XTB-II Mode Programmable Options

Version 5-15-09 – See note added to mode option 15

While originally intended to be just a 2-phase version of the plug-in XTB module, the XTB-II firmware has been enhanced to include a number of user programmable options. These will allow the XTB-II configuration to be tailored for best operation in a given installation.

The User Programmable Options require a sequence of X10 commands to be sent using a maxicontroller plugged into the X10 Input receptacle on the XTB-II. Each key should be pressed for about a second, and the gap between transmissions must be less than 4 seconds. All programming begins with the key sequence 9-8-2 on any housecode, followed by the single key for the parameter to change, and then either ON or OFF. For example, the key sequence 9-8-2-15-ON will change from the default X10 Boost mode to TW523 emulation at power-up. The LED will flash for about a second after the last key is released if the command is accepted. The X10 sequence for that key, and a status ON or OFF is transmitted over the powerline so the entry can be logged. It is recommended that an unused housecode be used for programming.

It is possible to get the XTB-II into a mode where it will not recognize mode commands in a high noise environment. This happened during testing when the threshold level was set to 0 mV while line noise was in excess of 200 mV. Should this ever happen to you, the XTB-II can be reset to the default X10 boost configuration by pressing the ALL OFF key on a minicontroller or maxicontroller plugged into the X10 receptacle while power is switched on. That key should be held for about 1 second after power is applied. The LED will flash a couple of times after the key is released if the configuration reset is accepted. In the default configuration, only #12 is switched on (Insteon boost enable or AGC). All other mode options are switched off.

Normally the XTB-II transmits “P Status ON” when power is applied, and the LED will flash briefly.

The user programmable options are as follows:

16 ON: Repeater – This option enables repeater function when in the TW523 emulation mode. This outputs a high-power transmission during the repeated portion of the message while those same bits are forwarded to the automation controller over the digital port. Data is repeated for the zero-crossing burst regardless of the whether 3-phase boost is enabled. Mode option 16 has no effect when TW523 emulation (mode 15) is switched off.

15 ON: TW523 Default – This option selects TW523 emulation as default at power-up. When off, the XTB-II begin in the X10 boost mode at power-up, and switches to TW523 emulation upon receipt of the first digital data sent from the automation controller to the digital port. With mode option 15 off, the X10 boost mode will be restored when power is removed for about 5 seconds. With mode option 15 on, the XTB-II is never in the X10 boost mode, and begins operation in TW523 emulation mode immediately after power is switched on. Note: When in the TW523 mode, mode programming must be done through either the powerline or digital port. It cannot be done through the X10 Input receptacle.

14 ON: 3-Phase – This option allows transmit boost on all 3 phases from either the X10 Input receptacle or a digital input from the automation controller. When off, the XTB-II masks the superfluous 3-phase bursts to concentrate its energy into the essential zero-crossing burst. This option has been included because 3-phase transmission may still be necessary in some installations. Mode option 14 should remain off unless needed.

13 ON: Extended Receive – This option enables receiving extended messages. Extended messages are not repeated. Most automation controllers cannot decode extended messages at this time, and they are inhibited by default to prevent possible problems. With this mode option off, the XTB will still transmit extended sequences like Leviton pre-set dim commands that are received over the TW523 digital input or the X10 input receptacle while in the X10 boost mode. If your controller cannot accept extended input data, this mode option should probably remain off.

12 ON: AGC/Insteon - While in the X10 boost mode, this option turns on the boost window early so that Insteon signals applied to the X10 Input receptacle can also be boosted. In the TW523 emulation mode, this option turns on the Automatic Gain Control (AGC) that adjusts the decode threshold above the background noise level. When off the XTB-II decodes X10 line signals with a fixed, but adjustable threshold. This mode option should probably be turned on when using the TW523 emulation mode. If using only the X10 boost mode, it is best turned off unless you plan to use the XTB-II to boost Insteon signals. Note, this will boost transmitted signals only, and there is no guarantee that incoming Insteon signals will be readable by that Insteon transmitter.

11 ON: Variable Decode – This option selects a variable decode rather than the X10 standard 48-cycle fixed threshold to decode a logic one. The variable decode monitors the background noise level for a logic zero, and decodes a logic one when there is a significant increase in cycle count above the average. This option is particularly useful when trying to recover low-level X10 signals just above the noise level.

10 ON: Hi Threshold - When AGC is enabled, this increases the threshold by one step. This is useful in noisy environments when incoming X10 signals are strong. When using fixed threshold, this bit determines the most significant bit of the threshold voltage. See the table below.

9 ON: Alternate AGC window - It was found that the X10 RR501 RF transceiver occasionally does not transmit its third burst in the defined slot. It falls into the beginning of the Insteon window, which is where background noise is normally sampled to set the AGC threshold level. This option allows an alternate sampling slot to avoid this problem. The alternate slot may not be quite a good sampling point, but should be tried when having difficulty receiving signals from either a RR501 or TM751 transceiver. Other units may also exhibit this phenomenon. While using fixed threshold, this bit determines the least significant bit of the threshold voltage:

Fixed threshold: 10-OFF 9-OFF 0 mV

10-OFF 9-ON 200 mV

10-ON 9-OFF 400 mV

10-ON 9-ON 600 mV (max)

The variable decode (11 ON) may provide best results when 0 mV is selected. Even slight background noise can override the X10 signal with the threshold set this low. The variable decode will subtract the average background noise level, and should allow low level X10 signals to be detected as long as the noise level is not too high.

8 ON: Only One Repeat – When a repeater is used in an installation that has another repeater or certain two-way modules, it is possible for a command to be echoed back and forth continuously. This option prevents that ping-pong effect in those special situations. For example when this option is enabled, only A-1, A-ON will be repeated for the sequence A-1, A-ON, A-ON, A-ON. However, A-1 A-ON, A-1, A-ON will be repeated completely. Because bright and dim commands are a special case, they will all continue be repeated if the Smart Bright/Dim Repeat option is selected. Since the ping-pong effect with 2-way modules does not involve bright or dim commands, this allows the XTB-IIR to continue handling those commands properly while preventing the ping-pong effect with 2-way modules. This option should only be used if necessary. Note: This was added at firmware version 1.11.

Recommended starting configurations

Operating Mode	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
Default X10 boost	off	off	off	off	on	off	off	off	off
TW523 (low noise)	off	*	off	off	on	off	off	on	on
TW523 (high noise)	off	*	on	on	on	off	off	on	on

* Turn on if any commands from a RR501 or TM751 transceiver are missed.