Hi all,

I want to control my existing home automation system with mbed. The current status that, I can control everything with a RF remote controller. But, I want to make it via an X-10 compatible RF transmitter attached to the mbed. Making the transmitter running with mbed was a piece of cake. I've already made it.

But, main point is that I don't know what to send for e.g. "A4 ON" (turning A4 assigned lamp appliance ON) by the transmitter. I know required the binary package but not for wireless transmitter, it is for powerline.

Any of you guys knows what to send with a transmitter to be able to turn "A4 ON" on. If I can figure out how to send data for "A4 ON", I will then be able to use the same approach for the rest appliances.

Thank you for your contributions in advance.

Find a compatible RF receiver and record the signals?

Here is the protocol referece from X10: http://www.x10pro.com/pro/pdf/technote.pdf

I have seen other people do similar things with the X-10 hardware using an Arduino. Google for "X-10 Arduino" and I'm sure you can find example code that will be pretty straight forward to port to the mbed.

Hi Igor,

Obviously, I've already tried to capture signals sending by the remote controller using a suitable receiver. Since the receiver is capturing raw data (even lots of garbage interference data on the air) without decoding, it is very hard to be lucky to sort the sample data out. Perhabs, If I continue to pick block of characters and test with the transmitter again and again, I might find the one I need.

By the way, there is another assumption to make is the baud rate. I don't have any datasheet/information what my RC is using.
So, I have a couple of samples raw data with different baud rates have been captured by the receiver. I have also tested them one by one but still same result, no luck.

Then I thought that it'd be better to find a clean data sample if somebody knows.  

Thanks anyway.

Read this: ftp://ftp.x10.com/pub/manuals/cm17a_protocol.txt

This document has all the codes needed to control the CM17A "FireCracker" as well as the other information you require to sucessfully control the device.

Thanks Jamie,

The URLs that you supplied to me shed light on the issue. I will have a look them and use in my project.

One more question, I haven't really check that how are the arduino source codes compatible with the mbed we use?

I appreciate your input, thanks again.

Well, they are not directly compatible. The Arduino uses a C like language that should be very easy to port and get working on the mbed. The reason I suggested this was because there is an opensource X-10 library already built for it. I haven't personally looked at the code, but I have ported lots of code from my Arduino projects over to the mbed and it's trivial. It would give you a good base to start on for your project.

FYI:  If you need to buy some X10 hardware, they often have some very low cost package deals and sales from X10 direct at http://www.x10.com. I have picked up several modules in the past there for less than half the normal price. They have links to all of the manuals there also.

In addition to the FireCracker, http://www.x10.com/automation/x10_tw523.htm is a two-way low level serial interface module designed for use with microcontrollers with opto isolation. No RF on it, it plugs into the AC outlet. http://forums.x10.com/ is a forum site for X10 users.

One thing that is not clear when getting started with X10 is that any X10 modules on the other AC power phase in your house might not get a strong signal. I have heard that you can use one of the new powerline networking phase couplers to fix it. It plugs into a 220VAC two phase plug (ie., Dryer) and has a coupling cap and a fuse between the two AC power phases. Some of the early ones I found were not UL approved and I would check for that on 220V stuff.

http://www.robotshop.com/ioboard-x10-smart-board-interface-4.html plugs into the X10 interface module and lets you send network commands

X10 gurus: homeseer.com forums http://board.homeseer.com/index.php?

There's an old popular X10 interface that uses RS232 as well.

Do they still sell it? - I looked for a new one a couple years ago and it looked like they had stopped making them (none available at X10.com)

Perhaps not. But there are a lot of them (CM11A) around, on Homseer.com or eBay. I have one as a backup to the USB equivalent I have.

http://mbed.org/users/lotfi_baghli/notebook/x10-server/ has mbed code using a simple $3.95 315Mhz RF module from Sparkfun that talks to an X10 wireless module receiver (the receiver then sends out the power line signals to X10 plug in AC control modules). It also has a web page control interface. Will have to try it once they are back in stock. In Europe, you need a 433Mhz RF module. 315 Mhz is the US X10 version.