X10 Guest Discussion Wrap-up
By Carol

The Case Of The Missing IR

There was a hot discussion of an undocumented feature of the 2.4GHz Transmitter/Receiver units. The question was, "On the side of every receiving unit there is a small black aerial said to be a receiving antenna for an Infrared receiver and on the back of the unit is an output connector for an infrared output. The units come packed with a cable to fit the output connector and there is a vague mention of using it to control a DSS system but there is no IR circuitry in the 2.4 ghz transmitter to send an IR signal to the 2.4 ghz receiver. Can you tell me what the option is for and how was intended to be used so that I might try to integrate it into my HA system?"

X10's first answer to this question was, "This feature allows the video sender kit to be used like the X10 Powermid. In this case, the receiver has an IR receptor in it that transmits to the transmitter. What you need to use the feature is an IR emitter cable." After trying to get this feature to work without success, the forum participant opened and inspected the unit and replied back saying, "there is no IR circuitry in the 2.4 ghz transmitter to send an IR signal to the 2.4 ghz receiver."

To that X10's responded , "From your description of the nonfunctioning IR components of the VK30A, I believe that a feature of the product may not be working -- for more than your specific units. I have reported the problem to our engineers who will figure out what the problem is and come up with a solution." They couldn't give an estimate of what the solution will be or when it will come. Until then, unfortunately, that means that you won't be able to use the IR functions." X10 now offers the PM9500, RemoteSENDER Powermid at $39.99 to provide this function, with a comment that reads, "Works great with Wireless VideoSENDER to transmit video and audio from room to room in your home."

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