X10 Protocol's Little Known Gems
by Dave RyeIt is perhaps a little known fact that the X10 protocol has, since day one, included the capability of being expanded. The "basic" protocol includes 256 codes (16 housecodes x 16 units codes) and includes 16 functions (on, off, bright, dim, etc.). However one of these 16 function codes basically means "when you receive this code, there's more code coming." These are X10ded™ codes and are used to provide features such as preset dim in the LM14A.
X10 (the company) is market driven. X10 sells products not protocols, so until recently the company has not really done anything with the inherent capability that its protocol has.
X10 have never really seen much demand for 2-way modules. Sure, engineers ask for them, but in the past consumers have never really seen enough benefit to justify the increase in price. X10 have had 2-way capability built-in to the RR501 module since 1984 but no one ever took advantage of it. This is probably due in part to there not being any controllers available that could easily display the information received back from 2-way modules.
The CM15A two-way computer interface has the capability of initiating macros when an X10 code is received from any controller. X10 feels this is the real benefit of 2-way (rather than just knowing that a light has turned on). However, since the 2-way computer interface is a good way (via the PC display) of displaying information received from the power line, it makes more sense to have 2-way modules.
Therefore X10 introduced two 2-way modules: an appliance module, AM14A and a lamp module, LM14A. These modules report their status back to the CM15A when turned on or off. The lamp module even reports it brightness level. The LM14A also has "soft start" and so ramps up and down slowly when turned on and off. It also has "memory dim" and ramps slowly on to its previous brightness level.
The 2-way modules incorporate the latest in AGC technology (Automatic Gain Control) and therefore operate in harsh noisy environments that was previously not possible.
Although not yet implemented in ActiveHome Pro, the 2-way modules also incorporate auto-discovery to provide plug 'n play. When you plug in a 2-way module for the first time it reports it presence (to anything capable of listening) using X10ded codes. It reports its house code and unit code and could tell a user through the software GUI what code to assign in the GUI (this could also be auto-configured).
The 2-way modules, are capable of being reconfigured to either report their status automatically whenever the state changes, or to only report their status when polled. This re-configuration is done using X10ded codes, although is not yet implemented in ActiveHome Pro).
With plug 'n play, auto-discovery, automatic code assignment, X10ded codes, and AGC they are the first in a new generation of X10 products.
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