XTB-IIR
X-10 Signal Booster
One day in November 2008, I found
that many of the X-10 signals in the home were not making it
through. The problems were not related to jumping across the
phases, but could extend to same phase. After lots of looking
with my ESM-1 signal strength meter, I found that the two 5V switching
supplies for my Vonage boxes were the signal disrupters. I
isolated them with an inductor, but this event caused me to decide to
look for any high power X-10 Boosters that were available. I
found the XTB
(X10 Transmit Booster), developed by Jeff Volp after some searching
around.
I purchased a unit, and the parts kit is pictured below. His attention to detail is very impressive. The kit is complete down to the professionally printed decals, and the light tube for the LED.
I purchased a unit, and the parts kit is pictured below. His attention to detail is very impressive. The kit is complete down to the professionally printed decals, and the light tube for the LED.
Photo of complete kit to assemble an XTB-IIR.
Assembly took about 2-3 hours one
Saturday afternoon, and the unit worked immediately. It takes a
fair amount of experience to assemble this kit as the component values
on the capacitors need to be carefully read. I must reiterate how
impressed I am with this kit. The case was custom machined to fit
the various parts. A very well designed system
The XTB-IIR has two modes of
operation. In the first, an X-10 transmitter (such as the TW-523)
can be plugged into the outlet on its front cover, and any of its
transmissions are boosted to ~20Vpp levels (at the unit).
Incoming signals are also amplified. This is an impressive and
clever feature. In addition, the unit also has TW-523 emulation,
and has an RJ11 jack for that purpose. Snapping in the connector
from my home automation system, I now have a high-power transmitter for
the system.
The XTB-IIR is meant to be installed where both phases of the power line are available. However, this is not convenient for me, and I used it only in single phase mode. I have both a passive coupler (capacitor) and the ACT CR230 active repeater on my breaker panel.
The XTB-IIR is meant to be installed where both phases of the power line are available. However, this is not convenient for me, and I used it only in single phase mode. I have both a passive coupler (capacitor) and the ACT CR230 active repeater on my breaker panel.
Test Results
Before installing the XTB-IIR, the
signal amplitude of the transmissions from my home controller varied
from 1Vpp (basement) to 0.1Vpp (upper floor, loft). It seems like
the amplitude is greatly affected by the distance to the main breaker
panel. After the XTB-IIR was installed the amplitudes everywhere
appear to increase by a factor of 2 or 3. Thus the basement saw
amplitudes in the 2-3Vpp range, and the upper floor loft saw a signal
amplitude of about 0.3Vpp. This latter location has always had
the lowest signal levels in my home, and it should have adequate signal
levels now.
Future updates will be posted below.
Future updates will be posted below.
Disclaimer: I have no financial involvement with Jeff's company.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I purchased an XTB, and he gave
me a complimentary upgrade to an XTB-IIR.
Project
Log
- December 7, 2008 - Unit installed for use.