problem with rr501 transceiver module
scooter
I am having problems with the x10 rr501 transceiver module. Everything
works fine until suddenly it stops receiving signals altogether for both
itself and of course any modules on the A1-9 house code (about once
every 24 hours but not at the same time). Even the built in pushbutton
switch fails to work. Seemingly the only way to correct this problem is
to unplug and plug the module back in. The module is fairly new (about
2 months) and worked fine until about a week ago. Any ideas?
Declan McEvoy
I had the exact same problem if the unit was not used for a period of time.
As you said even the push button wouldn't activate it. Same solution too,
unplug and replug. I sent a posting to this group but the bottom line was
return of the unit for a replacement and it works fine so far......
Declan McEvoy.
Jon Bromberg
DIM/BRIGHT commands the unit will lock up. I replaced my receiver with the
smaller 16 base (the one that comes with the Keychain Remote) and it fixed
the problem.
JB
scooter <12...@sk.sympatico.ca> wrote in message
<36623AEC...@sk.sympatico.ca>...
snorbury
No I do not have any two way lamp modules. I do have several LM465 regular
lamp modules. I currently have 3 receivers and experience the problem with two
of them. On one of the receivers I can cause the lockup to happen by dimming
lamp modules or wall switches - on the other it doesn't happen everytime. I
currently have 3 receivers and experience the problem with two of them. The
only receiver that seems to work fine is the oldest one I purchased at Radio
Shack. The other two are less than a month old and were both purchased from
x10.
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The following is from a post above (subject: CM11A warning, inherant bugs
cause incorrect operation and loss of time of day Cures/Causes/Test results.)
RT501 controller locks up especially when plugged in near another controller
or near a lamp module;
crashes or locks up when a cm11a is on the circuit in the crazy mode,
or just locks up for no reason after a day or so and will not respond to its
button or radio controls.
Cure unknown it was replaced with a new unit (not sure about this) and x10
sent a letter requesting
$4.00 to cover handling. The new unit does exactly the same thing, locks up
in less than a day
and must be reset by powering off for at least 3 seconds. The unit can be
verified to be in lock up mode
by testing the internal on off button, if it doesnt react it is locked up.
They either sent me back the same
unit or all new units do the same thing.
Theory: the chip used in these units has a 'watch dog timer' to reset the
chip if it its watch dog timer
is not cleared before its time out period. The chips are made by "Microchip"
and are the PIC series
of one chip microcontrollers. The code must not be using the watchdog
feature.
An older unit sold by stanley does not have this problem but new ones built
under x10 label pg0283a
have the lock up problem.
To test:
Read stickers on Rt501 unit. observe sticker pg0283a.
Plug in an Rt501 and lamp dimmer module to the same socket,
and set lamp to various levels. Test response of rt501 unit
by sending radio commands. Verify lock up by testing with internal button.
I've seen it lock up in a matter of minutes. Observe that the
radio commands that the unit is set to (1-8 or 9-16) depending on switch
position,
will not work after the unit is locked up, but return after the rt501 has
been unplugged momemtarily.
A new unit had this problem so it eventually was sent back for replacement.
Upon receipt of a new unit the same problem appeared, occasional lock up.
Cure? rt501 must be unplugged for at least 3 seconds whenever it locks up.
x10 remedy?
Ideally fix softare and replace affected units, recall and replace units
affected,
investigate problem and see if a part has been left off the boards that may
disable the
self reset on these chips.
snorbury
seems to have gotten rid of the problem with the other two newer x10 rr501's.
Don't know why as they were all on different housecodes. Go figure.
Scott.
Brian Seburn
night to ask about this very problem! I have 5 of these wireless receivers, 3 of
them lock up.. some worse then others, and my original (couple years old now)
never locks up, and has better range then any of the new ones. I'm going to have
to check on this dimming idea though, that might just be what's causing my
problem.. wish you all had come up with a fix by now! :-)
Brian
snorbury
without now) by getting rid of my old Radio Shack receiver. Also make sure you
don't have any of the newer receivers overlapping codes - especially with the older
recievers. (The newer ones receive all 16 for the housecode selected and the switch
is only for selecting the local appliance module's address - 1 or 9 on that
housecode)
Scott Norbury.