Hi - My house runs off a CM11A W/Activehome 1.42, nad has been successfully
doing so for 6 years (before that, a CP290 for over a decade). - I have
19 modules and 20 macros, and a HCA02-10E repeater. It probably works
right 99.5% of the time, but that 0.5% is an annoyance. Modules trigger
macros that trigger modules, but not quite always, occasionally a light
missed a timed on command, a few lights sometimes turn on for no reason,
etc. Also, since I'm now using the CM11A with WinXP, I have no
monitoring available to me to assist with debug.

I'm thinking of blowing a couple of bills to replace all my modules with
2-way (some of them are more than 10 years old and may be part of the
problem anyway), and I'd like a controller/software that can take
advantage of 2-way to verify operation and state, automatically, and
provides continuous monitoring.

I don't need any more sophisticated control than I get with ActiveHome,
but it needs to work better. I can keep the CM11A or buy new HW.

I envision a system where all my keypad
controllers trigger macros, and all modules are actually always turned
on/off ONLY by the main controller. Since the modules are 2-way, and the
controller is 'smart', this should 100.0% guarantee that if the (macro)
command reaches the main controller, the module WILL end up in the
desired state.

any suggestions?

/j

By 2-way, do you mean knowledge by the controller that someone has manually modified the light (on/off/dim) (also called active notificatio), or acknolwedgement of receipt of signal?

I hear that zWave is coming out with 2way control for the former, it already has the latter. There's obviously much nicer solutions out there (ie Homeworks, vantage, etc) complete with serious hardware controllers, but that's a 10x increase in price.

I mean acknowledgement

Even if someone is just playing with X10, I can still recommend the Insteon PLC. Insteon will control your X10 stuff, plus give you the option of using Insteon devices too.

There are lots of Insteon issues, but man.... they are not even issues compared to X10. I have also been very happy with 90% of their hardware and have coded against the PLC using their ActiveX control, it is not bad until you get into grouping/linking...

Vaughn

I'd recommend you take a look at an Ocelot for a controller. It works very well with X10 and has extreme flexability with other modules and systems. I think that replacing your modules/switches can be more expensive than it may be worth....providing that your current X10 setup operates well. You may find the CM11A units give an occasional uncommanded signal(s) and can play havoc with ones system.

For switches I have used many basic X10's (they don't last forever though), and have tried over the years to upgrade into PCS switches. This was before UPB. I have found the PCS switches to be flawless, but expensive.