIR arrives! From: "Sean McMains" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 16:18:55 -0600 > Anybody been able to add one to their shopping cart? I > click "Add to Order" and I get "0 items in shopping cart"! I've got the same problem. Just emailed the ZephIr guys about it. :( Sean ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: ZephIR arrives! From: Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 14:22:40 -0800 (PST) > Anybody been able to add one to their shopping cart? I > click "Add to Order" and I get "0 items in shopping cart"! I get the same thing. > Help! Ditto. Ned ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: ZephIR arrives! From: "Robb Cutler" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 17:27:53 -0500 On 2/14/00 5:22 PM, ned+xtension@innosoft.com at ned+xtension@innosoft.com wrote: >> Anybody been able to add one to their shopping cart? I >> click "Add to Order" and I get "0 items in shopping cart"! > > I get the same thing. > >> Help! > > Ditto. > > Ned I went through the process and, quite honestly, didn't pay attention to whether I had 1 or 0 in the quantity. But it must have gone through -- here's the e-mail I got from Mike Sims: > Hi Robert, > > Congratulations, you were the first purchaser of a ZephIR after we opened > the store. > > Unfortunately, we had the e-commerce software in test mode for the first 3 > purchasers. > > Below is a copy of the confirmation we received from the secure credit card > processor. > > As you can see it is in test mode. Since our server never actually sees > your credit card number, we cannot correct this without your help. Please > revisit the store and repeat your purchase. We promise you will not be > billed twice.! > > If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call at > 406-442-5321 or e-mail me at mikenbrew@brewmanjii.com. > > We will ship your product today. > > Sincerely, > > Mike Sims > studioZee You might e-mail Mike directly or call him... Regards, Robb ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: ZephIR arrives! From: "Sean McMains" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 16:40:02 -0600 > I went through the process and, quite honestly, didn't pay attention to > whether I had 1 or 0 in the quantity. But it must have gone through -- > here's the e-mail I got from Mike Sims: It seems to be working correctly now, FWIW. Hooray! Sean ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: ZephIR arrives! From: "Ray" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 18:25:42 -0500 I had a problem ordering the first time I tried also. It said the quantity was 0 but I'm SURE I had it set to 1. I may have hit the "back" button somewhere in the process and many shopping cart programs can't handle that. It worked fine the second time I tried it. Ray ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re:Paging software? From: "Jeff Kandt" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 19:05:53 -0500 At 5:08 PM -0500 2/4/00, you wrote: >The YoYo will do it, if you can find one (check eBay, but beware >that it's OS 9 flaky). [snip] >(The YoYo is like this; it's not documented anywhere but the AS Dictionary). spud- Is it the "YoYoLand" application which should have a dictionary? Because Script Editor doesn't seem to see any dictionary for that app. I'm running 2.1.3 which, according to the Big Island web site (such as it is), is the latest... Any idea what I'm doing wrong? -Jeff -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Jeff Kandt | "When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf | |jeff@scrollbar.com | jvyy unir cevinpl!" -Brad Templeton of ClariNet | |[PGP Pub key: http://pgp.ai.mit.edu/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x6CE51904 | | or send a message with the subject "send pgp key"] | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Paging software? From: "Gordon Meyer" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 16:22:53 -0800 > Is it the "YoYoLand" application which should have a dictionary? > Because Script Editor doesn't seem to see any dictionary for that > app. It's the YoYo manager, in your Extensions folder, that has the dictionary. (I don't recall the exact name, but poke around in there and you'll find it.) ----- Gordon Meyer http://www.g2meyer.com/ p o w e r e d b y m a c i n t o s h ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Error message ! From: "Robert Lesperance" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 19:12:59 -0500 > CE MESSAGE EST AU FORMAT MIME. Comme votre lecteur de courrier ne comprend pas ce format, il se peut que tout ou partie de ce message soit illisible. --Boundary_(ID_XmPMOCYBctMwNU1F3dVK4Q) Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable Hello, On the execution of a script containing the =ABBedroom lamp=BBor when I turn it off from the control panel a message always appear in the log window (and only for that unit) : =AB An error has occurred while executing the Off scrip= t for "Bedroom lamp" - The disk or object is disconnected=BB. I deleted that unit and recreated it without any change. What could be the reason of that message ? Thanks in advance. Robert Lesp=E9rance Qu=E9bec, Canada --Boundary_(ID_XmPMOCYBctMwNU1F3dVK4Q) Content-type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable Error message ! Hello,

On the execution of a script containing the =ABBedroom lamp=BBor when I turn it= off from the control panel a message always appear in the log window (and o= nly for that unit) : =AB An error has occur= red while executing the Off script for "Bedroom lamp" - The disk o= r object is disconnected=BB.  

I deleted that unit and recreated it without any change.  What could b= e the reason of that message ?

Thanks in advance.



Robert Lesp=E9rance
Qu=E9bec, Canada
 --Boundary_(ID_XmPMOCYBctMwNU1F3dVK4Q)-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Paging software? From: "Tom Chiara" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 17:41:20 -0700 Gordon Meyer wrote: >It's the YoYo manager, in your Extensions folder, that has the dictionary. More specifically, it's: YourHardDrive:System Folder:Extensions:Big Island:Managers:YoYo Event Mgr Tom Chiara tom@amug.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Error message ! From: Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 20:04:34 -0500 Robert Lesperance wrote: > On the execution of a script containing the «Bedroom lamp» or when I > turn it off from the control panel a message always appear in the log > window (and only for that unit) : « An error has occurred while > executing the Off script for "Bedroom lamp" - The disk or object is > disconnected».   > > I deleted that unit and recreated it without any change.  What could > be the reason of that message ? Hello Robert, That message sometimes occurs because somewhere in XTension's processing of the errors from the AppleEvents manager, the error number is corrupted or not preserved. This problem has only been observed in later versions of the MacOS, so I can only imagine that there is some 'equate' that I am not including correctly... ok, which of the zillions ? I'm always looking. It has been reported before, and perhaps some of those who did, could help to correlate this particular message with some situation that I could replicate ? But this error is indicative of something that is wacko, like a script? Is there any script associated with this unit? How about it's X-10 address ? Still ok? No 'nulls'? :-) michael ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: ZephIR arrives! From: "Ken Landers" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 20:42:41 -0500 Did anyone get an order confirmation by email from ZephIR? I got the log on confirmation, but not for the order. Maybe I need to wait until tomorrow, huh? Ken ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: ZephIR arrives! From: "Robb Cutler" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 20:54:17 -0500 On 2/14/00 8:42 PM, Ken Landers at klanders@atl.mediaone.net wrote: > Did anyone get an order confirmation by email from ZephIR? > > I got the log on confirmation, but not for the order. Maybe I need to > wait until tomorrow, huh? > > Ken > Yes, but I ended up e-mailing my credit card info directly... I got a FedEx tracking number from John. - Robb ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: ZephIR arrives! From: "AL Assid" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 20:23:38 -0600 I got a confirmation in about 20 minutes Al ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: BY & RANGE From: "Jean Laroche" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 21:27:12 -0500 Michale wrote: >In the next version, XTension will automatically 'range limit' the value >for 'dimmable' units (but not for 'pseudos'). > >BUT, don't let this lull you into failing to limit check any script that >repeats some DIM/BRI function. as in the 'slow dawn' script... That is, unless I want a script to execute continuously for nothing ;-) I long for the moment when my slow dawn script will simply read like: if daylight then -- Up here in the north, there's a big time difference -- between summer and winter sunrise, hence the verification. -- Sunrise is turning off "lamp" if it's very late turnoff "lamp" else brighten "lamp" by 10 if (value of "lamp") < 100 then execute script "slow dawn" in 5 * minutes end if I've been torn all over the weekend about whether I should also suggest a RANGE word (ouch!): brighten "lamp" by 10 range {0,75} But how to easily check afterwards that the boundaries are reached? The best I found was: set boundary to brighten "lamp" by 10 range {0,75} -- where boundary is boolean: brighten returns true if the command makes -- the value of the unit hit one of the range boundaries (Sorry Michael for begging) Chad, my old slow Mac will appreciate having the range checking done in fast optimized machine language rather than compiled AppleScript. Whatever we can gain... Jean ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Powerful lighting From: "Jean Laroche" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 21:32:01 -0500 > Reply to: Powerful lighting >I have a Metal Halide aquarium hood for my saltwater tank. The lights >themselves are 2x250 watts. > (...) >Bob Bob, Call or visit a store where they sell electrical equipment for contractors or factories and buy yourself a true industrial contactor from Télémécanique, Siemens, ABB, Sprecher+Shuh, etc. Better yet, visit www.automationdirect.com. Drive the contactor from an appliance module. Make sure you select a 120 V AC coil, because they exist in many AC and DC voltages. Jean ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Powerful lighting From: "Clark Martin" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 17:49:59 -0800 > Reply to: Re: Powerful lighting >ED, > >I am truly afraid of running this setup on a single appliance module. (I'm >not a wuss, I dig elbow deep into computers without a grounding strap on a >regular basis by trade, but these suckers run HOT. I wish they were two >seperate 250 watts on individual ballasts. If that were the case I would >feel more comfortable. Maybe I'll give it a shot when I know I'll be >around for the whole day and can give it the "hand on the module test" >every half hour or so. I love X10, just wish they were a little more >dependable. To me they are a little too quirky. The wife acceptance factor >(WAF) still is a little wanting. She's tolerant, but not enthusiastic. Try rigging up a switched wall outlet module. They have an unqualified 15 Amp rating. Clark Martin Redwood City, CA, USA Macintosh / Internet Consulting clarkm@pacbell.net "I'm a designated driver on the Information Super Highway" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: ZephIR arrives! From: "Chris Youngers" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 18:48:00 -0800 on 02/14/2000 6:23 PM, AL Assid at alassid@swbell.net wrote: > I got a confirmation in about 20 minutes > Al I got confirmation in 5 minutes. I can name that tune in ..... Oops ... sorry wrong game show. =-=-=-==-==-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-==-==-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-==-==-= youngers@gte.net Chris Youngers ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Powerful lighting From: "Bob Schatzman" Date: 14 Feb 00 21:41:43 -0600 Reply to: Re: Powerful lighting Jean, That's a good idea, I assume it's basically a relay type switch. I had thought of something like this, I built a small one for an ADB/IO at work, but the sheer power going to these lights has me moving cautiously. I know my limits and I don't want to build something that could burn my house down. Now that I know the name for this device I'll start digging a bit. thanks, Bob On 2/14/00, Jean Laroche wrote: > Reply to: Powerful lighting >I have a Metal Halide aquarium hood for my saltwater tank. The lights >themselves are 2x250 watts. > (...) >Bob Bob, Call or visit a store where they sell electrical equipment for contractors or factories and buy yourself a true industrial contactor from Télémécanique, Siemens, ABB, Sprecher+Shuh, etc. Better yet, visit www.automationdirect.com. Drive the contactor from an appliance module. Make sure you select a 120 V AC coil, because they exist in many AC and DC voltages. Jean _____________________________________________________________________ This message brought to you with the BeeHive List Server Subscription changes: < http://www.bzzzzzz.com/lists/ > RFC822 header ----------------------------------- Return-Path: Received: from lists.bzzzzzz.com (205.147.31.69) by jdtv.com with SMTP (Eudora Internet Mail Server 2.2.2); Mon, 14 Feb 2000 20:35:08 -0600 Received: from sympatico.ca by lists.bzzzzzz.com with SMTP; Mon, 14 Feb 2000 18:34:25 -0800 X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express for Macintosh - 4.01 (295) Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 21:32:01 -0500 Subject: Re: Powerful lighting From: "Jean Laroche" To: XTension Discussion List Mime-version: 1.0 X-Priority: 3 Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable Message-Id: <20000215023306.UJLE3031.tomts3-srv.bellnexxia.net@[207.236.253.47]> Reply-To: "XTension Discussion List" Sender: Precedence: Bulk Bob Schatzman System Administrator JDTV 414-247-5088 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Powerful lighting From: "Bob Schatzman" Date: 14 Feb 00 21:45:46 -0600 Reply to: Re: Powerful lighting Another good idea... I may have one in my HA bin along with the other spare parts. thanx Bob On 2/14/00, Clark Martin wrote: > Reply to: Re: Powerful lighting >ED, > >I am truly afraid of running this setup on a single appliance module. (I'm >not a wuss, I dig elbow deep into computers without a grounding strap on a >regular basis by trade, but these suckers run HOT. I wish they were two >seperate 250 watts on individual ballasts. If that were the case I would >feel more comfortable. Maybe I'll give it a shot when I know I'll be >around for the whole day and can give it the "hand on the module test" >every half hour or so. I love X10, just wish they were a little more >dependable. To me they are a little too quirky. The wife acceptance factor >(WAF) still is a little wanting. She's tolerant, but not enthusiastic. Try rigging up a switched wall outlet module. They have an unqualified 15 Amp rating. Clark Martin Redwood City, CA, USA Macintosh / Internet Consulting clarkm@pacbell.net "I'm a designated driver on the Information Super Highway" _____________________________________________________________________ This message brought to you with the BeeHive List Server Subscription changes: < http://www.bzzzzzz.com/lists/ > RFC822 header ----------------------------------- Return-Path: Received: from lists.bzzzzzz.com (205.147.31.69) by jdtv.com with SMTP (Eudora Internet Mail Server 2.2.2); Mon, 14 Feb 2000 20:41:28 -0600 Received: from pacbell.net by lists.bzzzzzz.com with SMTP; Mon, 14 Feb 2000 18:40:46 -0800 Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 17:49:59 -0800 From: Clark Martin Subject: Re: Powerful lighting In-reply-to: <1261621807-1056898@jdtv.com> X-Sender: clarkm@postoffice.pacbell.net To: XTension Discussion List Message-id: MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Reply-To: "XTension Discussion List" Sender: Precedence: Bulk Bob Schatzman System Administrator JDTV 414-247-5088 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: FW: ZephIR arrives! From: "studioZee" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 23:14:45 -0700 >> Did anyone get an order confirmation by email from ZephIR? >> >> I got the log on confirmation, but not for the order. Maybe I need to >> wait until tomorrow, huh? >> >> Ken > A quick note: Confirmations are going out with fedex tracking numbers. The sales confirmation is buggy but eventually there will be two emails- one to confirm order processing (immediate) and one to give a fedex tracking number (throughout the ship day with closing at 4:30pm mountain) Too many - too few? AND thanks for the wonderful help, patience and support from everyone john and mike ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: E-mail from Marrick From: "Chuck and Karen Coleman" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 22:20:30 -0800 Below is an e-mail I just got from Merrick after I asked about the LynX PLC. Have you seen a prototype yet Michael? I am interested in this due to the extended coding capabilities and the dislike of the CM11. Chuck P.S. "production in March".....selling in ?????? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm glad to see there are people like you who want this product! Yes, we are starting production in March. I would like to personally apologize for the delay since I held the product from production last year. I was not happy with the design, and the changes we made greatly delayed it. However, I think you will find the enhancements (which come at no extra cost) where well worth the wait. Our biggest mistake was to announce too early. We have other products also in the works, but we've learned our lessons. No more announcements until we can ship a product - even if it means missing a show date... We plan to have product available for shipment the week following the Automated Home Living show in Orlando, which will be held March 2-5. Thank you for your patience. Regards, Rick Zarr Vice President - Engineering Marrick Limited, Inc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: FW: ZephIR arrives! From: "Chuck Rice" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 22:36:43 -0800 At 11:14 PM -0700 2000/02/14, studioZee wrote: > >> Did anyone get an order confirmation by email from ZephIR? >>> >>> I got the log on confirmation, but not for the order. Maybe I need to >>> wait until tomorrow, huh? >>> >>> Ken >> > >A quick note: > >Confirmations are going out with fedex tracking numbers. >The sales confirmation is buggy but eventually there will be two emails- > >one to confirm order processing (immediate) >and one to give a fedex tracking number > (throughout the ship day with closing at 4:30pm mountain) > >Too many - too few? > > >AND thanks for the wonderful help, patience and support from everyone > >john and mike I ordered this morning. Got two emails, but the tracking number came first. The second just said that I had been added to the storefront database. I hope I do not get added to any spam lists. Anyway, My Zephir is in route: :) -Chuck- >Airbill Number : xxxxxxxxxxxxx > * Delivered To : > * Delivery Location : CAMPBELL CA > * Delivery Date : > * Delivery Time : > * Signed For By : > * Status Exception : > * Scan Activity : > * Left FedEx Origin Location HELENA MT 02/14 18:16 > * Picked up HELENA MT 02/14 17:39 > * Picked up HELENA MT 02/14 17:37 __________________________________________________________________________ Chuck Rice ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: ZephIR arrives! From: "studioZee" Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 23:40:38 -0700 ---------- >From: Chuck Rice >To: "XTension Discussion List" >Subject: Re: FW: ZephIR arrives! >Date: Mon, Feb 14, 2000, 11:36 PM > > I hope I do not get added to any spam lists. Nope ---------------------------------------------------------------------- End of XTension Discussion Digest _____________________________________________________________________ This message brought to you with the BeeHive List Server Subscription changes: < http://www.bzzzzzz.com/lists/ >