X10 signal question

[jumbodogs]

Hey X10ers I just order some filters to help with some X10 signal issues I am having but I was wondering I have 2 electrical panels in my house. I have a repeater in the main panel but I was wondering if a second repeater in the sub panel would help or hurt. I've noticed that there are a few places in the house that I have trouble getting signal to.

Also if anyone wants to sell me there X10 signal tester let me know plz.

 

[Digger]

Someone is selling a Used ELK-ESM1 on ebay


ESM1 on ebay

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

THIS is my favorite post when questions come up about X-10 signals in the home. You do need to go through the home and find the signal sucks.

As for your two panel question, I have an X-10 Pro coupler/amplifier on my sub panel (two panels in the home) and it works great. I would not add a second as I believe it would interfere with the other.

Automated Outlet had a free loaner meter they would provide for the cost of shipping, but you may find a deal (like Digger posted) that would be better.

 

[BLH]

Jeff Volp at JV Engineering has a good set of tutorials on X10 troubleshooting.
http://jvde.us/x10_troubleshooting.htm

They have also developed a very good X10 repeater XTB-IIR and signal meter XTBM.
I have both the XTB-IIR and XTBM myself.

The repeater can blast an X10 signal back on the line at up to 20 Volt PP.

The test meter reads signal level, noise level, X10 frequency of the signal received. Also if you have a repeater. When first plugged in. It sends a X10 signal on the power line and reads back the signal from the repeater.

http://jvde.us/

It is too bad both the ELK ESM1 and Smarthome TesterLinc are now discontinued

 

[inline]

Jeff Volp at JV Engineering has a good set of tutorials on X10 troubleshooting.
http://jvde.us/x10_troubleshooting.htm

They have also developed a very good X10 repeater XTB-IIR and signal meter XTBM.
I have both the XTB-IIR and XTBM myself.

The repeater can blast an X10 signal back on the line at up to 20 Volt PP.

The test meter reads signal level, noise level, X10 frequency of the signal received. Also if you have a repeater. When first plugged in. It sends a X10 signal on the power line and reads back the signal from the repeater.

http://jvde.us/

It is too bad both the ELK ESM1 and Smarthome TesterLinc are now discontinued

+1 on Jeff's X10 signal meter...I ordered one a few weeks back and got it right away, he was very prompt in shipping/communication and the unit works great and is made well. I have a reliable x10 system currently, but did have a bad run with a dehumidifier months ago which killed the reliability of my system. Now that I have the x10 meter I feel much better prepared to handle issues like this in the future because it's not a question of if I'll have problems in the future, it's a matter of when. It's also helping me identify weak areas in the house and the cause so I can do some proactive work to keep things running smooth.