I want to control some x-10 outlets with my mx-500 in an effort to help with my on/off problems I'm having with my home theater components because they don't have discreet on/off codes. I can't keep them in sync and can't write macros that work with the mx-500. Anyway, how is the simplest way to teach my mx500 some x-10 lingo about which I know nothing. Are x-10 on/off codes discreet and if so, does that mean I will need two buttons on the mx500 to control each outlet (ie, each component)??? Maybe this is a bad idea in the first place and maybe there is a less drastic solution. I'm all ears! Can I buy a cheapo remote that has the x10 codes in it and use it to teach the mx500? Can anybody recommend one? Thanks for your help.
Dana

Dana,I'm also a x-10 Dummy but it's eazy,You just redefine a spare device you have as Aux 183 and it now controls your x-10 devices. If it's a lamp say #1 you push 1 then chanel up to turn on, down for off.Vol up for brite, vol down for dim, mute for all off.......
once you get in to it it's easy and addicting
Vance

Thanks Vance. And where do I get the x-10 IR codes and how do I get them into the mx-500 IR remote. I'm going to get an IR543 interface tomorrow but what about the x-10 codes??? And what does everybody else do about the lack of discreet on/off codes in their home theater components. I don't really see much about this on/off issue on this or other forums (AVS). There must be a simpler solution. But next time I buy a new component you can bet its gotta have separate on/off. Thanks again,
Dana

There are x10 IR commands preprogrammed into the MX-500, the code is AUX183. Remember whatever device location on the MX-500 you use for X10, you still need to get code from the AUX code table, which is the bottom left device button.

As for controlling equipment that are TOADS, you can buy powerstrips that have switched outlets, plug in a component that does have discretes, as the master, when it comes on, whatevers plugged into the switched outlets will come on too.

Edmund thanks, but boy am I feeling dumber than ever. You are saying that the x-10 codes are already in AUX device code 183? Oh yeah.... so I see on page 71 of the mx-500 manual. Said the blind man. So device code 183 in the AUX device will spit out x-10 lingo to the IR543 interface and voila!!! And are the on/off codes for x-100 discreet?? I imagine they must be for safety reasons alone - keep dummies like me from leaving the toaster on all day! And I've got to ask....what's a TOAD? Thanks again.

Dana,

The codes are discreet when they are supposed to be. You use the remote by pressing 1-9 and 0 for 10 followed by channel up for on, down for off, volume up is bright and down is dim. In addition I believe power, is all lights on and mute is all lights off.

Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com

I also have the x10 with the MX500 and I recommend using the MX500's screen to make it easier once you get the x10 IR set up. Instead of pressing "1" and "channel up/down" to turn on lights I programmed the top screen in the aux mode as follows:
Page 1:
LR1 - LR2 (for Living room light 1 & 2)
LR3 - FAM (living room & family room)
ON - OFF
BRITE - DIM
ALL > - ALL < (all on & all off command)
Page 2
KITCH - HALL
BEDRM - PORCH
ON - OFF
BRITE - DIM
ON - OFF
ALL > - ALL <

There you have it. 2 Pages and I never use any buttons except the top hard buttons on the MX500. The great part about this is I don't have to remember what number corresponds to which light, and anyone can use the remote easily.

If you have the IRClone setup, I have submitted a .m5 file that has the "pick an address, turn it on" and "pick an address turn it off" codes on a single button for each address from 1 thru 9.

If you are not familiar with IRClone, check www.irclone.com.

Chris

I don't have the MX-500 yet but plan to get it for my theater when it's done.

Is it possible to turn the dimmer lights to on when you pause or stop a DVD and make them dim and then turn off when you press play? This is probably the only reason I would even get the X-10 lights so let me know if this is possible with the MX-500 remote.

Thanks a lot...

To do what you want to do, you would need the "pause" and "play" keys to be macro-capable. For the MX-700, these keys are macro capable. For the MX-500, they are not. I have the MX-500. The work-around that I use is to setup FAV key macros for dimming. This equates to a few more keystrokes, but works quite well.

I have been doing the same -- trying to get my MX500 to work with x10. I've had some problems though.

First, I got the all lights on and all lights off functions to work fine, but even though the IR543 blinks when number keys are pushed, numbers plus channel up and down only work on two out of 15 unit code numbers. Coincidentally, they all work fine with the x10 remote and the plug in tranceivers. Similarly, the hard keys on the IR543 do not control those units even though the all units off and on works. Maybe it is a bad unit?
SUGGESTIONS?

Second problem, my kitchen unit, a PCS scenemaster, works fine with my x10 remotes and Keypadlinc 6, but does not want to receive programming from my maxi-controller. (it is one of the two that the MX500 will actually switch on with the keypad and channel up button). I thought I would adjust the receive rate (which helped another switch receive signals, but I cannot get it to receive the programming signals. (I HAVE EVEN TRIED DIFFERENT PLUGS)

Suggestions?

This message was edited by Bruce61 on 05/14/03 13:48.

I actually do have the MX-700. So I have another question then. When you program the keys to be macros it would be just a macro for DVD player correct? No other ones right? I’m new.

I guess having the lights go on and off based on the pause and play buttons is not as important. I just want to be able to control the lights using the MX500. By control I mean turn on/off and dim up/down. What do I need to buy from X10 to get this to work with the MX500. I am in the process of wiring my theater room and want to get all this settled while the walls are still open. Thanks for any info...

Ken Ashley, I think the mx700 allows you to program any key you want into a macro (dvd and lites both controlled by a single macro). I do not have an mx700, so I am not sure.

JATWolf, the beauty of X10 is that you don't have to do much with the walls open, they can already be "closed." The one thing I would change in my home theater is this: I have a ceiling fan that also has a light. I wish I had 2 "load" wires going from the switch box in the wall up to the junction box in the ceiling. That way I could install 2 x-10 dimmers and control the light seperate from the fan.

I recommend homeautomationnet.com (no affiliation).

You will need at least one IR543 (IR to X10 command converter). Only costs about $20. Then you will need however many dimmers or appliance modules you want to control. The IR543 can control up to 16 devices on a single house code. I recommend the
XPDI3 Dimmer 3-way, 120VAC, 500W, Inductive since you can use it on either lights or fans.

The mx500 has a built-in preprogrammed code to control the IR543. I think it was AUX183, check the manual when you get it. If you get the IRClone (which I love) you can download a file that I created that will give you more functionality with less keypresses.

I hope all that helps.