X10 Cameras, pt 2

sjmaks · 05-06-2002

So my X10 stuff just arrived today. The switch on the receiver for selecting the 4 different frequencies is a single pole quad throw switch. I'm not quite sure what combination of ICs I can use to automate this process. If it were a rotary or DIP switch, it would be different. Any EEs out there?

Now I have to find a good omni antenna that I can hook up to this thing, I'll probably solder an N connector onto the receiver. The antenna I use for stumbling only has the Lucent connector and I don't want to butcher that so it may be time for another antenna purchase...or break down and build the pringles yagi.

I'll keep you guys posted as things go along. Tonite I'll see what kind of range I get with the standard built-in antenna in my apartment.

Steve

sjmaks · 05-06-2002

I believe it's actually a double pole quad throw. Unfortunately most of the circuit in the receiver is encased in metal to reduce RF interference. I don't want to tear this metal apart quite yet to get a better look...

Steve

kd4moj · 05-06-2002

Hope you have better luck Steve that I did on the range. Pretty crappy video 2 rooms away.

OneGuy · 05-06-2002

It would take an act of God (or Congress) to get the advertised 100' range from these things. I'm fairly disappointed with mine.
However the wired X10 gear I have really rocks. You just have to deal with the cable issues.

Good luck on the Xdriving.
OneGuy

sjmaks · 05-06-2002

Well, I've hooked up the X10 stuff and yes--the reception is terrible. I've been doing some research and a lot of people have hooked up loop yagis to their X10 camera transmitters and put them in RC helicopters and planes with good results. That's without modifying the receiver. I've got a friend who works for an antenna manufacturer that happens to make 2.4 GHz antennas, so I'm going to try to scam a yagi off him and hook it up to my receiver.

One thing I did notice is that according to the X10 docs (and my hardware) all of the cameras default to frequency 'A.' I unplugged my camera and when the receiver set to frequency A I'm able to pick up parts of a nearby signal. Any other channels give me no video. It's probably safe to assume that most people have their cameras set to A.

So nothing new to report tonight, other than confirming the reception as is totally sucks

If anyone is interested I took apart the USB capture adaptor. It includes basically 3 ICs and some caps and resistors. One is a phillips video decoder, one is a dram chip and another is the digital capture chip. If anyone wants IC numbers, let me know and I'll take it apart again.

After determining how good of reception I can get with a high gain antenna, I'll work on automating the channel selection.

Steve

blackwave · 05-06-2002

Please don't make me go out and buy an x10 setup... someone talk me out of it... please...

kd4moj · 05-07-2002

I will have to say other than the video stuff, X-10 does make some awesome switches and controllers. I have all my rooms automated where the lights come on and off automatically and my "tower cam" activates when it senses movement in the front of the house.

got started with it for my aquariums to turn the lights on and off @ specific times when I was away, but I got carried away and did the whole house.

blackwave · 05-07-2002

Reminds me of Electric Dreams... Oh those were the 80's

mshimek · 05-10-2002

I have two of these cameras. One is mounted on the back of the garage, outside, 45' from the receiver, The other is mounted in our farm market across the street, behind the cash register. The "Market Cam" is 220' from the receiver. The pictures from "Market Cam" are better than "Garage Cam"., which goes through 45' of rafters, plywood, drywall and cement block. Biggest problem with the cam across the street is the picture breaks up everytime a car goes by and breaks the path!

jeffrowe · 05-10-2002

Hey sjmaks...

I would love to see a pinout/breakout of that cable... if you get the time...

I imagine there has to be a way to wire the 4 channel switch into the USB cable and do the switching of channels on the laptop... like the software Prism2_Hopper used for Kismet

or maybe even a serial/Parallel connection to do the channel switching... I know I never use the Parellel port anymore...

05-06-2002	#1 (permalink)
sjmaks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 11	X10 Cameras, pt 2 So my X10 stuff just arrived today. The switch on the receiver for selecting the 4 different frequencies is a single pole quad throw switch. I'm not quite sure what combination of ICs I can use to automate this process. If it were a rotary or DIP switch, it would be different. Any EEs out there? Now I have to find a good omni antenna that I can hook up to this thing, I'll probably solder an N connector onto the receiver. The antenna I use for stumbling only has the Lucent connector and I don't want to butcher that so it may be time for another antenna purchase...or break down and build the pringles yagi. I'll keep you guys posted as things go along. Tonite I'll see what kind of range I get with the standard built-in antenna in my apartment. Steve

05-06-2002	#2 (permalink)
sjmaks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 11	Oops... I believe it's actually a double pole quad throw. Unfortunately most of the circuit in the receiver is encased in metal to reduce RF interference. I don't want to tear this metal apart quite yet to get a better look... Steve

05-06-2002	#3 (permalink)
kd4moj Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 43	x10 sender Hope you have better luck Steve that I did on the range. Pretty crappy video 2 rooms away.

05-06-2002	#4 (permalink)
OneGuy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Southern Indiana, USA Posts: 45	crappy range It would take an act of God (or Congress) to get the advertised 100' range from these things. I'm fairly disappointed with mine. However the wired X10 gear I have really rocks. You just have to deal with the cable issues. Good luck on the Xdriving. OneGuy

05-06-2002	#5 (permalink)
sjmaks Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 11	First night of X10 Well, I've hooked up the X10 stuff and yes--the reception is terrible. I've been doing some research and a lot of people have hooked up loop yagis to their X10 camera transmitters and put them in RC helicopters and planes with good results. That's without modifying the receiver. I've got a friend who works for an antenna manufacturer that happens to make 2.4 GHz antennas, so I'm going to try to scam a yagi off him and hook it up to my receiver. One thing I did notice is that according to the X10 docs (and my hardware) all of the cameras default to frequency 'A.' I unplugged my camera and when the receiver set to frequency A I'm able to pick up parts of a nearby signal. Any other channels give me no video. It's probably safe to assume that most people have their cameras set to A. So nothing new to report tonight, other than confirming the reception as is totally sucks If anyone is interested I took apart the USB capture adaptor. It includes basically 3 ICs and some caps and resistors. One is a phillips video decoder, one is a dram chip and another is the digital capture chip. If anyone wants IC numbers, let me know and I'll take it apart again. After determining how good of reception I can get with a high gain antenna, I'll work on automating the channel selection. Steve

05-06-2002	#6 (permalink)
blackwave Do I look like I'm joking Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: SoCal, OC Posts: 4,507	Argh... Please don't make me go out and buy an x10 setup... someone talk me out of it... please... __________________ -=BW=-

05-07-2002	#7 (permalink)
kd4moj Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 43	x-10 switches etc I will have to say other than the video stuff, X-10 does make some awesome switches and controllers. I have all my rooms automated where the lights come on and off automatically and my "tower cam" activates when it senses movement in the front of the house. got started with it for my aquariums to turn the lights on and off @ specific times when I was away, but I got carried away and did the whole house.

05-07-2002	#8 (permalink)
blackwave Do I look like I'm joking Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: SoCal, OC Posts: 4,507	Reminds me of Electric Dreams... Oh those were the 80's __________________ -=BW=-

05-10-2002	#9 (permalink)
mshimek Chile-Head Stumbler Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Wi-Fi Wonderland Posts: 57	I have two of these cameras. One is mounted on the back of the garage, outside, 45' from the receiver, The other is mounted in our farm market across the street, behind the cash register. The "Market Cam" is 220' from the receiver. The pictures from "Market Cam" are better than "Garage Cam"., which goes through 45' of rafters, plywood, drywall and cement block. Biggest problem with the cam across the street is the picture breaks up everytime a car goes by and breaks the path!

05-10-2002	#10 (permalink)
jeffrowe Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Northern Suburbs, Chicago, IL Posts: 142	yes... Pinout that USB Cable please... Hey sjmaks... I would love to see a pinout/breakout of that cable... if you get the time... I imagine there has to be a way to wire the 4 channel switch into the USB cable and do the switching of channels on the laptop... like the software Prism2_Hopper used for Kismet or maybe even a serial/Parallel connection to do the channel switching... I know I never use the Parellel port anymore... __________________ -Jeffrowe

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