Two ISY's - Can they Communicate X10 Between Them?

[db2ace2]

Hello ,

 

I Recently purchased a second ISY-994I PRO due to #Program Limitations, so I now run two ISY's each with their own 2314S PLM but on the same Home wiring. I take care to not define the same devices to both ISY's. This appears to be working well, and accomplished what I needed by allowing me more than 1000 Programs per ISY.

 

Now I would like to communicate between the two ISY's and would like to do this either by using Networking/REST commands or by sending and receiving X10 Commands. I Prefer to use the X10 command method since that is built into the ISY Programming more easily.

 

I wrote a simple program on each ISY to detect when an X10 N1 Command is received and set a variable accordingly. A second Program also on each has only a then to Send the X10N1 On Command.

 

ISY#2 has the X10 Module Installed. ISY#1 does not.

 

If I send from ISY#1 then ISY#1 Detects that the X10 Command is received but ISY#2 does not. Likewise if I send from ISY#2 ISY#2 Detects that the X10 Command is received but ISY#1 does not.

 

Is this because each PLM only listens for its own Device and command traffic, or is this because ISY#1 does not have the X10 Module on it? I don't want to purchase the X10 module for the other ISY just to test this since if this will not work, then I will not need the X10 Module on the other ISY.

 

Same holds true with the Networking Module. If Both have the Networking Module Installed will I be able to then communicate via Network Protocols or is that also a limitation? Is there a better way to communicate between the two ISY's.

 

Any Help is appreciated.

 

Thanks

Charles Seiler

 

P.S. I know you are thinking I have to many programs, but I really only have minimal for what I am doing with them which includes Multiple PhotoBeam, Multiple Insteon Motion, Multi Camera Motion, and EZSNSRF Motion Triggers, Ponds, Driveway Sensors, Multiple Thermostats, etc for several of my devices. The 1000 Program Limitation really does limit the potential of ISY! If all you want is to turn lights off or on you can well live within that. If you want to use your device for its potential, Fade and Dim, and Blink lights, Use IO-Lincs to sound Chimes, X10 Palm Pads, Remote Lincs, Open Close Sensors etc, then you need much more than 1000 Programs for a Large Home. We need a Product that will allow us to use all of the available features of the ISY has potential to offer without having to run two of them.

[db2ace2]

Correction to my previous email. I still only get 1000 Programs per ISY not more than, its just that I now have 2000 Program capability between the two ISY's although it is for different devices.

 

Just wanted to clarify that.

 

Thanks

Charles Seiler

[IndyMike]

Hello Charles,

 

Both PLM's and ISY's should be able to send and receive X10. There is no specific linking in the X10 protocol as there is in Insteon. If the signal is placed on the powerline, all receivers should be able to detect it, assuming there isn't absorption or noise.

 

If ISY#1 does not have the X10 module installed, you will not be able to "name" X10 units or track their status. The ISY will still be able to detect and act on Raw X10 signals.

 

You should be able to communicate between systems using X10. Check your "Event Viewer" to make sure you are not receiving X10 between the ISY's. If not, you likely have a powerline issue.

 

I have multiple Insteon PLM's and X10 Controllers in my home. All can send/receive X10. That said, I do take great pain in keeping X10 off the powerline (mostly RF) because it is sooo SLOW. If there is a network module solution that would accomplish the same task, I would recommend that instead. Unfortunately, I'm network module "challenged" and can't offer a solution.

 

Hello ,

 

I Recently purchased a second ISY-994I PRO due to #Program Limitations, so I now run two ISY's each with their own 2314S PLM but on the same Home wiring. I take care to not define the same devices to both ISY's. This appears to be working well, and accomplished what I needed by allowing me more than 1000 Programs per ISY.

 

Now I would like to communicate between the two ISY's and would like to do this either by using Networking/REST commands or by sending and receiving X10 Commands. I Prefer to use the X10 command method since that is built into the ISY Programming more easily.

 

I wrote a simple program on each ISY to detect when an X10 N1 Command is received and set a variable accordingly. A second Program also on each has only a then to Send the X10N1 On Command.

 

ISY#2 has the X10 Module Installed. ISY#1 does not.

 

If I send from ISY#1 then ISY#1 Detects that the X10 Command is received but ISY#2 does not. Likewise if I send from ISY#2 ISY#2 Detects that the X10 Command is received but ISY#1 does not.

 

Is this because each PLM only listens for its own Device and command traffic, or is this because ISY#1 does not have the X10 Module on it? I don't want to purchase the X10 module for the other ISY just to test this since if this will not work, then I will not need the X10 Module on the other ISY.

 

[db2ace2]

Thanks for the Help. At least knowing it should work is a great first step. I currently use X10 Commands from my Network Cameras to Trigger Lighting Events when Camera Motion is detected. This is working great however I deliver the X10 Command to the ISY using the HTTP REST interface so it is actually a Network Delivered X10 Command and not a Home Wiring Delivered command. That makes it much more reliable.

 

I am not sure if I can come up with a Network X10 Solution for going from a Program on one ISY to a Program on another or not, but I will work on that. I agree with you on X10 for the most part, and I do not currently use X10 to communicate with most of my devices, however I do use the Camera Network X10 Interface I mentioned, and I have an EZX10RF which works very well for getting Wireless X10 Commands from a Palm Pad, and sending it to the ISY. This is still a much better interface than a RemoteLinc. I never have any signal loss issues. I just do not assign X10 directly to any devices other than the EZX10RF and from there its all Insteon, and I do not use it for Device Communication other than via the EZX10RF. This seems to work just fine. I do use the X10 Module Functions in the one ISY though. I don't think I will need it on the second one, but if I go with a Networked Solution, then I probably will need the Network Module on the second ISY.

 

Thanks Again for your response!

 

Charles Seiler

[TJF1960]

I am not sure what a network delivered x10signal is, but you should be able to use a network resource on one ISY to change a variable on the other. The one sending will need the network module, if both will send each other messages then both will need the network resource module.

[Xathros]

I'm with Tim on this one. Network module is the way to go. Powerline is nowhere near as reliable - especially when sending X10.

 

-Xathros